Former Communications & Internal Affairs (C.I.A.) Officer Mark Sewards has failed in his first attempt at local politics. He was defeated in a town council by-election in Leeds.

Sewards, a Law graduate, was the Labour Party Candidate in Morley Town Council’s by-election for the Churwell ward. He was beaten by Wyn Kidger of the Morley Borough Independents (MBI).

Despite the area usually electing Labour MPs and Churwell being part of Ed Balls’ constituency, the Council is mostly made up of MBI Councillors.

Speaking to Leeds Student after the result, Sewards explained, “Churwell is the MBI’s safest area and Labour hasn’t won there for years, so it would have been a huge upset if I’d have won it.         The MBIs also had support from Tory voters this time because  the Conservatives didn’t put up a candidate.”

Sewards was a prominent Labour activist at the University and was Chair of Leeds Labour Students in his final year.

He courted controversy in May 2012 by encouraging students to vote Labour in an open letter to University halls of residence, despite the Union’s political neutrality.

Sewards received 193 votes compared to Kidger’s 465.

The by-election came as a result of the death of Joe Tetley, a respected Councillor who also served as the Mayor of Morley.

Mark Sewards ran for re-election as C.I.A. last year but was defeated by Anthony Haddley by 90 votes.

 

Words: Hugo Greenhalgh