Conservatives win by election in Marlow. Liberal Democrats second well ahead of Labour

3.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sat 9th Feb 2008

Carrol Cummins, Lib Dem candidate on February 7

The resignation of a Conservative Councillor on Wycombe District Council just 6 months after the elections in May last year caused a by election in Marlow North and West ward. Carrol Cummins contested the election for the Liberal Democrats on February 7, 2008.

The Conservatives retained the seat with 61% of the vote cast on a turnout of 23%. Carrol came second while the Labour candidate trailed in third with just 14% of the vote.

Liberal Democrat agent Peter Chapman said after the result was declared: "In this constituency the Liberal Democrats are the only possible opposition to the Conservatives and a vote for Labour really is a wasted vote"

Carrol has lived in Marlow for 15 years, is a pharmacist and has over 20 years' experience of the pharmaceutical industry, having worked in the civil service in the regulation of medicines and in industry developing new ones.

Locally she has been a NHS Pharmaceutical Advisor in South Bucks, liaising between hospital and primary care services. She has worked with all the local GPs and pharmacists.

Carrol has two grown-up children, a son who is a doctor at Luton and Dunstable Hospital and a daughter who is a civil service lawyer.