Richard Barnbrook, who was ousted from his council seat in the same ward in May, had hoped to make a comeback in a by-election called because one of the Labour councillors elected was working for the council as a “lollipop lady” and so was not eligible to stand.
In a low turnout poll on 8 July, Louise Cowling, now no longer working for the council, won the seat again with 881 votes (46.6%), leaving Barnbrook in second place with 642 votes – 34.0%.
Hope not hate activists distributed a leaflet reminding voters that the BNP is a party of hate and lies, which has no solutions for the people of Barking and Dagenham and has now even turned its hate on itself, a reference to the bitter infighting currently besetting the party. A HOPE not hate team also worked on polling day itself to encourage people to use their vote.
Hope Not Hate