‘Convicted racist’ Jayda Fransen gets fewer votes than Monster Raving Loony Party in Batley by-election

Oh no

Former Britain First leader Jayda Fransen, repeatedly convicted of hate crimes, secured fewer votes at the Batley and Spen by-election than the Monster Raving Loony Party. The constituency was represented by Jo Cox before her assassination by a far right terrorist in 2016. Cox's sister, Kim Leadbeater, won the vote by a slim majority of 323 votes, beating her Conservative opponent into second place, followed by George Galloway in third.

Results

16 candidates stood in the contest, with turnout at 47.6 per cent. The top standings are as follows:

• Leadbeater (Lab) - 13,296
• Stephenson (Con) - 12,973
• Galloway (WGB) - 8,264
• Gordon (Lib Dem) - 1,254

Equally cheering news could be found at the other end of the results, where a number of far right candidates received fewer votes than Howling Laud Hope, the leader of the Monster Raving Loony Party. Hope secured 107 votes, double that of Jayda Fransen on 50, who stood as an independent, as well as beating Anne Marie Waters. Another far right candidate who polled 97 votes.