Neil Inder wins Vale by-election by 125 votes
TAXI driver and former businessman Neil Inder stormed to victory in last night's Vale by-election, pledging to work hard and be a terrier in the States.
The victory announcement was made at 9pm, just an hour after the polls closed, and saw Mr Inder claim the seat with 685 votes – 125 more than his nearest rival, former deputy Garry Collins.
There was a turnout of a third of the registered voters, with 1,724 casting their voted out of a possible 5,149.
The total population of the Vale is over 9,600 people.
The election was held for the vacant seat left by political stalwart and former Housing minister Dave Jones, who died in July after first being elected in 2000.
Several observers drew comparisons between the characteristics of Mr Inder and his late predecessor, including their 'straight-talking nature'.
Mr Inder, however, said he was in no way claiming to fill the shoes of the late Deputy Jones, a politician who could not be replaced or replicated.
