TWO Whitley ward councillors expressed their gratitude for the support they have received from residents, as well as from their colleagues.
Labour and Co-operative Alice Mpofu-Coles was re-elected as councillor for Whitley on Thursday night, gaining 1,111 votes – 728 more than Conservative Vani Goel, who came second.
Cllr Mpofu-Coles said: “I’m going to start properly working for the next four years. I’ve been working for them already, but I feel so grateful to the people of Whitley who have voted for me three times. They really want me to do work with them, and I’m really grateful for that.
“[Today’s performance] means a lot to the Labour party. It shows that things are not working for the Tories and it’s a real showcase that people are thinking otherwise, and saying that it’s not working.
“People want change, a lot of change. I live in Whitley, I see people talking everyday about how they want their lives to be better, and that’s everyone’s feeling.”
Fellow Whitley councillor and Mayor of Reading, Cllr Rachel Eden, was in attendance at the count at Rivermead Leisure Centre to support Labour candidates.
She explained: “I actually really enjoy election day because it’s such a great opportunity to engage with so many people and it reminds people of how important democracy is.
“Everyone’s coming out and voting, it’s been a good day supporting my fellow councillors, new candidates and encouraging people to go out and vote.
“Between the Labour candidates, we work together as a team. We do that all through the year, but on election night you see the friendship and support that we have, as colleagues, for each other.
“Win or lose, we stand together and we know that we’re here trying to do our best for the town. We hope that that pays off and tonight we’ve had some excellent people elected.”
