AN Oxfordshire councillor has been duly elected as a county councillor after the Labour Party challenged a May election result.

Yesterday, the High Court declared that Mark Cherry was duly elected as the Labour county councillor for the Banbury Ruscote Division in the May 9 election.

ALSO READ: Labour plans to challenge Oxfordshire May election result for Banbury Ruscote in the courts

This followed an election petition brought by Mr Cherry to the court for a recount of the county council election result.

Oxford Mail: Councillor Mark CherryCouncillor Mark Cherry

The recount confirmed that an administrative error by the Returning Officer had caused the votes cast for Mr Cherry to be wrongly recorded as being those cast for Conservative candidate Jayne Strangwood.

This resulted in Ms Strangwood being erroneously declared to be elected.

The Court ordered all costs of the case to be borne by the Returning Officer.

Mr Cherry said: "I am personally very relieved that as a result of my petition, the High Court has confirmed that I am the duly elected county councillor for Banbury Ruscote Division. 

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"It has been a difficult time for me since the result of the count. I wish to thank the Labour Party, their legal team led by specialist solicitor Gerald Shamash and Gavin Millar QC, and fellow Labour councillors for their strong support.

"I look forward to returning to County Hall and representing my constituents as the member of Oxfordshire County Council for Banbury Ruscote Division as part of the Labour team of County and District councillors.”

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