The Times and Star readers reacted to the recent town council byelection “fiasco”, after a procedural error forced a re-run of the election.

The clerical error meant, amazingly, that four town councillors who had fairly won their seats in the election back in May had to face a second contest.

This is after it emerged in October that the members elected in May had signed their Declarations of Acceptance of Office after an emergency full council meeting was held. Cumbria Association of Local Councils advised that the councillors could continue in their role, but the National Association of Local Councils later ruled that their positions were unsound.

So, on December 16, and for the second time, Jacqueline Kirkbride was elected as Conservative councillor for Stainburn ward, Ellie Wood won the Salterbeck seat for Labour and in St John's ward, two seats were contested with victories for Labour's Anthony McGuckin and Independent councillor Patricia Poole.

It is safe to say this generated some discussion among our readers. Here is what you had to say.

Chris Campbell said: “[I] don't really understand this as parish councils are apolitical. Perhaps CALC should be reminded of that instead of what seems to be a load of political posturing.”

And Laura Johnstone said: “The Independents just do the best for the council... Other parties just make it a political agenda when it's actually not!”

The Independent Party came in for much of the criticism regarding the farcical situation.

Mark Ritson said: “A complete farce which was triggered by the so called "Independent Party" (how you can be standing as Independent but in an organised political group still baffles me). I’ve read somewhere that this farcical situation they have brought about has cost us council tax payers around £22,000? If so well done; NOT!

What are your thoughts on the whole affair? Farce, political posturing, or just a simple procedural error?