Questions raised over campaign

A CLOSELY fought battle resulted in the Conservatives keeping control at Dover District Council (DDC) in last Thursday’s local elections despite the loss of two seats.

A jubilant Labour Party may have failed to take over the authority but were celebrating a four seat gain.

The results, announced on Friday, held bad news for the district’s Liberal Democrats who failed to take a single seat. Lib Dem leader Clive Meredith was visibly shaken at losing the Whitfield ward which was taken by Dover Alliance leader turned Conservative David Hannent and Blue running mate James Back.

The axing of Lib Dem councillors was a trend seen across the county with Shepway kicking out all six members from its council and Canterbury dumping nine out of 19 Lib Dem members.

Mr Meredith, who had served on Dover’s council for eight years, said a mix of national and local issues had hit his party. He said: “It was a combination of factors, the national trend was one issue and also I think I have to make it clear we are not at all happy with Conservative candidates literature which was misleading to say the least. We conducted a positive local issues campaign and tried to put a positive message across. Frankly the Conservatives went for a negative campaign which was misleading.”

Mr Meredith says he is now finished with district council, adding: “I am 65 and next election I will be 69 so I am not seeking further involvement in council affairs.

“It is time for new people to come forward.”

Saying the Liberal Democrats had become the fall guys of the coalition Mr Meredith said the results could have been equally harsh for the Tories if the vote had been held in 12 months time. He also said nationally his party has to stick to its values and not become “part of the Conservative Party.”

He said: “Liberal Democrat ministers have to put forward the Liberal Democrat case and if that means conflict then so be it.

“Ministers must be more forceful. They must come out and make sure we have a distinctive party role. I hope that lesson has been learnt now.”

Labour gained one seat in Eythorne and Shepherdswell and another in North Deal and two in Middle Deal and Sholden, taking the party’s council seats from 15 up to 19. Conservatives managed to hold on to control by taking 26 seats compared to the previous 28.

DDC leader Paul Watkins, Conservative, said the electorate had shown trust in his party’s ability to take the district forward.

He said: “We have a majority of seven and this shows people have faith in us taking Dover forward. My personal feelings go out to Clive Meredith. Despite being a political opponent he was a very good councillor. I also feel the loss of Adrian Friend in Middle Deal and Jennifer Record in Shepherdswell.

“This was a strategic national victory for the Conservative party. Dover was a highly targeted Labour gain but despite all the big guns they sent to Dover and flooding the district with outside workers from the central machine and universities we held firm.”

Labour party leader for the district Gordon Cowan said: “It is a fantastic outcome. We have gained four seats and that’s great. Everyone would like to have gained more to take overall control but we gained four and putting that with gains in Thanet and a Labour win in Gravesham, the blue is starting to turn red already in the south east.

“If this election had been in 12 months time when the cuts will really be biting hard we would have had even better results.

“We have a fantastic set of councillors who will work hard.”