Tories big winners in district elections

CITY council Liberal Democrat leader Alex Perkins has described his disappointment at losing nine seats in the local elections.

Friday’s count revealed that out of 50 seats in the Canterbury district, the Lib Dems took ten and Labour gained an extra seat, with a total of three.

Cllr Perkins said: “We swam against a national tide. It was rather like sending your opening batsmen to the crease, only for them to find the moment the first balls are bowled, that their bats have been broken before the game by their team captain.

“I have no doubt that if elections were held a year ago that it would be very different; people have chosen to vote on national issues.”

It was a blue landslide, with Conservative winning 37 seats, eight more than at the last elections in 2007. Turnout was 44 per cent.

Conservative group leader John Gilbey said: “You can never predict the will of the electorate or take anything for granted.

“Every street is different, every area is different.

“We’re delighted by our strong showing across the area of course, and hope to build on our success.

“These are tough times and the Conservatives were seen as a safe pair of hands.”

Labour spokesman Julia Seath said the party was pleased with the results, despite their limited success in winning seats.

She said: “Labour has achieved an outstanding advance, making them the challengers to the Conservatives across the city.

“Out of the 32 seats won by the Tories where there was a Labour challenger, Labour took second place in 22 seats, often by a substantial margin, and were equal with the Liberal Democrats in three seats.

“Labour is clearly the threat to the domination of local politics by the Conservatives in the months ahead.”

The district’s voters also had their say on the referendum about reforming the electoral system. Turnout was 44.4 per cent and the result was a clear no vote, with 30,759 saying no and 15,398 voting yes.