Tories make massive gains in Warks
IT PROVED to be a blue Thursday as Conservatives made massive gains at Warwickshire County Council.
The authority went from no overall control to Tory-led, with Labour the big losers.
The Conservatives won 10 seats while Labour lost 12. The Lib Dems lost two and Independent lost one.
Shire Hall now comprises: Conservative 36, Labour 10, Lib Dem 7, Green 2, Ind 2.
New councillor Andy Sargeant even ousted Labour group leader June Tandy, taking the Attleborough seat she has held for many years.
The Tories gained a total of six seats in the traditional Labour heartland of Nuneaton and Bedworth - Bulkington, Attleborough, Galley Common, Arbury, Bedworth East and Bedworth North.
In North Warwickshire, Polesworth and Atherstone returned Labour councillors. The other five wards returned Conservatives.
In the Rugby district there are seven Conservative seats, two Labour and one Liberal Democrat.
The Warwick and Leamington district has seven Conservatives, one Green, three Liberal Democrats, two Labour and one Whitnash Residents Association.
The Stratford District has nine Conservatives, three Liberal Democrats, and one Stratford First.
Taking the scalp of the Labour group leader June Tandy was undoubtedly the biggest coup of the night.
She had been a county councillor since 1989, taking over the leadership of the Labour group from Ian Bottrill in 2005.
She issued a statement, saying: “It is obviously a disappointing result for us but we will continue to fight for the people of Nuneaton and Bedworth and challenge any policies and proposals that the Conservatives make that will affect our residents negatively.”
Councillor Richard Chattaway, deputy leader of the Labour group, paid tribute to June Tandy and said she will be “sorely missed”. He thanked her for her hard work for the communities across Warwickshire and echoed her comments about holding the Conservatives to account.
RESULTS: Conservative: 36 seats (26 seats) Labour : 10 seats (22 seats) Liberal Democrat: 7 seats (9 seats) Independent: 0 seats (3 seats) Green: 2 seats (2 seats) Stratford First: 1 seat (0 seats) Whitnash Residents Association: 1 seat (0 seats).