Party poised for a bigger win in June?

The Conservatives’ landslide victory in the county council election suggests they are poised to clean up in the general election.

The party produced a stunning result taking 67 of the 81 seats up for grabs as rival parties fell away dramatically.

Ukip was the biggest casualty losing every one of the 17 seats it won in 2013 and saw its share of the vote plunge.

The remarkable results mean the Conservatives look set to be the dominant political force in Kent at a national and local level in a way not seen since Margaret Thatcher’s heyday.

Labour had an uncomfortable day seeing its 13 seats culled to just six, losing its leader Gordon Cowan in the process. It had said it was confident of winning 20 seats.

The Liberal Democrats had mixed results and there was no evidence to suggest a resurgence in support in the county.

Although it emerged as the official opposition, it did so with just seven seats, the same it secured in 2013.

Cllr Rob Bird, re-elected as councillor for Maidstone Central, said: “The announcement of a general election did not help us and our vote did get affected by Conservatives who had heeded Theresa May’s appeal for a strong mandate.”

Cllr Paul Carter was jubilant, saying the margin of victory owed much to the leadership of Theresa May.

“Obviously it is a clear endorsement of the direction she is taking, with the very strong stance on the Brexit negotiations.”

He said the support on the doorstep was the best he had experienced in 40 years.

Success came for the Green Party’s Martin Whybrow, who won the Hythe seat, repeating his success of four years ago.