May ‘taking nothing for granted’ despite big gains in council polls
Tories claim 10 seats as share of vote rises 10pc
THERESA MAY has said she is “taking nothing for granted” in the June 8 General Election despite an emphatic set of Conservative local election victories which have put her firmly on track to substantially increase her House of Commons majority.
The Prime Minister said she would be fighting every day of the next five weeks to “earn the support of the British people” to strengthen her hand in negotiations with the European Commission over Brexit.
Tories were celebrating historic gains across the country yesterday, picking up more than 450 councillors and gaining control of 10 authorities as they made deep inroads into parts of Scotland and Wales which had been no-go areas for a generation.
Ukip’s vote collapsed, with the eurosceptic party’s supporters apparently defecting in swathes to the Conservatives in local councils.
Meanwhile, Labour forfeited more than 250 council seats, lost control of Glasgow after 40 years and suffered reverses in Welsh strongholds.
And Jeremy Corbyn’s party was pushed into third place in Scotland, where Tories added at least 110 councillors.
In a highly symbolic victory, Conservative Ben Houchen became the first elected mayor of Tees Valley, in Labour’s northeastern heartland, beating Labour’s Sue Jeffrey by more than 2,000 votes in the second round of counting.
THE CONSERVATIVES tightened their grip on North Yorkshire County Council as the UK Independence Party disappeared from the authority.
The ruling Conservatives emerged from the county elections with 55 seats, an increase of 10.
The Tories’ share of the vote also increased from 40 per cent in 2013 to more than 50 per cent this year.
The Greens went into the county elections hoping to secure their first seat on the back of anger over the decision by County Hall last year to allow an energy firm to use the controversial fracking mining method to be used at Kirby Misperton in Ryedale.
Falsgrave and Stepney was considered the Greens’ best hope but candidate David Malone fell 70 votes short of Liz Melling, who held onto it for Labour.
Labour overall fell from seven seats to four.
Conservative group leader Carl Les, who is expected to continue as council leader, said: “I think it is a very satisfying result. It validates the fact that North Yorkshire has been served by a county council that has been Conservative for 20 years.”
The increase in Conservative councillors comes despite four years of implementing budget savings as, in common with other authorities, financial support from central government is reduced.
Coun Les continued: “Austerity isn’t over yet, we still have to make savings but I am pleased we have managed to make savings without impacting on frontline services that many residents depend on.”
Looking ahead, Coun Les said: “We need to do something about health and adult services in terms of better integration as 40 per cent of our budget is now spent on adult social care.
“Around 25 per cent of our population is 65 years and over which is great for them and their families but as people get older their needs get more complex.”
Coun Les said the authority would continue with its broadband connection programme and would pursue better east-west transport connections, notably upgrades to the A59 at Kex Gill and the duelling of the A64.
He indicated that the authority shares “some of the concerns” expressed during the campaign about fracking but stressed the matter was governed by planning rules.
Coun Les said the best way to strengthen the council’s approach to fracking was through the mineral and waste plan currently under consultation.
Ukip enjoyed a breakthrough in North Yorkshire four years ago as it secured two seats in the Harrogate Bilton and Nidd Gorge and Filey divisions.
Harrogate Bilton and Nidd Gorge Ukip councillor David Simister stood down at the election and the party’s candidate Bob Frendt polled just 378 votes.
In Filey, Ukip councillor Sam Cross was much closer to retaining his seat, losing out to Conservative candidate Helen Swiers by just 27 votes.
He said: “I feel sorry for the people of Filey. People aren’t rejecting Ukip, they are not supporting the Tories, they are voting for Theresa May. That’s it.”
Across the county, the turnout in the elections was just over 35 per cent. The number of independents on the authority fell from 11 to 10, the Lib Dems went from five to three seats and the Liberals lost both their seats.
People aren’t rejecting Ukip, they are voting for Theresa May.
Former Ukip councillor Sam Cross.