Blue as mud

10PM, Thursday evening: a Conservative supermajority rules Wokingham Borough. With 41 councillors and only a small opposition, the map is deep blue.

4am, Friday morning: the Conservatives have fled Loddon Valley Leisure Centre, the last result still

ringing in their ears (Westcott – Liberal Democrat gain). Their majority is cut to eight, their council leader ousted. Alternative parties have made huge gains. Humiliation.

What happened?

The answer lay with the Liberal Democrats celebrating in the corner. Posing for photo after photo, they had triumphed decisively, easily doubling their majority, while Labour choked. Forget gains and losses in Wirral, Trafford, or Chelmsford; Wokingham is the national success story for the Liberal Democrats.

But how did they win in an area where, famously, a ‘pig with a blue rosette’ could be elected? Just four years ago they had a mere five seats, following a national wipeout.

Firstly, the Lib Dems have recruited well.

First-time candidate Adrian Mather said that this was ‘not what I expected to be doing with my life’, but he routed the Conservatives with a 23.5% majority in Evendons. Last year Vince Cable told me his party have the fastest growing membership in the UK. If true, it would explain the new talent.

Secondly, they have aimed high.

Nothing less than ‘being in control’ will satisfy Steve Newton, Constituency Chairman.

Overturning the Conservative majority will be tricky, but ‘winning in the Prime Minister’s constituency’ energises him. Flipping Maiden Erlegh and Westcott was unexpected but shows the zeal of local candidates (bar Maiden Erlegh’s Cllr Maher, who left several hours early, expecting defeat). They want the full victory.

Thirdly, they are convinced they offer better governorship than the Conservatives. Every leaflet through the door harangues the Tories in black and orange until my eyes bleed. Mr Newton stressed the point that his councillors were ‘working hard, [and] listening to residents’ (i.e. which our rivals aren’t), and the voters have shown ‘confidence’ in the Liberals rather than blue or red alternatives.

The party is determined to have ‘control of the council in four years’ time’. Compromise is not high on the agenda.

That all adds up to a seminal change in Wokingham’s politics. Through new members, ambition, and conviction, the Liberal Democrats have forced their way into a position which was unforeseeable in 2015. They have had some wellearned celebrations.

But this ‘phenomenal achievement’ is still not a majority. The Conservatives remain king and will regroup to fight again, while Labour and the Independents’ popularity could fragment the Liberal vote.

It seems that there is a lot to be done for Wokingham to turn orange. Theo Hunt is an A-level student