News | Elections
downsmail.co.uk Tories tighten grip on borough
IT proved to be one “Helen” of an election in Maidstone as the true blue town displayed its colours. The rest of the nation followed
suit, by veering to the right, in one of the most controversial elections fought in recent times. Helen Grant, MP
Helen Grant
for Maidstone and the Weald, held on to her seat, increas- ing her majority to more than 10,000, while in Faversham and Mid Kent, fore- name-sake Helen Whately soared
home to victory in the seat previ- ously held by Hugh Robertson. Both victorious MPs were at the
count at Maidstone Leisure Centre to see the results declared,while the crestfallen Lib Dem campaigner Jasper Gerard and Ukip hopefuls could only lick their wounds. Mrs Grant gained 45% of the votes
in Maidstone and the Weald with 22,745 votes, while Mr Gerard gained 24% – slightly above half that number with 12,036 votes. Ukip’s Eddie Powell gained 7,930
votes, pushing Labour’s Allen Simp- son into fourth place with 5,268 votes. In Faversham and Mid Kent, new-
comer Mrs Whately took a 54% share of the votes – gaining a mas-
as well as vocal in hisward, threatened to leave not only Maidstone but the country, after the defeat. The Lib Dems
Helen Whately
sive 24,895 votes – leaving Ukip’s Peter Edwards-Daem trailing in second place with just 8,243 crosses of support. Labour’s Michael Desmond came third, with 7,403
votes and Lib Dem David Naghi fourth – in his third attempt to win the seat –with 3,039. Mrs Grant said: “I am delighted
withmyelection result, with the ma- jority just about doubled to more than 10,000 and a significant swing from the LibDems to the Conserva- tives. “Itwas a long, tiring election cam-
paign for our Maidstone team but I am pleasedwe played a straight bat
in the face of some unpleasant and unjustified personal attacks. I now look forward to serving all the con- stituency more strongly than ever." In the Maidstone Council elec-
tions, the Conservatives lost two seats to the Lib Dems – but gained one in North ward, with Tommy Long losing out to Michael Hemsley. Former Conservative South ward councillor Mike Hoggwas furious at being unseated by Lib Dem county councillor Brian Clark, who gained 1,748 votes, knock- ing him into a close second place with
Brian Clark
1,
632.MrHogg,whohas been an ac- tivemember of Tovil Parish Council
IN spite of the grim national picture, local Lib Dems remained upbeat at retaining 20 seats on Maidstone Council. Cllr Brian Clark said: “This is a victory on the back ofmanyhours of hard work focusing on the major local issues in each of our twowards, including housing development, in- frastructure, public transport, traffic congestion and pollution. There is still much to be done but it is great to have such emphatic support from residents.” Cllr Sue Grigg said: “I feel this vic-
tory indicates the measure of ap- proval for my work, reaching beyond the volatile political land- scape, which makes me proud.” Jasper Gerard thanked everyone
who had supported his campaign but, after two years solidly cam- paigning for the party, he said his priorities now had to be his family and getting back to work. Although he hoped to carry on
playing a part in trying to restore the Lib Dem fortunes, after two years without an income he now needed to focus on earning some money. The former Sunday Times and Sunday Telegraph journalist, who has also worked as associate editor under Boris Johnson at The Specta- tor, moved to a cottage in Ladding- ford during the campaign. Although he has forged strong
links with colleagues in theWeald, he said the family’s futurewas now largely dependent on his son’s sec- ondary school education and which schoolswere to offer him a place. He said: “I intend to stay on and
assist the constituency party for a while but my party took a big hit. But I need to earn some money.” The council is now made up of 25 Conservatives (+1) 20 Lib Dems (no change), 6 Independents (+1) 2 Ukip (-2)
2 Labour (no change)
Late bid for council leadership ANunexpected 11th-hour bid for the leadership of Maidstone Councilwas launched as the Downs Mailwent to press. Cllr Malcolm McKay is one of only two Labour members on the council
but was due to contest the leadership against Conservative group leader Cllr Annabelle Blackmore and her Lib Dem counterpart Cllr FranWilson. Cllr McKay, who represents Shepway South, was proposed by Inde- pendent Cllr Fay Gooch. Councillorswere due to vote for the leader when Cllr Daniel Moriartywas inaugurated as mayor on May 23.
22 Maidstone Town June 2015
ALLINGTON: Cynthia Robertson (LD) 1,878; Barry Ginley (Con) 1,313; Eddie Powell (Ukip) 711; Marianna Poliszczuk (Lab) 376. BEARSTED: Val Springett (Con) 3,953; Jim Grogan (Lab and Co-op) 666; Sarah Petit (Ukip) 651; Geoff Samme (LD) 349; Ciaron Oliver (Green) 218. BOXLEY: Malcolm Greer (Con) 2,611; Jacqui Wardle (Ukip) 962; Richard Mor- gans (Lab) 574; Michelle Hastie (LD) 457. COXHEATH & HUNTON: Richard Webb (LD) 1,501; Fred Lawrence (Con) 1,447; Angela Austen (Ukip) 765; Patrick Coates (Lab) 254; Mike Summersgill (Green) 167.
also took a seat in Coxheath and Hunton, after the resignation of for- mer Tory Cllr Dennis Collins. Here Lib Dem Richard Webb gained a narrow 54-vote majority over the Conservative runner-up Fred Lawrence. Elsewhere in town, there were a
Mike Hogg
few nailbiting moments, with long- serving members coming close to eviction from the council chamber. Independent Gordon Newton
held on to his Downswood and Otham seat by just 33 votes, while LibDem leader FranWilson spent a worried few hours before her 119- seat win over the Conservative run- ner-upwas revealed. One of the youngest members to
join the council is Jade Webster, founder of Parents is the Word,who won the Park Wood seat for the Conservatives, 115 votes ahead of Ukip
PeterEdwards-Daem.The seat had been recently vacated byMrEd- wards-Daem’s wife, Christine.
‘Victory after hard work’ BOROUGH COUNCIL RESULTS
Sam Watkin (Con) 979; Jackie Hemsted (Ukip) 771; Stella Randall (Lab) 605; Gareth Phillips (Green) 238. LEEDS: Gillian Fort (Con) 813; Daniel Williams (Ukip) 315; Darrel McGuirk (Lab) 130; Georgia Dallas (LD) 121; LOOSE: Sue Grigg (LD) 687; Abigail Hogg (Con) 556; Anthony Richie (Ukip) 225.
DETLING & THURNHAM: Nick de Wig- gondene (Con) 1,052; Peter Horler (Ukip) 304; John Watson (LD) 226; Geoff Harvey (Lab) 180. DOWNSWOOD & OTHAM: Gordon Newton (Ind) 569; Matt Boughton (Con) 536; Michael Harris (Ukip) 170; Audrey Gardner (Lab) 109; Elaine Boylett (Green) 50. EAST: Dave Naghi (LD) 1,511; Joe Mamo (Con) 1,250; Gareth Kendall (Ukip) 865; Richard Coates (Lab) 453; Hannah Patton (Green) 205; Sarah Hodge (Left Unity) 17. FANT: Alistair Black (Con) 1,255; Ros- aline Janko (LD) 930; Elliot Dean (Lab) 860; Colin Taylor (Ukip) 742; Ian Mc- Donald (Green) 434. HARRIETSHAM & LENHAM: Tom Sams (Ind) 1,308; Patrik Garten (Con) 1,053; Mike Williams (Ukip) 601; Peter Under- wood (Lab) 200; Steve Coddrington- Clarke 113 (LD). HIGH STREET: Fran Wilson (LD) 1,098;
MARDEN & YALDING: Annabelle Blackmore (Con) 2,038; Pam Watts (Ukip) 868; Rachel Hill (LD) 866; Edith Davis (Lab) 367; Robert Millar (Green) 151. NORTH: Mike Hemsley (Con) 1,255; Tommy Long (LD) 1,230; Charles Elliott (Ukip) 783; Keith Adkinson (Lab) 445; Donna Greenan (Green) 215. PARK WOOD: Jade Webster (Con) 737; Peter Edwards-Daem (Ukip) 622; Alex Barwick (Lab) 460; Sam Roach (LD) 177; Geoff Licence (Ind) 161; Paul Wooding (Ind) 80. SHEPWAY NORTH: Marion Ring (Con) 1,614; Mike Wardle (Ukip) 941; Theresa Lyons (Lab) 649; Milden Choongo (LD) 297; Steve Muggeridge (Green) 186; Gary Butler (Eng Dem) 38; SOUTH: Brian Clark (LD) 1,748; Mike Hogg (Con) 1,632; John Barned (Ukip) 744; Wendy Hollands (Lab) 371; Guy Tanner (Green) 117. STAPLEHURST: Louise Brice (Con) 1,392; Andrew Watson (LD) 754; Nick Goddard (Ukip) 496; John Randall (Lab) 244; Paul Kelly (Ind) 207; David George (Green) 123; Samuel Lain-Rose (Ind) 28. SUTTON VALENCE & LANGLEY: Paulina Stockell (Con) 1,017; Jean Harvey (Lab) 183; Emily Fermor (LD) 158; Derek Eagle (Green) 128.
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