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-
sive 24,895 votes – leaving Ukip’s PeterEdwards-Daem trailing in sec- ond 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 with
Helen Whately
myelection result, with the majority just about doubled to more than 10,000 and a significant swing from the LibDems to the Conservatives. “Itwas a long, tiring election cam-
Commiee system adopted
MAIDSTONE Council has reviewed its decision-making structures and the cabinet system of decision-making has been replaced with a new committee system of governance. The leader of the council, Cllr Fran Wilson, is also chairman of the pol- icy and resources committee and most decisions will be taken by this and three other service committees. The former council leader, Conservative Cllr Annabelle Blackmore, is vice-chairman. This committee will consider the council’s budget and strategic plan, economic development and cor- porate matters such as risk management. Other committees:
• Communities, housing and environment: chairman Marion Ring (Con), vice-chairman Derek Mortimer (Lib Dem). • Strategic planning, sustainability and transport: chairman David Burton (Con); vice-chairman Tony Harwood (Lib Dem). • Planning: chairman Clive English (Lib Dem); vice-chairman Malcolm Greer (Con).
• Heritage, culture and leisure: chairman Gordon Newton (Ind); vice- chairman Richard Ash (Con).
The full council of all 55 Maidstone borough councillors appoints the leader, sets council tax, agrees the council’s budget and constitution, and important plans and strategies.
The leaders of the groups are: Cllr Fran Wilson, Lib Dem; Cllr Annabelle Blackmore, Conservative; Cllr Fay Gooch, Independent; Cllr Dave Sargeant, Ukip; and Cllr Malcolm McKay, Labour.
Lib Dem Gerard looks ahead
JASPER Gerard says his priorities are now family and work. 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,
20 Maidstone South June 2015
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. 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)
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 Conserva- tives lost two seats to the Lib Dems – but gained one in North ward, with TommyLong losing out to MichaelHem- sley.
Mike Hogg
Former Conserva- tive South ward
councillor MikeHoggwas furious at
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.
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;
being unseated by Lib Dem county councillor Brian Clark, who gained 1,748 votes, knock- ing him into a close second place with 1,632. The LibDems also took a seat in Coxheath and Hunton, after the res- ignation of former Tory Cllr Dennis Collins. Here Lib Dem Richard Webb gained a narrow 54-vote ma- jority over the Conservative runner- up Fred Lawrence. Elsewhere in town, there were a
Brian Clark
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.
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.
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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