ELECTIONS: The Conservatives have strolled to victory in Swindon taking control of the council after a quarter of a century of Labour dominance.
The Tories, who needed just one extra seat for an overall majority, took three from Labour and one from the Liberal Democrats.
Leader Mike Bawden hailed the result as "a major step" for Swindon, and said there would now be no excuses for failure.
"I'm absolutely delighted the voters have rejected Labour's legacy and given us overall control," he said.
"It leaves us the challenge of changing the culture of Swindon in the next two years."
Coun Bawden, who was re-elected to his Old Town and Lawn ward with a large majority, said: "I'm very satisfied with the major step the people of Swindon have taken in giving the Conservative Party overall control of the council for the first time since 1978."
The first sign of Tory victory came at 1.20am today, when it was announced Conservative challenger Dale Heenan had won Covingham and Nythe a seat held since 1992 by outgoing Labour Mayor Derek Benfield.
It was the first of four Conservative gains, and was soon followed by Moredon, Freshbrook and Grange Park, and finally after a dramatic recount St Philip. Gloomy Labour supporters who had gathered at the Oasis Leisure Centre in North Star for the count watched helplessly as the seats fell to the Conservatives and Swindon's political map turned blue.
For the Conservatives, it was the result they had been dreaming of, giving them overall control of Swindon Council, and the power to push through their political agenda without fear of being voted down by the opposition.
For Labour, it was the end of an era, as voters rejected their pleas for another shot at running the town.
Defeated party supporters tried their best to put on a brave face, but nothing could disguise the truth that Labour's quarter century of dominance in Swindon was well and truly over.
It was also a bad night for the Liberal Democrats, who lost Freshbrook and Grange Park to the advancing Tories.
The highest profile victims of last night's contest were Jim D'Avila in Moredon and Teresa Page in St Philip both members of Labour's shadow cabinet.
Turnout, at 32.4 per cent, was up on last year, when only 29.8 per cent of the electorate turned out. But none of the winning candidates can claim the support of the majority of their constituents.
As the night began, the Tories had 29 seats, Labour 22 and the Lib Dems eight. The night ended with the Tories on 33, Labour on 19 and the Lib Dems on seven.
Evening Advertiser 11th June 2004
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