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County Durham: Labour scrapes through
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| Becky Brunskill: Elected in Willington |
LABOUR has scraped through to take control of the new County Durham unitary authority, but it has gone backwards in both Sunderland and Hartlepool.
With just two more seats to declare, Labour has crept over the finishing line and, with 67 councillors, has an overall majority of three.
The Liberal Democrats and Independents were making a good showings in different pockets of the county. The British National Party polled heavily in a couple of divisions - notably Tudhoe and Chilton - but did not win a seat.
Except in Teesdale, the Conservative showing was lukewarm in Durham - although one of the last results of the night gave Becky Brunskill, 20, a big win in Willington with 1210 votes.
The Conservatives also gained five seats in Sunderland, which is their success story in the North-East.
In Hartlepool, Labour lost one seat, as did the Lib Dems, with the Tories and the UK Independence Party both gaining one. The council, which Labour has run for five years, has slipped back to No Overall Control.
Turnout in Durham appears to have been remarkably high.
The Lib Dems have done particularly well in Durham City, where they run the district council. They have won 15 of their 25 seats in Durham City.
In other areas of the county, Independents proved the main opposition to Labour, particularly in Derwentside and Newton Aycliffe.
Durham became the country's first ever Labour council in 1919, and it would have been a major embarrassment if it had lost in its heartland.
As it was, it has suffered three big casualties. Two came in Bishop Auckland where former Durham county council leader Ken Manton was defeated for the second time in three years, and where the town's respected mayor Barbara Laurie was also beaten by the Lib Dems.
The other big casualty was in Peterlee where David Taylor-Gooby, a councillor for nearly 20 years, was another victim of the Lib Dems.
2:27am Friday 2nd May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Steve Day, Co Durham on 9:31am Fri 2 May 08
Its a good day in general across the UK watching the most inept, corrupt, self serving bunch of liars and fraudsters get hammered by the other parties, Its just sad to see that so many folk in co durham think the labour party actually does care for them, their votes would have been much better used on the smaller parties like UKIP, Greens, Independants, even the BNP, any or all of the opposition to New Labour would be an improvement on the crowd we have in power now, Still when you get a big council tax rise next year you cant complain can you ?
Its a good day in general across the UK watching the most inept, corrupt, self serving bunch of liars and fraudsters get hammered by the other parties, Its just sad to see that so many folk in co durham think the labour party actually does care for them, their votes would have been much better used on the smaller parties like UKIP, Greens, Independants, even the BNP, any or all of the opposition to New Labour would be an improvement on the crowd we have in power now, Still when you get a big council tax rise next year you cant complain can you ?
Posted by: Keith Wallace, Crook on 8:11pm Fri 2 May 08
I dont exactly agree with these comments but with the general feelings - how about the creation of another level of power CROOK TOWN COUNCIL - does anyone know the costs of this creation? We all know what the power will be!! Adjacent similar creations do what - discuss.
I dont exactly agree with these comments but with the general feelings - how about the creation of another level of power CROOK TOWN COUNCIL - does anyone know the costs of this creation? We all know what the power will be!! Adjacent similar creations do what - discuss.
Posted by: M T, Willington on 10:52pm Fri 2 May 08
Becky seems to have worked so hard her success is well deserved. I am sure she will Willingtton proud.
Becky seems to have worked so hard her success is well deserved. I am sure she will Willingtton proud.
Posted by: Michael, County Durham on 9:45am Fri 9 May 08
Well done Becky. Your campaign was positive and you worked so hard to win people's support. You'll be a wonderful representative of the people.
Commiserations to David Taylor Gooby who was an excellent Councillor and genuinely caring person. You'll be back David!
Well done Becky. Your campaign was positive and you worked so hard to win people's support. You'll be a wonderful representative of the people.
Commiserations to David Taylor Gooby who was an excellent Councillor and genuinely caring person. You'll be back David!
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