chippingnortonjournal

Oxfordshire County Council Election results

 

2013: Tories lose overall control of Oxfordshire County Council

                     

A rueful Ian Hudspeth moments after the Conservatives lost overall control of the council

THE Conservatives have just lost overall control of Oxfordshire County Council.
The party, which has been in control since 2005 failed to win the 32 seats it needed. It was left stranded on 31 as the result for Sutton Courtenay and Marcham - the last seat in the final few it could reasonably win - went to the Liberal Democrats.
Most bruisingly for it, it lost Witney South and Central to Labour and even finished third behind UKIP in the Prime Minister's backyard.
As the Sutton Courtenay result was announced, Conservative leader Ian Hudspeth tried to put a brave face on it.


Hilary Biles

He said: "It means there's no majority. We have a group meeting tomorrow where we have to decide who is going to be leader of the group (which is routine) and if I'm given the opportunity of continuing to lead the group I will be talking to the other groups about our options.
"One of the main things we need to make sure is that we have stability."

Slap for Cameron as Tories come third in Witney South and Central to Labour and UKIP

                     

LABOUR and UKIP have dealt a massive blow to the Conservatives in the Oxfordshire County Council election today in David Cameron's backyard. Labour's Laura Price has won the division of Witney South and Central, beating UKIP by just 10 votes. She polled 756.
Incumbent Conservative councillor David Harvey trailed third with 697.
Miss Price said: "I am very pleased. It's down to the hard work and the dedication of the people who work in the community for the Labour Party.
"I think it does send a message to the national government when Labour can win in the heart of David Cameron's constituency.

"It shows that people want to feel they have got a voice and that they are not being marginalised by politics."

Mr Harvey said: "This is national politics being played at a local level.
"I am extremely disappointed that so many Witney voters have decided to express their displeasure with national policies in local elections.

Ed: There we have it, UKIP may not have won any seats but undoubtedly the Conservative loss is down to them. What is clear is David Cameron clearly needs to eat humble pie however after watching one senior Tory rambling on earlier they clearly haven't learnt a thing. Having looked through Oxfordshire's results the amount of votes for UKIP is astounding which makes you wonder how well UKIP would do in other elections, with the European Election coming up shortly UKIP can expect the Westminster dirty tricks brigade go into overdrive to discredit them.

What David Cameron has to consider whether he likes it or not is Clegg and Cable have made it quite clear they will not back down over the EU which is the real support for UKIP, they are happy to stab him in the back and jump ship to be with Labour so he just might have to join forces with Nigel Farage to secure a second term providing he gives guarantees about a referendum on the EU, unfortunately as everyone knows despite all the promises and the threats the Prime Minister has made over Europe he won't deliver.