Some results from Rochford - Essex

Before the local election I said that there was something stirring in South-East Essex.

Well the results are in and here a few facts from the Rochford District Council elections:

The Conservatives won everything ( it hasn't always been that way - once the Lib Dems ran the council ! They have now been utterly decimated ).

But look at who the opposition are - who are getting support:

Based on votes cast in contested wards (which probably undervalues Conservative support as they were awarded a few wards as not contested ):
As you can see the English Dems perform on a par with Labour and the Lib Dems - in fact they beat Labour in terms of votes cast and both Labour and the Lib Dems for share of the vote where they contested.

At the same time other minor party activity has sapped votes. ( The picture is very complicated as various permutations of candidate stood in different seats ).

These are good days for the Conservatives, but the English Dems have to be very pleased with an early performance like this.

There is a strong anti-politics mood in the country right now and one day a minor party might ride that wave. Based on UKIP recent performance its not going to be them and we had all better hope its never the BNP (who are taking votes mostly from their fellow left wing authoritarian Labour party - hence the tactics being reported on foreigners being made to carry ID cards by a desperate Labour in the Crewe and Nantwich bye-election).

But the Lib Dems look tired and worn out ( all that facing two ways I suppose ), if PR was brought in to this country the Lib Dems should not assume it is they who would benefit.