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.

The political tide in Essex ?

As I mentioned in the last post I'm on a visit to my former home town in Essex. Today the family went out for a day out at "Tropical wings" (www.tropicalwings.co.uk) near Battlebridge, and fantastic family trip out with a range of creatures from butterflies to a falcon that flew of during the flying display and didn't seem very keen on returning. (The keepers will track him via a radio transmitter - so he knows how the rest of s are going to feel once ID cards come in).

Back at home I'm looking at the Yellow Advertiser and an interesting article on local politics. What strikes me as an occasional visitor is how the Lib Dems have just died off over here.

Take the local elections here are the number of candidates for each party for Rochford district council elections:

Conservative 15
Lib Dem 6
Lab 6
UKIP 1
Greens 3
English Democrats 5
BNP 1
Ind 1

Two of the Conservatives are already elected as their seats are uncontested. The Lb Dems ad Labour never stand in the sae wards - so the usual collusion there then. But the big surprise s the English Democrats putting up a major effort.

Essex should be fertile ground for the English Democrats. I've seen many St George's flags in evidence and no Union flags. People round here like to work for a living and are not impressed by the money being sent to Labour's client states in Scotland and Wales.

It will be intresting to watch the results as a growing English political dimension presents a special challange to the Conservative party.