River Ward Result

The votes cast were as follows, in order of position:

CRAGGS David George (Conservative) – 617 votes (44·6%, +5·6%)

JONES John Alun Charles (Labour) – 544 votes (39·4%, -0·7%)

HARRISON Garry (Liberal Democrat) – 104 votes (7·5%, -0·6%)

KEEVIL Steven Richard (Green Party) – 45 votes (3·3%, +3·3%)

RAVENSCROFT Brian Christian (BNP) – 39 votes (2·8%, +2·8%)

SANDS Ron (English Democrats) – 33 votes (2·4%, +2·4%)

Turnout was 25·3% (1,386 ballot papers, including postal votes, out of a ward electorate of 5,484). Just four ballot papers were disallowed (blank, spoiled or unclear where the cross had been placed).

The result did not come as a shock despite the commentary from outside observers. Box counts from the General Election night revealed a significant Tory majority in the ward which had been cultivated by a sitting Tory Councillor. It was noted that UKIP once again did not field a candidate in Rochester & Strood. An unholy alliance or mere coincidence?

This result was always going to be an odds-on punters bet on the Conservatives. This blog said as much yesterday whilst reserving judgement.

Obviously a disappointing result for Labour locally but will this now be the high water-mark for the Medway Conservatives?

Around the country Labour has been getting great results in council by-elections. The results in votes cast in all the council by-elections in July and in the first weeks of August show us neck and neck with the Tories on 34%. The Lib Dems were on 24%.

It is important to remember, and some leadership candidates seem clearly not to think, that winning in Kent is absolutely crucial if you are to win back Parliament. Voters in Medway are the middle-ground aspirational's who left the party in droves under Gordon Brown, and they must be courted aggressively over time to win back.

The vote yesterday was close and with other marginal wards at a knife edge across the town, a tipping point could see the Labour Group double in size on very small swings indeed.

It must be noted though, that the catch-up with the Tories is remarkable in view of the fact that only 14 weeks ago in the General Election Labour were only 8% behind the Tories. This shows that the party is determined to fight back. This blog strongly believes that support for the Government will ebb away even further as people see the risks that the Government is taking with the economy, when they feel the impact of the unfair VAT increase and the public service cuts.

There is encouraging news of more new members continuing to join the Labour Party. Across the country, the Party has gained 27,894 new members since May 6th. A third of these new members are people who have formerly supported the Lib Dems. Half are Labour voters who now believe that they must join the Labour Party to fight the Government and 10% have joined to take part in our leadership election.