Friday, May 04, 2007

Tories lose control of Thurrock and BNP go nowhere


Update: Great news from Thurrock – The Tories lost overall control of the Council and the BNP were given a good “kicking” (in the democratic sense of the word - even though retired members of Red Action may have been about). The BBC quoted Nazi Griffin (BNP leader) as claiming that they were expecting to take seats in Thurrock. Wrong. There may have been only two Labour gains, but it meant that the Tories lost overall control of the Council. Make's up a bit for the not particularly positive night for Labour. However, we did increase our national vote by 1%!

I was pleased that the ward that the West Ham team spent most time on “West Thurrock and South Stifford”, the Labour candidate, Julieann Burkey, thrashed the BNP 676 votes to 478. Last time the BNP came within 18 votes. Well done Julieann.

In the other ward we worked “Ockendon” the Labour candidate, Oliver Gerrish, only lost to the Tories by 13 votes (741 Tories 728 Labour). If I hadn’t got lost and took us over the QE bridge into Kent, would we been able to do one more “knock up” and get those votes? I blame the map reader! (typical, bloody campaign group supporters, they know what they want but can’t work out a way to get there!)

Although London Labour members (there is no election in London this year) obviously played their part, as I posted last night, the real credit for their success must lie with the local Thurrock Labour Party and the hard work that must have gone on well before 3 May. The local members had that familiar sleep deprived “walking dead” look (a compliment in these circumstances). The canvassing returns were pretty accurate, we didn’t have to hang around or wait to be sent out, their election leaflets were good and the Party members seemed to work well as a team (no obvious internal bickering, no temper tantrums et al). No doubt there will be lessons to be learnt. However, “Hats off” to Thurrock.

My view of the overall national result is that 485 loses is nothing to go on about, however, I was encouraged by the support that Labour enjoyed even in these admittedly difficult times. So if we have an electable leader (and deputy?) who can run an effective political campaign, keep the economy stable, who can show they have learnt from the mistakes of the past, then Labour should win, big time.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

And still the Tories kept control by doing a deal with the Independents !

John Gray said...

Oh well, better luck next May!

Anonymous said...

Your party missed a great opportunity in September when the Tory group on the Borough Council was bitterly divided after the Chafford Hundred school places fiasco shown on ITN. Many Tory Councillors shouted Mike Revell down while others called for the Council leader - Hipsey - to be sacked. The Labour group knew about all of this but said nothing in public. Why not ?

John Gray said...

Sorry anon - no idea! anyone from Labour Thurrock about? I'm sure there will be a good reason.