A HEATED debate raged at the Southend election count last night over a disputed spoilt ballot.

Tensions rose between the Independents and Tories after a ballot was spoilt with rude language about the Tory candidate, Azeem Raja, and a tick in the box for Independent candidate Martin Terry.

Without this ballot, it was a dead heat between the Tories and Independents. 

The debate got very heated with crowds of people around the Thorpe ward counting table.

It was getting tense over at count for Thorpe ward and Tory leader Tony Cox allegedly got cross and was allegedly told to calm down. Police were reportedly called to the table.

After much discussion Martin Terry, Independent candidate, won the seat, by just one vote. 

Echo:

During his acceptance speech on the stage, he said: “It was a fair contest the returning officer ruled on a disputed ballot paper and we have accepted that.

“Nineteen years ago I decided to run and got elected as an independent councillor in this town at that point in time I was told by a Conservative leader that I would never get elected in Southend as an Independent councillor.

“Here I am 19 years later and I am still here. I want to thank the returning officers staff because they have had a real headache tonight and it’s been very difficult for them.”

He also thanked the people of Thorpe Ward.

Tony Cox leader of the Southend Tories would not comment specifically on the contested ballot but would only comment on the general evening results.

He said: “I am feeling a mixture of emotions to be fair in some wards we were clear runaway winners say in West Shoebury, my own ward, and Southchurch.

“From 2018 it’s interesting when you look at Thorpe whereby it’s gone from thousands down to a tightly close contested affair.

“I think one thing we can all agree is it certainly kept people on their toes throughout the night.

“It’s disappointing there were a couple of close contests in a number of wards.” He said one thing it shows is that politics is volatile in Southend where there are some closely run races.

There were a number of recounts and discussions with the two candidates and the election officials at the Southend Tennis and Leisure Centre.

Then after much anticipation and waiting Andy Lewis the chief executive of the council made the announcement on the main stage of the election event.

The Tories were visibly angry and upset by the ruling on the night by the officials of the election.

Labour sees huge gains at the polls

IT was a good night for Labour in Southend as the party gained three extra seats at the election count.

The jubilant party celebrated their success at the polls as voters backed the candidates.

Excitement built on the night of the count at Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre as each set of results were revealed to the waiting candidates and supporters.

Echo:

The new make up of the council is Tory - 21, Labour - 16, Independent - six, Lib Dem - six and Unaligned Independent - Two.

Labour gained seats in St Luke’s with Kathy Murphy being elected, St Laurence with Lydia Hyde winning and in Victoria with Mandy O’Connor winning.

IAN Gilbert, leader of the Labour party said: “I am really pleased with the Labour results, it’s the best everresult finishing top in seven wards and eight councillors elected, it’s fantastic.

“You have to back to 1996 at least to see a result like this for Labour in Southend to find a comparable result.

“I want to continue to provide good quality services and continue to invest in our roads and pavements.

“I want to see through some of the big regeneration projects to bring jobs, investment into our city and really use the opportunity that city status gives us to promote Southend.”

In her acceptable speech Mandy O’Connor said she wanted to thank many, many people.

She thanked the police for ensuring the integrity of the election count.

She added: “I want to thank all the Victoria residents for putting their trust in me.”

Belfairs

Stephen Allen (Ind) - 1013

Alan Crystall (Lib Dem) - 119

Alex Small (Lab) - 289

Dean Harris-Eckett (Confelicity) - 6

Peter Walker (Greens) - 93

Alan Dear (Con) - 1033* Hold

Blenheim

Jill Allen-King (Lib Dem) - 148

Bernard Arscott (Con) - 1013

Laurie Barton (Lab) - 1130 Hold *

Alan Hart (Ind) - 105

Abbie Sutherland (Greens) - 127

James Fackerell (Confelicity) - 28

Chalkwell

Emily Kent (Women’s Equality Party) -91

Nigel Folkard (Con) - 1023 * hold

Christopher Hind (Lib Dem) - 275

Kevin Waller (Confelicity) - 47

Joe Creswell (Lab) - 678

Reese Learmouth (Greens) - 168

Eastwood Park

Jane Norman (Lab) - 166

Connor Bines (Confelicity) - 38

James Vessey-Miller (Greens) - 51

Robert McMullan (Lib Dem) - 1180 Gain *

Floyd Waterworth (Con) - 1129

Kursaal

Matt Dent (Labour and Cooperative Party) - 1105* hold

Robert Howes (Lib Dems) - 64

Thomas Love (Greens) - 114

James Miller (Confelicity) - 70

Dennis Garne (Con) - 411

Leigh

Paul Gilson (Con) - 705

Richard Longstaff (Greens) - 600

Elysia Clark (Confelicity) - 26 

Anita Forde (Lab) - 321

Carole Mulroney (Lib Dem) - 1142 hold*

Milton

Maxine Sadza (Lab) - 1257* hold

Keaton Harland (Con) - 657

Dee Curtis (Confelicity) - 63

Charlotte Kurliecz (Lib Dem) - 116

Sarah-Ann Patel (Greens) - 233

Prittlewell

Billy Boulton (Lib Dem) - 288

Kevin Buck (Con) - 1278* - hold

Lizzie Smith (Confelicity) - 44

Jon Mullett (Greens) - 176

Shahid Nadeem (Lab) - 572

Shoebury

Nick Ward (Ind)- 924 * hold

Fiona Clapperton (Greens) - 122

Kevin Ryan (Lab) - 430

Colin Campbell (Con) - 876

Kayleigh Burgess (Confelicity) - 36

Granville Stride (Lib Dem) - 49

Southchurch

Pam Austin (Lib Dem) - 161

Jo Bates (Greens) - 193

Daniel Nelson (Con) - 1387* hold

Janathan Humphrys (con) - 65

Nathan Doucette (Labour and Co-operative Party) - 429

St Laurence

Dave McGlone (Con) - 984

Kev Malone (Lib Dem) - 191

Lydia Hyde (Labour and Cooperative Party) - 1207* gain

Yasmin Bey (Confelicity) - 47

Lea Williams (Greens) - 90

St Luke’s

Brian Ayling (Ind) - 304

Lee Clark (Confelicity) - 67

Kathy Murphy (Lab) - 1036* gain

Jonathan Garston (Con) - 655

Tilly Hogrebe (Green) - 156

Alan Grace (ReformUK – Changing Politics for Good) - 45

Nicky Gilbert (Lib Dem) - 67

Thorpe

Julie Carrow (Greens) - 174

Tris Bembridge (Lib Dem) - 65

Sam Allen (Lab) - 359

Melissa Aylott (Confelicity) - 50

Azeem Raja (Con) - 1229

Martin Terry (Ind) - 1230* hold

Victoria

Ian Hurd (Green) - 158

Margaret Borton (Lab) - 1132* hold

Bob Carr (Con) - 421

Phil Edey (Lib Dem) - 104

Steve Harvey (Con) - 421

Freya Martin (Green) - 183

Rik Moran (Animal Welfare Party – People, Animals, Environment) - 109

Mandy O’Connor (Lab) - 967* gain

Gavin Spencer (Lib Dem) - 81

Tommy Taylor (Confelicity) - 39

West Leigh

Mick Ekers (Lab) -168

Katie Kurilecz (Lib Dem) - 1220

Fay Evans (Con) - 1460* hold

James Delaney (Confelicity) - 23

Nathaniel Love (Greens) - 194

West Shoebury

Paul Hill (Greens) - 176 Gabriel Leroy (Lab) - 498

John Harland (Con) - 1313 * hold

Michael Arkus-Binder (Confelicity) - 104

Richard Collins (Lib Dem) - 162

Westborough

Suzanne Edey (Lib Dem) - 179

Stephanie Golder (Green) - 157

Kevin Robison (Lab) -1197* hold

TK Gondo (Confelicity) - 26

Tamkeen Shaika (Con) - 366