Holdcroft: Tories appeal to people ‘from all walks of life’

By Rachel Charman

Conservative Council leader Nigel Holdcroft has expressed his delight at the party’s control of Southend.

At the local election count of Friday, the Conservatives won seats in Kursaal, Milton and St Lukes, as well as holding the Belfairs, Chalkwell, Eastwood Park, Southchurch, West Leigh, West Shoebury and Shoeburyness wards, whilst only losing one seat, in Thorpe.

This leaves the Conservatives with 27 seats and a clear majority on Southend Council, and in fact a larger majority than they had when Southend went to the polls.

Cllr Holdcroft said: “I am delighted that the people of Southend have again placed their trust in the party that has a proven track record of getting the best deal for our town.

“All local councils face tough years with significant cuts to funding, but greater demands on services.

“Over the past four years Southend’s Conservative administration has delivered economies in excess of £30m to fund improvements to services, whilst consistently keeping council tax low and maintaining front line services.

“I am also very encouraged by the fact that our candidates were either first or second across all wards.

“This shows we are appealing to people from all walks of life, wherever they live in Southend.

“It shows they recognise the essential experience, solid policies and strong leadership the Conservatives bring to Southend Council.

“Along with all my colleagues, I look forward to making a Better Southend for us all.”

The main contender for Cllr Holdcroft’s West Leigh seat was Liberal Democrat candidate Christopher Bailey. Mr Bailey took 2,060 votes, whilst Cllr Holdcroft secured 2,541.

In previous elections, every time a current council leader had come up for election, they had lost, first with Anna Waite, and then with Murray Foster. Cllr Holdcroft avoided this fate.

In his victory speech, Cllr Holdcroft criticised his opponents who he claimed had “run campaigns from the gutter,” adding that he was “still the leader of the Council, and will continue to be so,” for as long as his party supports him.

Mr Bailey said that the leadership might turn out to be a “poisoned chalice” for Cllr Holdcroft, and warned that in a few years Cllr Holdcroft might wish that their roles had been reversed.

Tags: Cllr Holdcroft, Conservatives, Elections, Liberal Democrats, Southend