Ashford Lib Dem votes surge as Labour vote collapses

10.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 4th May 2007

Ashford Liberal Democrats - The Official Opposition

Ashford Liberal Democrats are celebrating their new status as "the official opposition" on Ashford Borough Council after picking up 3 extra seats in the local election.

It was though a terrible night for both Labour and the Ashford Independent party as both slumped to less than a handful of seats each.

All of the existing Liberal Democrat Councillors were re-elected, a ringing endorsement of the Lib Dem message of "where we work, we win."

New councillors include a return for former Councillor Brian Norris in Aylesford Green, the election of local resident David Bradberry in Norman Ward and the election of Lib Dem Vice-President Sue Heaton in Highfield.

Speaking at the count Liberal Democrat campaign manager Chris Took said "this is a tremendous result for us. We have continued on our upward spiral that began during the general election in 2005. I am very optimistic that we can continue to build on this success."

"In terms of votes cast the Liberal Democrats will clearly be the main opposition party at the next general election, likely to be in 2009."

The results

Conservatives - 20,825 votes (52.4% - 28 seats)

Liberal Democrats - 11,228 votes (28.3% - 8 seats)

Ashford Independents - 4,101 votes (10.3% - 4 seats)

Labour - 2,788 votes (7% - 2 seats)

Independent - 348 votes (1% - 1 seat)

Greens - 355 votes (1% - no seats)