Colchester blues
Written by Stephen Tall on 10th July 2007 – 2:12 pmThe defection of two former Lib Dem councillors (via a fortnight’s sojourn as independents) in Colchester has handed control of the local borough council to the Tories.
See the East Anglian Daily Times for more.
Posted in News
10th July 2007 at 11:33 pm
Why no comments on this disaster news.
Have we still got our heads in the sand?
10th July 2007 at 11:37 pm
It is a disaster, as Terry Sutton was a great campaigner and a good egg. I don’t know about the local situation now (I was last there fifteen years ago) but it’s probably one of those things that happen when a party in control or contention for a very long time, alas.
12th July 2007 at 9:44 am
I think this is the culmination of a long dispute between Terry Sutton and Bob Russell. I bumped into Terry at the Hartlepool by-election, having known him slightly when I was a student in Colchester, and from chatting to him it was clear there were tensions between the two then. I suspect the tensions between Bob and the council group, and the impact this must have had on campaigning, are one reason why we’ve been going backwards in council terms in Colchester for the last few years.
2nd May 2008 at 11:44 pm
Craig Sutton the son of Terry Sutton was kicked out as a councillor in the local elections last night coming third, Labour won his seat with the Lib Dems second.
The Tories had a bad night in Colchester as the Lib Dems took four seats off them and nearly two others. Labour took one seat off the Tories. Colchester is now under no overall control.
From feedback on the street the Suttons have negelected their ward which is why it has now been going to Labour.
The Lib Dems in Colchester are now well organised and united. For a number of years the Suttons created conflict in Lib Dem ranks and they will not be missed.
3rd May 2008 at 12:30 am
“The defection of two former Lib Dem councillors … in Colchester has handed control of the local borough council to the Tories.”
According to the the result page of BBC Tories won 27 council seats out of 60, so two defection shouldn’t be enough to give them the control.
3rd May 2008 at 12:38 am
Anonymous: you might have missed that Stephen’s piece is from 2007, and so is talking about a different council make-up from that which has just been elected.
20th August 2008 at 4:37 pm
I just noticed that the Tory PPC for Colchester quit a few weeks ago, so much for the positive Tory vision for Colchester. http://conservativehome.blogs.com/goldlist/2008/08/jill-skalla-ste.html
Then again, i wouldn’t put it past Terry to apply for the job!