IT has been a miserable morning for Huntingdonshire Liberal Democrats who came last in nearly every seat they contested on Huntingdonshire District Council apart from the two they won – one by a landslide, the other after a recount.
However, in terms of seats, the results were less dismal: of the three seats they held last week, they succeeded in retaining two, those of party leader Peter Downes in Brampton and his deputy Mike Shellens, who just beat off a challenge from former Conservative agent Sir Peter Brown in Huntingdon North.
The Tories did not fare so well, either, losing HDC chairman Jeff Dutton’s Huntingdon East seat to Labour’s Patrick Kadewere, Eaton Socon to Independent former Lib-Dem Derek Giles, and Ramsey to UKIP mayor Lisa Duffy, both the latter by large margins. They scraped home in Godmanchester, and were run close in The Hemingfords by an Independent, who is a member of the Stop Houghton East Development pressure group.
UKIP significantly increased its poll across the board, and Labour fared better than for a decade in Huntingdonshire.
There are now 39 Conservative members of HDC, seven Liberal Democrats, three UKIP representatives and two Independent members. A by-election for the remaining vacant seat, in Earith is expected to be held soon.
Results:
Brampton:
Adrian Arnett (UKIP) 201
*Peter Downes (LD) 1,196 - elected
Robert Pugh (L) 116
Tina Theodorou (C) 462
Godmanchester:
Ann Beevor (L) 156
Robert Brown (UKIP) 130
Laine Kadi? (C) 468 - elected
Nigel Pauley (Ind) 445
David Underwood (LD) 455
Huntingdon East:
Sir Peter Brown (C) 789
Marion Kadewere (L) 282
Derek Norman (UKIP) 336
*Mike Shellens (LD) 823 - elected
Huntingdon North:
Peter Ashcroft (UKIP) 179
*Jeff Dutton (C) 333
Patrick Kadewere (L) 430 - elected
Trish Shrapnel (LD)81
Ramsey:
Susan Coomey (L) 167
Brian Cunningham (C) 565
Lisa Duffy (UKIP) 1,138 - elected
Sawtry:
Roger Henson (UKIP) 231
Mary Howell (L) 109
*Dick Tuplin (Ind) 1,049 - elected
Somersham:
*Steve Criswell (C) 841 - elected
Tony Jebson (LD) 181
Shirley Reeve (UKIP) 251
Graeme Watkins (L) 180
Sawtry:
Roger Henson (UKIP) 231
Mary Howell (L) 109
*Dick Tuplin (Ind) 1,049 - elected
St Ives East:
*Jason Ablewhite (C) 651 - elected
Paul Bullen (UKIP) 334
Lord Toby Jug (Loony) 118
Richard Oliver (LD) 130
Angela Richards (L) 166
St Ives West:
Richard Allen (L) 62
Ryan Fuller (C) 294 - elected
David Hodge (LD) 180
Margaret King (UKIP) 129
Heather Merryweather (Ind) 201
St Neots Eaton Ford:
Marion Appleton (UKIP) 254
Nicholas Berry (LD) 185
*Bob Farrer (C) 895 - elected
Nik Johnson (L) 239
St Neots Eaton Socon:
Derek Giles (Ind) 890
*Andy Jennings (C) 288
Patricia Nicholls (L) 85
Jenny O’Dell (UKIP) 84
Gordon Thorpe (LD) 53
St Neots Eynesbury:
*Andrew Hansard (C) 646 - elected
David Howard (UKIP) 319
Bill O’Connor (L) 353
Doug Terry (LD) 218
The Hemingfords:
*Ian Bates (C) 779 - elected
Paul Boothman (Ind) 647
Ian Percy (UKIP) 226
David Priestman (LD) 135
John Watson (L)137
Warboys and Bury:
Tony Hulme (LD) 169
John Pethard (C) 612 - elected
Iain Ramsbottom (L) 195
Michael Tew (UKIP) 306
Yaxley and Farcet:
Margaret Cochrane (L) 479
Barry Hyland (UKIP) 453
Mark Oliver (C) 860 - elected
Chris Waites (LD) 97
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