Maybe 2-1 for the Conservatives (v LibDems), but last time (in 2021) it was 3-0. Marlborough’s outgoing Town Mayor, Kym-Marie Cleasby (LibDem) defeated sitting (Conservative) Councillor Caroline Thomas in Marlborough East. Jane Davies (Marlborough West) and James Sheppard (Aldbourne & Ramsbury) – both Local Conservatives – won their seats fairly comfortably. James achieved 723 votes, Reform UK’s Aurelia Stephenson came second with 410 votes.
In Marlborough West Jane Davies retained her seat by receiving 770 votes, ensuring a third term on Wiltshire Council. Parvis Jamieson, LibDem was runner-up with 446 votes.
In Marlborough East, Kim-Marie Cleasby achieved 605 votes with former Councillor Caroline Thomas getting 487 votes.
Whilst James Sheppard may have retained his Aldbourne & Ramsbury seat for Local Conservatives with a decreased majority, his ‘boss’, the East Wiltshire Conservative Association Chairman, Rupert Stephenson should be very pleased. However, Rupert may have bit of a dilemma, and may not be so pleased after all as one of the candidates that James beat was Aurelia Stephenson – Rupert’s wife – who was standing for Reform UK. Interesting cup of coffee next time James pops around to Rupert’s for a chat……
Overall the turnout was down. In 2021 the total number of votes cast for all candidates – across all three divisions was 5,178 – representing a healthy turnout (for a Local Authority election) of 40.3%. Yesterday the turnout was 35.4% at 4,598 – 580 less than in 2021 . Maybe the warm and (unseasonal?) weather played a role? Too warm even to wander down to the Polling Station. Or just less interest in local politics all round.
But for the LibDems, a success. Even though they lost on the overall score.
But across the whole Council, Conservatives have lost their overall majority, not reaching the 50 seat threshold (just 37 seats). LibDems are by a whisker the largest group with 43 seats on the Council and will be setting out the structure of how the new Council shapes up and works. Reform have ten, seven Independents and one Labour Councillor. Interesting……
So politics is about to break out in Wiltshire with party groups having to work together: who / what / how – too early to say yet. But this will affect us all, and we’ll start to get some idea of how, soon…..
Helicopter thrills Great Bedwyn and Oare pupils
