By Michael Casey
National
The Civic Hall is empty now. The joyous Tories and the bereft Labour have departed. It is difficult to comprehend that I have been here for seventeen hours.
Nobody spent more time with the parties and the candidates than myself. It has been a pleasure. From the quirky but vital Independents to the Prime Minister, it has been a fascinating election to follow.
The thing about Jackie Doyle-Price is that she never had a bad word, arrogant bone or untoward moment in her whole campaign. Jackie wasn’t necessarily a change candidate but more of a respect candidate and now MP. She will wear that badge with pride and do her utmost to represent her people. Who “her people” are, is debatable.
Carl Morris will be hurting. He will feel, by rights that he should have won. He nearly did but for as much as he tried to separate himself from the national scene, too many people vote on national issues and identities. By rights, Angela Smith had experience, intelligence and character but people just did not buy into Gordon Brown as a Prime Minister.
Labour should have ditched Gordon Brown a year ago and gone for David Miliband. They may well still do and we could easily be in another General Election before the end of the year
Carl will come back.
The one thing the Tory campaigns had over Labour was an energy and that is not to be underestimated. There was also cash with a large amount of Ashcroft money blowing in once David Cameron came to Palmer’s College.
The key to change may well have been the intervention of the South Basildon team who kicked some back-sides. That is why you saw a real effort in Aveley. Those 92 votes may well have come from there.
Local
Well we got Aveley wrong then! (and Ockendon and then there was Carl winning by 1300)
So, the Tories have increased their strength in the council chamber. With fresh blood such as Phil Anderson and James Halden they should use this as a new dawn.
Will they have a leadership contest next week. Go google the scorpion and the frog for details.
Having said that there are so many issues coming back over the hill that will take up a lot of energy. They can ill-afford any more internecine strife and should crack on.
At the same time, they may feel they have the carte-blanche to crack on and make a whole tranche of cuts.
Labour will be disappointed and must be wondering how it is that they are now out of power for a sixth year. It could have been worse if it wasn’t for UKIP.
There may need to be some root and branch reform locally and to become a little more dynamic. They will desperately miss Carl in the chamber
Conclusion
I hope you appreciated the coverage. We felt that this was an opportunity to “validate what we do” What we saw was democracy in action.
There may well now follow some deep-seated cuts to the public sector. It may be a very testing time for many people in Thurrock and we hope that the spirit of compassionate conservatism comes to the fore.
See you all in the autumn!
Now we have a conclusion, I have to say it has been great following the election on Your Thurrock, great coverage, well done to everyone at Your Thurrock
Salute to you Mr Casey for providing the only way that man on the Ockendon Omnibus can have any understanding of what is happening. Gripping coverage with a nailbiting finish. Perhaps you should open a pay to view channel.
Enjoy a long sleep.
I echo the previous two postings, well done Mr Casey and all at Your Thurrock for the fantastic coverage throughout all the trial and tribulations of the election, enjoy the rest and glass of red.