IF THERE is a seat which more or less admits how far both the Labour and Conservative groups in Thurrock have retreated in the Ockendon and Aveley area, then it is a look at the candidates for this ward.
This was once a ward which had very distinct local councillors. Councillors such as Labour’s Barry Lawrence and Conservative’s Amanda Arnold (who we see has re-surfaced as a candidate in Pitsea).
But somewhere along the way, they have lost their way (we will skate over Aaron Kiely). Which is a shame. Of course, the ward still has the hard working Barry Johnson.
Instead, the ward has two strangers from Labour and Conservatives. YT understands that the Labour candidate, Tony Fish, who was a Chadwell councillor for years, got the spot after telling all he was standing down from Chadwell. That vacancy was filled, he changed his mind and was given this gig.
Likewise, many thought that Lynn Carr might stand again for the Tories. Lynn turned out to be a first class councillor between 2010 and 2014 but again, it looks like her face did not fit. Instead, Ockendon appears to have Ben Gadsby.
All we know about the UKIP candidate is that Kevin Wheeler pushed Labour very close in Chadwell last year.
It looks like Ockendon could be his reward. It will be interesting to see if he can get more than 45% of the vote like Chris Baker did last year.
Perhaps, Labour and the Conservatives think that the voters, one day, will come back to them. If they do not, then they may well only have themselves to blame. See Scottish Labour for details.
Prediction: UKIP gain
Ockendon
FISH Tony, Labour
GADSBY Ben, Conservative
WHEELER Kevin, UKIP
