CONSERVATIVES in Hillingdon are jubilant after increasing their majority and ending Labour hopes of making gains in the London borough elections.
Before the count, they had 42 seats to Labour’s 22, but the figure now stands at 44-21..
The Tories gained two seats in the marginal Charville ward at Hayes and one in Uxbridge South while Labour gained one in West Drayton.
Labour were particularly targeting Brunel, Yiewsley and Uxbridge South but were unable to break out from their Hayes and Harlington heartland.
Ray Puddifoot, who becomes London’s longest-serving council leader with 18 years of service, said Conservatives had benefited from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn campaigning in Hillingdon.
He said: “I’m extremely grateful to Jeremy Corbyn for coming to the borough because it has enabled us to increase our majority without a doubt.
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“It’s the Corbyn effect all right, but the complete reverse of what they were anticipating. Jeremy Corby was our godsend.”
He pledged to spend the next four years reinforcing his parties efforts to ensure clean streets, picturesque parks and accessible libraries while continuing to keep the borough finances sound.
The election, he insisted, was all about bins not Brexit.
The Tories have now been in control of Hillingdon for two decades.
Labour leader Peter Curling was at a loss to say what had happened to his party’s vote but thought the strong pro-Leave sentiment in Hillingdon might have worked against them.
He said: “On the doorstep Jeremy had a very good response and so did the way Labour is performing at the moment.
“Hillingdon was a very heavy Leave vote in the EU referendum and the UKIP voters went directly to the Tories.”
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