Bexley election: Conservatives hold Bexley, losing only one seat

By Kiro Evans, Local Democracy Reporter

Labour may have made significant gains elsewhere in London’s local elections, but the Conservatives have held onto Bexley council, losing only one seat in the process.

The South-east London borough has remained overwhelmingly blue despite national issues for the Tories.

Forty-five seats across 17 wards were contested in Bexley, with seven parties looking to gain a place on the new council.

The victorious Conservatives won 33 seats, while Labour won 12, giving the Tories a majority of 10.

The Conservative leader Teresa O’Neill said that the borough of Bexley had “spoken with a strong voice” by voting in a Tory majority in what will be seen as a very good night for the local party, despite some minor scares.

But the Labour leader said that the net gain of one seat represented a success for the opposition.

Councillor Stefano Borella said: “I’m very happy. We were never going to win big. Our aim was to increase our vote.

“We won again tonight in Northumberland Heath and if you look at the results elsewhere – in Crayford and East Wickham – we pushed them close and we nearly won those seats as well, so I’m absolutely delighted.

“We’ve pushed them close, we’ve got a good platform for next time.”

Picture: A dog waits patiently outside a polling station in The Church of the Cross in Thamesmead