Colchester Council Elections 2023 – Round Up

Well, that was a damp squib.

Up all night of the radio with no real drama, until the last moments.

The overall story last night was that Colchester wiped its face and no change. We will look at some highlights and lowlights on a select few wards.



Highwoods

I did, along with a few others expected this seat to turn red. It was written in the stars. Alison Jay (Lib Dems) was returned and duly re-elected. The total votes for her were Oxford numbers.

Hang on, wait a minute… you do not think. Well, I be d%mned.

This will be a Liberal Democrat target seat now.



Mersea & Pyefleet

It was expected to be a close call and this time around John Akker (Independent) did get close. However, bucking the national trend the Conservative Carl Powling in his maiden campaign was elected.

This was a vulnerable seat, so never a better time to contest. Although, the progress parties did not even touch the sides in this seat.



Rural North

The election of Jack Monroe’s nemesis Tom Rowe (Conservative) is banter. I will try and get to the first full council to watch his debut. He is an economist by day, so he can offer micro saving tips and get the council finances in order to save for a rainy day.

I see the local Pravda and cycling commentariat twitching with this one, so at least some spiciness at most proceedings, seeing that Jeremy Hagon has calmed down.



Shrub End

I initially predicted Sam McCarthy (Liberal Democrat) will retain. However, I like most others bought into the bravado displayed by Luke Hayes (Labour) and his capital chumrades driving home. This result does fly in the face of the national trend and there will be some hand wringing in the morning.

Well done Sam, back in the game.



Wivenhoe

The rise of Mark Cory (Liberal Democrats) is astonishing, not even the plethora of cycling weekend reds can dent the rise of Cory. He is the golden boy and should be the face, the voice and the poster boy for the Lib Dems in Colchester. He is criminally underused and if the Lib Dems had any sense then they will utilise him at every opportunity.



Prettygate

A bad-tempered affair and a shocking negative campaign run by John Loxley, who all he offered was that he lived in the ward and the incumbent didn’t, well a few hundred yards away but still. Despite it being worked hard Leigh Tate (Conservative) retained. Albeit with a slim margin.

The agent asked for multiple recounts and at one stage were arguing about certain slips and markings. Did we learn nothing from the last American Election. Faces like thunder apparently.

Not the Lib Dems finest hour and kept us all up a lot longer than we should have been.



Conservatives

Not a disaster, retained all six seats which bucked the national trend. Maybe the town is still Will Quince country. This was the best outcome for them, one they may not even have saw coming.



Pam Cox

This does not look good for the Labour Parliamentary candidate. Failure to penetrate Shrub End, Highwoods, Prettygate and Mile End, which will all be in the constituency really does bring home that the next General Election will be tough.

The next 18 months are vital, and they need a strategy as this was nothing short of a disaster for them, especially against the national trend.

I expect the Liberal Democrats to be fully contesting the seat now with Will Quince being the biggest beneficiary.



Stay classy Colchester, always buck the trend.