WHILE the dust still settles on the national political scene, it is almost business as usual for Bexley’s politicians.

The general election results mirrored the national scene, with a swing to the Tories, but not large enough to dislodge Labour from its hold on Erith and Thamesmead.

In the council elections, Labour took its first tentative steps on the long road back to influence, after being almost wiped out in 2006.

It won back two seats from the Tories, in its heartlands in the north of the borough and missed snatching a seat in Lesnes Abbey ward by just six votes.

It was enough to put a smile on the face of Labour Group leader, Councillor Chris Ball, but it will not make any material difference to the council’s operations.

And there were more important things on two candidates’ minds.

Howard Dawber, who fought the Bexleyheath and Crayford Parliamentary seat for Labour and Steven Hall a successful Tory councillor for East Wickham ward, both became first-time fathers the day before the poll.

Mr Dawber’s wife Laura gave birth at University College Hospital to their daughter Riley who was three-and-a-half weeks early and weighted 5lb 9oz.

Cllr Hall’s wife, Marina, gave birth at Queen Mary’s, Sidcup, on the same day, to baby Gregory who was 12 days overdue and weighed 11lb 3oz.

Cllr Ball who topped the poll in his Erith ward, was quickly re-elected group leader by his now 11-strong group, with Thamesmead East councillor Sandra Bauer as his deputy.

Councillors Teresa O'Neill and Simon Windle were alsdo re-elected leader and deputy leader of the Tory group.

She said: "It is very much business as usual.

"We had our 2014 strategy already in place before the election.

"There are tough challenges ahead whatever happens nationally, and we know what matters to Bexley residents."

Cllr O'Neill added: "The best way to find out what residents think is on the doorstep and the current council came across with a good reputation.

"Now we have to build on that."

There had been concerns about the strength of the British National Party (BNP)in some parts of the borough, and sitting Tories in East Wickham ward, where the BNP missed a by-election victory by eight votes last year, were visibly concerned.

But BNP support slumped and never got within 750 votes of victory.

Hopes of local shopkeeper Dee Patel snatching one of the Thamesmead East seats for the Tories also failed by more than 1,000 votes Tory David Leaf suffered a surprise defeat in Belvedere ward.

While disappointed, he added: “I would like to thank the residents for giving me this wonderful opportunity to represent my home town.”

Current mayor, Bernard Clewes lost his Erith seat to Labour, but said at 78, he was probably too old to carry on.

And Labour’s Daniel Francis who gave up his relatively safe Belvedere seat to fight in Northumberland Heath, also failed to get re-elected.