Michael Horwood, 29, the Conservative Candidate for Swanley and Hextable has won the Swanley Division of the Kent County Council elections with a whopping 65% of the vote compared to Labour’s 24%.

Michael secured a higher percentage of the vote for a Conservative Candidate than most Dartford wards (Dartford West, Dartford North East, Dartford East and Swanscombe and Greenhithe) and most Sevenoaks wards (Sevenoaks North & Darent Valley, Sevenoaks West, Sevenoaks Rural South and Sevenoaks Town).

Swanley has always historically been a Labour seat, with the Conservatives winning the County Council seat for the first time ever in 2009. In 2013 the Conservative narrowly won with 41% of the vote compared to Labour’s 32%. Michael was elected in a closely fought by-election only six months ago in October 2016, winning with just 32% of the vote to UKIP’s 28% and Labour’s 23%.

The Swanley division covers the whole of Swanley Town (excluding Swanley Village) and also includes the village of Hextable.

The reasons for the excellent result was Michael’s strong opposition and success in stopping a ‘Garden Village’ in Swanley’s green belt, a strong Conservative campaign and UKIP deciding not to stand against him.

When he was elected in the by-election of 2016, Michael Horwood became the first member of the Kent Youth County Council, an advisory youth council for the whole of Kent (he was Chairman from 2004-2005) to become a post-18 Kent County Councillor. He was also Chairman of Dartford Youth Council from 2003-2005, where he represented Dartford Grammar School and Longfield Youth Club.

Commenting on the success, Michael said: “I am incredibly honoured and humbled to have been re-elected for the Swanley and Hextable division. This is my home and I fully intend to continuing championing both areas’ interests and do what I can to improve the area.

I would like to say a huge thank you for those who voted for me and especially to those people who voted Conservative for the first time”.

Submitted by Michael Horwood