The Conservatives have pledged "business as usual" after maintaining control of Bexley Council.
The party only lost one seat in Thursday’s election. The Tories will extend their 20-year reign over the authority with 29 councillors on the 45-seat council.
Reform UK has had seven councillors elected to the council for the first time, but it won’t be quite the result they hoped after Nigel Farage recently said his party had a “real chance” of winning Bexley.
However, despite the difference in seats, the count was often a tightly fought race between Reform and the Conservatives in terms of votes.
However, the Tories came out on top in most wards leaving Reform with fewer than ten councillors.
Reform does still have a chance of becoming the opposition party in Bexley as there is one final ward left in the borough yet to return a result.
The votes were too close to call in the two-seat Slade Green & Northend ward between Labour and Reform, and so a recount is scheduled later today at 5pm.
Labour in Bexley have matched the nationwide trend and lost seats, with their number of councillors being reduced from 12 down to seven.
However, they do have a chance to win two more seats in Slade Green & Northend.
Conservative leader David Leaf said it was “business as usual” in Bexley following his election win.
He promised to be back in his office later today to start implementing the promises made in their manifesto.
Cllr Leaf said the win was “really emotional and moving” as he felt it was a privilege to once again serve the residents of Bexley.
He said: “We are obviously delighted that our residents have put their trust back in us again. It is bittersweet if I’m honest because some good, hardworking councillors lost their seats sadly. But we are pleased the residents put their trust in us."
When asked how he felt about Reform now having a presence on Bexley Council, Cllr Leaf said: “Like with anyone, we have to wait and see what they do on the council, but based on what they’ve been doing with their campaign, I don’t think they’ve got much to offer.”
The council leader also wanted to thank all those that had been involved in the Conservative campaign. He said: “We all worked incredibly hard, so it’s a massive team effort. I’m incredibly proud of everyone and the credit is spread to so many people.”
The chairman of Reform UK Bexley, Eamonn Delaney, did not get elected in Crook Log, but he did say his party was pleased with the results.
Mr Delaney said: “Our mission was to take seats away from both the Tories and Labour, and in that endeavour we have fully achieved our goal. Our vote share was also greater than forecast due to a fabulous campaign.
“Overall the margins were paper thin and on another day we could have easily had eight or nine more seats. In some cases we lost some seats by only two votes.”
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