A grumpy nerd’s take on 2024’s Southend local election results

After yesterday’s local elections, in Southend, the Tories currently have 18 councillors, Labour 20 councillors, four Lib Dems, seven Independents (various flavours) and two Green councillors. You can see how each candidate did by checking out Southend Council’s website (here) and Southend Echo’s website (here).  After the local elections, in Southend, around this time last year, we find that the Tories had 22 councillors, Labour 16 councillors, four Lib Dems, eight Independents and one Green councillor. Especially for fellow nerds, this is how (see here) the voting went in 2023.  

The Council is currently led by the Tories but with Labour gains that could well change, but deals need to be made (it has ever been thus) and we wait with interest what these will be. My take is most of the Independent councillors dislike Labour more than they do the Tories but one might expect the Lib Dems and Greens to side with Labour. Looking at the National picture, Labour have done best, with significant gains, followed by Lib Dems, Independents and Greens with modest gains. The Tories have done particularly badly. To a large extent, Southend has followed the national pattern.

For my rant on my disillusionment with politics nationally, see here, and for my thoughts shortly prior to the local elections, see here. As for my early reaction, following checking out the results soon after waking up this morning and in line with my grumpiness, it was disappointment locally that four ex-councillors I like (Keith Evans, Verina Weaver, Brian Ayling and Dr. Vel) failing to return to the council, two parties I do give some support to (Confelicity and Heritage) doing particularly badly and consternation that the national population are still dumbed down enough to continue voting for the untrustworthy, unrighteous and undeserving. We will get to the Green win shortly but their rise in popularity city wide continues, sadly on the wrong issues, such as the climax change hoax that is designed to enslave us. Turnout was unsurprisingly low.

There were some bright spots but for now I will go through each of Southend’s 13 wards in alphabetic order and offer some thoughts.   

Belfairs

Unsurprisingly, Conservative won although it was Independent in 2023. While the Independent this time (Gareth Evans) got a promising number of votes he was still behind now on a roll Greens.

Blenheim Park

Labour won convincingly, followed by Conservative. The one candidate I wanted to win more than any (Keith Evans) because he made a big difference when a councillor came a disappointing third.

Chalkwell

Another Conservative win for a ward they would expect to win in, but with Labour coming close behind.

Eastwood Park

Lib Dems won convincingly as they did last time. My second sadness was Verina Weaver who would be a fine addition to the Council as she was when councillor was a long way behind in second place.

Kursaal

Labour won more convincingly that I thought would be the case.

Leigh

Leigh has more than its fair share of affluent, woke, virtue signalling lefties so it was not a surprise Greens won with a wapping majority, taking over from the Lib Dems as the people’s favourites.     

Milton

Just as last time, an emphatic win for Labour.

Prittlewell

A win for Conservative by the Father of the Council Chamber (David Garston) but not that far ahead of Labour.

Shoebury

It was nice to see ex-mayor, Labour turned Conservative, Judith McMahon, getting elected but only just ahead of Labour and not that far ahead of Independent, who won last time.

Southchurch

Convincing win for the Conservatives, just like last time.

St. Laurence

Labour comfortable winners, just like last time.

St. Lukes

A win for ex-councillor Jane Norman, married to a politician I admired, David Norman. I have to confess, other than the Lib Dems who continue to field paper candidates in this ward, Jane was the person I least wanted to win. Given one of the other sitting Labour councillors, Kathy Murphy, was a casualty of the Labour civil war, methinks Jane who has done nothing for the ward was parachuted in as a safe pair of hands. Besides Brian Ayling (who in the end I voted for to “drain the swamp”) I am disappointed for the sitting councillor, Brian Beggs, who served well, especially doing the one thing councillors can do to make a difference – case work.

Thorpe

The Independent love affair with Thorpe residents continues, with Susan Badger, who impressed me when we met a couple of years ago on her first attempt to be, now making her debut as, a councillor.

Victoria

This ward is a safe as it gets for Labour with the master of the one-liners, Ian Gilbert, regaining his seat with a convincing majority.

West Leigh

Conservatives win a little ahead of Lib Dems, just like last time.

West Shoebury

Convincing win for Conservatives, just like last time. Interestingly, James Moyies, once a leading light in UKIP, is back as a councillor.

Westborough

Convincing win for Labour, just like last time.

That’s it folks. Disappointed – yes, but I am optimistic as God is on the Throne. Also, congratulations to the winners – may you serve the people of Southend well, and commiserations to the losers, and especially if you fought well. I know some of you and believe if in the future you are elected you will serve well (don’t give up if your motive is to serve others and to make a difference). We desperately need people who are up for making a difference of the right kind.