2:08am Friday 2nd May 2008
By Gazette election team: Lucy Cramer and Alex Ellis
THE British National Party won its first seat in Thurrock since 2004 when former parliamentary candidate Emma Colgate won in Tilbury Riverside, a by-election called by the resignation of Labour councillor Paul Attah.
The Labour vote for new candidate Paul Martin was split by former labour councillor June Brown, deselected for last year's elections, who picked up 192 votes. Mr Martin polled 463 votes.
In her victory speech Emma Colgate said: "I'd like to thank all the voters and my campaign team who were out on the streets for 12 hours a day.
"The other councillors say they don't want to work with me, well I don't want to work with them. They'd better be in at the weekend cleaning out because I'm going to put a stop to the corruption.
"This vote is also a message to the Labour government."
Conservative Lee Dove, who trailled in last, said: "I'm a little disappointed with the result, I thought that I would come above June Brown.
"I may consider standing again.
"It looks like Labour and the BNP are thrashing it out, there could be a few suprises."
Result:
Emma Colgate (BNP) 530
Paul Martin (Labour) 463
June Brown (Ind)
Lee Dove (Con) 144
BNP gain
Maj 67
Turnout 31%
© Copyright 2001-2010 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thurrockgazette.co.uk