VOTERS took the head of the Thurrock Conservative Group leader in Thursday’s elections, failing to re-elect him following council’s catastrophic debts.

Mark Coxshall stepped in as caretaker leader following the resignation of Rob Gledhill over disastrous investments which left the council virtually bankrupt and with £1.5billion debt. He lost his Chafford and North Stifford seat to Labour’s Vikki Hartstean polling 639 votes to Ms Hartstean’s 741.

Despite the loss, Conservatives remain in power with 26 seats having held three, gained one and lost four seats. The council now also has 19 Labour members, one Thurrock Independent Group member and three non-aligned Independents.

Thurrock Independents held one seat and lost two while the non-aligned Independents held one, gained one and lost one seat.

Labour had a successful night even though it didn’t win power, gaining five seats and holding four without a single loss.

John Kent, leader of the Labour Group said: "This was a great set of results for Thurrock Labour, winning five seats including that of the leader of the council.

"All through this election campaign people told us how angry they were at the Conservative’s catastrophic mismanagement of the council finances that has led to bankruptcy, a 10 per cent council tax increase and damaging cuts to front line services. That anger was reflected in these results."

Thurrock Nub News editor, Neil Speight, is celebrating following a resounding win as an Independent in Stanford-le-Hope West where he ousted Conservative, Shane Hebb, former councillor responsible for finance, by 643 votes to 511.

Mr Speight said: “The way the results panned out means that the opportunity for a small cohort of non-aligned candidates to influence things by holding the balance of power is diminished, at least for a year.

“I would be less than honest if I said I wasn't a bit disappointed, particularly as it weakens the opportunity to influence major infrastructure issues.”

Mr Speight will be privy to confidential council papers and will have to balance his role as a councillor and as editor of a news outlet.

He added: “My primary role as councillor is to represent the people in the ward.

“Regarding the issue of confidentiality, I'm not going to be sitting at the top table and I suspect getting information as a councillor may be as difficult as it is as a journalist.

“If I have to make a decision of conscience I will try and do the right thing."