Liberal Democrats: The Only Effective Opposition on Kent County Council

11.42.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 9th Jun 2009

The Liberal Democrats have become the only effective opposition on Kent county Council following the County Council elections which saw the Labour group decimated to just two members. The Liberal Democrat group increased in size to seven members, and now form the official opposition.

Labour had previously held 20 seats on Kent County Council and lost 18 seats in an almost total wipe-out on the County Council in the 4th June elections.

Liberal Democrats Ian Chittenden (Maidstone North East Division), Dan Daley (Maidstone Central Division), Trudy Dean (Malling Central Division), George Koowaree (Ashford East Division) and Martin Vye (Canterbury City South West Division) were all re-elected. They are joined by Malcolm Robertson who took the second seat in Maidstone Central Division from the Conservatives and Tim Prater who sensationally won Folkestone West Division from the Conservatives, beating Shepway Council Leader Robert Bliss.

The make-up of Kent County Council is now:

• Conservatives 74

• Liberal Democrats 7

• Labour 2

• Ratepayers Alliance 1

Newly re-elected Liberal Democrat Group Leader Trudy Dean was pleased with the progress of the Liberal Democrats in the elections, and has vowed to hold the Conservatives to account on the County Council.

Trudy said:

"The Liberal Democrats are ready to lead the opposition to the Conservatives on Kent County Council. We will do so honestly, vigorously and openly. I want the public to have a real input into giving their views and looking at proposals before decisions are made at the County Council, and we will be bringing forward proposals to do so.

"We will stand up against waste at County, such as on Kent TV which has already cost over £1 million. It's a failed project and should be cancelled as soon as possible. There are other excellent Kent information and video sites, such as www.yourkenttv.org.uk that cost the taxpayer nothing, and we should seek to be using those, not wasting money on an internet TV 'channel' almost no-one watches."

"But we will be honest and principled. It is ridiculous to object to proposals where we agree, and we will work constructively to ensure that where ideas are nearly right, we give credit for that and seek to get the amendments needed to make them completely right. Labour spent its time as opposition here involved in old fashioned, yah-boo, 'Punch and Judy' politics that did Kent no favours. We will give credit where it's due, but fight failings and waste where it's due as well.

"Labour have been destroyed in this county. Kent residents will understand that if you want a real, strong opposition voice to the Conservatives, then it is the Liberal Democrats that will provide it."