ONE of the bellwether seats of Thurrock politics is Stanford East and Corringham Town and as usual it proved to mirror the voting trend.

Conservative councillor Alex Anderson was bidding for a second term of office but speculation was high that he might come a cropper from the challenge of the Independent Group's Ross Byrne, but in the end it was Labour's John Cecil who ended up closest.

However, even he was 300 votes behind the Conservatives as they comfortably held the seat – one of just two where there were three candidates.

Across the borough a number of potential independent councillors stood down to make it a two horse fight between the major parties, perceived by the Indys as the best way to bring change to the borough in the wake of staunch criticism of the ruling Tories from Independent Group leader Gary Byrne, who nevertheless felt his son could bring something to the party. Ironically, had he note stood, the incumbent Tory might have been pushed a lot closer.

Result

• Alex Anderson (Conservative) 824
• John Cecil (Labour and Co-operative Party) 524
• Ross Byrne (Thurrock Independents) 427

Majority 300

Electorate: 6,340. Ballot Papers Issued: 1,786 Turnout: 28.17%