Swindon Conservatives were left celebrating after unprecedented wins in key wards saw them gain a 15-sear majority on Swindon Borough Council.
Sudha Sri became the first Conservative elected to represent the Rodbourne Cheney ward, taking the seat made vacant by the death of previous Labour councillor Des Moffatt.
In Penhill and Upper Stratton Dan Smith beat Labour candidate Ravi Venkatesh, to become the Conservative’s second councillor elected to the ward, after Oladapo Ibitoye became the first in 2019. Dan becomes the second member of his family to be elected a Swindon councillor, his father Roger Smith was elected as representative for Stratton St Margaret in 2018.
Dan Smith celebrates winning winning Penhill and Upper Stratton with North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson
Cllr Russell Holland was re-elected in Stratton St Margaret, securing a majority of 777, and in Covingham Councillor Barbara Parry was re-elected with a strong majority of 1,475.
Two Conservative councillors stood down this year, with long time St Andrew’s Councillor Vera Tomlinson retiring and Councillor Malcolm Davies standing down in Priory Vale. Daniel Adams was elected to replace Vera in St Andrews and Jo Morris takes over the Priory Vale seat from Malcolm.
In Haydon Wick, John Jackson beat incumbent Councillor Oliver Donachie, who had left the Conservatives last year to stand as an independent.
Sudha Sri celebrates historic victory in Rodbourne Cheney with North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson and Conservative representative Jake Chandler
Across Swindon Conservatives made gains in Liden, Eldene and Park South, and Central Ward – as well as regaining the Lydiard and Freshbrook seat lost in 2016.
The results saw the Conservative majority on the Council increase five-fold to a very healthy 15 seats.
North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson said: “We put forward a positive vision for Swindon, and I am delighted that voters responded so positively. I am so proud of our candidates and campaigners, who have worked hard to secure some historic gains, winning seats we have never won before.”
