After 20 years as leader of South Holland District Council, Gary Porter was among several cabinet members ousted in a “terrible” night for the Conservatives.
But it could have been worse had Margaret Geaney not got 35 votes more than South Holland Independent Simon Walsh in the Donington, Quadring and Gosberton ward.
The rare gain ensured the Conservatives who were still at the count at Springfields shortly after 5am on Friday, could breathe a sigh of relief they will still control the council.
The group will need to appoint a fair few new cabinet members though.
It was Roger Gambba-Jones who described this year’s election as “terrible”, before it was announced that his six term run (24 years) for Spalding Wygate was over by 12 votes.
Rodney Grocock also lost his seat while the portfolio holder for finance Peter Coupland couldn’t get one the two seats on Sutton Bridge ward.
He was not been selected by the party for his previous Fleet seat, with the person who was, Eddie McNally, comfortably losing it to South Holland Independent Paul Barnes.
Grocock was more than 300 votes short of South Holland Independent Thomas Sneath in a Moulton, Weston and Cowbit ward where the Conservatives were guaranteed two of the three seats taken up by Anthony Casson and Andrew Woolf.
“It’s been hard work,” Grocock said. “Westminster has let us down again.”
The national party picture was something raised by many Conservative politicians.
Steve Timewell took to Facebook to say he was “overturned by protest votes against national politics” as he lost the Spalding Monks House seat he won in a by-election six months ago.
When asked what the message for Westminster was, South Holland and the Deepings Conservative MP
Sir John Hayes said: “It was always going to be a challenging night nationally.
“They party needs to make it known it’s the party of traditional values, family, community and are for this nation.
“We need to say it clearly and proudly.”
He continued: “I’m very pleased the Conservatives were able to regain the council on what has been a very difficult night nationally for the party.
“I’m sad to see a lot of good councillors departing but please to have so many other dedicated men and women to serve their community.
“I’m very sad to lose Gary Porter who has been at the centre for such a long time.
“But there are some positives, including the three in Pinchbeck winning by a handful after only just getting last time and Margaret Geaney gaining a seat in a difficult situation, plus three excellent female candidates getting in.”
* The positives for the Conservatives included three women voted off in 2019, Laura Eldridge, Jan Whitbourn and Angie Harrison, all being voted back in.
Eldridge missed out by only 14 votes then, but this team beat independent Michael Spencer by 366 in the ward with the highest voter turn out of 32 per cent.
“I look forward to getting my teeth stuck in and doing what I can for you for the next four years,” she said.
Whitbourn praised Gambba-Jones in her acceptance speech.
“I’m over the moon and promise to do my best for the ward.”
Nanette Chapman earned her seat in Holbeach Town seeing off competition including previous incumbent Francis Biggadike who wasn’t selected by the party but stood anyway.
She’ll be joined there by Tracey Carter, one of the few Conservatives to increase their votes.
Henry Bingham, elected as an Independent last time round but who moved to the Conservatives mid-term, won alongside newcomer Margaret Geaney in Donington, Quadring and Gosberton.
She said: “I’m just over the moon.”
After a close fight in 2019, Gary Taylor held off the challenge of Green candidate Martin Blake for the Spalding Castle seat with a much improved majority.
The trio of sitting Conservatives in Pinchbeck and Surfleet, James Avery, Sally Slade and Elizabeth Sneath also romped to commanding wins.
“We’ve bucked the trend,” Coun Avery said. “We’ve been working hard together and made a difference,” he said.
Jack Tyrrell comfortably took the final seat in Long Sutton the party were guaranteed in the final count of the night.
Jo Reynolds retained the Gedney seat saying: “It was a close fight, but thank you to all the residents who voted for me, to the party for their support, and to my friends and family.”
Nick Worth has been the deputy leader to Lord Porter for 20 years and he said he’d consider putting his hat in the ring as leader of the council after comfortably getting in to the Holbeach Hurn ward.
“It’s a mixed feeling as it’s great to get back in representing the ward but we’ve lost a lot of good people.
“I’ve been Gary’s deputy 20 years and it’s been a good relationship.
“He’s done a fantastic job, especially at promoting the area nationally around Westminster and the House of Lords.
“It’s going to take a bit of time to recover but we’ll get the Conservative group together to see where we’re at.”
