Gazette chief reporter Neil Hawkins looks ahead to next month’s vital byelection.

WHEN residents in West Thurrock and South Stifford cast their vote in next month’s Thurrock Council by-election, it’s not just a new councillor they’re voting for...

their choice could change the whole make-up of the council.

The resignation of Labour’s Terry Brookes earlier this month has put the party’s slender majority of one in doubt. The party currently has 17 members, the same as the Conservatives. Ukip has 11 and there are three independents.

Mr Brookes was voted in in October following the death of party stalwart Andy Smith.

Usually Labour would be assumed a safe bet for the seat.

The party hasn’t lost in West Thurrock and South Stifford since 2004, and two of the three seats in the ward are held by the party – by Victoria Holloway and Oliver Gerrish. When Mr Brookes won in October with 903 votes, his nearest challenger, Ukip’s Russell Cherry, got 621 votes.

A Labour win next month would guarantee the party at least another eight months of power.

A Ukip win would leave the chamber finely balanced, with the likely scenario being things remaining very much as they are and Labour’s John Kent remaining as leader.

A Tory win, though, would put the political cat among the pigeons. Conservative leader Rob Gledhill would rightly be able to stake a claim to be council leader.

For this to happen, a type of vote of no confidence would take place at the next council meeting. Mr Gledhill would require 25 of the 49 councillors to vote in his favour to take the leadership due to a “strong leader system” being in place, which allows the leader a four-year term unless they lose their seat or are voted out.

Mr Kent was granted another four years in May despite his party’s poor showing at the polls.

Mr Gledhill would already have 18 votes and could quite conceivably have the three independent votes as well. It would then only take four of Ukip’s 11 members to make him leader.

Ukip appear to have linked up with Labour in the chamber, but remember this is a party with no whip, so maybe a change of leadership would be preferential to some?

Council leader Mr Kent is confident of his candidate, father of fellow ward councillor Victoria Holloway, Cliff.

He said: “All by-elections are important – for the people of West Thurrock, South Stifford and Purfleet it is important they elect a local councillor that will represent and stand up for them.”

GET OUT THERE AND MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT

CONSERVATIVE group leader Rob Gledhill is in bullish mood ahead of the vital by-election next month.

He has urged residents in West Thurrock and South Stifford to get out there and vote on Thursday, September 10.

A Tory win could see the council turn from red to blue.

Mr Gledhill said: “With residents telling us they are fed up with Thurrock being a ‘soft touch’ when it comes to things like littering, flytipping and unlawful encampments or more development without regards to the impact on the community, they have the opportunity of changing the balance of power at Thurrock Council.

“Yes it will be a tough election and I urge residents to make sure their voices are heard by saying a resounding ‘no’ to another year of a Labour-run council.”