Waveney loses top Labour councillors

FOR an indicator to Labour's fortunes in yesterday's local elections in Suffolk look no further than Lowestoft in Waveney.The county's Labour group leader Julian Swainson and former council leader Jane Hore both lost their seats in Lowestoft South, where the UK Independence Party (UKIP) won their first seat on the council with candidate Bill Mountford and Conservative candidate Deanna Law won the second seat.

FOR an indicator to Labour's fortunes in yesterday's local elections in Suffolk look no further than Lowestoft in Waveney.

The county's Labour group leader Julian Swainson and former council leader Jane Hore both lost their seats in Lowestoft South, where the UK Independence Party (UKIP) won their first seat on the council with candidate Bill Mountford and Conservative candidate Deanna Law won the second seat. The Green party also won its first two county councillors.

Mr Mountford said: 'I'm a little surprised, but my sore feet have paid off because this has all come from pounding the streets and introducing myself face to face.

'A lot of people have looked at the political expenses scandal and become totally disillusioned with the three main parties.'

Mr Swainson said: 'I think the loser here is local democracy because I have never fought a local election that has so avoided local and policy issues and been dominated by national issues and personalities.'