Local elections - Rossendale

WE'RE BACK! That was the message from the Conservatives in Rossendale as they stormed the polls and doubled their seats.

The "magnificent seven" pulled the Tories back from the back benches, winning six from Labour and retaining one, leaving them with 11 seats and Labour 25.

A very low turnout - an average of 30 per cent compared with the 45 per cent four years ago - contributed to the Labour defeat, said ousted leader John McManus. Seemingly safe seats held by the Mayor Peter Heyworth and deputy leader Marilyn Proctor and several long-standing councillors also fell to the Tories.

There was a recount in Stacksteads, but the Tory lost by 17 votes.

Jubilant Conservative leader Coun John Holt predicted his party would regain control of Rossendale.

"I think it just shows what they think about the high profile Labour councillors such as the leader, deputy leader and Mayor," he said. "People are obviously not happy with Labour's policies for Rossendale."

Mr McManus said: "I would much rather have lost on a large turnout than a small one, but I will be back.

"People didn't exercise their democratic right - I think people had enough of elections last year.

"I think our policies are absolutely right. The opposition have fought a negative campaign attacking our policies rather than formulating any of their own."

Mr McManus said the party had been fighting to get powers back for local government, but when the turnout at elections was so low it was sending the wrong message back to central government.

The next Labour group meeting is a week on Monday when it is expected a decision will be made on who will be the next leader.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.