We'll take over in 1999, says Tory leader

TRIUMPHANT Tory leader Peter Britcliffe today boasted: "We'll take control in 1999" after his troops snatched nine Hyndburn seats from Labour in a ballot box upset.

Leading Labour councillors were toppled as the Conservatives quadrupled their number of seats on the 47-seat council, from just three to 12.

And jubilant Councillor Britcliffe was predicting that his party could wrest control of Hyndburn back at the 1999 elections.

"It's been a sensational result," he said.

The Tories captured nine of the 17 seats from Labour and successfully defended one.

The ruling Labour Party was left reeling by the surprise vote, which Tories claim is partly a backlash over the proposed introduction of parking charges in the borough. Coun Britcliffe said car parking charges and 12 months of a Labour Government had prompted voters to rethink.

"I think this is my best night in politics since 1984 when we took control of the council," he said.

"The Government promised us the moon a year ago.

" However, the only thing that has got better in Hyndburn over the last 12 months is the Tory vote.

"Next year we are going for a clean sweep. We'll be back in power again."

It was a night for the Conservatives' former deputy mayor and mayoress Doug and Sandra Hayes, who ousted long serving Labour married rivals Bill Goldsmith and Sheelagh Delaney.

Labour leader George Slynn admitted it was a "very, very bad result".

Coun Slynn blamed the low turnout for his party's losses.

He said: "There has been a third of what was polled two years ago.

"It is conscious abstentions rather than positive votes against Labour."

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