ELECTION: Clean sweep for Tories

2:39pm Friday 2nd May 2008

The Conservatives have secured the final three seats in Cherwell.

Maurice Billington held on to Kidlington South, Trevor Stevens won in Yarnton, Gosford and Water Eaton and David Hughes stood uncontested in Launton.

Today's count marked a clean sweep for the Tories, who won all 18 seats in 17 wards.

The Tories also had a good showing in West Oxfordshire, where they strengthened their grip on the council, but failed to make an impact in any of Oxford City Council's 24 wards.

The two Tory Town Hall councillors both lost their seats.

Lib Dem defector and Tory group leader Paul Sargent lost in Carfax, while Tia MacGregor failed to hold on to her Quarry and Risinghurst seat.

The city is now governed by a city council run by a minority Labour administration with no Conservatives, and a county council run by Tories with a sprinkling of Labour councillors.