Labour jubilant after becoming biggest party in both Basildon and Southend

JUBILANT Labour have declared themselves ready for the general election after their Tory rivals were given a drubbing in tense polling across south Essex.

Conservatives lost a whopping 41 seats across the south of the county after voters went to the polls on Thursday, including 12 in Basildon, another 12 in Thurrock, eight in Castle Point, and five in Rochford.

However, the party celebrated “minimal losses” in Southend after losing just four seats.

In addition, Labour polled more than the Tories in Southend in the election for the police and fire commissioner, eventually won by Tory Roger Hirst when all county votes were counted.

Despite Labour’s positivity around the local election results across south Essex, the party only managed to secure overall control in Thurrock.

There is no overall majority in Basildon and Southend.

Labour is now the largest party in both Basildon and Southend, and leaders are confident that minority administrations will be formed in coming days and weeks, and believe that the success of the Labour party across the country will prove for an “exciting” general election when it is called by Rishi Sunak.

Speaking of the picture in Basildon, Southend Labour leader Daniel Cowan said: “Our colleagues have run a great campaign and it looks like they will be in a place to form an administration in the same way we are. The national trend is moving in the right direction, the results show a change of appetite and representation.

“People are tired of the Conservatives and want change. It is up to us to continue up until the last minute to prove we can deliver that change. Here in Southend, we won the most seats on the night, we became the biggest party and we won the popular vote for the first time in a long time. The trend is moving away from the Tories, we have to keep moving.”

While there is no set date for the next general election in the UK, it must be held no later than Thursday, January 23, 2025.

Basildon Labour leader Maryam Yaqub said: “I think it is so exciting. We are looking at more devolution of power where local councils have more say, it is only a positive thing. If we have more Labour councils, it will be exciting for the general election, it will change how things are done and it will have impact.

“I think the last time we had this many seats in Basildon was 20 years ago. I’d say it is clear a general election will be sooner rather than later.”

Election special: Pages 4&5, 16, 17 and 18