Tories lose control of Brentwood Council: statement from Local Party Chair Cllr James Sapwell

This result is the most fabulous victory for us tonight. Against a backdrop of national negativity, we have played a major role in achieving what many thought impossible. In the safest of safe Conservative seats we have played a huge part in ousting an administration who, just over a year ago, had a majority in the teens. We are the big winners today. To hold 3 seats and to make two phenomenal gains is testament to the character and strength of our group of core campaigners and the willingness of our volunteers to get involved. This achievement must act as a real fillip for our party, both in Brentwood, Essex and even across the country. We've had new people come on board to join us, we've welcomed former colleagues and friends back and we've kept our team from before.

This victory must be put into real perspective. Members of our party have faced, and continue to face, far bigger challenges than this election over the course of the last few months This victory is for them and we keep them in our thoughts.

Our team represents so many walks of life, mums, dads and small business owners, teachers, city boys, licensees, artists, police officers, fire officers and nurses, the young, the older, the retired and the simply tired.

Whilst it is true that administrations can be the architects of their own downfall, to win the arguments and the election you have to know what the voters are thinking and feeling. We pride ourselves on our local work and we will rely on it as we move forward. We know that those who voted were disenchanted with the way the town was being run, and the they have given us the opportunity to arrest the decline. We know that like our predecessors we will be judged on what we will achieve, and we must prove that we can do it better. Having said what we would do over the last decade it is now or turn to lead the conversation. Our ideology is simple, ask the people what they want, then deliver what they've asked for. And right now, that's a Lib Dem led coalition.