The Kent County Council seat of Tunbridge Wells North – which includes Southborough – has been won by the Conservatives, with Peter Oakford narrowly holding his seat by just 80 votes, after many voters switched from the Liberal Democrats to Labour.
The Conservative lead over Labour was 35% to 34%, with an increased turnout from four years ago.
The Green party candidate, Anthony Hoskin, added to his tally from the last election, taking 11% or 611 votes.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives have held their position in control of Kent County Council as a whole, with all 6 of the Tunbridge Wells area seats staying Conservative.
Cllr Oakford (below) was voted off the Borough Council two years ago but is still a powerful figure in the County Council as Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Corporate and Traded Services.
The full results for Tunbridge Wells North (including Southborough) which had a 42 % turnout were:
| MAY 2021 | |||
| Peter Oakford | Con | 2,048 | 35% |
| Mike Tapp | Lab | 1,968 | 34% |
| Aqab Mehmood Malik | LibDem | 1,057 | 18% |
| Anthony Hoskin | Green | 611 | 11% |
| Christine Marshall | UKIP | 127 | 2% |
| Total votes | 5,811 |
The results in 2017 were:
| MAY 2017 | |||
| Peter Oakford | Con | 2,017 | 42% |
| Martin Betts | Lab | 1,248 | 26% |
| Marguerita Morton | LibDem | 1,172 | 25% |
| William O’Shea | UKIP | 215 | 4% |
| Anthony Hoskin | Green | 128 | 3% |
| Total votes | 4,780 | ||
The Borough Council results will be announced tomorrow with the Conservative overall majority in Tunbridge Wells in the balance.
Southborough News 