ALAN QUICK: Crediton Courier

CONSERVATIVE Party candidate Mel Stride more than doubled his majority to ensure his second term as Central Devon MP in the Elections held on May 7.

He received 28,436 votes from the 54,636 issued, resulting in a 52 per cent victory.

The second largest constituency geographically in the country was a challenge for all the candidates.

Turnout was very high at 75.11 per cent and with so many votes cast in the General Election and for the local elections, it proved challenging at the count held at Okehampton College sports hall.

Prediction times of when the votes would be announced were more delayed as it was realised that turnout was incredibly high.

A 5am announcement of the result on May 8 was put back several times and it was not until 11.30am that the result was announced, Mr Stride's win greeted with cheers by remaining supporters at the count.

John Conway of UKIP achieved 7.171 votes, Lynne Richards (Labour) polling 6,985, Alex White (Liberal Democrats) 6,643, Andy Williamson (Green Party) 4,866 and Arthur Price (Independent) 347.

In a letter to the Courier (see Letters, page 5) Mr Stride thanks all those who voted for him, explaining that his majority increased from 9,200 to more than 21,000, which he describes as "a source of some pride but certainly not a shred of complacency".

He says: "I would also like to thank my opponents who conducted their campaigns in a positive spirit and to wish them well.

"Representing Central Devon has been the greatest honour of my life and I look forward to continuing to do so on behalf of us all."

PROMOTION

Since the election, Mr Stride told the Courier that David Cameron has given him a new role.

Mr Stride explained: "I have been promoted within the Government Whips Office to Lord Commissioner and Pairing Whip.

He added: "It is my responsibility to ensure that the government maintains its majority in all votes - a vital role given our slender majority."

LABOUR DOUBLES VOTES

Despite the national General Election results, Labour almost doubled the number of votes and its vote share percentage in Central Devon compared to 2010.

Lynne Richards, the Labour Parliamentary Candidate, beat the election calculus polls and predictions and came third with nearly 13 per cent of the vote, only 186 votes behind UKIP and 342 ahead of the Lib Dems.

Votes for Labour candidates in the district council elections also largely increased in numbers and percentages.

TORY'S RETAIN DISTRICT

The Conservative Group on Mid Devon District Council was celebrating this week after increasing their majority on the council where they now hold 28 of the 42 seats and a 14 seat majority.

CLEAN SWEEP FOR LIB DEMS

Meanwhile it was a clean sweep of all four town seats for the LibDems in the district elections.

John Downes and Nick Way easily held their seats in the Boniface Ward while Bob Wright held his seat in Lawrence Ward where he was joined, for the first time, by his colleague Frank Letch, the Mayor of Crediton.

In a joint statement they said: "We would like to thank all those who voted for us but are mindful that we must represent all Crediton residents.

"We would also like to thank all who helped us by producing our leaflets to get over our message and to thank those foot weary helpers who delivered them.

However, the challenge to fight for Crediton could be more difficult for the town's LibDem district councillors than they think.

They will have to shout louder to be heard in an increased majority Conservative controlled district council – to say little about being heard at other levels of government, too.

ELECTION RESULTS

* Elected candidates.

Mid Devon District Council

Boniface (two seats) - John Downes 756* Liberal Democrats; Bob Edwards 387, UKIP; Georgina Ford 448, Conservative; Colin Matthews 293, Green Party; Nick Way 928*, Liberal Democrats; Dan Webb 479, Conservative.

Cadbury (one seat) - Victoria Crockett-Matthews 350, Conservative; Elizabeth Curzon-Howe 122, UKIP; Robert Deed 398*, Independent; Janet Wills 180, Labour.

Lawrence (two seats) - Martin Binks 652, Conservative; Anne Hughes 556, Conservative; David Jaques 241, UKIP; Frank Letch 876*, Liberal Democrat; Julyan Levy 210, Green Party; James Steel 196, Labour; Alan Stewart 161, Labour; Michael Szabo 179, UKIP; Robert Wright 783*, Liberal Democrats.

Newbrooke (one seat) - Peter Hare-Scott 522*, Conservative; Patricia Jones 217, Independent; Paul Stone 244, Labour.

Sandford and Creedy (two seats) - Judith Binks 1005*, Conservative; Jane Schofield 551, Green Party; Margaret Squires 1088*, Conservative; James Way 338, Liberal Democrats; Charles Werner 495, Labour and Co-operative.

Taw (one seat) - John Daw 636*, Conservative; Martin Elston 257, Liberal Democrats; Pamela Galloway 122, Liberal Party.

Taw Vale (one seat) - Joanne Coffey 139, Green Party; Clive Eginton 647*, Conservative; Alex White 227, Liberal Democrats.

Way (one seat) - Felicity Colthorpe 743*, Conservative; Diane Martin 241, Labour.

Yeo (two seats) - Justin Beament 373, Labour and Co-operative; Derek Coren 1229*, Conservative; Joshua Curtis-Hale 403, Liberal Democrats; Gillian Elston 508, Liberal Democrats; Peter Heal 933*, Conservative.