Torrential rain couldn’t dampen Conservative spirits today as they made election history with the capture of Greetland and Stainland – the first time it has been blue since the inception of Calderdale in 1974.

Chris Pearson’s victory in what has been a traditionally Lib Dem stronghold and the capture of Sowerby Bridge from Labour capped a memorable day for the Tories.

Chris, 32, of Holywell Green, said: “It’s humbling, absolutely humbling. We needed an extra 31 votes last year and this time we kept going.”

Chris Pearson takes Greetland and Stainland for the Conservatives
Chris Pearson takes Greetland and Stainland for the Conservatives

In the end they amassed 2,317 votes compared to 1,473 for the Lib Dem’s Paul Bellenger. Robin Dixon, (Labour) came third with 1,004.

And it was made even more special by former council leader John Ford’s retention of his Elland seat with an increased majority.

His record since his first election in 1968 now reads: Won 11, Lost 8 and means he has served the public for 37 years, off and on.

John said: “I won by more than 200 votes from the Labour Party which is significantly up on the 65 votes I won by four years ago.

“I still enjoy politics as much as ever. I was leader of the council for quite some years but I am enjoying being a back bencher.”

Helen Roberts, who lives in Elland and who is deputy regional chairman of Yorkshire and Humber Conservative Party, said: “I am ecstatic. Absolutely delighted.

“It’s been an interesting election because on the doorstep when I was knocking on doors what the public were telling me and what the polls were showing was rather different. We knew it was going to be a good day.”

Elsewhere, Conservative veteran, David Kirton, romped to victory in Hipperholme and Lightcliffe – more than doubling the vote of his nearest opponent, the Labour Party’s Kashif Ali, 3,878/1,254.

David Kirton who retained Hipperholme and Lightcliffe
David Kirton who retained Hipperholme and Lightcliffe

Chris Pillai comfortably retained his Rastrick seat and Scott Benton, deputy Conservative group leader, won Brighouse at a canter with an almost 1,000 majority over his Labour opponent.

Labour Party group leader Tim Swift who retained his own seat in Town said of the Greetland and Stainland result: “In one sense I am not surprised. If UKIP had not stood the Lib Dems would have lost it last year. It just sums up the dire straits the Lib Dems are in.”

The results in Calderdale mean the Conservative group led by Stephen Baines runs the council with a minority administration.

Of the 51 seats, Labour lost one to go from 25 to 24, the Tories gained two, 19 to 21 and the Lib Dems lost one and went from six seats to five. There is one Independent.

Rastrick

Bailey,
Robert Golding
Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts 170
Haigh-Hutchinson,
Kathy
Liberal Democrats 389
Judge,
Peter
Labour Party 2020
Mullany,
Mark Richard
Green Party 307
Pillai,
Chris
Conservative Party 2632 Elected

Hipperholme and Lightcliffe

Candidate Party Votes Elected
Ali,
Kashif
Labour Party 1254
Bampton-Smith,
Christine Irene
Liberal Democrats 473
Kirton,
David Eric
Conservative Party 3878 Elected
McDonald,
Alan Patrick
Green Party 510

Greetland and Stainland

Candidate Party Votes Elected
Bellenger,
Paul Alexander
Liberal Democrats 1473
Clarke,
Mick
U K I P 684
Dixon,
Robin
Labour Party 1004
Pearson,
Chris
Conservative Party 2317 Elected
Thomas,
Susan Ann
Green Party 223

Elland

Candidate Party Votes Elected
Ford,
John Frank Brearley
Conservative Party 1883 Elected
Hardy,
David
Liberal Democrats 1273
Hepplestone,
James Stephen
Labour Party 1672
Lupson,
Richard Anthony
Green Party 364

Brighouse

Candidate Party Votes Elected
Benton,
Scott Lloyd
Conservative Party 2622 Elected
Nesbitt,
John Richard Ward
Green Party 237
Rigg,
Jennie Dawn
Liberal Democrats 232
Rutherford,
Anthony John
Labour Party 1674
Webb,
Samuel George
Trade Unionist & Socialist Coalition 53
Yates,
Nick
U K I P 869