Southend: Single vote decides seat in city council elections

6 May 2022

News image — Independent Martin Terry said he was "absolutely right" to challenge the paper

BBC Independent councillor Martin Terry at the election count in Southend-on-Sea — Independent Martin Terry said he was "absolutely right" to challenge the paper

Police were called over to the counting table at a city's local elections after a dispute broke out over a ballot paper.

The disagreement was over the Thorpe ward seat at Southend-on-Sea City Council in Essex, which ended in a dead heat.

However, a disputed paper was challenged by independent group leader Martin Terry and ruled in his favour.

Mr Terry won the seat with 1,230 votes to the Conservatives' 1,229 votes.

The Tories said they thought it was "wrong" that the paper was accepted.

Southend election count — Police were called to a counting table at Southend due to a dispute over the spoilt ballot paper

Mr Terry said there was a defamatory comment about another candidate on the paper but also a tick in the box next to his name.

He said everything was contained within the box, and the returning officer took advice from Electoral Commission.

Mr Terry, who has been an independent councillor for 19 years, said he had "never experienced such tension" before but was "absolutely right" to challenge the paper.

There were outbursts of "rubbish" and "it wasn't a fair result" when the result was declared.

Those at Southend Tennis and Leisure Centre were told: "It was a fair contest, the returning officer has ruled on a disputed ballot paper and we've accepted that."

Conservative John Lamb, former leader of the council, said: "I think it's wrong when there's a ballot paper that is spoilt, that the candidates and the agents accepted it was spoilt, and then it's reintroduced."

Essex Police said officers were already present at the count as part of the force's countywide plans.

It said officers were called over to the table at the Southend count but no-one was ejected and no arrests were made.

Allow X content?

This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read

X’s cookie policy

and

before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The recently renamed council stayed under no overall control with 21 seats held by the Conservatives, 16 Labour, six Liberal Democrats, six independent and two unaligned independent.

Elsewhere, Basildon, Brentwood, Harlow, Rochford, Epping Forest and Thurrock all saw Tory successes.

Colchester stayed under no overall control.