Local elections - Pendle

VETERAN election campaigner Roy Clarkson slammed public apathy as voters suffering from "political fatigue" stayed away from polling stations in Pendle.

Councillor Clarkson, leader of the three-strong Tory minority on Pendle Council, said it was deplorable that people could not be bothered to turn out to vote once every 12 months.

The political make-up of the council remained the same with the LibDems retaining overall control.

In Marsden ward, Nelson, only one in five voters made the effort to vote and the average turnout across the borough was just 34.4 per cent.

"I'm very saddened by the low turnout," said Coun Clarkson who scored the only Tory victory in last night's election retaining his Reedley seat which he has held for many years. "It's 12 months since the general election and if people can't come out once every 12 months I think it's deplorable. These are the people who do the most griping. It makes me feel very sad and angry." Ironically, elsewhere in the country the low turnout helped the Tories make gains.

Overall, Labour gained two seats from the Liberal Democrats - Waterside in Colne, once the stronghold of former deputy council leader Tony Greaves who stood down this time, and Bradley in Nelson.

But the LibDems staged a late comeback gaining the final two seats to be declared, Walverden and Whitefield in Nelson, from Labour.

Mr Greaves, the LibDem election agent, said: "We've held three seats in Colne and gained two in Nelson from Labour. Labour will face a backlash next year and their vote will collapse. It's been a wonderful night."

His Labour counterpart Councillor Azhar Ali hit back: "We had a couple of gains and a couple of close scores where we nearly gained seats from the Liberals. This proves the Liberal vote in Pendle has declined in Colne and Labour is on a revival."

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