by Alan Watkins

Conservatives swept to power in the Luton and Wayfield by election in Chatham last night, Thursday.

One of Labour's safest seats was lost by just four votes to Tashi Bhutia on Thursday. It is the first time in 40 years that the Tories have held the seat.

Their spokesman, Cllr Alan Jarrett, forecast it could give them a 5,000 General Election majority in Chatham and Aylesford.

Cllr Bhutia, a former Gurkha who now works at BAE Systems, won an 11.5 per cent swing to the Conservatives.

He said: "This result is a fantastic victory for the Conservatives in Chatham and Aylesford and shows the sands of time are running out for Labour."

Most voters stayed away - there was a turnout of 29.78 per cent.

Labour's candidate, Sam Whittington, had been backed by the sitting MP, South East Minister, Jonathan Shaw, despite the fact that she had only been in the party three weeks prior to her selection.

Fears that UKIP and BNP might benefit from local tensions in the community proved unfounded.