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.
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.
He said: "Tashi Bhutia won Labour's safest seat in Medway and one of their five safest in Kent.
"This is the first time in more than 40 years that Luton and Wayfield has returned a Conservative councillor.

"The swing achieved would result in Tracey Crouch gaining the Chatham and Aylesford parliamentary seat with a majority of over 5,000 votes."
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.
"I am delighted at winning this stunning by election victory and would like to thank my campaign team for their tremendous hard work and support."
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.
One of the campaigners to save primary schools from closures threatened in Medway by the Conservative administration, her campaign had been rocked by revelations in her Facebook entries, and by the resignation of the Labour whip by other two councillors, Tony and Val Goulden. They remain on the council as Independents until the 2011 elections.
Fears that UKIP and BNP might benefit from local tensions in the community proved unfounded.

The result

Tashi Tamang Bhutia (Con) 1042 Sam Whittington (Lab) 1038
Gary Allanach (Lib) 223
Robin Johnson (UKIP) 200
Brian Ravenscroft (BNP) 186
Brian Cartwright (ind) 87
Sarah March D'Angelo (Green) 51

Con gain from Lab