The Conservatives have lost a seat on a borough council following a by-election.

Voters went to the polls yesterday to choose their new representative for the vacant Minster Cliffs ward seat on Swale council.

A by-election took place following the death of Ken Ingleton on July 11 - who first represented the ward as a Conservative 43 years ago.

Peter MacDonald from Swale Independents won the seat.

He secured 395 votes, 56 more than Ed Baldwin from Labour who had 339 vote.

The Conservative candidate, Oliver Eakin (Con), secured 331 votes.

He was also ousted during May’s borough elections after losing his Sheppey Central ward seat.

The final candidate standing for the position was Edward Currie for the Liberal Democrats, who won 39 votes.

Turnout for the election was just 18%.

Other councillors for the ward are Andy Booth (Con) and Tom Nundy (Swale Independents).

It means the Swale Independents have solidified their position as the second most represented party in the borough.

The council, which is currently formed of a rainbow coalition comprising Labour, Swale Independents and the Greens, sees Labour remain with the most seats with 15.

The Swale Independents now have 13, with the Tories third with 11.

Meanwhile the Lib Dems have five seats and the Greens two.

It comes after no party was able to gain a majority during this year’s elections in May.

Full results:

Ed Baldwin (Labour) – 339 votes
Edward Currie (Lib Dems) – 39 votes
Peter MacDonald (Swale Independents) – 395 votes
Oliver Eakin (Conservatives) – 331 votes