A NEW Reform UK county councillor says the election results across Lichfield and Burntwood are a “clear call for change” from local residents.
Andrew Clissett secured the Burntwood North seat at Staffordshire County Council after claiming a majority of more than 1,000 votes over his nearest rival.
It was one of a number of local successes for the party as they also took the Burntwood South, Lichfield City North, Lichfield Rural East and Lichfield Rural West divisions.
The Conservatives did have success in Lichfield City South, Lichfield Rural South and Lichfield Rural North, but saw high profile casualties elsewhere, including former Staffordshire County Council leader Alan White.
And with Labour and the Lib Dems failing to secure any seats in the Lichfield and Burntwood area, Mr Clissett said the voices of voters had been heard.
“This result is a clear call for change – change that puts our community first, supports our families and restores pride in our country, starting at the local level where it matters most.
“I will work hard on behalf of all residents by listening, engaging and representing Burntwood North with honesty, integrity and commitment.
“Whether you voted for me or not, I will serve every member of our community to the very best of my ability.
“Now the real work begins. Together, let’s build the future our area deserves.”
Janet Higgins, who ousted Conservative Richard Cox in Lichfield Rural West, said she was keen to repay those who had voted for her.
“I thank residents for placing their trust in me and electing me as their new county councillor.
“I will work hard for them and repay support I’ve had from all of the villages I’ve visited and where I met loads of people and told them I’d bring change.
“I never go back on my word, so I will make change and ensure it is better than it is now so everyone feels that I have done what I said I would – they can trust me.”
Another Reform UK winner was Matthew Wallens, who said it was “time to start making change and stop Lichfield City North being the forgotten area”, while Robin Hall added that his success would allow him to “listen and learn to make Burntwood South a better place to live”.
The full list of results are available here.
Hey, Robin Hall, if you lived in (or even near) Burntwood, you’d know what’s needed. My goodness, Staffordshire, what have you done? :(
Burntwood people you should be ashamed. Regardless of who you vote for in a general election, this was local . Who does more for our town than Darren Ennis. He’s a local lad with burntwood running through his veins, not some faceless glory hunter from god knows how many miles away!
You probably didn’t notice but Mr Ennis was the only candidate that even put his address on the voting form, what does that tell you
Looks like Farage will be making some big profits this year. Can a Reform voter please explain to me why they voted that way? If they get into actual power, Bang goes the NHS. Can someone explain how they will fund public services with the tax cuts they are promising or is everything going to be privatised? Because that’s working so well for the Water & energy companies. Looks like we are heading into a Profit before people future.
Are any of these the reform councillor who stated they would have to figure out what the County Council does now they’ve been elected, or the one who expressed concern about whether they’d be able to get time off work to do this role…?
Disgusting
I’m fine with this . I actually think it’s good they get so many positions of power, this far away from a GE. At least they have plenty of time for the public to realise they are worse than Labour and Conservatives put together. But into people SEE it, they will just fall the Farage BS. They have no plans other than unaffordable and unworkable sound bites.
I think Reform have sneaked home with narrow majorities, low turnout and no policies. They will be the first to condemn a victory based on low turnout.
Now the hard work begins as they may have to assemble a team with little or no leadership experience and vague notions to ‘listen and learn’……not the right way to run a multi-million £ organisation. Heaven help the Council employees having to administer this lot.
The current duds of the two main parties who have repeatedly let down the general public at both national and local level for the last heaven nows how many decades have had a shot across the bows and rightly so. Hopefully now on a local level politics will start to have a major REFORM and waste , greed and incompetence of taxpayers money will not be tolerated as it has been for far too long.
Let’s all give a slow clap to the geriatric racists of Lichfield and Burntwood. They’d vote to have their own houses burned down if they were told to. Just, unbelievable. Did you not learn from Brexit!?
It’s funny reading the hysteria. I didn’t vote Reform but not only is Andy a top man, that’s also a very sharp suit he’s wearing 💪🏼 Burntwood North is in safe hands and I’ll enjoy watching him prove you wrong.
Balanced Argument – The evidence is very clear, it is not age that is the strongest indicator of voting Brexit. I’ll
The biggest single factor in Leave/Remain is level of educational attainment.
We will find out, fortunately not as badly as USA voters did, just what Reform Ltd is.
I am absolutely ashamed of Burntwood (hometown) and Staffordshire. Genuinely, what the actual HELL are you Reform voters thinking? Immigrants aren’t even an issue in our areas. And people go and vote for a person who doesn’t even live in the area! What are they to know of our issues?
Darren is a sacrificial lamb, voting Labour would indicate that we’re happy with government. This is a big warning to the Labour government that people are not happy
We live in interesting times – hardly a call for change – 34% turnout (rounding up). So 66% have no invested interest or don’t care, and of those that did vote wanted something new, as in, (to make it known) not a Labour government nor a local area controlled by Labour or Conservative. What do we learn from this? Democracy doesn’t work. People want change that they’re unwilling for the majority voted party to carry out and/or are contrarians – We live in interesting times.
For the 66% that didn’t vote. Don’t start complaining. For the 34% that did the majority won. Accept it. Let’s see what happens. If the winners don’t perform, vote them out next time. Until then stop all this whining and name calling it just shows your bitterness of people who have a different opinion.
I am saddened and frankly ashamed at the election results. I have received several messages from friends in different parts of the country who are horrified. It’s nothing to do with bitterness R Appleby, but all about concern as to what will be unleashed. However as others have said, we will now be holding our new Councillors to account because running a council will be far more challenging than sloganeering.
I would respectfully request that the majority of the comments against Reform to hold back on their animated comments.
Let us see what they are capable of?
They are a newly created party so there will be teething problems. Give them a chance.
Anything that runs differently than what we have been used to fit the last nigh on thirty years is going to be a bit painful.
But it may be worth it?
I didn’t vote for any of the Parties, so no slating off anyone please. I marked my ballot “Not in My Name”
Firstly Reform are not a political party they are a company.
Secondly how long should we give them ? The Tories got 15 years, Labour have had barely 9 months ?
It’s a resounding victory for the apathy party. Why on Earth would anyone believe a single word of what these people say, there’s no noble intent in politics, it’s greed based.
Thank heavens I’m fortunate enough to have lived and accrued my many pensions when we had a visionary leader in Margaret Thatcher.
Well said Callum.
Ass and Elbow comes to Mind.
Nation in total Confusion over our Politics,
Attitude is let’s give Reform a Go. They others have been Miserable Failures,
What happened to the Raving Monster Looney Party.
Perhaps we should give them a go.
or resort to total anarchy.