News RSS Feed


Email us your story, call 01793 501806 or text 80360, starting your message with 'SWINDON NEWS'


Victory sealed with a kiss


SWINDON Council leader Rod Bluh sealed his victory in the polls with a kiss for his Labour rival Sarah Bush.

Conservative councillor Bluh maintained his seat in Dorcan by a meagre lead of just 460 votes, nudging ahead of Mrs Bush, who has been managing former MP Anne Snelgrove’s South Swindon office.

After it was announced Coun Bluh had won the ward again he leaned in and gave Mrs Bush a kiss of condolence on the cheek.

Speaking to the Adver immediately after his win in the early hours of yesterday morning, he said it had been a great night for the Tories.

He said: “It’s been a very good night, a fantastic night for Swindon and for our MPs.

“I think North Swindon might be one of the biggest swings in the country for the Tories.

“It’s also been a fantastic result for the council, I think it’s hardly changed.”

He also said that the latest shake-up, with both Swindon MPs now Conservative, would work in the council’s favour.

He said: “It’s business as usual as far as the council is concerned and we will be pushing ahead with our agenda.

“At last we have two Conservative MPs who will work closely with the council to help move it forward.

“At the end of the day the bottom line here is that the structural deficit in our economy has got to be sorted out and done sensitively but this country will be in a much worse condition if it isn’t sorted out.

“We’ve all got to work together to get on with it.”

Speaking about the council he said: “We are seeing signs that the regeneration in Swindon is pushing ahead and there are improvements in the local economy.

“There is a huge amount done but a huge amount still to do.”

Mrs Bush managed to get 1,398 votes, coming in at second place, followed by Clive Hooper for the Lib Dems on 634, Bob Sheppard for UKIP with 293, Roger Hiett for the BNP with 222 and last was David Miles for the Green Party who secured just 81.

Comments(5)

Gooey says...
10:33am Sat 8 May 10

I think every bloke likes a bit of bush when in a celebratory mood

TinkeyWinkey says...
1:52pm Sat 8 May 10

Lovely looking couple!!!!!!

real -life says...
5:44pm Sat 8 May 10

Nothing changes then. I had the misfortune to work for SBC a few years ago and the complacency and out of date ideas and practices are staggering. Councillors more concerned about their own egos and party politics than actually getting anything done, some very well meaning and hard working but just not having a clue what to do. SBC managers who have been there so long some didnt even know how to attach a file to an email despite being paid £40k a year (I really kid you not). I have never witnessed such imcompetance, lazyness and sheer waste. They are so inefficient all working against each other rather than together and the endless meetings which account for about 50% of a managers time each week and most of those meetings involve the same people being in the same room recyling the same old out of date ideas thay tried and failed with 20 years ago. Miliions are wasted every year by ineficiency and "old school" working practices that managers dont know how to change and staff just wouldnt do them anyway. The department i worked in was basically run by the staff, they were allowed to work whatever hours they wanted (and i use the word work very loosely as no one checked on where they were all day and loads just went shopping or even home and no one knew). If Mr Bluh really rants to do some good, he needs to get SBC to join the rest of us in the 21st century, get rid of those complacent lazy staff who cant or wont change and give us value for money and the town we pay for. Get rid of Capita who dont save us money, they actually cost us a fortune, get rid of Swindle Cowboy Services who rip them off big time day in day out and all the endless consltlants who are just handed milions of taxpayers money and fritter it away and then dont have to pay it back!!! If SBC was a business in the true sense with real competition and consequences for failure, they would have gone bust year ago. You have a legal and moral responsibilty with our money that we are under pain of prison if we dont pay Mr Bluh, so make sure it is spent in the best way for all of Swindon, not just a few. This town could be great again with the right leadership, management and ideas, so why is it in so much debt and look more like Beruit in the town centre? You have our vote, now dont let us down!!!!!!

politicrat says...
8:20am Mon 10 May 10

Bottom Line: Swindon people are idiots.
I dont blame the politicians for taking us voters for fools, I blame the stupid voters letting them to......
I think it is high time we change the vote system, should be based on minimum IQ.

daproofreader says...
5:50pm Mon 10 May 10

Bacio della morte ??


Rod Bluh and his Labour challenger Sarah Bush Rod Bluh and his Labour challenger Sarah Bush

Most popular


Local Information

Enter your postcode, town or place name

House prices »   Schools »   Crime »   Hospitals »

Local Businesses