The loss of one of the town's two MPs from cabinet has been regretted by leaders of Swindon’s two main political groups.

After South Swindon MP Robert Buckland was sacked as justice secretary in Boris Johnson’s Wednesday reshuffle, council leader and Conservative colleague David Renard said: “I am sorry to hear that Robert is no longer a member of the cabinet. 

"Having a MP at the top level of government is undoubtedly beneficial for Swindon.”
But, Coun Renard added, he believed Mr Buckland would still be a good advocate for Swindon in Westminster and Whitehall.

He said: “Robert is extremely well connected and I know he will continue to lobby hard on our behalf within government.”

When the news broke on Wednesday the leader of the Labour group Jim Grant also expressed concern, especially after a report to cabinet last week projected an £11.7m shortfall in the council’s revenue budget. 

Although a political opponent of Mr Buckland, he said his absence from the cabinet could make it more difficult for the borough council to get extra support and funding to address what he called the council’s “coming financial crisis”.