Labour still on top in Sandwell

May 4 2007 By Tony Deeley, Birmingham Mail

LABOUR enjoyed a night of celebration at Sandwell to maintain its stranglehold on the council.

The controlling party made one gain from the Tories on the night, at St Paul's, to increase its overall majority to 30.

There was little joy for the British National Party, which failed to continue the growth it made last year.

The right-wing party did not gain a single seat, although it was a close-run thing at Princes End where Labour's Raymond Howes retained the seat by just 20 votes over the BNP's Karen Parkes.

It was a miserable night for the Tories, who lost a second seat at Great Barr with Yew Tree to the Liberal Democrats.

Council leader, Coun Bill Thomas, said he was delighted with the results and to see voters turn their backs on the BNP.

"This has been a most remarkable night," he said. "The electors and residents of Sandwell have given us a massive vote of confidence, but my greatest pleasure has been to see the British National Party slip back and their vote recede.

"We are not complacent and realise there is going to be another battle next year to challenge them for the single issue party they are."

West Bromwich East Labour MP Tom Watson said voters were beginning to see the BNP's "true colours".

"Last year was a feeding frenzy on the airwaves for the BNP," he said. "But people are beginning to see their true colours."

Sandwell Council is now composed of 51 Labour members, 10 Conservatives, six Liberal Democrats and four BNP with one vacancy.