UKIP wiped out by Tories in Wealden and Lewes

County Hall Lewes, East Sussex County Council HQ SUS-150925-134850001

UKIP was wiped out by the Tories in Wealden and Lewes in this week's East Sussex County Council elections.

Coming into the elections, the Conservatives had 21 seats out of 49, but at the end of today have 30 and an overall majority at County Hall, having taken all six seats off UKIP.

In Wealden the Tories won 13 of 15 divisions, with only Independent Democrats Daniel and Stephen Shing being the two other successful candidates in Polegate & Watermill and Willingdon & South Downs respectively.

Meanwhile the Lib Dems retained their three seats in the Lewes district and took Newhaven and Bishopstone from Conservative Peter Charlton, who defected from UKIP after the EU referendum result.

Independent county councillor for Lewes Ruth O’Keeffe was re-elected with a huge 1,500 vote majority.

Full results:

LEWES DISTRICT:

Chailey (TORY hold), Jim Sheppard re-elected

Lewes (IND hold), Ruth O’Keeffe re-elected.

Newhaven and Bishopstone (LIB DEM gain from UKIP), Darren Grove elected.

Ouse Vallley West and Downs (LIB DEM hold), Sarah Osborne elected.

Peacehaven (TORY gain from UKIP), Nigel Enever elected