Crawley's Longest Serving Borough Councillor Ousted

Tuesday, 9 May 2023 07:44

By Karen Dunn, Local Democracy Reporter

Labour took a surprise election scalp in Crawley after the town’s longest-serving borough councillor was ousted.

Richard Burrett, who has served as a Conservative councillor since 1992, lost his Pound Hill North & Forge Wood seat to Justin Russell by 1,314 votes to 1,137.

The result saw Labour extend its control of the council, with 20 seats compared to the Conservatives’ 16.

Labour leader Michael Jones said he was ‘absolutely delighted’ with the day’s results.

He added:

“It was a really solid set of results for the party. I’m very pleased with the result in Pound Hill North & Forge Wood – it’s the first time we’ve won that ward since 1995.

“It showed a real vote of confidence from Crawley people that the council’s doing good things.”

Mr Jones said Mr Burrett had ‘served his community faithfully’ and suggested that he may have been a victim of his party’s plummeting national popularity.

He added:

“Sometimes politics can be brutal.

“He’s still a county councillor and I’m sure he will continue to serve there. I wish him all the best for the future.”

The Conservatives regained the Pound Hill South & Worth seat, which had been vacant since the death of Andrew Belben.

Craig Burke took up the reins, seeing off challenges from Labour and the Greens.

One-third of the council’s 36 seats were contested, with only Tilgate residents not going to the polls.

There were some nervy moments, with Conservative leader Duncan Crow facing a strong challenge from Labour in his Furnace Green ward.

Mr Crow kept hold of the seat by 990 votes to 851, with Reform UK proving no challenge whatsoever with 127 votes.

Mr Crow has been approached for comment.

Mr Jones will have some work to do reorganising his cabinet as two members – Shahzad Malik (Langley Green & Tushmore) and Sandra Buck (Ifield) – did not stand for re-election.

The turnout was 30.8 per cent, with 375 people being turned away for having no photo ID.

Of those, only 208 returned to cast their vote.