The deputy leader of the council lost his seat as Labour and Liberal Democrats made gains in the local elections on Thursday, May 3.
David Lee was dramatically ousted from his Norreys ward seat by Labour, who saw their share of the vote soar.
And Executive Member for Children’s Services Mark Ashwell was another casualty for the Conservatives as his Evendons seat became a Liberal Democrat gain.
The Liberals also gained Hawkedon ward from the Conservatives, snatching the seat from outgoing Earley Town Mayor Michael Firmager.
Voters also returned independent councillor Gary Cowan in Arborfield, one of the most hotly contested wards in the borough.
Labour also won a second seat, taking Bulmershe and Whitegates. Carl Doran beat the Conservative challenger Majid Nagra, who was standing following the decision by Alison Swaddle to stand down.
And in Emmbrook, Imogen Shepherd-DuBey was returned as a Liberal Democrat councillor after winning the by-election there last year.
It wasn’t all bad news for the Conservatives though: they won South Lake from the Liberal Democrats and saw their majorities increase in some seats. They also saw off a stiff challenge from independent candidate Jim Frewin in Shinfield South.
Labour’s two gains mean that Cllr Andy Croy is no longer the only representative of the party on the borough council.
He told The Wokingham Paper: “It feels very, very good. We’ve got two wins.
“To win in Norreys in an amazing achievement. I can’t think of political shock in Wokingham ever … this is a massive shock, absolutely massive shock. We went from 200 votes to over 1,000 and we’ve knocked out the former leader of the council, the deputy leader of the council. It goes to show that people are really, really unhappy with the Tories.
“Over in Bulmershe Carl [Doran] did a fantastic job, he had to work really, really hard.
“All of our candidates have worked really hard and I’m very proud of them.”
Cllr Lindsay Ferris, leader of the Wokingham Liberal Democrats, said that the Conservatives needed to do more to listen to residents.
“I think it’s very clear that it is the case,” he said. “A number of their senior people have gone, they haven’t listened and they have been quite arrogant in this past year.”
The leader of Wokingham Conservatives, Cllr Charlotte Haitham Taylor, defended her party’s record, saying that they would take time to reflect on the results. She also disputed the view that her party is not listening to residents.
She told The Wokingham Paper: “I disagree with that. We are a really ambitious council and we are doing so much right across the borough. When you’re doing so much all at once, it’s very difficult. I liken it to living in a house where every single room is being decorated all at once and all the furniture is in every room; it makes it very difficult to live with.
“We will continue to deliver absolutely the best for our residents and deliver value for money and continue to fight on.”
