Polls Close Across Guildford Borough – Unpredictable Result Expected Tomorrow

Published on: 2 May, 2019
Updated on: 3 May, 2019

A voter leaves a polling station in Shalford.

The polling stations in Guildford have now closed and the count for a new borough council in what could be the most significant local election in living memory, will commence tomorrow at 9.30 am. The complete result is expected by mid-afternoon.

But despite the significance, the result is the most unpredictable observers can recall. Even so, turnout was reported to be low. Local elections in Guildford rarely attract more than a 50% turnout and if disillusion with politics generally, because of Brexit, at a national level, or the Local Plan in Guildford itself, has an impact then voting numbers could be further suppressed.

A voter making her way towards a polling station in Chilworth.

One presiding officer predicted a 20% turnout, although in a short tour of several polling stations, in the early afternoon,  a steady trickle of voters were observed to be having their say.

One party teller said that her conversations indicated many were voting on Brexit which, together with a low turnout might augur badly for the Tories. However, a R4GV (residents group) member, manning a town centre polling station, was gloomy about his party’s chances. He thought the “true blues” were still turning out and that the Lib Dems would get a Brexit boost.

Some voters, like this one at the URCH polling station on the Portsmouth Road, were determined to do their civic duty.

If the Tories hang on to control of the council, even with a much-reduced majority, they are like count that as a victory, and many given the current political situation locally and nationally,  would agree. While if the GGG/Residents can’t succeed now they might feel they never will and the Lib Dems will probably be satisfied with any significant increase in their number of seats.

An indication of how things might go in Guildford could be the result in Tandridge, another local authority area with a high percentage of green belt. The Conservatives have lost control there as Independents and Lib Dems increase their number of seats.

BBC South East reporter Leanne Lawless reported: “Last year, that loss was put down to new building on green belt land. This year Brexit is coming into play.

“It is not going to be a good night for the Conservatives at all.”

But the Conservatives have held nearby Rushmoor.

Nationally both the Conservatives and Labour are suffering losses while the Lib Dems, the Green Party, which has fielded only two candidates in Guildford Borough, and Independents are enjoying significant gains.

The big question for Guildford is, will the “Independents”, ie GGG and R4GV, share the success, locally, others have achieved in other parts of the country? It is probably certain the Lib Dems will, but to what extent?

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