CONSERVATIVES and Liberal Democrats gained seats in the Cherwell District elections last Thursday as voters turned against Labour.

The Tories ousted two Labour candidates in Banbury, and the LibDems picked up one seat from Labour in Kidlington South.

The state of the parties on CDC is now Conservatives 39 (up two), Labour seven (down three), and LibDems four (up one).

In Banbury, pride of place went to new candidate Alyas Ahmed who won Neithrop for the Tories to become Cherwell's first Muslim councillor.

His victory was particularly notable because Labour had held the seat for more than 30 years.

In Banbury's Grimsbury and Castle ward, another first time candidate Margaret Cullip won the seat vacated by Labour's Richard Collins.

A big shock came in Kidlington South in the seat previously held by Labour group leader Andrew Hornsby-Smith who stood down at this election.

This time the LibDems took advantage and Devena Rae romped home with Labour relegated to third place behind Mary Young (Tory). The fourth candidate in the ward, Janet Warren (Green) totalled only 148 votes.

Labour won only one seat of the 18 that were up for grabs in Banbury Ruscote where the long-serving and ever-popular George Parish (Banbury Ruscote) carried the flag.

Mr Parish is chairman of the Save the Horton Hospital action group, and a campaigner for the re-opening of the outdoor swimming pool.

After the election, Banbury MP Tony Baldry said: "These are the best results for the Conservatives in Banbury since the 1970s. The Tories have not held Neithrop since that time, and the results were almost a clean sweep for us.

"The results show the frustration of local people with the government over issues such as the NHS, and council tax increasing faster than pensions.

"We have seen some excellent candidates who have worked hard to get elected."

Earlier in the day, Tory Euro MP Daniel Hannan joined local Conservatives at polling booths around Banbury.

Mr Hannan said: "I wrote to candidates throughout my south-east constituency, and Liz Mcleod, a contender for the Banbury Ruscote seat, wrote back asking me what I was doing on election day.

"I decided to join her and other Banbury candidates as they knocked doors encouraging people to vote.

"From the response we have been getting, there seems to be an anti-politician mood in the country. It is something I have experienced in the run-up to the elections elsewhere in southern England, and something that has been emphasised again today in Banbury."

Mr Hannan added: "I think they are right to feel that way. Local government has so little power nowadays.

"Deputy prime minister John Prescott has exerted too much control over local authorities and the time has come to make local government powerful again. We need to put the police back under local control, and wind up the regional assemblies."