So to clear up some unfinished business from the elections - Labour held Greenwich borough, and nobody really made a huge surge against them, although we can confirm there are at least 976 racist wankers in Eltham (or at least the Eltham West ward). The triumvirate of Labour councillors held onto my own ward, Charlton, with two of the Green trio following behind. The Greens also took runner-up spots in Peninsula (east Greenwich and a bit of Charlton) and Woolwich Riverside (which includes the western bit of Charlton) - and did well in Blackheath Westcombe - which could either be interpreted as a great breakthrough for the Greens, or a big "up yours" to the Tories and Lib Dems as well as Labour. It does at least show that opposition to the council is alive and kicking around Greenwich, Blackheath and Charlton - but the vote's divided, which is a comfort to Labour, who hopefully will take on board the huge number of Green votes, although they'll really be thanking their lucky stars it's a first-past-the-post election.

My local MP, Nick Raynsford, once a minister, is now among those starting the slow handclap that'll end in Tony Blair leaving.

No such divisions in Bexley - Labour got the boot in stunning fashion as the suburbs went home to the Conservatives. And fewer divisions in Lewisham, which has gone to no overall control, although the local Labour party refuses to admit this! In practice, though, it still has an elected Labour mayor who'll be able to get his way. The Greens took over Brockley and Ladywell and the Lib Dems took charge in plenty of other seats, including Blackheath.

Which means goodbye to the good Councillor Andrew Brown, who's been good enough to link to me for ages despite his patch being just the other side of a boundary line from here. Hopefully his successors will take on board the efforts he's made in trying to open up some of the mysteries of what the bloody hell local councils and councillors actually do - a bit more of that openness is desperately needed this side of that boundary. He also managed to be one of the few in his party who could use a keyboard and come up with a result that wasn't patronising bullshit. Hopefully we'll see him back in the blogging fray sometime soon.

- posted by Inspector Sands @ 1:34 PM
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