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| Election results: Tories lose control of Surrey stronghold | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Conservatives have lost control of a stronghold which has been blue for almost two decades. | The Conservatives have lost control of a stronghold which has been blue for almost two decades. |
| Tories in Tandridge were running the council with a majority of just one, after losing eight seats last year. | Tories in Tandridge were running the council with a majority of just one, after losing eight seats last year. |
| The local party lost a further six seats this year, losing three to the Oxted & Limpsfield Residents Group, two to the Liberal Democrats and one to an independent. | The local party lost a further six seats this year, losing three to the Oxted & Limpsfield Residents Group, two to the Liberal Democrats and one to an independent. |
| A total of 14 seats were up for grabs on the night. | A total of 14 seats were up for grabs on the night. |
| The Conservatives remain the largest party, with 16 seats out of 42. | The Conservatives remain the largest party, with 16 seats out of 42. |
| The Lib Dems have 11, independents have eight, and the residents association has seven. | The Lib Dems have 11, independents have eight, and the residents association has seven. |
| Leader Martin Fisher (Con) lost his seat to David Stamp of the residents group, who won a 68% share of the vote. | Leader Martin Fisher (Con) lost his seat to David Stamp of the residents group, who won a 68% share of the vote. |
| Mr Fisher said: "It's certainly going to be a very bad night for the Conservatives." | Mr Fisher said: "It's certainly going to be a very bad night for the Conservatives." |
| He said "Brexit chaos at Westminster" had not helped the party, but locally, the key issue was building homes on the green belt. | He said "Brexit chaos at Westminster" had not helped the party, but locally, the key issue was building homes on the green belt. |
| He said preventing this was what the independents were focused on and "that cost us seats". | He said preventing this was what the independents were focused on and "that cost us seats". |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By Helen Catt, BBC South East political editor | By Helen Catt, BBC South East political editor |
| Wealthy East Surrey is traditionally Tory territory but the Conservatives have seen their control there steadily ebb away over several years. | Wealthy East Surrey is traditionally Tory territory but the Conservatives have seen their control there steadily ebb away over several years. |
| The beneficiaries have largely been Independents and Residents Groups. | The beneficiaries have largely been Independents and Residents Groups. |
| Brexit is not to blame, but rather a failure to balance house-building with concerns over the greenbelt. | Brexit is not to blame, but rather a failure to balance house-building with concerns over the greenbelt. |
| That is solid Tory policy territory in the South East and could suggest there may be more for the party to worry about than their immediate Brexit concerns. | That is solid Tory policy territory in the South East and could suggest there may be more for the party to worry about than their immediate Brexit concerns. |
| Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram | Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram |