Tory joy with double success

The Tories were jubiliant today after winning two by-elections in Wolverhampton to maintain their strongest grip on the council in 15 years.

David Cameron's party retained both Wednesfield North and South last night, despite a low turnout. The scandal of last month's resignation of married former Conservative councillors David and Carol Bourne, accused of holding paid group sex sessions at their Merry Hill home which triggered the elections, had little effect on the end result.

Peter Dobb, a 34-year-old who works for a fixings firm in Bilston, won Wednesfield South with a majority of 256, while Neil Clarke, former acting headteacher of Coppice High School, triumphed in Wednesfield North with a 223-vote lead.

Labour came second in both ballots, while the Liberal Democrats finished bottom beneath the BNP in North and South. The results leave the Tories in their strongest position since 1994 when the party was last in control, with another by-election looming in the winter following the death of veteran Labour Heath Town councillor Les Turner this week.

Conservative councillor Neville Patten, leader of the city council, said: "I am absolutely delighted. The people of Wednesfield have had their say and they have voted for the Conservatives. It shows they do not blame us for what two individuals allegedly got up to in their private lives."

A total of 2,862 votes were cast in Wednesfield North and 2,486 in South out of a combined electorate of around 17,000. Six ballot papers were spoiled.

Councillor Roger Lawrence, leader of the Labour group, said: "I am disappointed we didn't pull one seat back but the BNP and Liberals got nowhere."

New councillor Peter Dobb said: "I am delighted but a little shocked."

The result leaves the Tory-Lib Dem alliance which controls the authority on 32 councillors compared to Labour's 27.