TOP politicians react to Slough Labour’s ‘great result’ at the 2021 local election as they maintain a grip of the council.

The Slough Labour Group managed to retain most of the borough’s wards, and gained in Upton, with 11 councillors out of 14 voted in.

The Conservatives had two councillors voted in and councillor Madhuri Bedi retained her seat but this time as an Independent.

READ MORE: Slough Borough Council 2021 election results in full

Reacting to the local Labour’s win, Slough’s MP Tan Dhesi said: “I am extremely grateful for the good people of Slough for continuing to bestow their trust and I can assure you that those 11 councillors will be working very hard on your behalf to make sure that they make our community a better, safer place so that you can all be proud of them and you can be proud of Slough.

“Within the very difficult national context, I think it is a great result for the Slough Labour Party and we will continue to work hard on your behalf.”

The leader of the council, councillor James Swindlehurst (Lab: Cippenham Green), said it was great to see people support Labour at the ballot box after an ‘intensive’ eight weeks of campaigning.

He said: “It is good to see people wanting to show their support for the work the council has done and endorse us [Labour] going forward to try and deliver good services to Slough residents.”

Cllr James Swindlehurst, the leader of the council

Cllr James Swindlehurst, the leader of the council

While Labour did maintain most wards, they did, however, lose Foxborough as well as Langley Kedermister.

READ MORE: Slough Conservatives take Langley Kedermister from Labour

Conservative candidate Chandra Muvvala narrowly defeated veteran Labour councillor Mike Holledge by 37 votes in a heated battle for Langley Kedermister.

Reacting to Labour’s surprise loss, Mr Dhesi said: “To lose by 40-odd votes is always very, very difficult and I think councillor Mike Holledge has been exemplary and we are all going to miss him from serving on Slough Borough Council.

“But that’s just the way sometimes things are that sometimes you can lose by big or small margins.”

The council’s political make-up now consists of 35 Labour, five Conservative, and two Independent.