2024 Thurrock Council election
[8][10] In July 2023, Conservative councillor Sue Sammons left her party to become an independent in protest of its decision to cut local bus services.[18] In February 2024, it was revealed that the Conservative administration was considering an increase in council tax of 7.99% from April to present a balanced budget for 2024–2025.[30] Ahead of the election, it was expected that the low national polling numbers of the Conservatives, as well as the financial difficulties faced by the council during the Conservative administration, would influence its outcome, with local election experts Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher suggesting that Labour could regain its traditional control of the council.[32] He pledged that the Conservatives would not close libraries or cut children's and lollipopping services and voiced his party's interest in potential business opportunities such as the Thames Freeport if it remained in power after the election.[33][34] The national Labour Party identified Thurrock as one of its main targets out of the local elections taking place across the country, with Labour's deputy national campaign co-ordinator Ellie Reeves stating that it was one of the areas the party needed to make gains in to win the 2024 United Kingdom general election.[35][36] Local Labour leader John Kent warned that Labour would have to "take tough decisions" and could not "promise the earth" amid the financial burden faced by the council, which he blamed on the Conservatives, but promised to cooperate with local communities while protecting services for the elderly and the young and maintaining basic services if his party won power.[30][32] The strengthened local presence of independent candidates and the Green Party led by Eugene McCarthy, standing in seven and four wards respectively, was also expected to pose a potential challenge to the Conservatives.According to McCarthy, the Greens would focus on building new council homes, investing in high streets and delivering "common-sense" finances.
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