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5:09am Wednesday 7th May 2008

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FOUR Labour stalwarts failed to get elected in the new Cheshire West and Chester election - compounding their party's miserable performance across the county.

Vale Royal Borough Council's Labour leader Brian Lloyd fell as did Arthur Neil, a former borough council leader, deputy leader and Labour leader.

I think it’s a bit like going into a shop. If it doesn’t have the goods and service required, you go elsewhere. That is the people’s feeling towards the Labour Party.

County councillor George Mainwaring

County councillor George Mainwaring and former Northwich town council mayor Steve Gough were also not elected Clr Neil has served on the borough council since its inception in 1974.

Clr Mainwaring has been a Cheshire county councillor for the past seven years and followed on from Labour Clr Ron Carey who had been representative for 30 years bringing an end of an era in the Northwich and East Shakerley division.

Clr Mainwaring said: "I think it's a bit like going into a shop. If it doesn't have the goods and service required, you go elsewhere.

"That is the people's feeling towards the Labour Party."

He said the party had done all it could to win people's vote.

Clr Mainwaring added: "I don't know what more we could have done.

"We have worked hard but people have the right to choose who they vote for."

The Conservatives swept to power in the new unitary council which formally takes over when Cheshire County Council and Vale Royal Borough Council cease to exist in a year's time.

Until then, Cheshire West and Chester will operate as a shadow council and will begin the process of putting the mechanisms of local government in place.