Gavin Callaghan Walks Out as Basildon Council Count Turns Reform

Gavin Callaghan walked out of the basildon council election count at Basildon Sporting Village after Reform won the first two ward results declared. Labour party candidates and councillors followed him out, leaving the count after only 2 of the 14 ward results had been announced.

Basildon Sporting Village

Both of the first two ward results went to Reform. Callaghan, the Labour leader of Basildon Council, left after those openings, while the count continued with the remaining results still to come.

Reform leader Sam Journet kept his St Martin's seat. That gave the party an early foothold in the count before most of the wards had been declared.

Terry Webb at the count

Terry Webb, Labour's candidate for Lee Chapel North, was one of the two who stayed behind after Callaghan left. He said: "I am very disappointed like all of my Labour colleagues, but that is democracy so unfortunately we have to take it on the chin."

The count had reached only 2 of 14 ward results when Callaghan left, so the early Reform gains set the tone for the rest of the night. Labour members declined to speak to the press throughout the night and when leaving the Sporting Village, while polling had pointed to many more Reform seats still to come.