The stunning success of the Canvey Island Independent Party was played down by members of the mainstream parties.
The "separatists" grabbed four seats from the Tories and one from Labour.
Tory Pam Challis, leader of Castle Point Council, greeted their gains with suspicion, and said: "It's an extraordinary situation, we expected the Canvey Independents to eat into the Labour vote, but they have also eaten into our vote.
"It's a populist vote for Canvey, but I believe their policies are undeliverable and I feel the people of Canvey have been duped."
Prospective Castle Point Labour Parliamentary candidate Luke Akehurst urged people not take too much notice of the result after his party lost their one seat on the council.
Further reaction to the voting in our Elections news section
Published Friday June 11, 2004
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