THE man in charge of Swindon's failing education system was the major casualty at last night's local elections.

Garry Perkins lost his seat to Labour candidate David Wren during a day when the status quo prevailed.

The only other seat to be exchanged was in Haydon Wick, where David Renard won for the Conservatives from the Labour Party.

Mr Perkins had been lead member for education since the Conservatives took control of the council from Labour in October.

He was one of the party's leading spokesmen during the controversial budget debate which led to a Council Tax increase of more than 15 per cent.

And yesterday the electorate made him pay for his high profile in the council and his association with an education department that was described as having serious weaknesses by Government inspectors.

Mr Perkins had taken on the role after the Labour administration stepped down in October in the wake of the education crisis. He had been one of the men instrumental in the employment of private company Tribal, which this week started work in overseeing the work of schools in Swindon.

Last night he admitted he was resigned to losing his seat and left before the result of his Dorcan ward was announced.

His Conservative leader Mike Bawden said: "I feel sorry for Garry. He has worked very hard trying to sort out the problems in Swindon over the last few months.

"He is fairly blunt and direct and maybe that is why he has lost his seat. I know that the headteachers in Swindon felt he did a first class job and it will be interesting to see how things will go if Labour takes charge again."

Mr Wren, the man who took Mr Perkins' seat, said: "I think the reason people have voted for me is because I stressed to people that I would be a community councillor."

The council remains hung following yesterday's election, which involved 19 seats. Labour have 29 seats, the Tories 22 and the Liberal Democrats, who hold the balance of power, have eight.

The three political groups will meet over the next few days to decide their strategy ahead of the council's annual meeting on May 17, at which the new administration will be formed.

The Conservatives have led a minority administration since October and must now attempt to strike a deal in order to stay in charge.

Coun Bawden (Old Town and Lawn), who has been council leader for the last six months, said: "Our result is a little disappointing as we were getting quite a good response on the doorstep and we were optimistic that we might win three or four seats.

"There will now be formal discussion between the three groups and that will decide what happens."

Labour leader Sue Bates (Gorse Hill and Pinehurst) said: "We were expecting to lose Haydon Wick but we are very pleased to win Dorcan back. I think it is a good result for us. It is still a hung council but the Tories did not do as well as they expected.

"We are ecstatic. Everything now depends on what happens on May 17. We will decide next week whether or not to put ourselves forward to run the administration and if so who to vote onto the cabinet."

Liberal Democrat leader Mike Evemy, who held his seat in Eastcott, said: "Clearly the Conservatives are the biggest losers tonight. They thought they might gain control of the council, but the voters of Swindon clearly didn't agree.

"We are the only party whose overall percentage vote went up.That reflects the fact that over the last two years people have liked what they have seen from us.

"We continue to hold the balance of power and we intend to use our influence in a constructive way."

We believe the voters have said tonight that they do not believe either party should run the council and we have an important part to play."

NATIONAL NEWS