Jonathan Ash-Edwards comments on the magnificant results from Thursday County Council Elections:
I'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who played a part in the Mid Sussex success story in the County Council elections. Winning every single seat, including five gains, is a huge achievement and congratulations go to our re-elected and newly elected County Councillors, as well as our District & Town by-election victors. We wish them well in their new, or continuing, roles.
Whether you were a candidate, Councillor, canvasser, deliverer or helped with some telling, it was another fantastic result from the Mid Sussex team who have worked tirelessly in this election to ensure that success isn't just winning our ward, but the ward next door too.
I think a huge part in our success is that, despite tough times, residents know we work hard locally - Councillors rooted in their communities, strong local campaigns and effective County, District & Town Councils which are on the side of residents.
Although the Liberal Democrats have ceased to be a viable party in Mid Sussex, we must not be complacent and we have new challenges to tackle, the figures do seem to suggest that it was the LibDems who suffered most from the growth in the UKIP vote.
Over the next couple of years, we'll need to reassure (and in many cases, win back the support of) traditional Conservative supporters, as well as continuing the vital task of reaching out to new supporters and recruiting new members and helpers to the association.
The task we face in 2015 is huge - re-electing Nicholas as our MP, holding the District Council and our three Town Councils and re-electing all our Conservative Councillors. It will be hard work and take much planning, but if we continue what we've started together, the prize will be worth it.