SWINDON Council leader Rod Bluh sealed his victory in the polls with a kiss for his Labour rival Sarah Bush.

Conservative councillor Bluh maintained his seat in Dorcan by a meagre lead of just 460 votes, nudging ahead of Mrs Bush, who has been managing former MP Anne Snelgrove’s South Swindon office.

After it was announced Coun Bluh had won the ward again he leaned in and gave Mrs Bush a kiss of condolence on the cheek.

Speaking to the Adver immediately after his win in the early hours of yesterday morning, he said it had been a great night for the Tories.

He said: “It’s been a very good night, a fantastic night for Swindon and for our MPs.

“I think North Swindon might be one of the biggest swings in the country for the Tories.

“It’s also been a fantastic result for the council, I think it’s hardly changed.”

He also said that the latest shake-up, with both Swindon MPs now Conservative, would work in the council’s favour.

He said: “It’s business as usual as far as the council is concerned and we will be pushing ahead with our agenda.

“At last we have two Conservative MPs who will work closely with the council to help move it forward.

“At the end of the day the bottom line here is that the structural deficit in our economy has got to be sorted out and done sensitively but this country will be in a much worse condition if it isn’t sorted out.

“We’ve all got to work together to get on with it.”

Speaking about the council he said: “We are seeing signs that the regeneration in Swindon is pushing ahead and there are improvements in the local economy.

“There is a huge amount done but a huge amount still to do.”

Mrs Bush managed to get 1,398 votes, coming in at second place, followed by Clive Hooper for the Lib Dems on 634, Bob Sheppard for UKIP with 293, Roger Hiett for the BNP with 222 and last was David Miles for the Green Party who secured just 81.