Kevin SmallKEVIN Small has been dumped as leader of Swindon Labour following the party's pasting at the polls.

The Western councillor, who led Labour for nearly two years, fought to the end to stay on as party chief.

But last night his pleas for another chance were ignored and party colleagues ditched him in favour of his deputy, Central councillor David Nash.

As far back as March long before last week's disappointing election result, which saw Labour lose three seats to the Tories the Advertiser reported senior Labour figures were unhappy with Coun Small's leadership.

Critics say he did not devote enough time to the job and was not a team player.

Mr Small, who faces relegation to the backbenches, said he was "gutted and disappointed" with his party's decision to drop him.

"I'm disappointed because it's been a difficult year for me and I haven't been able to achieve everything I wanted," said Coun Small.

"But that's the democratic process. The group has decided on change and I wish David Nash all the best for the future."

Coun Nash, a 38-year-old father-of-two who works for Zurich Financial Services, said Labour's first priority would be to regain the trust of the people of Swindon.

"I'm committed to finding a way we can reconnect with people because we have lost that," he said. "We can't sit around and do the same old things."

Coun Nash admitted that winning back power from the Tories, who now have overall control of Swindon Council, would be a long process.

Opposing them would not be about "fighting every last decision and shouting the loudest", but about "convincing the people of Swindon we have their best interests at heart," he said.

He added: "Labour have made mistakes running the council and we need to acknowledge them and say sorry."

The Liberal Democrats are also under new leadership today after Mike Evemy stood aside for Freshbrook and Grange Park councillor Chris Shepherd.

Coun Evemy (Eastcott), who led the party for 10 years, said it was time for someone else to do the job.

He said he was proud to have helped push through two Lib Dem budgets and kick-start kerbside recycling, but was disappointed by last week's election results, when the party saw its number of councillors fall to seven.

His successor, 41-year-old electronics engineer Coun Shepherd, said the Tories' domination of the new council meant consensus would be an early victim.

"They don't need us anymore and they have the numbers to do what they like," he said.

"But we are going to be there to hold them to account at every turn."

Andy Tate