CASTLE UNDER SIEGE
by Leicester Green Party Election Agent Matthew Gough

Picture the scene. May 2nd, 2003, 4.30am, Aylestone Leisure Centre. All the results have been declared except for one: Castle. Labour's 24 year control of the Council has been lost. Castle has three seats and two have been clearly won, one by the Lib Dems and one by Labour. After one count and four recounts: Bob Ball, Green Party, and Patrick Kitterick, Labour, still both have 708 votes each. Jim Marshall, MP is bawling at the Returning Officer to get on with it. Bob Ball is frozen white, mouth aghast as the Returning Officer puts two pieces of folded paper into a sealed box, one paper marked 'Ball' the other 'Kitterick'. Leicester Mercury photographers are flashing away. Radio Leicester's microphone boom is in the middle of the action.

Council Leader Ross Willmot is challenging the Council's Head of Democracy Services about election law. The civil servant is having none of it. Green Party National Headquarters are listening through a mobile phone held in the air. The Council's Chief Executive looks on coolly whilst his legal advisor is sent to and fro' the Returning Officer. The Lib Dems have joined forces with the Greens in scrutinizing the Labour ballot papers. The counting workers have pleaded with us all to accept their result. The Labour candidate, Kitterick, is not even there but his Labour comrades' brows are sweating as they beg for a further recount tomorrow morning (it is already tomorrow morning!). The Returning Officer calmly explains his decisions to Patrick Kitterick down a mobile phone. Patrick must be protesting as the Returning Officer's voice is getting louder. 'We have had 4 recounts, I have to draw lots by law!'

My heart was in my throat as I demanded the second recount against the wishes of the Returning Officer and the baying mob of Labour activists: 'They have made one mistaken count, they could have made another!' Brave Green activist Matt Follet halted the third count, noticing two Labour papers had not been officially perforated. He insisted and election law was upheld. The Council itself then demanded a fourth count to check for further impropriety.

The Greens endorse the Returning Officer's decision to draw lots. The Mercury reporters are babbling about making history and Greens holding the balance of power in a hung council. Lady Patricia Hewitt has left the building, squashed out of the huddle of Greens and Lib Dems crowding over the counting agents. Jim Marshall is demanding of the counting leaders, 'Who is in charge here!' Labour get their request for a final recount honoured, the Returning Officer insists it happens now. The count workers wearily unpack the worn ballot papers. Again: 708 Ball, 708 Kitterick.

Bob, quiet, surrounded by Green die-hards now watches as the Returning Officer shakes the box with the two names in it and with them a 50:50 chance of getting a Council seat. Newly elected Lib Dems joke loudly about this being a magic show. The Officer plays to the crowd of forty-plus remaining activists and shows there is nothing up his sleeve. Labour and ourselves are not laughing. Jim Marshall again bellows 'Get on with it Tom!'. He puts his hand in the black box. The count workers and their extra recruits have collapsed on tables. He pulls out one paper. The Chief Executive's officers close in. He unfolds the paper. All are quiet except for Leisure Centre workers packing up tables. His lips move to form the word that then comes from his mouth, 'Kitterick'.....

Nobody cheers. A Labour Party worker phones up the successful candidate. Bob dutifully poses for photographs and answers reporter questions. The die-hards walk out onto Saffron Lane as dawn is near. We are at ease, having got used to not winning elections. It is a safe walk home.....