Conservatives enjoy a marginally reduced majority in the Gosport council chamber – with former Mayor Richard Dickson the high profile casualty in yesterday’s local borough elections.

Mr Dickson, pictured, who was Mayor in 2012/13, had represented the Christchurch ward for the past 12 years, writes Mike Vimpany.

He was one of the two Tory councillors to lose his seat to the Liberal Democrats, who chipped away, enjoying three gains overall, the other from Labour.

They now have nine seats on the 34-strong council, with the ruling Conservatives 20, and a majority of six. “It’s genuinely been a fantastic night for the Lib Dems in Gosport,” beamed elated leader Peter Chegwyn.

“We’ve held two seats we were defending and won three more from both the Conservatives and Labour.”

Current Mayor Keith Farr and veteran councillor Jill Wright, who held Bridgemary North, were Labour’s only successes in the 17 wards they contested.

Labour now has only four Town Hall seats and UKIP one.

Unsuccessful Labour candidate Peter Batty, who was beaten in Bridgemary South, caused a post-result stir by ripping his rosette off his jacket lapel and throwing it on the floor.

“I’m quitting Labour and am joining the Conservatives in the morning,” he announced.

His wife Linda, a sitting councillor, made an identical party switch last month.

Long time Leader of the Council Mark Hook retained his Alverstoke seat for the Conservatives, as did two past Mayors, John Beavis and Graham Burgess, who enjoyed commanding successes in Lee-on-Solent.

Make up of the Council is: Cons 20, Labour 4, Lib Dem 9, UKIP 1.