The Conservatives have regained their effective overall control at Suffolk County Council after the party easily won a by-election.
They held the Newmarket and Red Lodge division with a comfortable majority of 150 in the by-election caused by last year’s sudden resignation of former council leader Lisa Chambers.
The seat was held by Robin Millar, the deputy leader of Forest Heath council.
His win brings the Tory strength on the 75-seat authority up to 37, but one of the independent councillors is former Conservative Brian Riley who always tends to vote with his former party when he comes to a meeting from his home in the United States.
There remains one other vacant seat on the authority, in Haverhill, which became vacant following the death of Conservative Tim Marks.
The full result of the Newmarket and Red Lodge by-election:
Robin Millar (C): 644
Roger Dicker(UKIP): 494
Michael Jefferys (Lab): 284
Andrew Appleby (Ind): 123
Tim Huggan (LD): 76
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