As the late Tony Hancock once said: “They came – and they went …nothing in between.”
And what an epitaph for the Boston Bypass Independent Party, that bunch of upstart, political arrivistes who promised us the earth, and instead gave us a handful of dust.
From ruling the roost, they are now left picking over the husks in the West Street chicken hut  – with their previous  eighteen seats slashed to four.
The Conservatives are now at the helm with 19 of the 32 seats – the first time that any political party has controlled Boston Borough Council since local government reorganisation in 1973.
The number of Independents on the council doubled from two to four, Labour re-entered the political arena with three councillors and the English Democrats also won two seats.
All told 19 new councillors will be taking a place in the new administration.
As might be expected with such a rout,  some BBI big hitters waved goodbye.
OUT went BBI portfolio holder for regeneration, planning, sport and cultural services Richard Dungworth in Kirton, and community safety and emergency planning office holder Ramonde Newell. His wife Sheila, who switched wards from Fenside to stand alongside him in Staniland South also lost her seat as the BBI was swept away. Dave Hobson, who held the portfolio for regulatory services and environmental operations, also lost his Skirbeck seat.
Mayor Peter Jordan also lost his seat, after the voters of North ward gave his chain a final jerk – a humiliation that's believed to be the first time that a sitting mayor has lost his seat whilst still in office.
Big name survivors include the leader, Richard Austin – though what there is left to lead now is somewhat moot – whose 487 votes were well down on the time of last election’s landslide of 634.
Of the two English Democrat candidates elected – both in Fenside - one was David Owens, who was previously elected for the BNP.
And another candidate who switched allegiances was Ossy Snell who won a seat on Fishtoft Ward, where last time he was defeated under the Liberal Democrat flag.
There were mixed fortunes for former BBI rebels Brian Rush and Anne Dorrian, who left to create the Better Boston Group. They sought re-election as independents, but only Councillor Rush survived.


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