Commenting on the news that Sumners & Kingsmoor councillor John Paul Goddard has quit Harlow Conservatives to sit as an Independent, Liberal Democrat leader Chris Millington said:

"Harlow Conservatives have lost two councillors in the last year, and now have a smaller group than at any time since 2002. They're clearly in trouble. Is the Cameron honeymoon over for Harlow Tories?"

From having 13 councillors only a year ago, the Tory group has now fallen to 11 - level with Labour and only one seat ahead of the Liberal Democrats.