TORY women promise Wirral's controlling Labour group some tough opposition in the weeks to come. Lesley Ann Rennie scored a by-election victory on the doorstep of Labour Council leader Dave Jackson.

Meanwhile, the other Wallasey Conservative councillor, Kate Wood, has called 'foul' on Labour councillors for leaving a meeting early to watch the Tranmere v Manchester City match, or Newcastle v Monaco on TV.

A remark hotly contested by Housing chairman Coun George Davies, who says it is a slur on councillors and officers. "These items had been discussed at length previously, otherwise we would have stayed," says Coun Davies, who only just made the match in time for kick-off.

The Tories feel they have a slightly more even playing pitch after Lesley Rennie successfully defended Wallasey ward. The by-election was caused by the resignation of Tory Councillor Mike Howden, jailed for five years for rape.

Labour has a strangle-hold on both the Council and Wallasey. Coun Jackson lives in the town with his Seacombe Labour councillor wife, Janet.

Now Wallasey's lone stalwart Tory Councillor, Kate Wood, has a team mate in Councillor Lesley Rennie.

Kate, as part of a minority group on the Council, regularly suffers taunts from the Labour side about their success in both the local elections and the Wirral South by-election.

Now Lesley promises to join Kate "in standing up for Wallasey on such issues as the decline of Liscard as a shopping area and loss of trade over the Four Bridges closure".

She added: "I will also be concentrating on issues within the ward, while trying to attract more money for the area."

Labour as majority group on the Council has control of committees. The political make up of Wirral Council remains the same with Labour holding 41 seats, Conservatives 16 and Lib Dem 9. Tories held Wallasey ward but with a reduced majority of 291. Result: Lesley Rennie (C) 1,781; Elizabeth McArdle (Lab) 1,490; John Uriel (Lib Dem) 443 and George Bowler (Green) 54. The turnout by voters was 32 per cent.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.