Yule stunned by the size of the loss

Lawrence Yule

"It's big, it's huge. There is no other way of putting it, it's a massive swing against," a bewildered Lawrence Yule said in reaction to his staggering defeat this afternoon.

"I am pretty stunned by the size of the loss to be honest, I excepted it to be a lot closer than this.

"But I accept that the people have said that they don't necessarily believe that there should be a change in structure, and they have voted in droves accordingly."

Mr Yule contrasted today's outcome to polling figures his camp conducted six month's ago which showed that vote would fall probably 55-45 against.

"So we thought we had a grounds to pick up that but actually it has gone the other way dramatically," he said.

He said for now he is going to reflect on the decision because clearly people want the status quo.

"Clearly people are quite comfortable with it and that's how its is and I can't change that," he said.

"I have done my best for a while to try and promote a different view but I haven't been able to take the people with me and that is how it is.

"They have clearly said that and I accept that."

In regards to people voting against him rather than against amalgamation?
"There could be some of that, but I have to work that through," he said.

"I am not making any decision about my future until may or June next year.

"I have got a lot to do as the mayor of Hastings and I am going to get on and do that."