Jas Athwal, the leader of the Redbridge Labour group, has called his party’s victory in the 2014 local election the proudest moment of his political career.

Mr Athwal put the success down to “sheer hard work”, the effort of his team and listening to the electorate as his Labour party secured the first-ever overall majority.

Speaking after the result, he said: “An overall Labour majority has never happened before - it is a new beginning. It is absolutely the proudest moment of my career.

“We have seen the same policies for the last 12 years. Our new manifesto and policies - people have taken to it.”

Labour won 35 seats, while the Tories could mustered 25 seats. The Liberal Democrats, after failing to field a candidate in every ward, could only win three seats.

Mr Athwal was keen to dismiss claims a Labour victory was due to a protest vote by the electorate, too.

“This was not a protest vote - a protest vote only takes you so far,” said Mr Athwal.

With the general election looming large on the horizon after a tricky local election count for the politcal mainstream, Mr Athwal feels this will put Labour in good stead in 2015.

He added: “It has put a spring in our step. This result clearly gives us belief.”