Businessman Simon Radford-Kirby won a county council by-election with a thumping majority.
The Tory clinched the East Sussex County Council seat for Pevensey and Westham with a huge 15 per cent swing over the Lib Dems.
Coun Radford-Kirby, 40, polled more than 70 per cent of the vote in the by-election triggered by the death of previous councillor John Vincent.
Mr Vincent died aged 62 from a heart attack after falling ill following a Westham Parish Council meeting in the summer.
Coun Radford-Kirby built up and sold the C-Side empire in Brighton and Hove with partner Martin Webb - who now hosts the Channel 4 documentary series Risking It All which follows potential entrepreneurs with their latest business plans - for £20 million in 2001.
Mr Radford-Kirby was previously elected to East Sussex County Council in 1992 for the Brighton division of Kingscliff and has served on Brighton Borough, Brighton and Hove and Mid Sussex Councils.
He said: "I'm honoured that so many people have put their trust in me and I promise to fight hard to make sure they get nothing less than the very best from the council.
"I'm delighted with the result.
"We have worked extremely hard and have beaten the Liberals convincingly."
Monday, October 3, 2005
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article