DIANNE Fowler has joined her daughter Vicky in an historic `partnership’ on the Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council.
They are the first mother and daughter to be elected to the council in its history.
The part-time college technician swept to victory in Bedworth Slough Ward as part of a landslide that left Labour with an iron grip on the Town Hall.
Her triumphed also strengthened the influence of `petticoat power’ in the council chamber.
There are now seven woman councillors, all Labour, occupying the wood panelled seats of power: “It was a good result for women,” she said.
Her daughter Victoria, now 20, became the youngest councillor in the history of the borough when she won a by-election in Barpool Ward last May.
“I learned a lot from canvassing and helping Victoria, but she and the other volunteers helped and supported me,” she said.
“Everybody worked very, very hard and it was a real team effort from everyone concerned.”
She first became involved in politics when her daugher Vicky was elected to the Youth Parliament and then helped her to get elected to the Town Hall.
“I was invited to stand in the local elections and was then fortunate to be selected as the Labour candidate for Slough Ward,” she said.
But she admitted she suffered from some anxious moments during the count.
“It was all very new to me and it was quite nerve wracking watching the votes being counted.
“But it was also quite exciting because you never think your piles of votes will be enough.” She hopes to provide a `fresh’ approach for the people of Slough Ward which was hotly contested with four candidates seeking election.
“They brought forward a number of issues while we were canvassing and I intend to put forward their points of view,” she said.
Vicky was the first person to congratulate her when the result was announced.
She said: “I was so proud of her and it was nice to see that all of the hard work paid off.
“My mother grew up with Labour and has always supported me.
“I got involved in politics and so did she and now we are both on the council.” The other five women councillors are Julie Jackson (Wembrook), Jill Sheppard (Abbey), Roma Taylor (Exhall), June Tandy (Attleborough) and Sara Doughty (Exhall).
