Vale Conservative Councillors insisted it was business as usual despite the news that local MP Robert Jackson had defected to the Labour Party. PPC for Wantage Ed Vaizey continued his support for local residents which has included; sewage plan re-think for Faringdon residents, a major part in the fight to save community hospitals in Wantage and Didcot and supporting a local educational farm for autistic children which has been threatened with closure by the proposed development of wind turbines yards from the farm.On hearing the news Ed Vaizey said he was "flabbergasted" at the defection and that he thought Conservatives would now fight even harder to secure a Conservative seat at the General Election. Conservative Group Leader Melinda Tilley spoke of her feelings of "betrayal" and said "We have supported Mr.Jackson for 26 years and he is now sitting in Parliament on the Labour benches and taking his salary and allowances which the Conservative Party in Wantage have fought for so long". Faringdon Town and Vale Councillor Matthew Barber said "We were all very surprised and disappointed by Robert's actions; however we are very comfortable that Ed will take the seat in May. It seems as though the only way Labour can take the seat in Wantage is to by-pass the electorate which is hardly democratic"