FORMER Winchester MP Mark Oaten has narrowly missed out on rekindling his political career.

Mr Oaten was hoping for election for the Lib Dems in the Severn Vale ward in South Gloucestershire, a Conservative-led council, where he now lives. 

However, the two seats in the ward were won by a fellow Lib Dem Tony Williams, who got 1,537 votes, and Matthew Riddle for the Conservatives, who got 1,528 votes. 

Mr Oaten came third securing 1,435 votes, over Tory Keith Burchell's 1,325, Labour's Abigail Curtis's 307 and Labour's Naomi Carroll's 229. 

He said: "I am delighted we won the seat for my colleague and overturned a 750 majority.

READ MORE: Winchester City Council elections 2023 - full results

"Frustrating I just missed out but still got 47 per cent of the vote which is more than many that won.

"And I won the seat to my local town council which I am looking forward to joining. Now looking forward to more tennis and football and gardening." 

Mr Oaten left Parliament in 2010 after being caught by the News of the World liaising with a male sex worker in 2006.

He had been a rising star in the Liberal Democrats. The expose by the News of the World happened during the Lib Dem leadership contest in 2006 in which he was a candidate.

He even published a book about his experiences in 2009 called 'Screwing Up'. 

The election in South Gloucestershire was labelled 'disappointing' by the outgoing Conservative leader of South Gloucestershire Council Toby Savage.

The council mirrored many others across the country, which saw the Conservatives lose seats, and the Conservatives lose control.