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ELECTION TRIUMPH: Tory group leader Alec Samuels.

SOUTHAMPTON will officially turn blue today as Tories take the reins of power following a crushing election victory over Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

City councillors were due to elect a Conservative mayor this morning and later appoint a Tory leader and Cabinet with a clear mandate to run the city for the next two years.

By convention the current sheriff, Cllr Brian Parnell, will be promoted to mayor, taking the ceremonial robes and chain of office from Labour councillor Stephen Barnes-Andrews. Lib Dem councillor Liz Mizon will become sheriff.

The hand overs will take place as part of the annual mayor making ceremony at the Guildhall when the City of Southampton Award will also be presented to two individuals for an outstanding contribution to the city.

Norman Kemish, who helped mastermind the first boat show nearly 40 years ago, and Anne Newell, a lollipop lady who has been helping Portswood Primary School pupils get to school safely for 25 years, will get the awards.

Freemantle born Mr Kemish, who has lived and worked in the city all his life, helped conceive the idea of organising a local boat show which was made a reality in 1969. Mr Kemish had a hand in organising the show for over 15 years.

Mrs Newell was nominated by parents and residents for her cheerful commitment to helping children cross the road at the junction of Shaftesbury Avenue and Welbeck Avenue for a quarter of a century.

Fixed bayonets Following another presentation, members of the city's Territorial Army will also able to march through the city carrying swords and fixed bayonets to their favourite band music after they are granted the honorary Freedom of the City.

The honour will be conferred on all ranks in recognition of services rendered to both the country and the "people of Southampton in many diverse ways outside the line of formal duty".

Tory group deputy leader Royston Smith said: "It's a symbolic way to pay tribute to the TA when the country is going through such horrible conflicts."

The Conservative Cabinet was due to be unveiled at the council's annual meeting this afternoon.

Tories will then resume the plans and polices they had been pursuing for nine months as a minority administration before they were ousted from power by Labour and Lib Dems in a budget row.

However, they will have to work with opposition spending plans until April 1 next year.

6:01am Wednesday 14th May 2008

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