Labour Make Gains On Back of Coalition Losses Across Midlands

By Ben Aulakh

The biggest council in the Midlands is back in Labour hands after the party gained 20 seats in Thursday’s local elections.

The party took its overall tally of councillors in the city to 77, while the Conservatives share of the local authority fell by 11 to 28; the Liberal Democrats also lost 9 councillors, taking their total across the second city to just 15.

Across the region the Lib Dem’s lost control of a total of 27 council wards, gaining just one seat in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Birmingham, which had previously been under no overall control, was one of Labour’s biggest victories in a very successful election result for the party across the region.

Labour took overall control of councils in Coventry, Cannock Chase, Derby, Newcastle under Lyme and Nuneaton and Bedworth, while wrestling back Dudley from the Conservatives with a net gain of 13 councillors.

Overall Labour saw their number of seats across the Midlands rise by 112.

The borough of Sandwell and the City of Wolverhampton also remained firmly in opposition hands.

The Conservatives endured a torrid time across the region losing a total of 85 seats; their biggest falls saw the Tories lose 11 seats in Birmingham, 13 in Dudley, nine in Wolverhampton and seven in Swindon.

However they remained in control of councils in Amber Valley, Daventry, Rugby, Solihull, Stratford, Tamworth and Swindon.

The previously Conservative councils of Wyre Forest, Gloucester and Worcester were all lost to no overall.

There was also a complete rejection of elected city mayors in the region with big majorities saying no in Coventry, Nottingham and Birmingham.