North East: Labour Lose Control

LABOUR have suffered a catastrophe in the local elections after losing control of all five Tees Valley councils and dozens of seats in the process. 

The results mean Labour has lost control of Middlesbrough Council for the first time since 1974, Stockton Borough Council for the first time since 1979, Darlington Borough Council for the first time since 1991 and Hartlepool Borough Council for the first time since 2010.

In Darlington, the party lost control of the council and the Conservatives are now the biggest party.
The Tories have 22 seats, Labour 20, Liberal Democrats three, Independent three, and Greens two.
Conservative leader Heather Scott said she was "absolutely delighted" with the result.

In Middlesbrough, Labour have lost their majority for the first time since the council was created.
Independents are currently on 22 seats, with Labour on 18. One result is still to declare.
In Hartlepool, Labour were left without a majority, and suffered several losses including two senior councillor, whilst in Stockton, it has been confirmed the party cannot retain control.
Labour have also suffered significant losses in Redcar, falling from 29 seats to 15. Independents are now the biggest group with 18,Lib Dems on 13, Conservatives 11 and UKIP two.
There was also a crushing defeat for Labour in the Middlesbrough Mayor election, with Independent Andy Preston storming to victory to win with 58 per cent of the vote.
His nearest rival, Labour’s Mick Thompson, came in at 22.93 per cent.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said the results were "stunning", adding: "The people of the Tees Valley have voted for real, positive change."

In Hartlepool, Labour councillors Rob Cook, chair of the planning committee, and deputy council leader Kevin Cranney, chair of the regeneration committee, lost their seats in the De Bruce and Foggy Furze ward respectively.

In De Bruce The For Britain Movement gained their first seat with Karen King, while in Foggy Furze, Lee Cartwright, from the Veterans’ and People’s Party, gained the seat.

The party lost overall control of Stockton Council, throwing the future of decisions at the authority into uncertainty, as they lost six seats in all – taking 24 of the 56 seats available, while the Thornaby independents made hay.

Labour remains the biggest group in the borough, but it fell short of the 29 it needed to form a majority administration.

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