By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter

Labour has lost control of Southampton City Council with no single party holding enough seats for a majority.

 

Scalps across the city included council leader Alex Winning in Shirley, housing lead Andy Frampton and adult social care and public health lead Marie Finn.

Overall, Labour lost seven seats and fell two short of a majority with 24 councillors.

It remained the largest party by a significant margin.

 At the count. Photo LDRS

The big winners on the night were Reform UK who surged from one seat to eight to become the second biggest group in the council chamber.

They took seats from Labour, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.

Reform UK’s interim group chairman and new Coxford councillor Philip Crook said he was absolutely delighted with the results.

He said: “People have worked very, very hard to get there to achieve it.

“The candidates have worked really hard with fairly limited resouces.

“We have had great support from people coming out to support us, work for us.

“It is a tremendous result and political history has been made tonight.”

The Green Party also had a successful election, with its elected group rising from two seats to six by picking up seats in Banister & Polygon, Bargate, Freemantle and Portswood.

Matt Renyard, Green Party campaign manager and Coxford ward councillor, said: “Thank you to every voter and campaigner who helped get Greens elected here.

“We have put an enormous amout of work in to achieve these results, and it’s a testament to the growth of the Green Party, both nationally and locally.

“Our councillors will work hard to defend local services and make sure they work efficiently for local people in Southampton.”

Former Conservative deputy council leader Jeremy Moulton lost his seat in Millbrook to Reform

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I am disappointed not to make it over the line but I am very grateful to everyone who did support me and for all the kind messages received on the day.

“I wish the new councillor well”.

The Tories also failed to hold seats in Peartree and Harefield.

Peter Baillie, Conservative group leader, said: “Very disappointing results in losing some excellent local councillors.

“The protest vote of Reform has just been too much, although we were close in a number of seats.

“National politics has unfortunately trumped local politics.

“We will regroup and come back stronger and better for next year’s elections.”

The Liberal Democrats ended the campaign how they started with seven councillors by picking up Shirley, hold Bassett and Swaythling, and losing Coxford.

With the Conservatives losing three seats, the Liberal Democrats remained the third largest party on the council.

Political balance of the council

A party needs 26 seats for a majority

Labour 24 (-7)

Reform UK 8 (+7)

Liberal Democrats 7 (0)

Conservatives 6 (-3)

Green Party 6 (+4)

 

Ward-by-ward election winners

Banister & Polygon

Misty Calanthia Delamothe Burgess – Green gain from Labour

Bargate

Luke Reynolds – Green gain from Labour

Bassett

Sam Philip Chapman – Liberal Democrats hold

Bevois

Paul Kenny – Labour hold

Bitterne Park

Phil Webb – Labour hold

Coxford

Philip Edward Crook – Reform UK gain from Liberal Democrats

Freemantle

Sam Pryce – Green Party gain from Labour

Harefield

Richard Piatkiewicz – Reform UK gain from Conservatives

Millbrook

Ross Ronald Mould – Reform UK gain from Conservatives

Peartree

Soham Bandyopadhyay – Reform UK gain from Conservatives

Portswood

Lori Foster – Green Party gain from Labour

Redbridge

John Peter Edwards – Reform UK gain from Independent

Shirley

Rebecca May McCreanor – Liberal Democrats gain from Labour

Sholing

Sarah Marie Powell-Vaughan – Reform UK hold

Swaythling

Jon Walsh – Liberal Democrats hold

Thornhill

Tim Kiff-Munds – Reform UK gain from Labour

Woolston

Ryan James Collett – Reform UK gain from Labour