By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
The Liberal Democrats have won the Gloucestershire County Council elections but have fallen one seat short of an overall majority.
The Conservatives, who in 2021 won 28 of the then 53 seats, have been eclipsed by Reform UK and only won six divisions.
The right wing populist party has replaced the Tories in many of their previously held divisions and secured 11 seats.
Gains across Gloucester, the Forest of Dean and Tewkesbury mean they are now the official opposition.
Nigel Farage’s party also took votes away from Labour but they did a lot of damage to the Tories during the election held on May 1.
The Lib Dems overturned large Tory majorities in places such as Highnam, Winchcombe and Woodmancote and Tetbury.
They secured 27 seats, ahead of Reform on 11, the Green Party with nine, the Tories six with Labour down to just one seat and Independent
Alastair Chambers retaining his seat in Coney Hill and Matson.
In 2021, the results were 28 Conservatives, 16 Lib Dems, five Labour councillors and four Green Party members were elected.
Liberal Democrat leader Lisa Spivey said their message of delivering change had resonated with the electorate.
“We are delighted that voters in Gloucestershire have recognised hard working local Liberal Democrats councillors and rewarded us with our best ever results.
“Our message of change has clearly resonated and we are looking forward to delivering for residents.”
And fellow Cotswold councillor Joe Harris, who was also re-elected, said residents have voted decisively for change in Gloucestershire.
“While the attention nationally is on Reform the story in Gloucestershire is that the Liberal Democrats have secured our best ever result,” he said.
Conservative leader Stephen Davies, who was re-elected in the Hardwicke and Seven seat, said he was “disappointed to see the loss of so many hard working Conservative Councillors”.
“But we are in an interesting place with some very inexperienced councillors who will now have to make some tough decisions,” he said.
Reform UK say the public have sent a clear message that they are fed up with the Conservatives and Labour.
“In Gloucestershire, just like around the country, we’re seeing the disintegration of the two-party system,” a Reform spokesperson said.
“The public have sent a clear message that they are fed up with years of betrayal and mismanagement from Labour and the Conservatives.”
The Green Party held its Forest of Dean seats of Sedbury and Blakeney and Bream and made gains in Stroud while losing their Tewkesbury seat.
Their gains include Stroud Central, Dursley, Rodborough, Haresfield and Upton.
Ian Cameron, who won Prestbury and Swindon Village for the Green Party, said his party has made history in electing its first County Councillor from Cheltenham.
“This achievement builds on the strong foundation laid by our three borough councillors.
“I am proud to continue that momentum. I am committed to working for the benefit of all our communities.”
Labour Party officials said they ran a “hard-fought” campaign but the results in Gloucestershire are disappointing.
They say they will continue to work to build trust in the county while the Government implements the change people want to see.
A Gloucestershire Labour Party spokesperson said: “We ran a hard-fought campaign in Gloucestershire and had thousands of conversations with voters.
“The results are disappointing, but we have heard what people have told us. What they want is change, something we want just as much.
“We’re going to keep working to build trust with people across our county while the government goes further and faster in pursuing the change people want to see.”
The makeup of Gloucestershire County Council is now 27 Liberal Democrats, 11 Reform UK, nine Greens, six Conservatives, one Labour councillor and one Independent.
Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk
Original post on the Gloucestershire News Centre website
Gloucestershire News Centre