Lib Dems win in Gloucestershire as Tories lose seats
BBCThe Liberal Democrats have become the largest party on Gloucestershire County Council, with the Conservative Party suffering significant losses.
The Lib Dems took a total of 27 seats - one short of the 28 needed to gain overall control of the council - meaning they will have to negotiate with other parties to form a coalition.
The Conservatives, who have run the council for 20 years, took just six seats and lost more than 20 from the last elections in 2021.
Reform is now the second largest party on the council with 11 seats, with the Greens third with nine. Labour also lost seats and is now down to just one councillor, and there is one Independent councillor.
Stroud Central, the ward formerly held by ex-Labour MP David Drew, was taken by the Greens.
Reform took 11 seats off the Conservatives, winning all five of the Forest of Dean seats up from grabs, taking four from the Tories and one from Labour.
Independent candidate Nick Housden - who is suspended from the Tory party - lost his seat to Reform.
Gloucestershire Liberal Democrat leader Lisa Spivey said the party's 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.
"We are looking forward to delivering for residents."
Conservative leader Stephen Davies, who was re-elected in the Hardwicke and Severn 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 said the public had 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 Green Party held its Forest of Dean seats of Sedbury and Blakeney and Bream and made gains in Stroud while losing its Tewkesbury seat.
Their gains include Stroud Central, Dursley, Rodborough, Haresfield and Upton, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Ian Cameron, who won Prestbury and Swindon Village for the Green Party, said his party had 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 were disappointing.
They said 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'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.
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