Birchills goes blue

Posted by David Boothroyd
View David's blog
14 years ago / November 3, 2009

The Conservatives had the best of the night on Thursday 27 November. They gained the Birchills and Leamore ward on Walsall borough council from Labour, and also won Kenn Valley ward on Teignbridge district council from the Liberal Democrats. This brings the Conservatives to tying with the Liberal Democrats as largest party on the council, but the Liberal Democrats retain control with the Independents.

The Exminster and Kenton division on Devon county council stayed in Liberal Democrat hands. The Liberal Democrats also managed to gain the Hardwick division on Cambridgeshire county council from the Conservatives. These two byelections are the last in the county councils which are now subject to the ‘six month rule’.

Two councillors have switched parties this week. Charlie McCallum, elected as a Labour councillor in Inverclyde North ward on Inverclyde council, has left the Labour group to sit as an Independent. Cilla Isles, elected as a Labour councillor for Newsham and New Delaval ward on Blyth Valley borough council, has joined the Liberal Democrats.