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Labour keep control of City of Lincoln Council

Holly Phillips,East Yorkshire and Lincolnshireand
Sharon Edwards,East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire political reporter, in Lincoln
Sharon Edwards / BBC A group of people dressed in office attire and red badges cheering with their arms in the air. They are stood in a room with a powerpoint on display behind them. Sharon Edwards / BBC
Labour members celebrate after retaining control of the City of Lincoln Council

Labour retained control of the City of Lincoln Council following Thursday's local election results.

The authority is made up of of 33 councillors representing 11 wards. One seat from each ward was up for grabs this time around.

Labour has controlled the authority for the past 15 years. Despite losing three seats the party still got the 17 needed to keep overall control.

Reform UK made the biggest gain taking four seats, with the Liberal Democrats and Green Party winning one each. The Conservatives lost all three seats they contested.

Councillor Naomi Tweddle, Labour leader of City of Lincoln Council, said: "We're just delighted that Lincoln Labour have retained control of the council.

"We've been delivering, I think that shows through the vote and the support of people in Lincoln and I think that's fantastic."

Sharon Edwards / BBC A head and shoulders shot of council leader Naomi Tweddle smiling at the camera. She has long, blonde curled hair and is wearing a colourful, patterned shirt and a burgundy blazer. Sharon Edwards / BBC
Council leader Naomi Tweddle says she is "delighted"
Bar chart showing the results for the council election in Lincoln, After 11 of 11 seats declared. Seats needed for majority: 17. Labour won 17 seats, a loss of 3; Lib Dem won 7 seats, a gain of 1; Reform UK won 4 seats, a gain of 4; Conservative won 2 seats, a loss of 3; Independents and others won 2, same as previous election; Green won 1 seats, a gain of 1.

Lincolnshire county councillor Liam Kelly, who represents Reform UK, was delighted with his party's progress since last year's local elections.

"Look where we started from. We had no seats at district level, we've now got four," he said.

"We are the winners out of tonight."

The Green Party gained its first ever seat on the council which was described by officials as "amazing" and "overwhelming".

The party chair Sally Horscroft put it down to attracting "a much younger membership".

"The students I've met in the past few weeks have all told me they would be voting for me," she said.

"It's just fantastic to have such a young, vibrant, excited membership and voter."

The Liberal Democrats held one seat and gained a seat from Labour.

The makeup of the City of Lincoln Council is now:

  • Labour: 17 seats
  • Liberal Democrats: seven seats
  • Reform UK: four seats
  • The Conservatives: two seats
  • Independents: two seats
  • The Green Party: one seat

Analysis by Sharon Edwards, East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire political reporter

It could have been much worse for Labour on the City of Lincoln Council.

Even though only one third – 11 out of the 33 seats – went to the polls, it was still possible for the ruling party to be kicked off the top table.

Labour went into this week with 20 seats, three over the 17 needed to have a majority.

That lead has been chipped away to a 'skin of the teeth' 17. But it is enough and, given the emerging national picture, it is a relief. Many predicted that it would be a far bleaker picture.

Labour needs to keep its party tightly together to make this work, especially after two of its former city councillors went independent in the past year.

It lost votes to the right with Reform UK, and the left to the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats.

Both will provide their own challenges going forward.

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