Labour loses all county council seats in Exeter

Reform and Greens sweep them aside

It was total wipeout for Labour and all change for Exeter as voters ushered in a major shake-up in the way the city is represented at County Hall.

Prior to the election Labour held six of the city’s nine seats and the Conservatives the other three, but voters decided to upset the status quo.

Reform and the Greens swept them aside, taking all six of Labour’s seats between them. All but one of the city’s seats saw a change

As the first Exeter results were announced, Reform candidate Neil Stevens took the Alphington and Cowick seat from Labour, sparking loud celebrations in the counting hall at the Riverside Leisure Centre. Pinhoe and Mincinglake also brought victory for Reform, again at the expense of Labour. Edward Hill won the seat with a majority of more than 200 over the Labour candidate.

Wonford and St Loyes, another Labour seat, also fell to Reform, with Angela Nash taking the top spot ahead of the Conservatives with Labour third.

Afterwards she said: “People are fed up with being lied to constantly, and they want a change.

“They want some common sense brought back, and we can do that with Reform. We want to give the people a voice.”

The last result to be announced was for the Exwick and St Thomas ward, where Reform’s Tony Stevens completed a memorable day for his party, taking the seat from the Conservatives, with Labour’s John Harvey in second place, 22 votes behind.

The Green Party’s Thomas Richardson became the city’s first Green county councillor, taking the St Sidwells and St James seat from Labour.

He said he was keen to focus on the city’s public transport needs.

“It’s very clear that people are very upset with the traditional parties,” he said. “People are looking for alternatives, and the Greens are providing that alternative.”

Green candidate Andy Ketchin also took the St Davids and Haven Banks seat from Labour, almost doubling the vote of his nearest competitor, Labour’s Rose Lelliott.

There were cheers as Jack Eade took Heavitree and Whipton Barton for the Greens – another Labour loss. He had a margin of just 25 votes over Reform, with Labour third.

Liberal Democrat Michael Mitchell took the Duryard and Pennsylvania seat from the Conservatives while Conservative Andrew Leadbetter held Wearside and Topsham.

Exeter City Council’s Labour leader Phil Bialyk said he was disappointed to see defeat for a good set of Labour candidates who would have served the city well.

He said more people had voted for Labour across the city than for any other party. “It demonstrates that there is still strong support for Labour in Exeter,” he added.

All the results for Devon County Council in Exeter

Alphington and Cowick: REFORM GAIN FROM LABOUR

ATKINSON Yvonne, Labour and Co-operative Party 1054; BAKER Lucille, The Conservative Party Candidate 452; GILLETT Holly, Green Party Candidate 544; NEWCOMBE Vanessa, Liberal Democrat 1030; STEVENS Neil, Reform UK 1126. Turnout 28 per cent

Duryard and Pennsylvania: LIB DEM GAIN FROM CON

BADCOTT Tony, Labour and Co-operative Party 815; CHELVANAYAGAM Bernadette, Green Party Candidate 445; HANNAFORD Rob, The Conservative Party Candidate 470; HOLMAN James Donald, Reform UK 502; MITCHELL Michael Norman, Liberal Democrat 886. Turnout 40 per cent

Exwick and St Thomas: REFORM GAIN FROM CON

COOPER Andy, Green Party Candidate 571; HARVEY John, Labour and Co-operative Party 1018; HORNER Jamie Liam, Liberal Democrat 329; LUSCOMBE Kayleigh, The Conservative Party Candidate 274; STEVENS Tony, Reform UK 1040.

Heavitree and Whipton Barton: GREEN GAIN FROM LAB

BEER Tina, Reform UK 1045; EADE Jack Stanley, Green Party Candidate 1070; NEW Katherine Helen, The Conservative Party Candidate 474; POLE Liz, Labour and Co-operative Party 1037; RICHARDS Paul Stephen, Liberal Democrat 459

Pinhoe and Mincinglake: REFORM GAIN FROM LABOUR

AYRES Martin, Green Party Candidate 424; BALDWIN Ian Anthon, The Conservative Party Candidate 631; BLACK Paula Joan, Labour and Co-operative Party 1115; CAMPION Christine Anne, Liberal Democrat 370; HILL Edward Clive Andrew, Reform UK 1330. Turnout  33.18 per cent

St Davids and Haven Banks: GREEN GAIN FROM LAB

HATCHER Myles Jefferson, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition 38; KETCHIN Andy, Green Party Candidate 1486; LELLIOTT Rose, Labour and Co-operative Party 777; NEWBY Rob, The Conservative Party Candidate 260; RUFFLE Rod, Liberal Democrat 197; WROE Fran, Reform UK 484. 

St Sidwells and St James: GREEN GAIN FROM LABOUR

ACZEL Will, Liberal Democrat 298; FINDLAY Lucy, Labour and Co-operative Party 981; LUSCOMBE David, The Conservative Party Candidate 188; RICHARDSON Thomas Morgan, Green Party Candidate 1049; WESTLAKE Jo, Reform UK 403. Turnout 29.81 per cent

Wearside and Topsham: CON HOLD

GREEN Rosie, Green Party Candidate 609; LEADBETTER Andrew Robert, The Conservative Party Candidate 1479; OWEN Chris, Reform UK 916; THOMAS Philip Alexander, Liberal Democrat 417; WHITTON Carol, Labour Party 1276. Turnout 41.75 per cent.

Wonford and St Loyes: REFORM GAIN FROM LAB

JOBSON Anne Margaret, The Conservative Party Candidate 843; KORNDORFER Johanna Franziska, Green Party Candidate 294; LOCK Adrian, Liberal Democrat 231; MUTTON Dave, Labour Party 785; NASH Angela, Reform UK 950.