Lib Dems become largest party on Cherwell District Council for first time

The Liberal Democrats have become the largest party in Cherwell District Council for the first time in the party's history following the local elections.

The council remains with no party in overall control but the Liberal Democrats took seven wards from the Conservatives, and are now the biggest party on 17 seats.

Labour and the Greens gained one each while the Conservatives lost nine.

The results mean the Liberal Democrats now have 17 seats (+7), Conservatives have 11 (-9), Labour have 13 (+1), the Green party have 4 (+1) and the Independents have 3 (0).

Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Cherwell District Council, David Hingley admitted it's been an "absolutely fantastic" set of results.

He said: “We are the largest party on the Cherwell District Council for the first time ever, we are absolutely delighted about that and looking forward to getting work for the people of Cherwell based on that mandate.

“I think people really respond to the liberal democrat candidates who live locally, all work very hard and are dedicated to their communities.

“They have worked hard not just on the campaign but in general and people can look forward to having some great councillors now.

“I think that has driven what people want out of their local councillors.

“We have seen across the country conservatives have had a terrible day, and they have lost a lot of seats here on Cherwell.

“We are going to rest for a few hours and then get together over the weekend and talk about how we are going to use the mandate to deliver change across the whole district.”

The Conservative party had been running the authority as a minority administration but lost nine of the 11 seats they were defending.

This means they now have 11 seats down from 20.

The Leader of the Conservatives on Cherwell District Council, Barry Wood said: “I thought when I walked into the count this morning that the conservatives would lose some seats because of the national position but actually we lost more than we thought we would.

“That makes it a bit more depressing.

“You add to that, that some of my old friends who I have known for decades lost their seat because of no fault of their own.

“People want to send a message and use these local government elections as a giant opinion poll.

“We know that, councillors know you live and fall by the national position not by what you do and don’t do.

“That is a sad reflection on the system but it’s the truth.”

Labour gained one seat while holding three seats meaning they have the second most seats in the council now with 13 seats overall.

The Banbury Calthorpe and Easington ward was narrowly held by the Conservatives with just 21 votes ahead of Labour.

Leader of the Labour party on Cherwell District Council, Sean Woodcock said: “We are very pleased, Labour is clearly on the march in Banbury.

“We are disappointed [Banbury Calthorpe and Easington] because we worked incredibly hard and we were out until the end of the day knocking on doors trying to get people to vote for us

“It is disappointing having worked so hard with such a brilliant candidate to get so close and fall just short

“But we are pleased with how we have done and see it is a real platform going into the general election.”