Live updates – Counting gets under way in Stratford local elections
Results from earlier
Stratford Avenue. Lib Dem win
GROCOTT Lorraine, Liberal Democrats, 353
GUISE Sherron Marie-Louise, Green Party, 166
SINCLAIR Tim, Local Conservatives, 276
WILKINSON Dan, Labour Party Candidate, 48
1.05pm Lib Dems takes Henley-in-Arden.
RICE Mike, Liberal Democrats, 601
TIBBS India Mary, Local Conservatives, 343
TURNER Bryn Rhys, Labour Party, 101
12.50pm Lib Dems take Harbury.
BADDON Chris, Reform UK, 64
EASTAP Linda Jane, Labour, 91
HARRIS Jacqui, Independent, 435
OSTRANDER Susan Stacy, Liberal Democrats, 553
12.45 Lib Dem win over Labour in Stratford Clopton.
FOJTIK Jason Robert, Labour Party Candidate, 315
PETROVIC Letty, Liberal Democrats, 512
SHORT Juliet Dorothy, Local Conservatives, 198
12.30 Second seat and big win for Greens.
Claverdon and Snitterfield
KNAPMAN Nina Blanche, Liberal Democrats, 93
PARKER Duncan, Green Party, 753
RICHARDS Peter Wynford James, Local Conservatives, 367
Some results from earlier.
Stratford Shottery
BIGWOOD Sally, Labour Party, 93
CURTIS David, Liberal Democrats, 863
HERBERT Vince, Green Party, 92
JENNINGS Matthew Roland, Local Conservatives, 313
Green take Shipston South from Tories.
12.25 Shipston South
BARKER Jo, Local Conservatives, 456
PASSINGHAM Dave, Green Party, 634
Shock as Conservative leader of Stratford District Council Tony Jefferson ousted.
12midday Stratford Welcombe
HARDING Roger, 726
JEFFERSON Tony, Local Conservatives, 437
NEALON Alastair James, Labour and Cooperative Party, 92
11.50 WellesbourneNorth and Rural
BROWN Kevin Collins, Liberal Democrats, 502
CAMPBELL Angelique Celine, The Labour Party, 114
PARRY Anne Vivienne, Local Conservatives, 581
VENUS Tess, 58
11.45 Stratford Guildhall and Bridgetown. Lib Dem win.
DIXON Tony, Local Conservatives, 262
FRADGLEY Jenny, Liberal Democrats, 860
MICHAUX Stephen John, Green Party, 52
ROE Charlie, Labour Party Candidate, 85
11.30 Stratford Hathaway. Lib Dem win.
COLES Liz, Liberal Democrats, 330
FORMAN Gill, Local Conservatives, 102
H PETTIFOR Peter Samuel, Green Party, 44
RHODES Lee, Labour and Co-op, 225
11.15 First result called Wellesbourne East and Rural. Lib Dem gain from Tories.
Briggs, Barnaby Charles, Conservatives, 383
Johnston, David William, Liberal Democrats, 560
Mordue, Michael, Gree, 57
Penson, Simon Peter,Labour
ID has been shown, votes have been cast and now it’s time to find out who has won.
The local election count gets under way in Stratford today (Friday) to see which group – if any – will be in control of Stratford District Council as well as parish councils across the area.
The big prize is control at Elizabeth House where the Conservative group has been in power for more than 20 years. But the Liberal Democrats believe SDC is there for the taking – mainly due to the scandals arising from Westminster and the actions of Stratford’s own Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi, who was sacked as party chairman after being found to have breached the ministerial code.
Despite no explanation or apology to his constituents, the Stratford Conservative Association has reselected him as its candidate for the next general election.
It was on the back of that decision – and sensing there were scalps to be taken – that Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey visited Stratford last weekend, giving his troops a final push.
Stratford’s Conservatives have reacted to the criticism of their national party by pointing out they are ‘local Conservatives’ and have a decent track record in local government – the finances are all in order, there’s some exiting projects bubbling along and they’re very pro-business.
Then there’s Labour. Feedback from the doorstep, according to the group, has been very positive for the reds so they could take a few seats.
The Greens could also put up a good show, having fielded candidates across the district and with the climate change agenda fresh in many people’s minds.
However, Stratford is generally a two-horse race – it’s traditionally either the Conservatives or the Lib Dems that take control of SDC.
This time, however, there is a chance of a hung council (the Herald has been told SDC officers have been making preparations should there be no one party in overall control) which means any seats picked up by the Greens and Labour could play a significant part in shaping the area’s future.
The Herald will be at the count and will be updating the website as the results roll in.