Election Special: Winners Speak To HFM

Winning candidates have been speaking to HFM after local election results were announced.

The Conservatives lost control of Leicestershire County Council after 24 years and the authority is now ‘hung,’ as no party got enough seats to secure a majority.

Reform UK has become the largest political group on the council after securing 25 seats, just three short of taking full control.

The Conservatives now have 15 seats, the Liberal Democrats 11, Labour has two and there is one Green and one independent.

In the Harborough District, Reform won two seats, taking the Broughton Astley and Bruntingthorpe divisions off the Conservatives.

Bill Piper was victorious in Broughton Astley, unseating the incumbent Neil Bannister by 246 votes.

Harrison Fowler won the Bruntingthorpe poll by 134 votes and spoke to HFM:

The Conservatives held their seats in Lutterworth, Market Harborough West & Foxton and Gartee.

David Page won the Market Harborough West & Foxton division, beating Reform candidate Nick Hatfield by 84 votes:

 

Rosita Page retained her seat in Lutterworth by just 67 votes, with Reform’s Martin Sarfas narrowly behind in second.

Phil King was victorious in the Gartree division with a majority of over 850 and gave his reaction to HFM:

The Liberal Democrats gained the Market Harborough East division from the Conservatives and held Laude.

Sarah Hill won the Market Harborough East poll, unseating the incumbent Barry Champion by 136 votes:

 

Simon Galton held his seat in Launde with a majority of over 700 and becomes the longest serving member on the county council, having first being elected 36 years ago.

Discussions are now set to take place between leaders of all the parties with a view of forming some form of coalition to run the council.