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Election results: Tories suffer two Surrey council defeats | Election results: Tories suffer two Surrey council defeats |
(32 minutes later) | |
The Conservatives have lost control of Tandridge council, a stronghold which has been blue for almost two decades. | The Conservatives have lost control of Tandridge council, a stronghold which has been blue for almost two decades. |
Liberal Democrats, meanwhile, took Mole Valley, where the Conservatives were previously the largest party. | Liberal Democrats, meanwhile, took Mole Valley, where the Conservatives were previously the largest party. |
Tories in Tandridge were running the council with a majority of just one, after losing eight seats last year. | Tories in Tandridge were running the council with a majority of just one, after losing eight seats last year. |
They have lost a further six seats, losing three to the Oxted & Limpsfield Residents Group, one to the Liberal Democrats and two to independents. | They have lost a further six seats, losing three to the Oxted & Limpsfield Residents Group, one to the Liberal Democrats and two to independents. |
A total of 14 seats were up for grabs on the night. The Conservatives remain the largest party, with 16 seats out of 42. | A total of 14 seats were up for grabs on the night. The Conservatives remain the largest party, with 16 seats out of 42. |
The Lib Dems have 11, independents have eight, and the residents' association has seven. | |
Leader Martin Fisher (Conservative) lost his seat to David Stamp of the residents' group, who won a 68% share of the vote. | |
Mr Fisher said "Brexit chaos at Westminster" had not helped the party, but locally the key issue was building homes on the green belt. | |
He said preventing this was what the independents were focused on and "that cost us seats". | He said preventing this was what the independents were focused on and "that cost us seats". |
In Mole Valley, 14 of 41 seats were on offer. The Conservatives lost 10 - nine to the Lib Dems and one to an independent candidate. | In Mole Valley, 14 of 41 seats were on offer. The Conservatives lost 10 - nine to the Lib Dems and one to an independent candidate. |
The council is now made up of 22 Lib Dems, 12 Tories and seven independent councillors. | The council is now made up of 22 Lib Dems, 12 Tories and seven independent councillors. |
Analysis | Analysis |
By BBC South East political editor Helen Catt | By BBC South East political editor Helen Catt |
Wealthy east Surrey is traditionally Tory territory but the Conservatives have seen their control there steadily ebb away over several years. | |
The beneficiaries have largely been independents and residents groups. | |
Brexit is not to blame, but rather a failure to balance house-building with concerns over the greenbelt. | Brexit is not to blame, but rather a failure to balance house-building with concerns over the greenbelt. |
That is solid Tory policy territory in the South East and could suggest there may be more for the party to worry about than their immediate Brexit concerns. | That is solid Tory policy territory in the South East and could suggest there may be more for the party to worry about than their immediate Brexit concerns. |
Across Surrey, Elmbridge remained under no overall control after the Conservatives lost three seats and ended up with 21 - four short of the 25 needed for a majority. The Lib Dems gained one and independents gained two. | |
Woking also stayed under no overall control. The Conservatives lost one seat to the Lib Dems, ending up with 14 seats - two short of taking control of the council. | |
Either search using your postcode or council name or click around the map to show local results. | Either search using your postcode or council name or click around the map to show local results. |