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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Northumberland County Council election sees Reform UK make big gains | Northumberland County Council election sees Reform UK make big gains |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Reform UK are now the second-biggest party on Northumberland County Council | Reform UK are now the second-biggest party on Northumberland County Council |
| The Conservatives will remain the biggest party on Northumberland County Council following the local elections, but Reform UK came a close second. | The Conservatives will remain the biggest party on Northumberland County Council following the local elections, but Reform UK came a close second. |
| The authority remains under no overall control but will have 26 Conservative councillors - 10 fewer than previously. | The authority remains under no overall control but will have 26 Conservative councillors - 10 fewer than previously. |
| Reform has 23 seats, having previously had none, with Labour taking eight - a loss of 12. | Reform has 23 seats, having previously had none, with Labour taking eight - a loss of 12. |
| Independents won seven seats, with the Liberal Democrats securing three and Greens two. | Independents won seven seats, with the Liberal Democrats securing three and Greens two. |
| The authority has been run by the Conservatives since 2017 having changed hands a number of times. | The authority has been run by the Conservatives since 2017 having changed hands a number of times. |
| They are now left facing the prospect of working with Reform or forming a coalition with a combination of other groups. | They are now left facing the prospect of working with Reform or forming a coalition with a combination of other groups. |
| Council leader Glen Sanderson said a meeting with members was planned for the weekend, after which discussions would take place with other parties. | Council leader Glen Sanderson said a meeting with members was planned for the weekend, after which discussions would take place with other parties. |
| The long-serving Tory councillor said people in Northumberland had grown frustrated with the two main parties due to political failings at national level. | The long-serving Tory councillor said people in Northumberland had grown frustrated with the two main parties due to political failings at national level. |
| "I think this is a protest vote," he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service, "and that this has been the way a number of people in Northumberland have expressed their feeling hacked off with national politicians of all parties. | "I think this is a protest vote," he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service, "and that this has been the way a number of people in Northumberland have expressed their feeling hacked off with national politicians of all parties. |
| "They are angry at all the parties and the politicians. | "They are angry at all the parties and the politicians. |
| "We will look to work with others where we can. Given the national issues with all the major parties, I am really proud of my group and the way they won their seats." | "We will look to work with others where we can. Given the national issues with all the major parties, I am really proud of my group and the way they won their seats." |
| Mark Peart, elected to the Croft ward for Reform UK, said: "I'm over the moon. The people want Reform – it is time for change." | Mark Peart, elected to the Croft ward for Reform UK, said: "I'm over the moon. The people want Reform – it is time for change." |
| Surprise gains by Labour from the Conservatives in Pegswood and Haltwhistle were the only bright spots on what was a dismal night for the party. | Surprise gains by Labour from the Conservatives in Pegswood and Haltwhistle were the only bright spots on what was a dismal night for the party. |
| Scott Dickinson, the party's leader in the county, retained his Druridge Bay ward, comfortably fending off the challenge of former Berwick MP and cabinet minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan. | |
| He said: "It's been a very disappointing night. Lots of good, long-standing people have lost their seats. | He said: "It's been a very disappointing night. Lots of good, long-standing people have lost their seats. |
| "It is very disappointing they have lost seats to a protest vote." | "It is very disappointing they have lost seats to a protest vote." |
| Northumberland County Council remains under no overall control | Northumberland County Council remains under no overall control |
| Elsewhere, Labour has retained the mayoralty of North Tyneside after beating Reform UK by a thin margin of just 444 votes. | Elsewhere, Labour has retained the mayoralty of North Tyneside after beating Reform UK by a thin margin of just 444 votes. |
| Analysis - Luke Walton, political correspondent, BBC Look North | Analysis - Luke Walton, political correspondent, BBC Look North |
| The Conservatives will be the biggest party on Northumberland County Council, but Reform UK are the big winners from this result. | The Conservatives will be the biggest party on Northumberland County Council, but Reform UK are the big winners from this result. |
| Reform end the night with 23 councillors, having taken a raft of seats from the Tories and even more from Labour. | Reform end the night with 23 councillors, having taken a raft of seats from the Tories and even more from Labour. |
| The mood among Labour activists here is shock and gloom. Among Reform supporters, it was glee. | The mood among Labour activists here is shock and gloom. Among Reform supporters, it was glee. |
| But it now probably falls to the Tories to build a coalition to run the council, possibly with the help of independents. | But it now probably falls to the Tories to build a coalition to run the council, possibly with the help of independents. |
| It won't be easy. But either way, the last 36 hours have marked a big moment in the county's politics. | It won't be easy. But either way, the last 36 hours have marked a big moment in the county's politics. |
| Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. | Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. |