The Conservatives’ poor performance nationally in last week’s local elections was reflected in the authorities neighbouring Herefordshire which went to the polls.
In Monmouthshire the Tories lost their majority in the only Welsh county they previously controlled outright.
However, former Herefordshire Council chief executive Alistair Neill took the Gobion Fawr ward east of Abergavenny for the “Welsh Conservatives”.
While Labour emerged as the largest single party, either they or the Conservatives will now need to work with the five Independents and one Green.
While the Liberal Democrats drew a blank in Monmouthshire, they came out on top in neighbouring Powys, gaining 10 seats, but still nine short of a majority. Again Independents are likely to figure in the resulting power settlement.
RELATED NEWS:
- Herefordshire voters can relax while Wales gears up for poll
- When £90,000 is not enough pay for top Herefordshire job
- Are Herefordshire's top public officials overpaid?
In nearby English local elections, the Conservatives forfeited their narrow control of Worcester City Council, having lost three seats, one each to Labour, the Greens and the Liberal Democrats.
The results leave the Tories as still the city’s largest party but without a majority, giving the Greens, now with six councillors, the choice of who to work with.
The BBC reported council leader Marc Bayliss saying voters had “given their verdict on the government” in light of the ongoing Partygate scandal.
The Conservatives did however hold onto Redditch, while the LibDems held Cheltenham, where the Greens took their first seat at the expense of the Conservatives.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here