Labour counts losses as Lib Dems take Portsmouth

Labour has lost its majority at Southampton City Council, leaving the authority under no overall control.

The party lost seven of its seats in the city, including that of council leader Alex Winning, whose Shirley seat went to the Liberal Democrats.

In Portsmouth, the Lib Dems gained three seats to take control of the city council, which had previously been under no overall control.

Hampshire County Council also has no majority party after the Conservatives lost 29 seats and Reform gained 20.

Although Labour no longer has a majority in Southampton, with 24 seats it is still the largest party and could seek to form an alliance with Green councillors.

The first result from the overnight count was a Green gain from Labour - Luke Reynolds, standing as a councillor for the first time, won the Bargate ward seat from Labour by 37 votes.

He said: "The country wants a different way of running the government, and the country wants a different way of running councils.

"We want to bring communities together again. That's what we're going to do and that's what people want."

Reform UK won six seats in Southampton.

Area branch chairman Philip Crook, who won Coxford, said: "A lot of people we spoke to were very tired of what's happening with Labour.

"They're just tired of the same old politics and they want new leadership and a new direction for the country."

Southampton Itchen's Labour MP Darren Paffey, who previously served as a councillor in the city, said the results were "reflective of the national picture", adding that "we are going to need time to reflect on what these results mean locally".

In Portsmouth, Lib Dem leader Steve Pitt described his party's success in the city elections as "a brilliant result" and "a vote of confidence in a hard-working team that really understand how Portsmouth works".

However, he vowed to continue cross-party working, adding: "It's not about the party in control having domination over everything."

The Lib Dems kept every seat they were defending, and gained a further three, while Labour lost all of its five seats and Reform gained five.

The Lib Dems also held on to Eastleigh Borough Council.

Conservatives lost a total of 29 seats at Hampshire County Council, while Reform UK gained 20, the Lib Dems gained nine, the Greens gained one and Labour lost two.

The Conservatives retained control of Fareham, which saw little change - the party lost one seat, Reform gained one, while Lib Dems, Labour and Independents remained the same.

Elsewhere, Hart District Council and Havant remain under no overall control.

The Liberal Democrats are the biggest party in Hart with 13 seats, gaining one from the Conservatives.

In Havant, Reform UK gained seven seats and the Greens gained one, while the Conservatives lost five, Labour lost two and the Lib Dems lost one.

Gosport Borough Council also remained under no overall control with Conservatives and Reform UK now the biggest two parties with 11 and 10 seats, respectively.

Counting for Isle of Wight Council, Winchester City Council, Rushmoor Borough Council and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is taking place during the daytime on Friday.

Additional reporting by Patrick O'Hagan

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