Gloucestershire Echo

No Conservati­ves in borough council make-up

- Phil NORRIS philip.norris@reachplc.com

THE Liberal Democrats wiped out the Conservati­ves in the local elections to Cheltenham Borough Council.

There is no blue in the political make-up of the local authority after votes were counted on Friday, May 3, after voters delivered their verdict at polling booths on Thursday.

The Lib Dems went into the elections with 31 councillor­s and the Tories had five seats. After all votes were counted, the Lib Dems had extended their dominance to 36 seats while the Tories were left with none.

Before the final results came in, former Lib Dem councillor and would-be MP Max Wilkinson said on X, formerly twitter: “It’s been a fantastic set of results for Cheltenham. Lib Dems appear to be on the cusp of wiping out the Conservati­ves. One set of results is left. Charlton Kings... It would be extraordin­ary.”

That result came in with two more Lib Dems elected.

As a party, the Lib Dems grabbed a huge 52 per cent share of the vote.

Of course, Cheltenham has a Conservati­ve MP, Cabinet Minister Alex Chalk, the Justice Secretary.

He had a majority of just 981 at the last general election.

Voters are switching to the Liberal Democrats because they “have had enough of being taken for granted and being let down”, party leader Sir Ed Davey said.

Speaking in Winchester, Sir Ed said: “The votes are still being counted, but the message from across the country is loud and clear: People from around our great country have had enough of this out of touch Conservati­ve Government.

“They have had enough of being taken for granted and being let down. It is time for change.

“And across this country, from Cheltenham to Dorset, from West Oxfordshir­e to here in Winchester, so many people, including lifelong Conservati­ves are switching to the Liberal Democrats to make that change happen.

“So they can have real champions who are going to work tirelessly for the local community and deliver the fair deal that people so deserve.”

Full list of councillor­s on Cheltenham Borough Council

» All Saints

Clark, Barbara Ann - Liberal Democrats

Tailford, Izaac Augustus - Liberal Democrats

» Battledown

Day, Chris - Liberal Democrats Pemberton, Helen Clare - Liberal Democrats

» Benhall, The Reddings and Fiddler’s Green

Collins, Michael John David - Liberal

Democrats

Steinhardt, Stephen Ian - Liberal Democrats

» Charlton Kings

Boyes, Angie - Liberal Democrats Mutton, Andy - Liberal Democrats

» Charlton Park

Baker, Paul Richard - Liberal Democrats

Harvey, Steve - Liberal Democrats

» College

Barnes, Garth Wallington - Liberal Democrats

Dobie, Iain Andrew Paterson - Liberal Democrats

» Hester’s Way

Lynch, Cathal - Liberal Democrats Wheeler, Simon Albert - Liberal Democrats

» Lansdown

Andrews, Glenn - Liberal Democrats Orme, Ben Lewis - Liberal Democrats

» Leckhampto­n

Chandler, Julia Caroline - Liberal Democrats

Horwood, Martin Charles - Liberal Democrats » Oakley

Hay, Rowena Mary - Liberal Demo

It’s been a fantastic set of results for Cheltenham. Lib Dems appear to be on the cusp of wiping out the Conservati­ves.

Former Cheltenham borough councillor Max Wilkinson before the final council results came in last week

crats

Lewis, Alisha Chloe-marie - Liberal Democrats

» Park

Barrell, Daily Mary Juliet - Liberal Democrats

Chelin, Jackie - Liberal Democrats

» Pittville

Garcia Clamp, Juan Carlos - Liberal Democrats

Tooke, Julian Charles George - Liberal Democrats

» Prestbury

Foster, Jan - Green Party Smith, Stan, People Against Bureaucrac­y » Springbank

Jeffries, Peter Jeremy - Liberal Democrats

Williams, Suzanne Theresa - Liberal Democrats

» St Mark’s

Holliday, Sandra Jane - Liberal Democrats

Pineger, Richard James - Liberal Democrats

» St Paul’s

Davies, Ashleigh Olivia - Green Party Joy, Tabi - Green Party

» St Peter’s

Atherstone, Victoria May - Liberal Democrats

Willingham, David John - Liberal Democrats

» Swindon Village

Allen, Frank John - Liberal Democrats

Clucas, Flo - Liberal Democrats

» Up Hatherley

Bamford, Adrian Stephen - Liberal Democrats

Sankey, Julie Margaret - Liberal Democrats

» Warden Hill

Beale, Graham Anthony - Liberal Democrats

Oliver, Tony - Liberal Democrats

 ?? ?? Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, fires a confetti cannon as he joins local Lib Dem campaigner­s at a celebrator­y rally in Winchester, following the results in local government elections Picture:
Stefan Rousseau/
PA Wire
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, fires a confetti cannon as he joins local Lib Dem campaigner­s at a celebrator­y rally in Winchester, following the results in local government elections Picture: Stefan Rousseau/ PA Wire

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