Local elections: No majority at Northumberland County Council as Labour win North Tyneside Mayor
Northumberland County Council is under no overall control after no party was able to claim a majority in the local elections.
The Conservatives, who have ran the council since 2017, remain the biggest party with 26 councillors but could not get close to the 35 seats needed to reach a majority as Reform UK surged.
The party were the big winners on the night claiming 23 seats, making gains from both the Conservatives and Labour, who struggled in their traditional heartlands. The party were reduced to just eight councillors, a significant reduction on the 24 seats they claimed in the last election in 2021.
The Conservatives now face the prospect of working with Reform, or forming a coalition with some combination the Independent Group (seven seats), the Liberal Democrats (three seats), The Green Party (two seats) or even Labour to get their policies through.
It was a better night for Labour in the election for the North Tyneside Mayor as they held off the Reform challenge, by just 444 votes.
Karen Clark, will effectively become the leader of the Council, succeeding former Labour Mayor Dame Norma Redfearn, who had held the post since 2013.
The election for all seats at Durham County Council also took place on Thursday with the result expected on Friday afternoon.
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