REDDITCH Borough Council has gone from Labour to ‘no overall control’ after a night dominated by Reform UK.
Nigel Farage’s party took eight of the nine seats available with losses for Labour, the Conservatives and the Green Party which lost its one and only councillor.
It took five seats before there was any joy for Labour when Gary Slim managed to hold onto Central ward.
The other four before and the other four after all went to Reform UK.
The Conservatives lost their only seat they had contested tonight – Astwood Bank and Feckenham.
And the same thing happened to the Greens when Claire Davies was edged out of the Webheath and Callow Hill Ward by Reform UK’s Simon Farmer.
The results mean of the 27 seats, Labour have 13 – one short of a majority. Reform UK are now the second biggest party on eight, the Conservatives are third on four and there are two independents.
Reaction
As you would expect, Reform UK were in buoyant mood afterwards.
Redditch Reform UK branch chair Donna Westwood told the Standard: “We were confident going into the vote and, to be honest, we were hoping to take all nine.
“We have all pitched in together and Redditch has spoken – the people want change.”
Nick Pioli, who took North ward for Reform UK, said: “The turnout was amazing – it reflects the discontent felt in the town.
“We were 38 votes away from taking every seat.”
Labour leader, Coun Sharon Harvey, said: “It was a disappointing night but not an unexpected one.
“We are pleased to have kept Gary (Slim) in the Central ward and disappointed for the Green Party’s Claire Davies who has been good to work with and done well representing her party on the council.”
She added it was not an unusual result for a ‘mid-term’ election
“In 2021, we lost it all to the Conservatives, in 2024 we took it all back and tonight we lost, But we will be back again.”
When asked about the impact the national picture had on the result she added: “That has definitely clouded it – it has only been two years since the Labour Government came to power and it is making strides.
“Chris Bloore is a fantastic MP and there are a load of positive things going on nationally, including removing the two-child benefit cap.
“The cost of living was improving before the Iran war – Sir Keir Starmer has been strong in the country’s stance on that.
“NHS waiting lists are down as well.”
Speaking about going forward she said: “It will be interesting to see what happens in the council chamber.
“We have balanced the budget and now – regardless of political persuasion – we all need to work together and do what is best for the people of Redditch.
“We need to make sure we get them the services when they need them.”
“It is in no-one’s best interest to have it any other way.”
Below shows how the night unfolded and how the seats were won and lost.
Astwood Bank and Feckenham – Reform UK GAIN
The last seat to be declared has reflected the evening – it has gone to Reform UK.
Roger Bennett – a former Conservative, now Reform UK – topped the poll with 1,140. The Conservative Party candidatte Christopher Holz finished second on 990. Before tonight, this was a Tory seat.
Labour were in third with Monica Fry finishing on 425, the Green Party were in fourth on 369 – polled by Kevin White. And Lib Dem John Marsh was fifth on 176.
Full result
Roger Michael Bennett (Reform UK) – 1,140 – ELECTED
Monica Fry (Labour) – 425
Christopher Holz (Conservative) – 990
John Malcolm Marsh (Lib Dems) – 176
Kevin White (Green) – 369
Webheath and Callow Hill – Reform UK GAIN
Just two years after Redditch elected its first ever Green Party councillor, that seat was lost to Reform UK.
It was one of the closest seats of the night and gasps were drawn as the result became clear.
Simon Farmer (Reform UK) polled 1,177, seeing off Claire Davies (Green) by just 105 votes.
Finlay Heath (Conservative) was third on 720 with Labour’s Paul Wren fourth on 261 and Lib Dem Edward Killworth fifth on 93.
Full result
Claire Davies (Green) – 1,072
Reform UK – Simon Farmer (Reform UK) – 1,177 – ELECTED
Fin Heath (Conservative) – 720
Edward Kilworth (Lib Dems) – 93
Paul Wren, (Labour) – 261
Headless Cross and Oakenshaw – Reform UK GAIN
The seventh seat of the night has gone to Reform UK with the party’s Susan Eacock polling 1,190.
David Munro (Labour) – who was the sitting councillor in this ward before tonight – finished second on 595, Conservative Kyle Wakefield third on 526, Green Party Ben Bradley fourth on 378 and Lib Dem Andrew Fieldsend-Roxborough fifth on 338.
Full result
Ben Bradley (Green) – 378
Sue Eacock (Reform UK) – 1,190 – ELECTED
Andrew Paul Fieldsend-Roxborough (Lib Dems) – 338
David Munro(Labour) – 595
Kyle Wakefield (Conservative) – 526
Greenlands and Lakeside – Reform UK GAIN
After Labour took the previous seat, another one has gone from the controlling group to Reform UK.
In Greenlands and Lakeside, Nikki Lloyd (Reform UK) polled 1,086. Second was Juma Begum – former Redditch Mayor – on 652 votes. Green Party stalwart Margot Bish finished third on 384 – four votes ahead of Conservative David Bowater (381). The Lib Dems claimed another fifth place as Anthony Pitt earned 158 votes.
Full results
Juma Begum (Labour) – 652
Margot Bish (Green) – 385
David Bowater (Conservatives) -381
Nikki Lloyd (Reform UK) – 1,086 – ELECTED
Anthony Pitt (Lib Dems) – 158
Central – LAB HOLD
It has taken five seats, but there is finally some joy for Redditch Labour with a hold in the Central ward.
This was the closely contested seat of the night so far. Gary Slim (Labour) polled 652, beating the Reform UK candidate Stephen Lloyd by just 38 votes. He finished on 614.
The Greens finished third with Tim Bradley notching up 555 votes. The Conservatives’ Alan Smith was fourth and Lib Dem Pamela Gee in fifth.
It will be a relief for Labour leader, Coun Sharon Harvey, who holds the other seat in this ward.
Full result
Tim Bradley (Green) – 555
Pamela Gee (Lib Dems) – 74
Stephen Lloyd (Reform UK) – 614
Gary Slim (Labour) – 652 – ELECTED
Alan Smith (Conservative) – 237
Winyates – Reform UK GAIN
It is turning into a Reform storm tonight after the fourth declaration.
Winyates was previously Labour but James Aston (Reform UK) took the top spot with 1,212 votes.
He polled 728 more than Anita Clayton (Conservative) who finished second with 484. Labour’s Jim Heaney was third with 475, The Green Party was fourth with Clare Beckhelling notching up 327 votes and Lib Dem Jade Taylor was fifth on 159.
Full results
James Aston (Reform UK) – 1,212 – ELECTED
Clare Beckhelling (Greens) – 327
Anita Clayton (Conservative) – 484
Jim Heaney (Labour) – 475
Jade Taylor (Lib Dems) – 159
North – Reform UK GAIN
It’s three out of three for Reform UK here tonight as Nic Pioli stormed to victory with 1,177 votes – 577 more than Conservative Karen Ashley who finished second.
Third was Labour’s Debbie Chance with 496 – this was a Labour seat after the last election but then the councillor turned independent.
The Greens finished fourth with Adam Price polling 275 and the Lib Dem Andy Thompson fifth on 178.
Full result
Karen Ashley (Conservative) – 600
Debbie Chance (Labour) – 496
Nic Pioli (Reform UK) – 1,177 – ELECTED
Adam Price (Green) – 275
Andy Thompson (Lib Dems) – 178
Batchley and Brockhill – Reform UK GAIN
In the second seat declaration of the night, Ashley Monk (Reform UK) finished top with 1,038 votes. Second was Mark Tomes (Labour) on 533 and Lisa King (Greens Party) finished third with 512. The Coinservative Julian Grubb was fourth and Kerrie Coope (Lib Dems) was fifth.
Ashley Monk who is currently a Worcestershire County Councillor for Reform UK after taking a seat in the county election last year now has a borough one to go with it. The second seat mirrored the first in that Reform UK has taken it from Labour.
Full result
Kerrie Coope (Lib Dems) – 125
Julian Grubb (Conservative) – 400
Lisa Marie King (Green) – 512
Ashley Monk (Reform UK) – 1,038 – ELECTED
Mark Tomes (Labour) – 533
Matchborough and Woodrow – Reform UK GAIN
The first seat has been declared – and it is a Reform UK gain from Labour in Matchborough and Woodrow.
David Meredith (Reform UK) topped the poll with 947 votes. Juliet Brunner (Conservative) was second on 453 and Mark Harvey (Labour) who was the sitting councillor prior to tonight finished on 421.
Full result
Juliet Brunner (Conservative) – 453
David Gee (Lib Dems) – 107
Mark Harvey (Labour) – 421
Kath Manning (Green) – 296
David Meredith (Reform UK) – 947 – ELECTED
Verification and turnout
The polls closed at 10pm and then the ballot boxes were brought to the Abbey Stadium for counting.
Before the votes can be counted, they have to be verified and the first verification – for the Batchley and Brockhill Ward – has been completed. There is a turnout for this ward was 35 per cent and counting for Batchley and Brockhill will begin shortly.
Matchborough and Woodrow has also been verified – that had a 29 per cent turnout with 2,229 votes to be counted.
Greenlands has been verified – the turnout was 35 per cent with 2,669 votes set to be counted.
In Central Ward there was a 31 per cent turnout with 2,150 votes cast.
Winyates has been the highest so far – 39 per cent turnout – some 2,663 votes cast..
North Ward also had a 39 per cent turnout with 2,732 votes to be counted.
Headless Cross and Oakenshaw has a 43 per cent turnout – the highest so far. 3,038 votes to be counted.
Just as we typed that, Webheath’s verification was announced – 47 per cent – almost half of the electorate has turned out there today. 3,378 votes cast in Webheath.
Astwood Bank and Feckenham’s verification has revealed a turnout of 45 per cent – 3,117 votes casat.
The seats being contested
Unlike the last Redditch Borough Council election – two years ago – when it was an all-out election, this poll will see a third of the seats – nine out of 27 – contested.
Of the seats being decided tonight, six of them are held by Labour, one by a Conservative, one by a Green councillor and one by an independent.
After 2024 ‘all out’ election, there were – 21 Labour, 5 Conservatives and 1 Green councillor
Since then, two Labour seats have gone independent. That means, overall (before tonight) there were 18 Labour, 5 Conservative, 3 Independent, 1 Green
