On 6 May, voters went to the polls for the UK’s biggest ever set of local and national elections.
The results in England were disheartening for Labour and historic for the blue team. I am delighted that we have retained our dominant position in local government and can continue to deliver high-quality public services to our communities.
“I am delighted that we have retained our dominant position in local government.”
The results are an endorsement of the hard work of Conservative councillors locally, while also indicating that the success of the vaccine rollout and the Government’s levelling up agenda resonated with the public.
As a result of the elections, we made substantial gains, including winning the Hartlepool by-election, gaining overall control in Cornwall, Nottinghamshire and Northumberland, increasing our majority in the Tees Valley and West Midlands mayoralties, and electing police and crime commissioners in places such as Leicestershire, Cleveland and Humberside.
I would like to thank everyone who played a role in securing these extraordinary results. I was up for election myself, and am therefore aware just how challenging campaigning was, and how we all had to find creative ways to engage with voters.
I also wish to express my heartfelt commiserations to those hard-working and dedicated Conservative councillors who lost their seats – they are friends who have all given so much to public life.
My warmest congratulations go to all those Conservative councillors who were newly elected or re-elected, and I am looking forward to meeting and working with you.