Key points:
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Lesley Rennie re-elected in Wallasey with the greatest number of votes for a Conservative candidate anywhere in Merseyside and Cheshire
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Across Wirral, Conservative vote drops to 21,517 but in both Wallasey and Moreton West & Saughall Massie wards our vote increases
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Labour fails to gain a majority on the council as their seven gains from Conservatives are offset by four losses to the Greens
Wirral Council now:
Labour has failed to win enough seats to run the Council outright:
- 30 Labour councillors (34 needed for ‘control’)
- 17 Conservatives (five in the Wallasey constituency)
- 13 Greens
- 6 Liberal Democrats
Full results for all 22 wards can be found here
With the five seats we held, we denied Labour the majority they have craved and hoped for. Don't take my word for it - here's what the 'Wallasey Socialists' say:
Had Labour won the other two seats in Wallasey Ward and the three in Moreton West (and Saughall Massie), we would now have a Labour controlled council
Thank you Steve Hoey
I have known Steve for around 20 years. He was selected to take over from me as candidate in Wallasey Ward, following my change of job which meant I could no longer give the time needed to my role as a Councillor.
Yesterday, Steve was just 57 votes away from being elected. He did everything possible to win it and he deserves our thanks. I very much hope he will ‘stick with it’ and be elected to represent the community he is so passionate about.
We held all three seats in Moreton West & Saughall Massie
Long serving member and former Association Trustee, Councillor Vida Wilson was re-elected and is joined by our fantastic new candidates Colin Baldwin and Gary Bennett.
It's no secret that since we lost our much missed colleague Chris Blakeley, the Party in the ward had struggled. Chris did so much, consistently and continuously, to turn this ward from a marginal into a seat that has now had Conservative Councillors for 23 years - the longest period since it was created in 1974.
I am delighted we once again have a strong, united team who will continue Chris's work to tackle local issues, responding to and keeping in touch with residents all year round.
We held two of the three seats in Wallasey Ward
At last year's election, Labour came within 109 votes of defeating Lesley Rennie. Labour and even some of our own colleagues expected us to lose all three seats yesterday.
While Labour gained my former seat (albeit by just 57 votes), I can report that Lesley and Ian Lewis were re-elected. Not only did Lesley INCREASE the Conservative vote but she received the most votes of any Conservative candidate anywhere in Wirral, Merseyside and even Cheshire.
It has been a privilege to have Lesley and Ian, and the late, great Kate Wood, as colleagues and I wish Lesley, Ian and Steve well as they continue to work as a team in the Ward.
Elsewhere...
Conservatives held six seats in Wirral South (fending off a strong Liberal Democrat challenge in Heswall). Congratulations to colleagues there and in Clatterbridge Ward.
Six of the 12 Conservative seats being defended in Wirral West (in Greasby, Frankby & Irby and Pensby & Thingwall wards) were lost to Labour, in some cases by large majorities.
- Labour: Following this year's elections, they no longer have a majority of seats in the Birkenhead constituency (8 out of 18) and they have NO councillors in the Wirral South constituency. However, Labour does have most of the seats in Wirral West.
- Wirral's Green Party: gained four seats from Labour in Bromborough, Bebington and Rock Ferry.
- Liberal Democrats: static on six seats
- Independents: none were re-elected
Beyond Wirral, we were also delighted to see Simon Eardley re-elected in Saughall and Mollington - a hard working councillor whose commitment is recognised by his electorate.
Thank YOU...
Our campaign in Wallasey, Moreton and Saughall Massie was very much a team effort. During the course of the campaign we recruited new members and new volunteers. Thanks to:
- Those members in Birkenhead who ‘came over’ to help
- The 36 members and supporters who applied and stood as candidates
- The support from Cheshire & Wirral Area
- Everyone who lent a hand or chipped in - we reached our Campaign Appeal target of £6,000.
Special thanks to Ian Lewis who organised our campaign, Marg Kalil who made sure it was implemented and Eve Sorrell who did much of the 'running around' and hosted our weekly Campaign Committee.
The results prove that where we have candidates and councillors who work day in, day out as a team on local issues, we can win - but only with your continued support.
Best wishes
Paul Hayes
Chairman, Wallasey Conservative Association
P.S. If you support our work, please join us - every new member makes us stronger.
