2024 local elections recap: Tories lose control of Dudley but Labour rout fails to materialise
Labour made gains at the expense of the Conservatives in the West Midlands’ Council elections – but the predicted rout failed to materialise.
The party took control of Cannock Chase Council – which it had previously led with the support of the Greens – but failed to take control of Dudley Council, which had been billed as its top target in the country.
The Tories actually gained one seat on Walsall, which is now the only Conservative-controlled council in the region.
Following a night of high drama at Dudley, three newly-elected Liberal Democrat councillors now find themselves in the position of deciding who will lead the authority.
Ryan Priest, Kash Khan and Ethan Stafford now find themselves kingmakers after being elected in the last result of the night to be declared,
The Liberal Democrats had no representation on the authority prior to Thursday’s poll, but boundary changes saw them take all three seats in the newly created Cradley North and Wollescote ward.
The election now leaves both the Conservatives and Labour on 34 seats each, with the three new Liberal Democrats and former Sedgley Conservative councillor Shaun Keasey – who retained his seat as an independent after quitting the party – holding the balance of power.
The future of the authority will be determined at the council’s annual meeting on May 16.
In Walsall, the Conservatives remain comfortably in control, taking their tally to 38 seats after Izzy Hussain gained Blakenall. Labour is now down to 20 seats, while there remain three independents.
It was a disastrous showing for the Conservatives in Sandwell, picking up just one seat, and leaving Labour firmly in control.
Labour also retained its strong grip on Wolverhampton Council, taking its tally to 47 seats after gaining one seat from the Tories which are now on 12.
Black Country results
Other key results
– Conservative Ben Houchen won a third term as Tees Valley mayor
– Labour won two of the three brand new mayoral posts: the North East and York & North Yorkshire
– Labour won Rushmoor in Hampshire for the first time and claimed the council in general election bellwether Redditch.
– Labour won Hartlepool council, regaining ground in an area where the party suffered a Westminster by-election disaster in 2021.
– Labour won Thurrock, one of its top targets and an area of the country that will be a key battleground with the Tories at the next general election.
– The Tories clung on by a single seat in Harlow, a council targeted by Sir Keir on the eve of polling day.
– Labour lost control in Oldham, with gains made by independents possibly as a result of Sir Keir’s stance on the war in Gaza.
– The Greens put on 12 councillors and the Liberal Democrats also gained 12, while there were also increases for independents and residents’ groups.
– Labour gained police and crime commissioners from the Conservatives in Cumbria and Avon and Somerset.
Labour’s Chris Webb won the Blackpool South parliamentary seat with a swing of 26.33% from the Tories and Sir Keir Starmer’s party also secured council wins in areas which will be key general election battlegrounds later this year.
We'll keep you updated with the latest results from across the Black Country today.
