Express & Star

Walsall local election results: Tory gains leave them in pole position

The Tories came within one seat of an overall majority in Walsall after gaining five wards.

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Conservatives celebrate at the count at Wolverhampton University's Walsall campus

The Conservatives ended up with 30 seats, while Labour lost two to be left with 26, with the remaining four seats split between the Liberal Democrats and independents.

Full local election coverage:

Previously Labour was in control with 28 seats to the Tories' 24.

Walsall Conservative leader Mike Bird is confident of getting the support he requires to run a minority administration.

"It’s good to be back,” he said.

Walsall North MP Eddie Hughes hugs Louise Harrison, who held onto her Bloxwich West seat

"I am very pleased, I think it's been an exceptional night for the Conservative Party in Walsall and that's down to the hard work and effort that everyone has put in.

"The Brexit vote has had some effect here but the real effect is that people are disenchanted with two years of Labour. They've shown their inexperience, lack of knowledge and vision.

"We've got 30 councillors, are the largest party now and should form an administration."

Disappointed Labour leader Sean Coughlan at the Walsall count

Labour councillor Ian Robertson, said: “We don’t have the numbers and mean it will be a Tory administration.

“We have tried and we will continue to try to do the best for the people of Walsall.

“This is their verdict and we have to accept it.”

Walsall Council results - ward by ward

  • What happened: The Tories gained five seats, while Labour lost two.

  • Political make-up: No overall control (Cons – 30; Lab – 26; Lib Dem – 2; Indep – 2)

  • Turnout: 29 per cent

  • * Party previously holding seat

Aldridge Central and South (Cons hold)

John Murray (Cons)* – 2,638

Mish Rahman (Lab) – 683

Roy Sheward (Lib Dem) – 303

Aldridge North and Walsall Wood (Cons hold)

Bob Grainger (Lab) – 806

Anthony Harris (Cons)* – 1,769

Bentley and Darlaston North (Lab hold)

Rose Burley (Lab)* – 1,782

Colleen Jones (Cons) – 654

Birchills-Leamore (Lab hold)

Gaz Ali (Cons) – 1,254

Lee Jeavons (Lab)* – 1,296

Blakenall (Lab hold)

Ross Lee (Cons) – 364

Shaun Mckenzie (Green) – 38

Ian Robertson (Lab)* – 964

Pete Smith (Indep) – 654

Bloxwich East (Cons gain)

Kath Phillips (Lab)* – 1,127

Mark Statham (Cons) – 1,150

Bloxwich West (Cons hold)

Louise Harrison (Cons)* – 1,642

Natalie Latham (Lab) – 1,096

Brownhills (Cons hold)

Derek Bennett (UKIP) – 170

Stephen Craddock (Cons)* – 1,414

Patti Lane (Lab) – 958

Timothy Martin (Green) – 98

Darlaston South (Indep hold)

Paul Bott (Indep)* – 999

Hilda Derry (Cons) – 321

Karen Jukes (Lib Dem) – 59

Deb Madeley (Lab) – 974

Paddock (Cons gain; Cons hold)

Haj Bashir (Lab) – 1,463

Andrea Bradley (Lab) – 1,408

Peter Faultless (UKIP) – 219

Jennifer Gray (Lib Dem) – 316

Waheed Rasab (Cons) – 2,299

Gurmeet Sohal (Cons)* – 2,496

Palfrey (Lab hold)

Mozamil Khan (Cons) – 1,211

Mohammad Zazir (Lab)* – 2,675

Pelsall (Cons hold)

Graham Eardley (UKIP) – 264

John Maltman (Lab) – 607

Sally Neville (Cons)* – 1,733

John Van Steijn (Lib Dem) – 111

Pheasey Park Farm (Cons hold)

Shamim Ahmed (Lab) – 730

Glyn Fletcher (Lib Dem) – 131

Steven Grey (UKIP) – 177

Christopher Towe (Cons)* – 1,707

Pleck (Lab hold)

Jitu Miah (Cons) – 609

Harbans Sarohi (Lab)* – 2,453

Rushall-Shelfield (Cons gain)

Liam Allen (Green) – 91

Sam Cooke (Lib Dem) – 92

Sue Laws (Lab)* – 1,030

Vera Waters (Cons) – 1,369

Short Heath (Cons gain)

Carl Brown (Lab) – 635

Bal Chattha (Cons) – 962

Darren Hazell (UKIP)* – 198

Benjamin Hodges (Lib Dem) – 593

St Matthews (Lab hold)

Shaheen Choudhury (Indep) – 129

Arfan Matloob (Cons) – 1,415

Aftab Nawaz (Lab)* – 2,071

Susan Webster (Green) – 399

Streetly (Cons hold)

David Morgan (Lab) – 638

Suky Samra (Cons)* – 2,184

Kartar Uppal (Lib Dem) – 291

Willenhall North (Cons gain)

Oliver Butler (Cons) – 1,063

Carol Fletcher (Lib Dem) – 560

Liz Hazell (UKIP)* – 233

Bob Thomas (Lab) – 694

Willenhall South (Lab hold)

Bruce Bennett (UKIP) – 191

Diane Coughlan (Lab)* – 1,581

Nirmal Singh (Cons) – 983