'Sending us a message': Wolverhampton mayor on election win, Labour struggles and Keir Starmer's future

Councillor Craig Collingswood‘s Park ward was the last result to be announced at the Wolverhampton count today (May 8) with the Green Party requesting a recount due to the tight margin.

His victory was a rare positive for the party on a day where 11 Labour councillors lost their seats - a story mirrored up and down the country - and Mr Collingswood admitted that while he was not yet sure why the defeats were as drastic as they did, there is no hiding from the fact that Labour and Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s performance in Westminster was costing councillors votes at the local level.

“It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact reason behind the results and I’m sure there are a lot better qualified people in Westminster who will analyse them,” he said. “We have to look at what people want, we have to listen to the people and then we have to deliver.

“What they’re sending us is a message telling us mid-term that we’re not doing exactly what they want us to, so we need to get back to the drawing board, re-examine and then start delivering.

“We’re doing it locally, we’re doing it in Wolverhampton, but unfortunately that hasn’t been shown in the results. This is a very well-run council and we need to look at what’s been said to us so that in 12 months’ time we’ll be able to turn it around.”

When asked about the future of the Prime Minister, Councillor Collingswood said: “That’s a question for the Prime Minister himself, the cabinet and the wider group of MPs.

“I saw him on an interview this morning where he came out and took responsibility for a lot of good councillors losing their seats up and down the country, so let’s just see what happens over the next week or so.”

Discussing his own result, Councillor Collingswood admitted he felt relieved following a closely fought battle with the Green Party’s Mohammed Naseem, and also expressed his sorrow for the Labour councillors in Wolverhampton and across the country who lost their seats.

“I was quite confident once the original result came in anyway to be honest because there were 43 votes in it and to have that many turned around on a recount is very unlikely,” he said. “I was actually surprised that the Green Party asked for a recount.

“Overall I’m very pleased. When we look at what has happened both locally and nationally over the last 24 hours I’m feeling very relieved to have won, because there’s been a huge swing away from the party and that is something the leaders of the party nationally need to look at and see where we need to get back on track with the public to make ourselves popular again.

“I feel very sorry for a lot of my colleagues that have lost their seats in Wolverhampton. They are great councillors and it’s such a shame to see them go, but you can apply that across the entire country. Democracy is very important, and the people have spoken.

“I’ve only picked up snippets of what’s happened across the country, but as soon as I get out of here I’m going to look at what’s gone on in other councils, particularly in the West Midlands.”