Council election results in across the Tees Valley

It's been a day of political ups and downs across Teesside - as the local election results have been returned.

It began last night, Labour becoming the biggest party on Hartlepool Council, while the Conservatives lost at least 23 around the country.

DARLINGTON

The overall turnout for the Darlington Borough Council election was 29,800 - 37.92 per cent.

Fifty councillors were elected to serve on the borough council for a four-year term of office. The breakdown of the results by political party is as follows:

24 Labour party members

15 Conservative party members

7 Green party members

3 Liberal Democrat party members

1 Independent

MIDDLESBROUGH

Labour has taken control of Middlesbrough Council after securing 25 seats in the local elections.

The party now has a majority of ward councillors across the borough.

Labour’s Chris Cooke will lead the council after he was elected Mayor of Middlesbrough in the early hours of Friday morning with 10,956 votes, beating incumbent Independent, Andy Preston, by 760 votes.

Ballot papers from all 20 of Middlesbrough’s electoral wards were counted later on Friday at Middlesbrough Sport Village.

After all 46 councillors were elected, the political composition of the council is now:

Labour – 25

Independent – 15

Conservative – 4

Liberal Democrat - 2

HARTLEPOOL

Hartlepool declared their results in the early hours of this morning, with the Labour becoming the largest party on the council, though still one seat short of a majority.

Only 12 of the 36 seats were up for election this time - with Labour winning 9 of the 12, the Conservatives winning 2, and Independents/Others winning one.

The Council make-up is now:

Labour - 18

Conservative - 12

Independents/Others - 6

STOCKTON

The Conservatives are now the largest party on Stockton Council, bucking the national trend, where they have gained 11 seats - mainly from previous Lib Dem and Independent seats.

Labour have not lost any, and there is no single party with overall control.

Results were announced for 53 seats in 26 wards.

Following the death of Mike Elliott, a candidate for Hartburn ward, the poll for Hartburn ward was delayed. It will now take place on Thursday, June 22.

The overall percentage turnout was 32.7%. The highest turnout was in the Norton North ward with 51.1% while the Newtown ward was the lowest with 19.3%.

The followings councillors were elected:

Conservative Party – 23

Labour Party (including Labour and Co-operative Party) – 22

Ingleby Barwick Independent Society – 3

Thornaby Independent Association - 4

Independent - 1

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