Conservatives retain hold of Lancashire County Council
The Tories reached the majority required just after midday
Last updated 8th May 2021
The deputy Conservative leader of Lancashire County Council has thanked residents for "putting their trust” in the party after the Tories retained control at County Hall.
Just after midday, the Conservatives reached the 43-seat threshold needed to form a majority, which hands them the power a further four years.
Speaking after the victory, County Councillor Keith Iddon said he believed the party had secured the win because it had delivered on the promises it made at the last county vote back in 2017.
He said: "We turned the county council around from having a £200m deficit. We put all the services back and now the residents have chosen us to lead them on into the future – and we won’t let you down.
"The priority now is to get us out of the Covid pandemic as best we can – we have put millions into a recovery fund and are tapping into the government’s financial pipeline as well.
"I want to get Lancashire moving again and keep investing in all the things we do and keep building it up, better and stronger.
"We also need to continue with the good work we have done in putting the council’s services in order. But we have to keep our eye on the money and our fiscal responsibilities – and as long as we do that, and I will, then we’ll be fine," said County Cllr Iddon.
Meanwhile, Labour opposition group leader Azhar Ali said the wider political backdrop had prevented the party in Lancashire from capturing the county council.
“There is a national Tory bounce on the back of the vaccination rollout, despite almost 130,000 people having died – and it’s very difficult to swim against a tide that was in favour of the Conservatives in these elections.
“But I’m really proud that, so far, we have retained most of our seats – we have won some seats in Rossendale and Chorley, but have also lost some long-serving councillors, which is disappointing,
“Generally we held out our vote and if the election had been a few months earlier or later, it could have been a different result – but the national Conservative bounce has taken them over the line.
“Whoever the leader of the council is, we will try and be a constructive opposition – but we will hold them to account,” County Cllr Ali warned.
Councillor Iddon is putting his name forward to be the next leader of Lancashire County Council - something that will be decided by Conservative members within the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Labour opposition group leader Azhar Ali said the wider political backdrop had prevented the party in Lancashire from capturing the county council.
"2There is a national Tory bounce on the back of the vaccination rollout, despite almost 130,000 people having died – and it’s very difficult to swim against a tide that was in favour of the Conservatives in these elections.
"But I’m really proud that, so far, we have retained most of our seats – we have won some seats in Rossendale and Chorley, but have also lost some long-serving councillors, which is disappointing,
"Generally we held out our vote and if the election had been a few months earlier or later, it could have been a different result – but the national Conservative bounce has taken them over the line.
"Whoever the leader of the council is, we will try and be a constructive opposition – but we will hold them to account," County Cllr Ali warned.