Fact Service May 2013

Issue 18

Local elections 2013

The right wing United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) made inroads in the elections held at 34 English county councils as the Conservative Party lost control of 10 councils. The Labour Party made two gains.

The Labour Party performed well and a made a net gain of 291 councillors, taking its total to 538.

However, the media all but ignored their performance and it was UKIP that stole the headlines as it made a net gain of 139 councillors and it now has 147 councillors. The media seemed to ignore the fact that, despite the gains, UKIP are nowhere near controlling any of the councils.

The Conservatives had a net loss of 335 councillors bringing their total down to 1,116, while their coalition partners, the Liberal Democrats, had a net loss of 124 councillors, pushing their total down to 352.

The far right British National Party lost the three seats it held: one each in Hertfordshire, Lancashire and Leicestershire.

Council summary by party

Labour Two gains: Derbyshire (from no overall control — NOC), Nottinghamshire (Conservative)

Conservatives Nine losses to NOC — Cambridgeshire, East Sussex, Gloucestershire, Isle of Wight, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire.

Wales The only election was in Anglesey where independents hold the most seats, but there is NOC. The Welsh nationalist party, Plaid Cymru, made six gains.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21240000