Reform landslide in county council elections
High profile portfolio holders for Lincolnshire County Council were among the Conservatives that lost their seats to Reform candidates in yesterday’s elections as Nigel Farage’s party raced to a landslide victory – winning 44 of the 70 seats.
Leader Cllr Martin Hill managed to hold on to Folkingham Rural, but his deputy Patricia Bradwell and the Cllr Colin Davie, who was responsible for Economic Development, Environment and Planning lost their seats to Natalie Oliver and Daniel Brookes, respectively.
Reform’s Marie-Lisa Baxendale ousted the former member Adult Care and Public Health Wendy Bowkett from Wainfleet and Paul Wimhurst beat Richard Butroid at the polls for Gainsborough Rural South – the latter had been the portfolio holder for People Management, Complaints, Legal and Corporate Property. Waste and Trading Standards member Daniel McNally lost Saltfleet and Cotes seat to Bayleigh Robinson.
In the Lincoln and the surrounding area Karen Lee held on to Ermine and Cathedral as did her Labour colleagues Neil Murray in Carholme and Kevin Clarke in Boultham. The Liberal Democrats Natasha Champman took Park Ward and fellow party member Martin Christopher won St Giles beating Debbie Armiger and former Mayor of Lincoln Rosanne Kirk, respectively.
The Conservative areas of the city fared badly against Reform with Roger Clarke over in Hartsholme losing out to Stuart Grantham, Hilton Spratt in Swallowbeck and Witham beaten by Liam Kelly and Birchwood’s Eddie Strengiel, current chairman of the county council, ousted by Brenda Collier.
The outlying wards were kinder to the Tories with Cllr Lindsey Cawrey – the portfolio holder for Fire & Rescue and Cultural Services keeping hold of Washingborough; Chief Whip Cllr Jackie Brockway retaining Nettleham and Saxilby; Thomas Dyer securing Waddington and Hykeham East; Ian Carrington taking Potterhanworth and Coleby and Stephen Roe winning Hykeham Forum.
However, Reform’s Trevor Bridgwood took Bardney and Cherry Willingham from Ian Fleetwood; Welton Rural was won by Nicola Smith with former Conservative councillor Susan Rawlins not standing and Eagle and Hykeham West went to Alan Woodruff who beat current Mayor of Lincoln Alan Briggs.
Reform won 44 seats so the council will be made up of a majority of new, mostly inexperienced members. The Conservatives had 14 seats down from the 54 they won at the last election, Labour had three, down one and the Liberal Democrats had five up two from 2021. Lincolnshire Independent Marianne Overton retained her Bassingham and Welbourn seat and there were three Independent wins in the south of the county.