Sarah Calkin

2 weeks ago | lgcplus.com | Sarah Calkin

Reform has taken control of Durham CC in a shock victory. The council had been under no overall control with Labour as the largest party but the administration formed by a coalition involving the Conservatives, Lib Dems, Greens and Independents. However, following yesterday’s election Reform now hold 53 of the 98 seats. With 19 seats still to declare, Labour has lost 28 seats while the Conservatives are down 15 and Independents down 11. More follows

2 weeks ago | lgcplus.com | Sarah Calkin

The new mayor of Greater Lincolnshire CA has hit out at her opponents and promised to “put British people first”. In her acceptance speech this morning, Dame Andrea Jenkyns, a former Conservative MP who defected to Reform last year, said she had “never experienced” such a negative and “soul destroying campaign”, comparing opposition tactics to the “dirty tricks” used in US elections. “The Conservatives called the police on me and implied I slept with political friends.

2 weeks ago | lgcplus.com | Sarah Calkin

With only a smattering of results in, there is a way to go before the full story of this election can be told but Reform are on course for some historic council gains, writes LGC editor Sarah CalkinAs dawn broke this morning all the signs were that, as predicted, Reform are set to have a historically good local elections performance. But it must be noted the signs are still few, with just a smattering of results in so far.

2 weeks ago | lgcplus.com | Sarah Calkin

Discussions need to move beyond boundaries and population numbers otherwise we risk scaling up systems that are already failing, argues chief executive of Test Valley BC in Hampshire Much of the debate about local government reorganisation seems centred on boundaries and population numbers.

2 weeks ago | lgcplus.com | Sarah Calkin

Claims that Dame Andrea Jenkyns is ineligible to stand to be the first mayor of Greater Lincolnshire CA have been formally dismissed by the electoral registration officer. However, the opposition that candidate that brought the claim has told LGC she is considering appealing the decision as Dame Andrea did not attend the hearing on Friday where the objection was determined.