Labour increased their control over Sefton Council as they gained five seats in the 2021 May Local Elections.
The Conservatives gained two new seats to become the second largest party on the council.
But it was a disappointing day for the Liberal Democrats, as they lost four seats.
Today there are a number of new councillors for Southport, with the Conservatives winning Dukes Ward and Cambridge Ward from the Liberal Democrats while Labour made gains from the Lib Dems in Birkdale Ward and Kew Ward.
The Lib Dems held two seats thanks to huge votes for Lynne Thompson in Ainsdale (1,807) and John Dodd in Meols Ward (1,692 votes), the most of any councillors in Southport.
The Conservatives won the most votes overall in Southport with a total of 8,248, with the Lib Dems earning 7,752 votes, 5,936 for Labour and 1,521 for the Greens.
The new councillors for Southport today are: Sonya Kelly (Labour, Birkdale); Sinclair Hesketh D’Albuquerque (Conservative, Cambridge); Mike Prendergast (Conservative, Dukes); and Jennifer Corcoran (Labour, Kew).
There were dramatic scenes in Birkdale Ward where a recount had to be ordered to separate Sonya Kelly (Labour, 1,125 votes) from Lee Durkin (Conservative, 1,099 votes) and Vic Foulds (Lib Dem, 1,006 votes).
#MySefton well done to all staff at the Election today did an incredible professional job and congratulations to those who were elected in Sefton Council. Results now on our website https://t.co/u91YSXZcV9
— dwayne johnson (@dwayne1901) May 7, 2021
In Formby, legendary former Liverpool ECHO journalist Joe Riley held Harington Ward for the Conservatives, while Labour’s Caties Page – who lost out in 2019 by just a few votes – gained Ravenmeols Ward from Bob McCann of the Formby Residents Action Group on a bad day for Independent.
Elsewhere in Sefton, Labour gained Park Ward, Ravenmeols Ward and Sudell Ward from Independent candidates.
In Sefton as a whole, Labour won 18 seats, with 46% of the vote; the Conservatives won three seats with 26% of the vote; the Lib Dems won two seats with 14% of the vote; and the Green Party won 0 seats with 7% of the vote.
Southport Conservative MP Damien Moore said: “I’m delighted to see two more Conservative councillors in Southport after last week’s local elections, with more people voting Conservative than any other party across the town.
I’m looking forward to working with Michael and Sinclair to ensure Southport receives its fair share of investment and that we hold Labour to account on Sefton Borough Council for their appalling record.”
Norwood Ward Counsillor Carran Waterfield said: “I am thinking about all the residents in Norwood Ward who voted for me, especially the additional voters who increased my share of the vote from that first election two years ago. It’s a real vote of confidence. Thank you!
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