THE Liberal Democrats have won control of Somerset County Council for the first time since 2009 by securing 61 seats in the local election – five more than required for a majority.
The result means the Lib Dems will lead the county’s new unitary authority when it launches next year.
The Conservatives have 36 seats, Labour and the Green Party both won five, and independent candidates won three as 110 councillors were elected across 55 divisions.
They will be responsible for existing Somerset County Council services and will oversee the creation of the new authority, dubbed Somerset Council, when it takes over from the county and district councils on April 1, 2023.
They will then represent their divisions in the new unitary authority until the next local elections in May 2027.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey MP, who represents Kingston and Surbiton in the House of Commons, arrived at the Wellsprings Leisure Centre in Taunton shortly after his party’s majority was confirmed.
Addressing his supporters and the press, he said: “What began as a tremor in Chesham and Amersham became an earthquake in North Shropshire.
“And with our victories in Westmoreland and Furness, and our victories here in Somerset, it's now become a political shockwave that could bring down this appalling Conservative government.”
He added: “The message to Conservative MPs: If you don't get rid of Boris Johnson, if you don't start helping the millions of families and pensioners who are struggling across our country, if you don't start listening to the British people, the Liberal Democrats are coming for you.”
Bill Revans, the new Liberal Democrat leader the council, said: "We've got some brilliant local councillors who've held their seats.
"After 13 years of the Conservatives being in charge of Somerset County Council, I think there was (a feeling of) 'it's time for a change' and people wanted to put the heart back into Somerset."
Four of Labour's five seats were won in Bridgwater: Two in Bridgwater North & Central (Leigh Redman and Hilary Bruce) and two in Bridgwater South (Kathy Pearce and Brian Smedley).
Bridgwater East & Bawdrip and Bridgwater West were retained by the Conservatives.
Elsewhere in Sedgemoor, Highbridge & Burnham South was retained by the Conservatives; Burnham-on-Sea North elected one Liberal Democrat and one Conservative, and Huntspill was held by the Conservatives.
Following overnight counts which saw Labour make ‘symbolic gains’ in three London councils, prime minister Boris Johnson said it was a “tough night” for the Conservatives “in some parts of the country”.
He added: “On the other hand, in other parts of the country, you are still seeing Conservatives going forward and making quite remarkable gains in places that haven’t voted Conservative for a long time, if ever.”
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