The Conservatives have lost seats in the North, South and Midlands, with Labour and the Lib Dems scooping up victories.
Former chairman of the Local Government Association, Lord Porter, has lost his seat on South Holland DC, marking the end of his 20-year reign as leader.The party has, however, held the council.
Finishing fourth in the count, Lord Porter paid tribute to his council staff and said: ‘If it is time for me to go, it is time for me to go. The electorate is never wrong.’
Elsewhere, LGA improvement board chairman Cllr Peter Flemming was ousted from his seat and as leader of Sevenoaks DC, as was environment spokesperson David Renard after a decade leading Swindon BC.
Cllr Paul Bettison, leader of Bracknell Forest BC was lost his seat after 26 years, and in Lincolnshire, South Kesteven DC leader Kelham Cooke was also ousted – as was his deputy – with the Conservatives losing control of the council.
At Boston BC the Tories lost 10 councillors, with independents taking the majority of seats.
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