MP: Too early to draw major conclusions from elections

The Conservatives made big gains at the ballot box as Labour retained control of the council despite losing seven seats – including a number of high-profile casualties.

Both of the town’s MPs, who won their seats in the 2019 general election, were at the borough council election count on Saturday.

Ms Nichols said: “Disappointingly, we lost the Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft ward.

“In Rixton and Woolston, we held onto one seat and lost two, and in Birchwood held onto two and lost one, by three votes.

“Overall, Warrington North remains mostly Labour with six Tory seats, minus five for Labour overall.

“Labour comfortably retain control of the council, with the Tories just edging the Liberal Democrats to become the official opposition.

“A mixed bag of a day and it’s too early to draw any major conclusions from it, but I’m proud of all of Warrington Labour for a well-fought campaign by a team of excellent candidates.

“I look forward to working with everyone elected today.”

In addition to Appleton, Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft and Chapelford and Old Hall, the Tories also gained seats in Rixton and Woolston and Birchwood.

Warrington South Tory MP Andy Carter said: “I think we’re seeing a really significant swing in local election results, not just in Warrington, but right across the country.

“It has been an excellent election in Warrington, with significant gains in Warrington South.

“There is a lot of enthusiasm within our Conservative group and I look forward to working with Cllr Buckley’s new team.

“A Conservative MP working with Conservative councillors in Lymm South, Appleton and Chapelford and Old Hall to bring positive change to the town.”

Tory MP Andy Carter

There was a huge 30 per cent difference in turnouts in two of the town’s wards in the borough council election.

Every seat in town was up for grabs in the poll as Labour retained control of the council despite losing seven seats, with the Tories making major gains.

The Appleton ward had the highest turnout in the borough, with 50.59 per cent.

The contest in the ward saw the Conservatives stun the Liberal Democrats after gaining three seats from the party.

Meanwhile, the ward with the lowest turnout was Poplars and Hulme, with 20.53 per cent. Labour held three seats in the ward.

The turnout varied considerably across the borough.

Bewsey and Whitecross had a turnout of 22.78 per cent, Birchwood 35.05 per cent, Burtonwood and Winwick 36.38 per cent and Chapelford and Old Hall 33.68 per cent.

Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft had a 45.43 per cent turnout, Fairfield and Howley 23.38 per cent, Grappenhall 49.4 per cent, Great Sankey North and Whittle Hall 37.34 per cent, Great Sankey South 30.1 per cent, Latchford East 24.05 per cent, Latchford West 36.07 per cent, Lymm North and Thelwall 45.1 per cent, Lymm South 49.67 per cent, Orford 26.18 per cent and Penketh and Cuerdley 42.74 per cent.

Poulton North had a turnout of 33.97 per cent, Poulton South 34.21 per cent, Rixton and Woolston 38.9 per cent, Stockton Heath 46.27 and Westbrook 36.93 per cent.

New faces are preparing to begin life at the Town Hall after election success.

Valerie Allen, who will serve Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft, is among the 11 Tory borough councillors who won borough council seats.

She said she was delighted with the results and that all the hard work paid off.

“I’m feeling really good and very excited at the prospect of being a borough councillor because I’ve been trying for quite a few years to get to the borough council and I’ve finally done it,” she said.

“It’s where I want to be as well, Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft.”

A familiar face, former council leader Cllr Ian Marks, said the borough council results were part of a national trend.

Liberal Democrats Cllr Marks and Cllr Ryan Bate retained their seats in Lymm North and Thelwall and Grappenhall.

Cllr Bate said: “I think, in terms of Appleton, I think it took myself and all of my colleagues entirely by surprise.

“I know that sounds ridiculous, how can you be taken by surprise? But I think clearly the Conservatives targeted Appleton heavily, they did it in a very sophisticated way, they invested a lot of resource I understand, including resource by CCHQ and we just weren’t aware of that, whether we should have been or not is another matter, so absolutely devastated for my colleagues who didn’t get re-elected or get elected the first time in Appleton.

“I think clearly if I look at my own election results in Grappenhall, I did very well and I’m very pleased with my results, I think that was a reflection of the work I’ve done over the past five years.

“The single biggest issue I’ve campaigned on is green belt and broadly development in general.

“It’s not just about protecting the green belt, it’s getting the right development, and not just in Grappenhall but across the whole of Warrington we’ve got to think about the future of the town in a more sophisticated way.

“I think where we possibly come unstuck is we’re exceptionally good with local issues and we know there’s local councillors but we’ve not tried to reduce our campaign to simplistic messaging, which the Conservatives seem to have done rather successfully.

“We’ll see over the next three years whether people are happy with what their Conservative councillors deliver for them.”

Meanwhile, youngsters hoping to make positive change in the borough have been elected in the town.

Louis Groarke, chief executive of Warrington Youth Voice, was at the election counts over the weekend.

He was shadowing council chief executive Steven Broomhead, who is the returning officer.

Louis, aged 18, said: “The aims of Warrington Youth Voice comprise representing the young people of Warrington and taking action on that, while liaising with local officials who have the power to make more of a difference than ourselves.

“It is also about ensuring young people in our organisation do what they can to make a positive difference, along with providing democracy to young people.”

And the results of Warrington’s youth elections have now been confirmed.

As the town’s official youth voice organisation, it held an election to elect youth ambassadors across the town.

In total, 1,047 votes were cast from young people across the borough between age 11 and 18 via an online voting system.

William Kenwright, Balint Beck and Zatie Yozgyur have been elected as youth ambassadors for the Youth Voice ward of Warrington North.

Ryan Hogan declined the position despite being elected.

Meanwhile, Abigail Grimes, Anastasia Siuda and Frankie Cullen have been elected as youth ambassadors for the Youth Voice ward of Warrington South.

For further information about the youth elections visit warringtonyouthvoice.org.