It's election results day. Follow the Northants action with us here
This post will be updated throughout the day bringing you the twists and turns of both West and North unitary elections
RESULT Reform UK take control of BOTH Northants unitary councils
It has been a landslide for Farage’s party as they romp home in the local elections, battering both the Tories and Labour.
In the biggest political shock in recent years, the Conservatives have lost control of both West Northamptonshire Council and North Northamptonshire Council, with a group of political rookies taking control.
Just what the future will look like in Northants is anyone’s guess as the Conservatives are now the second party, Labour have been decimated. The Green party made gains in an election that was at times schizophrenic. Some voters put their cross against three different parties in reaction to a national politics that has soured for the two main parties.
Reform UK has made huge political capital of Labour’s unpopularity and the Tory implosion.
Martin Griffiths, who was elected to the Irchester ward and is leader of the reform UK group on NNC said the result was better than they had predicted and the hard work starts now.
On the West the Conservative Leader Adam Brown was defeated as was the leader of the Labour group Wendy Randall and long standing Liberal Democrat Sally Beardsworth also lost.
In the North Matt Keane, leader of the Labour group was defeated along with a number of long standing Labour councillors including father and daughter John McGhee and Zoe McGhee, Jean Addison and mother and daughter Leanne and Lyn Buckingham. The Labour group stands at just three.
The Greens on the North made massive gains and had a good night winning eight councillors. Emily Fedorowycz and Dez Dell have been joined by six new colleagues, all in the Kettering area.
That is it from us tonight. More analysis to come tomorrow when we’ve had a sleep and digested what has just happened in Northants.
NNC is WON by Reform
9.09pm WNC
Reform have WON in West Northamptonshire.
They take all three seats in Headlands and with that they are home and hosed.
What a remarkable day. Wonder what odds you’d have got on this a few months ago.
9pm WNC
Three more Reform candidates become councillors.
Laura Couse, Trefor Hughes and Craig Morris win through in Nene Valley.
Veteran Conservative councillor Phil Larratt loses his seat.
There are handshakes all round, but one angry sounding person behind me says, “we shouldn’t be shaking their hands”.
Safe to say not everyone is happy with what’s happening tonight.
Reform, quite rightly from their viewpoint, are looking ecstatic.
They are on 36 seats now and on the brink of outright victory.
8.47pm WNC
An incredible performance by well-known Independent candidate Julie Davenport in Far Cotton as she polls the most votes in Far Cotton, Delapre and Briar Hill.
But perhaps more important is the election of Reform leader Anthony Owen - a council leader in waiting?
Reform’s James Petter is also elected.
8.28pm WNC
Victory for Labour in Abington & Phippsville, where Robert Purser and Zoe Smith are elected.
For those wondering what the overall situation is Reform have currently won 28 seats, the Conservatives 16, Labour nine, the Lib Dem’s four and we have one Independent.
Remember the magic figure to win the council outright is 39 seats… don’t go anywhere yet!
8.40pm WNC
Reform continue to edge closer to the number needed for overall control as they collect three more seats.
This time it is Moulton where Susan Gaskell, Peter York and John Slope are returned.
The first full council meeting after this is going to be interesting. Quite a lot of councillors may need to be directed to the Chamber.
8.04pm WNC
Some good news for Labour as former MP Sally Keeble is elected in Dallington Spencer.
Rufia Ashraf also takes a seat in the same ward, with John East of Reform completing the area’s representatives.
Elsewhere, it’s a close one in Hackleton & Roade where Tory Fiona Cole (1095 votes) and Reform’s Adam Smith (1063) are elected.
Conservative Andrew Grant just misses out with 1030 votes.
The close nature of a lot of these results is noticeable tonight.
8.14pm WNC
Another result? Oh go on then…
We have Kingsley & Semilong in now, where Reform’s Nicholas Humphries and Labour’s Farzana Aldridge are elected.
There’s still a fair few seats to go here but I think West Northants may be the last council in the country waiting for an overall result.
8.11pm NNC
HISTORIC moment as Reform UK get the numbers to take control of NNC. This is the first time they have even had one councillor elected to the authority.
7.53pm WNC
My word!
A West Northants leaders hat-trick as Adam Brown - the leader of the council - loses his seat in Campion.
The Conservative is beaten by Reform’s Debra King and Philip Bignall from his own party.
7.53pm NNC
Results coming in think and fast now. Labour lost all three councillors in Kingswood and Reform UK have won. This would have been unthinkable just weeks/days ago. John McGhee who has been councillor for the ward for more than two decades has been ousted along with his daughter and Leanne Buckingham also lost.
Tonight there has been a culling of many councillors. The authority will look very different in the coming weeks. Many of the elected councillors will never have been in a council chamber before.
7.33pm WNC
The Labour leader on West Northamptonshire Council is gone.
It’s not unexpected but Wendy Randall has just lost her seat in Daventry South.
It’s another victory for Reform who take both seats, with Anthony Lock and Alexander McMurtry elected.
7.45pm WNC
Leaders losing their seats are like buses here in West Northants. Two at once!
Liberal Democrat Sally Beardsworth has just been ousted in Kingsthorpe North.
The beneficiaries? Reform of course. Two more seats won for them there.
There is some better news for the Lib Dems though as
Meanwhile, Stephen Clark (Con) takes Cogenhoe & The Houghtons.
7.17pm WNC
Huge cheers as the Lib Dems win Braunston & Crick.
Rosalind Humphreys and Andrew Simpson take both seats available in the ward.
Reform might have fancied that one, but their candidates finish third and fourth.
7.20pm Reform win Irchester with two councillors elected. Could Martin Griffiths (below right) be the next leader of this council? We asked and he refused to answer that question. We will ask him again later. The former leader of Wellingborough Borough Council, he had a fall out with the Tories in 2021 and it looked like his days of power were over. But could this be a second act?
7.08pm WNC
I think we’re in for a late one. There were hopes the count would be done by now, but we’re nowhere near that.
Is it down to the number of close seats?
Currently 28 seats have been filled. Twelve for Reform, 10 for the Conservatives, four for Labour and one for the Lib Dems, with Independent Ian McCord also elected.
Labour still staying silent. The only word from them so far was a passing, “this is a big political shift” from a senior politician who quickly moved on.
7.05pm NNC
Green win two councillors in Kettering Central. Leanne Robinson and James Towns bolster the ranks
Reform UK win the Pipers Hill ward. Denis McLean is the new councillor.
6.50pm WNC
We have a Liberal Democrat… Jonathan Harris has kept his seat in Brixworth to earn his party’s first win of the day.
Elsewhere, in Woodford & Weedon, Peter Hastie of Reform and Conservative Rupert Frost have been elected.
6.43pm WNC
Reform, in the form of Nigel Stansfield, have just taken Parklands ward.
This was a close one with Mr Stansfield polling 559 votes, just seeing off Conservative Michael Hallam - another big name - who got 531 votes.
Meanwhile, in Rural South Northamptonshire, the Tories did find some success - capturing all three seats.
6.45pm NNC
Rothwell and Mawsley. Independent Jim Hakewill romped home to mark 40 years in local government, with a whopping 2338 votes. He was elected alongside Chris Kellett and Brian Benneyworth for Reform UK
6.30pm WNC
Three Reform candidates in Barton Seagrave and Burton Latimer ward. Jan OHara, Maurice Elgin and Leon Gibbs.
5.55pm WNC
Conservative James Hill has told me that national and local failings and scandals are partly responsible for the situation his party finds itself in.
The Tories look set to lose control of West Northamptonshire with Mr Hill the first of what is expected to be a series of senior councillors to lose his seat.
The former councillor for Billing said:
“We are in this situation because of ourselves.
“A lot of good Tories toed the party line and didn’t speak out when they knew things were wrong.”
Mr Hill added that there is clearly a nationwide move towards Reform with the electorate opting to give his party and Labour “a bloody nose”.
He said although he is somewhat surprised by the extent of the shift playing out locally and across the country, “the writing has been on the wall for a while” with Labour’s struggles in government having added “wind into the sails” of Reform.
Speaking about his own future, he added that although he is extremely disappointed he hopes to make a return to frontline politics one day.
“I have a big affinity with the ward,” he said. “I love Northampton, it’s an amazing town.
“I intend to be back.”
5.41pm WNC
Big beast down! Conservative James Hill has just lost his seat in Billing ward as has Independent Paul Clark.
Mark Deakes and Silas Hays (both Reform) take the seats.
5.35pm WNC
We’ve just seen Keith Holland-Delamere (Labour) and Jeph Johnson (Reform) elected in Blackthorn & Rectory Farm.
Mr Holland-Delamare edged out Reform’s Alan Price by 29 votes.
5.27pm WNC
Close one!
Conservative Peter Matten has won in Daventry North East by four votes.
He polled 333 votes to the 329 for Reform’s Ashton Elmes.
5.33pm NNC
Many will be sad to see Labour’s Jean Addison go. She has lost out in her ward to Reform. She is off on a cruise now, after serving as a councillor in Corby continuously since 2003. She says she is sad for the residents and will miss the casework. (Looks like the national party may have to do a lot to build bridges back with the electorate. )
4.48pm WNC
Labour are on the board.
They’ve just taken three seats in Castle ward.
Muna Cali, Enam Haque and Fartun Ismail will represent the ward.
We have the first Conservatives elected as well, with Daniel Lister and Charles Morton elected in Long Buckby.
5.01pm WNC
Thick and fast now…
David Gaskell and Caroline Phillips elected for Reform in Kingsthorpe South.
5.09pm WNC
Stalwart independent politician Ian McCord has kept his seat in Deanshanger & Paulerspury ward.
The former Conservative is elected along with Reform’s Ivan Dabbs.
We also have a result in Weston Favell and Abington Vale, where Stephen Hibbert and Andy Kilbride have kept their seats for the Conservatives.
5.19 WNC
The result in Rural North East sees Cecile Irving-Swift (Conservative) keep her seat.
So far we have seven Reform, five Conservative, three Labour and one Independent councillor elected.
5.15pm NNC
A Tory trio win in the Desborough ward. This could be a rare sight today. Corby Oakley Ward has also gone to Reform Uk - knocking out the former Labour reign there.
4.33pm NNC
Thrapston ward - First Tory wins - husband and wife David and Wendy Brackenbury. Joseph Garner wins for Reform. The Tories will be relieved. David Brackenbury is a cabinet member.
In the Corby West Matt Keane (Labour group leader) and Jean Addison lost. Both long standing councillors.
4.10pm WNC
A sign of things to come?
The first ward in West Northamptonshire has just been announced and it is a double win for Reform.
Scott Packer and Thomas Manning have been elected to represent Talavera, giving Reform a first electoral victory in this part of the county.
In 2021, there were three seats in the ward, with Labour winning two and the Lib Dems one.
Reform have now also taken two seats for Upton ward - but neither candidate, or should I say councillor, is actually at the count.
3.43pm WNC
The leader of the Conservatives in West Northamptonshire, Adam Brown, has admitted his party probably hasn’t managed to “stay the teal tidal wave”.
With votes still being counted, it is looking increasingly likely that Reform will take overall control of the council - a result that would have been unthinkable even a few months ago.
Mr Brown, who also conceded he is likely to lose his own seat, said Reform have squeezed the Labour and Conservative vote.
“All the team have worked very hard, but we have to expect sometimes that is not enough,” he said.
“There are factors beyond our control.”
Mr Brown admitted issues such as the state of highways and Northampton town centre have proved hard nuts to crack for his council, but insisted progress was being made and added today’s expected result comes down to national issues.
“In hindsight, expecting people to have moved on since the general election was hopeful,” he said.
“Ultimately, we have to expect this is the other side of a situation we have benefited from in the past.
“In 2021, our success was partly down to the Covid vaccine roll-out. Now the boot is on the other foot.”
Asked if Reform’s success is likely to herald a continued shift in the political landscape, he said permanency is not currently part of “febrile” British politics.
He pointed to how commentators said Labour had been written off after Boris Johnson’s general election win, but have since gained power.
The big discussion among the Conservatives here now is how will Reform, dominated as it is by new councillors, deal with huge issues such as the underfunded adult social care service.
4.11pm NNC corby win in Lloyds with Mark Pengelly. reform with with Robert Bloom. May be one of only a few Labour wins in NNC today.
4pm NNC
First win for the Green in Ise Ward NNC. Two new councillors.
14.34pm NNC Turnouts announced. 31.6 per cent in North Northants and 32.1 in West Northants.
1.29pm WNC
“Quietly confident.”
That is the view of Reform’s Northampton South Branch Chair Anthony Owens.
The candidate for Far Cotton said his party have built a branch and a community in West Northamptonshire since last year’s general election.
Reform are contesting every seat available today and Mr Owens said candidates’ work canvassing in “hot weather, cold weather, in the rain and sun” looks set to pay off.
“We have had a system in this country for more than 100 years of two parties,” he said.
“That has worked extremely well historically with a left Labour Party and a right Conservative Party.
“In the last 30 years, there has been very little difference between them.
“Reform has different views on how things can be solved.”
Mr Owens was keen to say that Reform is not a “far right party,” but instead one which champions candidates who are not career politicians.
He said his party have put forward candidates in West Northamptonshire who have day jobs as varied as logistics managers, housewives and market traders.
“Every one of them wants to stand up for their local residents,” he added.
Asked if Reform has the experience to govern, Mr Owens asked: “What is a councillor?
“I’d say someone who listens to the residents and fights for their rights.
“I don’t believe you need to be a career councillor to do that.”
1.45pm WNC
‘A bloodbath’. That was the dramatic statement one Conservative candidate made to me not long ago.
I’m hearing Deputy Leader Matt Golby is among those who look set to lose their seat, and leader Adam Brown is also in the firing line.
Labour are equally downbeat, with the majority of their candidates currently unwilling to speak to the media.
We could be in a situation where, from a standing start, Reform not only become the largest party in West Northamptonshire but actually gain overall control.
2.27pm WNC
The turnout for West Northamptonshire Council has been announced as 32.16%.
That figure is up from the 2021 election, when turnout was 29.98%.
For parish councils, which are also being elected today, it is 27.35%.
A quick reminder that in West Northamptonshire the number of seats has been reduced from 93 to 76.
Candidates are contesting 35 wards, of which 13 will hold three councillors, 15 will hold two and seven will have a single representative.
12.48 NNC
Anyone with a Reform UK rosette on is appearing very jubilant today. Perhaps almost shellshocked. Possibility here they could take enough seats to take over the running of the council from the Tories.
Sean Lever, local organiser for Reform UK, tells us :
“The electorate will have their say. We think we are more than competent to run a council”. If they get the numbers the newly elected councillors will meet in the next few days and they will appoint a leader (and possibly an executive). Who could be in the running are Eddie McDonald ( Gretton and Weldon ward) and current leader of the Reform group on NNC Martin Griffiths.
We realise this is jumping the gun somewhat, but there has not been an election like this in Northants in living memory. Usually Labour or Conservatives are looking confident, but today both parties looked shattered and anxious. Results are expected later this evening. Votes are now being counted.
11.42am WNC
How will Reform react to being in power or even opposition?
That is one of the big questions being asked here in West Northants.
Of course, we still have to see how the votes fall, but as Kate Ironside, the University of Northampton’s Senior Lecturer in Journalism and Media, says “the Reform candidates are walking round with broad grins on their faces”.
She told me the Conservatives are braced for loses and “it is looking grim” for Labour.
“This may be the day of the smaller parties,” she added.
“We could see the two party dominance shattered. Reform are clearly doing extremely well.
“The key concern is does Reform know what it is doing? They have no experience in local government, and away from the politics, you have got to deal with adult social care, schools, bins, highways and housing.
“If they find themselves top of the pile they have a massive learning curve, but even if they find themselves in opposition they will have much to learn.
“But that’s democracy. We will see if they rise to the challenge.”
Another big question is the reaction of the Conservatives if they do not get an overall majority.
“Do they go into a coalition with Reform?,” said the former BBC and local newspaper correspondent.
“How would that work? Or do they try minority rule?
“Decisions, decisions, decisions. But let’s see how the votes pan out and we will know what options there are then.”
12.15pm WNC
Officially at least the Conservative candidates I’ve spoken to are remaining tight-lipped on how they feel the count is going.
But you don’t have to read between the lines too much to see they are expecting a tough day, with the potential for some heavy hitters to lose their seats.
Tory candidate for Hunsbury, Dan Soan, was sanguine when I asked him how he felt things were going.
“We were always expecting a difficult set of elections this year given the general election result,” he said.
“But we have thrown everything at it, with a set of hard-working candidates.
“When the results come in, we will work with whatever the voters give us.
“From a personal perspective, there are a lot of people who wanted to vote for us but felt they weren’t ready to do so yet.
“We need to put the work in before we get their votes again.”
NNC: 11.20am
Martin Griffiths, leader of the Reform UK group on NNC has the smile of a cheshire cat in the counting hall. Referring to when former Tory leader Jason Smithers called him a ‘dreamer’ in the council chamber, he’s just told me
“I am a dreamer - the Tories are having a nightmare.”
Reform seem very confident today and there are whisperings they could do very well in Corby. Currently Labour candidates and the MPs (Rose Wrighting and Gen Kitchen are here) are not speaking.
But one councillor who would speak to NN Journal is Labour’s councillor for the Kingswood ward, John McGhee. He says today is the most worried he has been in the 28 years he has been a councillor. He said there has been a backlash against his party due to the national government and has fears if Reform get into power at North Northamptonshire Council.
He said:
“I think things will be worse under Reform. I think if they run the council it will implode." The tories will be a spent force in Northants for at least the next four years.”
11.05am WNC (Report by Craig Lewis)
The early vibe from the Conservative camp is one of “concern”.
What has traditionally been a two horse race against Labour is now a three-way contest in many seats across the authority.
I’m told candidates on the doorstep have been repeatedly informed that voters who have traditionally gone for either the Tories or Labour are now looking towards Reform.
That means everything could be up for grabs today as the votes are counted.
One interesting long-term factor is a feeling from those knocking on doors that the shift towards Reform may be temporary - a protest vote against the parties voters traditionally favour.
That would mean those constituents may return to their favoured homes in the future. How true that is remains to be seen and it could be cold comfort if Reform upset the apple cart today.
10.58am WNC
It’s set to be a fascinating day here at Benham Sports Centre, where we could be seeing a shift in the political sands at West Northamptonshire Council.
Since its inception in 2021, the authority - formed out of the ashes of the effectively-bankrupt county council - has been firmly Conservative controlled.
The question many will be asking today is whether Nigel Farage’s insurgent Reform Party can upset the Tory apple cart.
In all, 35 wards and 76 councillors will be elected - and Reform are coming from a position where they currently don’t have a single member in place.
But such is the pace of their rise, as demonstrated nationally by last night’s by-election in Runcorn, that many are predicting a large swing in their favour.
It won’t be enough for them to take control of the authority but it may well leave the Conservatives, who currently hold 57 of the 93 seats on the authority, scratching their hands.
Leader Adam Brown will be hoping his party can maintain overall control, avoiding any tricky decisions over going alone without an overall majority or making any deals.
The number to keep an eye on today is 39 - that’s the total of elected councillors needed to take control of the authority.
NNC: 10.46am
The hall at Kettering Leisure Village (KLV) is buzzing today, with lots of the candidates already here. Verification now taking place (checking the each vote is sound) before they start the count.
Spoke to a Reform gang on the way in and looked pretty happy.
The votes are all in and will be counted at the two venues in Kettering and Northampton this morning.
By the end of today we should know who is running the new administrations at West and North Northamptonshire Council. Will the Conservatives keep control?
As many have said, these look to be the most uncertain/ unpredictable elections yet, with Labour looking very unlikely to follow up their general election success and the tories in the doldrums. Reform have been doing damage to the big two parties in the elections that have been counted overnight and it could be a good day in Northants for the Lib Dems and Greens.
Keep returning to this post throughout today as we’ll be updating it regularly over the next few hours with insights and interviews from hopefuls.
Sarah Ward will be reporting from the North count and Craig Lewis in the West. With a small team it is unlikely we will be able to give the results of every single ward as they come in, but you can find the West here and the North here (as the local authorities will be updating in real time).
Later this evening we’ll have the overall results and our full fat paying members will get some further analysis tomorrow.
So if you’re into local politics sign up here for our full coverage here
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