Local elections: it’s Lib Dems versus Reform now

Following the elections for Devon County Council last week, which saw the Conservatives lose 32 seats and Labour forfeit all theirs, the Lib Dems have established themselves as the main challengers to the insurgent Reform UK party. 

Across Devon, the Lib Dems gained 18 county councillors and now occupy 27 of the 60 seats. 

In Torridge, despite polling slightly more votes overall than Reform, the Lib Dems took just one of the five seats, all previously Conservative, while Reform took three. Popular local campaigner Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin won Torrington Rural by a huge margin of more than 1,000 votes, while Nigel Kenneally in Holsworthy Rural and Claire Davey-Potts in Bideford West and Hartland were within 88 and 106 votes respectively of capturing their seats. In Northam, Kerry O’Rourke, recently elected to Torridge District Council, was beaten to the county seat by the incumbent pothole enthusiast Dermot McGeough, for the Conservatives. The Lib Dems were also pleased by the support shown for their candidate in Bideford East, Rachel Clarke. 

Commenting on her victory, Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin said:

‘I am very grateful for the trust placed in me by the voters of Torrington Rural. We fought a positive campaign on local issues that matter to people like the state of our roads, our water, and our public services. Now we will have a chance to do something about them.’

The Lib Dems also won a by-election for West Devon Borough Council, where Graham Reed was elected to represent Tavistock North.

Phil Hutty, Parliamentary spokesperson for Torridge and Tavistock, said:

‘The verdict last week was clearly a rejection of England’s two main political parties. We understand people’s frustration. The Lib Dems will always put local issues and local needs first. We have a strengthened presence now on both District and County Councils and will continue to fight not only for better services but for decency, democracy, and a fair deal for rural communities.’