Labour Loses Overall Control of Exeter City Council
Labour has lost overall control of Exeter City Council after holding power for 14 years. Although Labour remains the largest group on the council, it lost five councillors compared to the previous election in 2022, reducing its total to 18 seats, which is two seats short of a majority.
The Green Party increased its representation by three seats, bringing their total to 10 and maintaining their position as the second largest group on the council. The Liberal Democrats gained one seat, raising their total to five councillors.
Reform UK secured three seats by the end of the election night, while the Conservatives lost one seat, leaving them with a single councillor. Independent councillors remained unchanged with two seats.
Green Party Gains and Ward Results
The Greens made gains in the Newtown & St Leonards, Pennsylvania, and St Thomas wards. They also retained seats in Heavitree, where two seats were contested following the resignation of Carol Bennett in March, as well as in St David's ward.
Jack Reed won the St Thomas seat, which was previously held by the council's deputy leader Laura Wright. Wright was pushed into fourth place behind Liberal Democrat and Reform UK candidates.
"We knew that St Thomas was super Green, especially the lower part of St Thomas where most houses seemed to be voting for the Green Party.
However, in upper St Thomas, there were lots of votes for the Lib Dems and Reform.
But we knew the lower part was super strong and we've been focusing on that area with people on the doorsteps being super friendly, super Green and it means they've turned out to vote, which is amazing."
Labour Holds Several Wards
Labour retained control of the Alphington, Exwick, Pinhoe, and Topsham wards.
Philip Bialyk, Labour group leader at Exeter City Council, commented on the election results, acknowledging the loss of overall control but expressing optimism about the party's position.
"I think it's been quite interesting the voting here in Exeter.
It's not been quite the way people have expected - a wipeout for Labour in Exeter, on the contrary.
I still regarded it as a vote of reasonable confidence with 18 seats taking the council forward."
Speaking to John Acres on BBC Radio Devon, Bialyk indicated that Labour plans to propose candidates for the council leadership at the annual meeting scheduled for 20 May.
"Yes, we differ on things, but I think we have a common interest to provide the best thing for Exeter,"
Bialyk added, reflecting on the potential for cross-party cooperation despite differing views.
Analysis from BBC South West Political Editor
Martyn Oates, BBC South West political editor, noted that the Green Party has the most to celebrate in Exeter, having gained three seats from Labour, while Reform UK took a fourth seat.
Labour's loss of its slim majority ends 14 years of continuous Labour rule in the city. However, Labour managed to retain half of the seats it was defending, avoiding a repeat of its poor performance in the Devon County Council elections, where it lost all Exeter seats to Reform UK and the Greens.
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