EXCLUSIVE: Conservatives lose overall control of Peterborough City Council one week after election

David Cameron celebrating in Peterborough last Friday - those celebrations have been short-lived

A week ago it was all slaps on the back and congratulations from the Prime Minister as the Conservative party won overall control of the city authority.

But, seven days on from Cameron’s visit that majority is no-more following the resignation from the party of long-standing councillor Gul Nawaz.

With the Ravensthorpe representative now understood to be sitting as an Independent, it leaves the authority, once again, hung - Conservatives with 30 of the 60 seats on the council, ahead of Labour with 14, the Liberal Democrats with seven, the Liberal Party with three, Werrington First with three, and UKIP with two.

Council leader and leader of the Conservative group, Cllr John Holdich, and MP Stewart Jackson have both confirmed Cllr Nawaz’s resignation.

Just a week ago, David Cameron stood outside Peterborough Conservative Club among supporters and proclaimed: “I’ve got a small majority, John’s got a small majority, but I’m sure with the commitment and determination you’ve all shown you are going to do great things for this great city.”

Now that short-lived majority is gone and Peterborough’s Conservative party will again be the biggest party, but will not have the majority.

UPDATE: Peterborough councillor performs U-turn to remain in ruling Conservative group