Peterborough City Council: Conservative leader Wayne Fitzgerald says Local Elections ‘positive result’ for party

The results mean that the Conservatives remain on 28 seats and Labour move up from 16 to 17 seats
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Peterborough went to the polls on Thursday (May 5) to elect 19 city councillors - but the political landscape in Peterborough remained almost exactly as it had been previously.

However, councillor Wayne Fitzgerald, who is leader of the council and leader of the Conservatives, said he was “thrilled” with the outcome of the local elections - but went on to add “we’ve had some real challenges with the national news dominating the news media.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

At the end of the evening the Conservatives had 28 seats, exactly as before.

Meanwhile - the Labour Group also won 17 seats, as before, the Lib Dems had 8 seats, as before, the Green Party has 3 seats, as before, Werrington First have 3 seats, as before, and there is one Independent councillor, as before.

But for the Conservatives to remain in control of the council they still need the support of the four Peterborough First councillors.

‘Positive result’

Mr Fitzgerald said: “While we are back where we started at 28 seats, I’m disappointed that we didn’t make the gains that I thought we might, but again understandable given the national picture.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s evident that we didn’t make gains in Fletton and Woodston, Fletton and Stanground, Gunthorpe, all Liberal strongholds across the city.

“But the Conservative administration, I hope, continue [to be] the largest party tomorrow as it has been in the past.

“Whilst it will be difficult and challenging, I’ve managed that challenge myself quite well.

“I will be talking to the opposition parties who already know that I have a more collaborative style, and will be looking to share the responsibility of who does what within the council.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“But I think this is a great, and positive result for the Conservatives.”

Earlier in the evening councillor Fitzgerald had commented that he had concerns about the outcome of tonights results given the feeling in the country as a whole over the past few months.

This was borne out earlier as results for Labour and Liberal Democrats candidates appeared to show a swing towards the opposition parties.

The Labour Group were expected to make significant gains but only ended the night with one more seat than they started with; taking North ward from the Conservatives with Noreen Bi beating Akim Akim to take the seat of Shazia Bashir, who moved to contest Park ward.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The greatest margin of victory on the night actually went to the leader of the Green Party, councillor Julie Howell, who won her seat by a clear 1,314 votes - and .

However, with the last two results of the evening going to the Conservatives the number of candidates after the Local Elections of 2022, were exactly as they had been before.