Labour win council seat
STEP CLOSER TO REGAINING MAJORITY
THE Labour Party has taken a step closer to regaining a majority on Middlesbrough Council ahead of next year’s local elections after winning in Berwick Hills and Pallister.
Ian Blades gained the seat for the party from the independents with 361 votes at Thursday’s by-election.
Out of 5,774 potential votes, just 639 ballot papers were cast, a turnout of just 11.1%. The election was called in Middlesbrough after independent Cllr Lee Garvey stepped down a week after his application to join the Labour Party was rejected.
Independent candidate Steven James came second with 204 votes, Conservative John Cooper was in third with 53, Liberal Democrat Sophie Drumm was fourth with 11 and Green Party member Annette Dawn Fermin came in last with seven votes.
The victory takes the Labour Party up to 21 council seats out of a total of 46. When the elected mayor is taken into account, a group needs 24 seats to hold a majority.
The Middlesbrough Independent Councillors Association has 10 councillors, the Middlesbrough Independent Group has 9 councillors, the Conservatives have three councillors and there are three independent councillors not affiliated with any group.
Labour lost its majority on the council and its grip on the role of elected mayor after defeats in the 2019 local elections. The council is currently led by independent elected mayor Andy Preston along with other independents and Conservatives.
Speaking to the Local Democracy
Reporting Service, Cllr Blades said: “I’m very happy, the campaign has been excellent. Things are going to change in Berwick Hills and Pallister, it’s time the ward is better looked after and I intend to do that.”
Cllr Blades said he was keen to find an issue to parking problems that were raised on the doorstep and he praised the campaigns of the other candidates.
Labour group leader Cllr Matt Storey said Labour’s victory meant a bad night for the Independents.
He added: “Firstly congratulations to our newest Labour councillor Ian Blades who has worked so hard to get elected in this by-election. He will be an excellent community councillor for the whole ward.
“This has been a bad night for the Independents in Middlesbrough. It’s clear that the Independent project is nearing its end. We have listened to local people and we have heard their concerns and how they feel about our town.
“Residents are fed up with how the council is run and how much of their money is being wasted on vanity projects under the failed leadership of Andy Preston. Labour will now turn its attention to next year’s Local Elections. Our message is clear: if you want hardworking councillors who will put you and the town first then the only choice is Labour.”
Labour Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald has also reacted to the result. He said: “Labour winning back this Berwick Hills and Pallister council seat is an absolutely terrific result. A huge well done to Ian Blades who will be a superb councillor and to everyone in Team Labour who worked so incredibly hard to secure this victory.”
Cllr Blades will represent the ward alongside Middlesbrough Independent Group member Cllr Donna Jones.
It’s time the ward is better looked after and I
intend to do that.
Ian Blades