New Tory leader on Cornwall's election disaster

'THEY'VE BOOTED US OUT AT AN UNPRECEDENTED LEVEL'

- LEE TREWHELA

THE new leader of the Conservative group at Cornwall Council has responded to the disastrous election result last week, which saw the party lose almost 40 seats and its ruling administration. There are now just seven Tory councillors left sitting at Lys Kernow / County Hall in Truro.

Reform UK has declared victory with 28 seats, although Nigel Farage's party hasn't enough councillors to gain overall control of the 87-seat unitary authority. The Lib Dems gave them a run for their money, gaining 26 seats, while the Independent group won 16. The Labour and Co-operative Party group now has four seats, with Mebyon Kernow and the Green Party on three each.

It was the Conservatives who saw the worst result, though. In 2021 they were given a massive 47 majority, which dropped in recent months due to defections. At Thursday's election they lost a whopping 39 councillors, leaving just seven on the council.