Lib Dems and Reform make big gains in election

A MASSIVE power-shift has ended a 16-year Conservative reign at County Hall, with the Liberal Democrats becoming the largest single party ahead of second-placed Reform UK.

- by BRADLEY GERRARD

The Lib Dems, which had nine councillors going into the election, have emerged with 27, giving them the most members of any party.

With no councillors in Devon ahead of the poll, Reform UK now has 18.

However, the result means the Lib Dems are short of an overall majority which would have been 31 councillors suggesting they may need the support of other parties to wield control.

Conservative representation has plummeted, with the party now only holding seven seats from its 40 prior to the vote. This makes it the third largest party, just ahead of the six Green councillors and two independent members.

EAST DEVON

>> Axminster: Honey Marshall Barlow (Labour & Co-Operative) 137; Jenny Brown (Conservatives) 600; Matthew Denis Byrne (Green) 160; Paul Graham Hayward (Ind) 1,393; Sue Robinson (Lib Dem) 424; Philip James Salway (Reform) 993

>> Broadclyst (two councillors): Brian Arthur Bailey (Conservative) 834; Henry Gent (Green) 1,475; Andrea Glover (Lib Dem) 758; Lisa Goudie (Heritage) 35; Fernando Morales Gundin (Reform) 1,268; Kian Healy (Labour) 282; Molly Jane Holmes (Labour) 309; Kate Jago (Green) 668; Eleanor Rylance (Lib Dem) 1,179; Cynthia Thompson (Conservative) 756; Nat Vanstone (Reform) 1,283

>> Exmouth (two councillors): Hilary Anne Ackland (Labour & Co-Operative) 570; Helen Brown (Reform) 2,601; Lou Doliczny (Green) 1,070; Si Fermor (Reform) 2,299; Matt Hall (Lib Dem) 2,108; Ben Anthony Hawkes (Labour) 522; Fran Mcelhone (Lib Dem) 1,426; Richard Scott (Conservative) 2,175; Jeff Trail (Conservative) 2,320; Daniel Wilson (Ind) 1,645

>> Exmouth & Budleigh Salterton: Nick Hookway (Lib Dem) 1,518; James Declan McIntosh (Labour) 365; Henry Lloyd Riddell (Conservative) 1,394; Mike Rosser (Green) 338; Paul Thomas (Reform) 1,169