New Tory leader reflects on election mauling and 'message of rejection'

THE new leader of the Conservative group at Cornwall Council has responded to a disastrous election result which saw the party lose almost 40 seats and its control of the unitary authority.

- by LEE TREWHELA

Reform UK has declared victory with 28 seats out of 87, although Nigel Farage's party has too few councillors to gain overall control.

The Liberal Democrats 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: but it was the Conservatives who suffered most.

In 2021 they won a massive 47 seats, giving them a majority, but that number fell in the months before the election due to defections and on May 1 they lost a whopping 39 councillors, leaving only seven.

The former Tory administration's portfolio-holder for transport Connor Donnithorne, who represents Redruth Central, Carharrack and St Day, will now lead the group, which also consists of Martyn Alvey (Feock and Kea), Pauline Giles (St Blazey), Karen Glasson (Probus and St Erme), James Mustoe (Mevagissey and St Austell Bay), Jane Pascoe (Liskeard South and Dobwalls) and Jordan Rowse (St Austell Bethel and Holmbush).