Norwich and Exeter punish coalition
By politics.co.uk staff
Labour has emerged the main winner of yesterday’s elections in Norwich and Exeter, as the coalition’s parties suffered losses.
The elections took place on Thursday after plans to establish new unitary authorities in the cities were quashed by a high court judge.
In Exeter the Conservatives lost two seats to Labour, while the opposition party at national level won a third seat back after a defection. The Conservatives won two seats from Liberal Democrat candidates, however.
In Norwich Labour took former council leader Antony Little’s seat from the Tories, allowing them to remain in minority control of the local authority.
The Green party failed to follow up its first MP with its first council, falling two seats behind Labour, but gained a seat overall.
“We were just pipped at the post,” leader Caroline Lucas told the Today programme.
“We know when you’re trying to take a first council… it’s a big ask. We very nearly did it.”
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