Labour Party retained control of Exeter City Council

One third of the council were up for election on Thursday 3 May, with one councillor to be elected in each of the 13 wards.

Of the 13 seats up for grabs, 10 were held by the Labour Party, two by the Conservatives, and one by the Liberal Democrats – their only seat on the council.

Labour only needed to win one of the 13 seats available to ensure that they retained control of the council.

They won 10 of the seats that were available – with the party gaining Pennsylvania from the Conservatives, but losing St Loye’s to them.

The candidates who were elected were:

Alphington  – Bob Foale (Labour)

Duryard and St James – Kevin Mitchell (Liberal Democrat)

Exwick – Rachel Sutton (Labour)

Heavitree – Greg Sheldon (Labour)

Mincinglake and Whipton – Judy Pattison (Labour)

Newtown and St Leonard’s – James Vizard (Labour)

Pennsylvania – Frances Begley (Labour) – Gain from Conservatives

Pinhoe – Duncan Wood (Labour)

Priory – Tony Wardle (Labour)

St David’s – Luke Sills (Labour)

St Loye’s – Peter Holland (Conservatives) – Gain from Labour

St Thomas – Laura Wright (Labour)

Topsham – Catherine Pierce (Conservatives)

It means the political makeup of the council remains the same as it was prior to the election, with Labour holding 29 seats, the Conservatives 8, the Liberal Democrats 1 and the Green Party 1.

The turnout for the elections was 36 per cent, three per cent down on 2016.