Lib Dem’s exert dominance in Mid Devon

Five of the six seats were taken by Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats have dominated the Mid Devon district in the county council elections, securing five of the area’s six seats.

Four members of Mid Devon District Council’s Lib Dem-led administration now hold seats on Devon County Council.

Crediton was taken by Councillor Jim Cairney for the party, while Councillor Steve Keable took Creedy Taw and Mid Exe.

Mid Devon’s cabinet member for finance, Councillor James Buczkowski, won the Cullompton and Bradninch seat, while Councillor Simon Clist, one of Mid Devon’s deputy leaders, took Willand and Uffculme.

Reform UK’s Neale Raleigh took Tiverton East and Tiverton West was secured by Lib Dem Steve Lodge, who has previously run for the role of police and crime commissioner for Devon and Cornwall Police.

The result contributes to a tectonic shake-up at County Hall, where 40 of the 60 members were Conservative prior to the election, a number which has now dropped to seven.

The Lib Dems are the biggest party at County Hall with 27 seats, but this is short of an overall majority – which would have been 31 councillors.

Cllr Keable welcomed his party’s result and said his phone had been “buzzing continuously” with messages of congratulations.

“It’s been a lot of hard work campaigning; I’ve driven 1,000 miles and pushed lesflets through 21,000 letterboxes,” he said.

“It takes an hour to drive across my patch, so it is a big area.”

Asked about the different challenges being a county councillor could pose compared to being a district one, Cllr Keable said he was “excited about stepping into the challenges”.

“I was probably more apprehensive about the challenges at Mid Devon when I was elected there and I think we’ve done a good job in two years there.”

He said his party would engage in “teamwork between all politicians”.

“I’m sure we’ll be able to work very closely with the independents and the Greens,” he added.