Labour has become the largest party on Peterborough City Council after winning five additional seats – taking their total to 19 -in Thursday’s local elections. Peterborough First also did remarkably well, adding three new councillors to take their tally to 14.
It was a dreadful night for the Conservatives who now have only 11 councillors – a year ago they bucked the national trend and emerged after the May election with 30 councillors.
Lib Dems have 9, up one, Green 4, up 2, and independents still retain three seats.
Results coming in from Thursday’s city council elections in Peterborough
Werrington ward (2 seats)
BRISTOW Sara Louise (Conservative) 626
DALTON Ruta (Conservative) 392
FOX John Raymond (Peterborough First – Werrington Independent) * 1,664
HILLIER Sarah Areatha (Peterborough First – Werrington Independent) 1,307
JONES Roz (Labour) 421
KAIL Simon James (Liberal Democrat) 92
SHARP Katherine Ann (Green Party) 178
WARNE Barry (Green Party) 103
Peterborough First HOLD both
Turnout 33.84 per cent
Park ward (1 seat)
AHMED Murtaza (Conservative) 825
ALI Iqra (Green Party) 509
ELLIS Angus Alexander (Labour) 827
HARDMAN Ian (Liberal Democrat) 95
MORRIS Sue (Reform UK) 111
RADIC Fiona (Independent) 94
Labour GAIN from Conservatives
Turnout 34.01 per cent
Orton Longueville ward (1 seat)
ALI Imtiaz (Green Party) 669
BAKER David Frederick John (Labour) 521
MILLS Nicola (Liberal Democrat) 84
PATEL Ekta (Conservative) 647
PENNIALL Nick (Independent) 251
Green GAIN from Conservatives
Orton Waterville ward (1 seat)
AKINYELE Oluwaseun (Labour) 207
ALLEN Jackie (Conservative) 440
KNIGHT Kirsty (Independent) * 1,254
MURPHY Ed (Green Party) 701
Independent GAIN from Green
Turnout 36.17 per cent
Ravensthorpe ward (1 seat)
FARID Qaiser (Green Party) 1,045
KHAN Raja Ejaz Ahmed (Liberal Democrat) 74
MANNAN Abdul (Labour) 598
NAWAZ Gul (Conservative) * 948
Green GAIN from Conservatives
Turnout 34.1 per cent
Ravensthorpe
GRN: 38.96% (+33.66%)
CON: 35.20% (-21.28%)
LAB: 22.30% (-9.94%)
LDEM: 2.76% (+2.02%)Green GAIN from Conservatives
Turnout: 34.91% (-2.61%)
— Politics of Peterborough (@PoliticsPboro) May 3, 2024
Hargate and Hempsted ward (1 seat)
FAROOQ Saqib Mohammed (Peterborough First Independent) 826 (elected)
HORNE Amanda (Green Party) 124
JESUS Kelly (Labour) 364
SPEED Rachel Ann (Liberal Democrat) 86
VICHARE Vishal (Conservative) 421
Peterborough First GAIN from Conservatives
Turnout 26.05 per cent
Hargate & Hempsted
PF: 45.24% (NEW)
CON: 23.06% (-23.84%)
LAB: 19.93% (-2.03%)
GRN: 6.79% (-1.19%)
LDEM: 4.71% (-17.61%)Peterborough First GAIN from Conservatives
Turnout: 26.05% (+1.59%)
— Politics of Peterborough (@PoliticsPboro) May 3, 2024
North ward (1 seat)
ALI Zameer (Labour) 1,078
MCGARRY John Anthony (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition) 101
RUTTUN Deeshen (Liberal Democrat) 95
SHAFIQ Misbah (Green Party) 419
TOKIR Mohammed (Conservative) 640
Labour HOLD
Turnout 32 per cent
Gunthorpe ward (1 seat)
ALI Shazad (Green Party) 82
SHAHEED Ann Louise (Liberal Democrat) 899 (elected)
TYLER Bryan (Conservative) * 865
WEEDON Joanna Susan (Labour) 303
Liberal Democrat GAIN from Conservatives
Turnout 31.65 per cent
Eye, Thorney, Newborough ward (1 seat)
JOHNSON Carol Sarah (Green Party) 141
ORMSTON Mark David Michael (Peterborough First Independent) 862
PEACH John Philip (Conservative) 853
SHEARMAN John Francis (Labour Party) 540
Peterborough First GAIN from Conservatives
Turnout 31.98 per cent
West ward (1 seat)
AYRES Lynne (Conservative) * 663 (elected)
COLE Christopher Ian (Labour) 472
FRANCIS Collette (Independent) 171
GERAGHTY Annie (Liberal Democrat) 80
WINDSOR Chelsea (Green Party) 149
CON: 42.77% (-14.26%) LAB: 30.45% (+5.41%) IND: 11.03% (NEW) LDEM: 5.16% (-1.17%) GRN: 9.61% (+2.60%)
West CON: 42.77% (-14.26%) LAB: 30.45% (+5.41%) IND: 11.03% (NEW) LDEM: 5.16% (-1.17%) GRN: 9.61% (+2.60%) No Freedom Alliance (1.92%) or UKIP (1.70%) as previous. Conservative HOLD
Turnout: 36.8 per cent
Barnack ward (1 seat)
BULL June (Green Party) 60
MATTHEWS Stephanie Gillian (Labour) 132
SELLICK Beki (Liberal Democrat) 70
TIGHE Kevin (Independent) 396
WALSH Irene (Conservative) 437 (elected)
Turnout 39.89 per cent
Dogsthorpe ward (1 seat)
GRAY Matthew (Green Party) 178
HUSSAIN Ishfaq (Conservative) * 760
MCNALLY Jason (Labour) 766
PETCH Rob (Workers Party) 89
RINGLER Sandra (Liberal Democrat) 145
Labour GAIN from Conservatives
Turnout 28 per cent
Bretton ward (1 seat)
FENNER Chaz (Conservative) * 757
JENKINS Nicola (Labour) 835 (elected)
WILLIAMS Mark (Green) 175
WILSON Rohan (Liberal Democrat) 121
Turnout 27.9 per cent
LAB: 43.99% (+3.53%) CON: 39.88% (-8.13%) GRN: 9.22% (NEW) LDEM: 6.38% (+0.31%).
Labour GAIN from Conservatives
Nicola Jenkins is your new councillor for Bretton. She says it was her first time standing in an election and she'll balance council duties with her job as a carer pic.twitter.com/jxFSOYCTBp
— Joanna Taylor (@JoannaRTaylor) May 3, 2024
Stanground South
HARPER Chris (Peterborough First Independent) * 1,111 (elected)
HORNE Joe (Green Party) 88
SEEKINGS Neil Frank (Conservative) 373
THULBOURN Margaret (Labour) 404
Turnout 25.5 per cent
Peterborough First HOLD
Glinton and Castor ward (1 seat)
BOYCE Neil David (Peterborough First Independent) 714 (elected)
BYSSHE Claire (Liberal Democrat) 174
FARR Sue (Labour) 270
GUTHRIE Greg (Green) 122
WILLEY Andrew Stephen (Conservative) 539
PETERBOROUGH FIRST: 39.04% (NEW) CON: 29.47% (-36.94%) LAB: 14.76% (+4.60%) LIB DEM: 9.51% (-3.08%) GREEN: 6.67% (-2.45%)
Peterborough First GAIN from Conservative
Turnout: 35.20%
Central ward (1 seat)
CAWLEY Steve (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition) 94
HOLTON Jenae Hannah Toni Gloria (Conservative) 412
IQBAL Amjad (Labour) * 1,377 (elected)
KERRIDGE Jason (Liberal Democrat) 161
MUNIR Mohammed Aziz (Green) 820
Turnout 31.59 per cent.
Labour hold
LAB: 47.68% (-11.17%) GRN: 28.45% (+22.98%) CON: 14.30% (-11.18%) LDEM: 5.59% (-0.68%) TUSC: 3.26% (NEW)
Fletton and Stanground ward (1 seat)
CREEDON-GRAY Sam (Green Party) 168
GERAGHTY Polly (Liberal Democrats) 884 (elected)
HASHMI Muhammad Mujtaba (Labour Party) 338
OKPALA Chibuzo (Conservative) 299
Liberal Democrats GAIN from Conservatives
Turnout 22.79 per cent
Fletton & Stanground
LDEM: 51.61% (+25.33%)
LAB: 19.73% (+0.04%)
CON: 17.45% (-17.34%)
GRN: 9.81% (+2.72%)No IND (10.46%) as previous.
Liberal Democrats GAIN from Conservative
Turnout: ?% (?%)
— Politics of Peterborough (@PoliticsPboro) May 3, 2024
Fletton and Woodston ward (1 seat)
BLAKEMORE-CREEDON Daisy (Labour) 940 (elected)
COLES Andy (Conservative) * 658
GARNER Simon John (Liberal Democrat) 99
LLOYD Jon (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition) 37
WARR Adam (Green Party) 222
Labour GAIN from Conservatives
Fletton & Woodston
LAB: 47.69% (+9.95%)
CON: 33.38% (-6.95%)
GRN: 11.26% (+0.18%)
LDEM: 5.02% (-1.33%)
TUSC: 1.88% (NEW)No FA (2.63%) as previous.
Labour GAIN from Conservative
Turnout: 25.33% (-7.02%)
— Politics of Peterborough (@PoliticsPboro) May 3, 2024
Wittering ward (1 seat)
ELSEY Gavin Anthony (Peterborough First Independent) *395 (elected)
HALL Julie Ann (Labour) 85
SAUNDERS Chantel (Conservative) 210
Peterborough First HOLD
Turnout 28.23 per cent
Hampton Vale ward (1 seat)
ANTUNES Roger (Peterborough First Independent) 400 (elected)
COSTER Charles Rhys (Green Party) 66
MCCARTHY Christopher Martin (Labour) 256
SHARP Lindsay John (Conservative) * 327
WALTON Neil Christopher (Liberal Democrat) 292
Peterborough First GAIN from Conservatives
Turnout 24.8 per cent
East ward (1 seat)
BRUZDA Adam (Liberal Democrat) 123
IQBAL Numan Ali (Labour Party) 1,080
JOHNSON Jo (Independent) 152
MIRAN Aleem (Conservative) 870
NOOR Bismah (Green Party) 192
Labour GAIN from Conservatives
Turnout 31.45 per cent
Paston and Walton ward (1 seat)
ALEXANDER Callum Patrick (Labour Party) 339
ALI Shokat (Green Party) 86
RAFIQ Alex (Conservative) 824 (elected)
SANDFORD Nick (Liberal Democrat) * 819
Conservative GAIN from Liberal Democrats
Turnout 28.51 per cent
The question facing nervous candidates and party officials tonight as they await the outcome of today’s elections in Peterborough and Cambridge – and of course for the police and crime commissioner – is not simply how many bothered to turn out to vote, but what are those who did vote telling them.
You don’t need to be a harbinger of perpetual gloom to recognise the Conservatives face an electoral challenge on a scale not witnessed for probably two decades.
Picture by Terry Harris.
Picture by Terry Harris.
Kingsgate Conference Centre, Peterborough
Thursday 02 May 2024.
A YouGov opinion poll this week shows the party hitting a new low of 18 per cent, worse even than when Liz Truss was outlasted by a lettuce in her tenure of No 10, and translated to Parliamentary seats at a general election would see the party emerge with just 32 seats.
An unlikely scenario? Possibly but today’s local elections in places such as Peterborough will provide some clues as to the outcome.
Wayne Fitzgerald, as leader of the Conservative group and until last November leader of Peterborough City Council, travelled to Cambridge yesterday to be interviewed by that wily old local radio presenter Chris Mann.
I am still a paid up member of @Conservatives but I hope the party has a disastrous night at the election counts. Year after year, they have betrayed every single principle of what the party should stand for. Nationally, they are like rabbits in the headlights, afraid to act (1)
— Wisbech Now (@WisbechNow) May 2, 2024
Wayne cut a lonely figure, as best we could tell from listening, but the clues were there: his ebullience seemed to have been cast off somewhere on the A14, and instead we were treated to the rolling out of old arguments, the unfairness of the political make-up of the council that still sees his party with the largest number of seats but the horrific antics of those who wanted him gone.
And no amount of attacks by Tory MP Paul Bristow on the city council and its leadership since have made a blind bit of difference. The Bristow/Fitzgerald ‘Con-Chummery’ so familiar in recent times is no longer, for which some may be grateful whilst most are simply relieved.
The Bristow offensive remains against the informal alliance now running affairs but even after a staggering (I counted 20) onslaught tweets against the new council leadership in recent times, these do not seem to have resonated with the electorate.
Maybe, as Wayne reminded Chris Mann, the Tories in Peterborough will buck the national trend and outperform the rest of the country when tonight’s votes are cast. Not impossible, but then again Wayne didn’t like being reminded in the same interview that his failure to retain the 30 Tory councillors as one homogeneous group was only brief.
By the time he lost the leadership after a vote of confidence, 7 Tory councillors had stepped away, including of course Cllr Farooq who now seems comfortable and assured among the small, but influential, group of Peterborough First councillors who took over with the support of the remaining political groups.
I predict a decisive win for the Lib Dems for HDC on my CCC patch. pic.twitter.com/jcsLBBNHGH
— Stephen Ferguson (@borofergie) May 2, 2024
What happens tonight is critical to who runs the council but with a third of the council up for re-election, any outcome is possible, although the most likely outcome is that the Tory numbers on the council will reduce, Labour will add a few, and Peterborough First will be offered an extension of the informal ‘contract’ to retain the leadership and cabinet posts.
There is no doubt Cllr Farooq is a moderating influence on the political scene, but he is no-one’s fool and is already scrutinising some of the spending decisions that have financially challenged the city council.
And lending council taxpayers money to fund private developments – such as the Hilton hotel – are off the table, and even Cllr Fitzgerald will probably agree with that given the efforts he made yesterday in the BBC interview to distance himself from that lending decision.
Prediction: @anna4labour to win the Cambs & P’boro Police & Crime Commissioner Elections.
– Higher turnout in Cambridge & Peterborough vs rural areas as both had local elections
– Tories imploding in P’boro – very high profile.
– Rishi’s troubles = some voters may stay home
1/2— Antony Carpen (@ACarpenDigital) May 2, 2024
So here we go, the candidates for Peterborough waiting anxiously at the Kingsgate Community Centre for the first results.
We’ll bring you those as they are declared – and catch up with other political news from across Cambridgeshire. Turnout in Peterborough: 23 per cent without postal votes
It's 10pm and the polls have closed – though if you are queuing at a polling station, you should still be able to vote. Results will be declared during the day on Friday – the PCC vote is counted from 10am, and the City Council vote from 2pm. I've got my graphs ready…
— Phil Rodgers (@PhilRodgers) May 2, 2024
