Solihull Election Special : Greens and UKIP win key victories

DEFEAT: Labour leader David Jamieson was beaten in
Kingshurst & Fordbridge by UKIP candidate Debbie Evans

UKIP have ousted the local Labour leader to take their first seat on Solihull Council.

Debbie Evans, formerly a Conservative councillor, defected to the eurosceptic party following her defeat in Kingshurst & Fordbridge two years ago.

And standing on the UKIP ticket, she triumphed over David Jamieson in her old ward.

Ahead of the election, Ms Evans said she had grown disillusioned with the Tories and the regeneration of North Solihull, which she claimed had “broken up communities”.

UKIP, who fielded nine candidates, saw their share of the vote surge in many parts of the borough and came a close second in several other wards.

The loss of Coun Jamieson, a former MP, caps a dreadful day for the Labour group.

Activist Emma Chidler tweeted: "Can't put into words my dismay, anger and disappointment [at results]. But looking forward to fight to win back lost seats."

The party has been reduced to just two councillors, after they also failed to hold on to their single remaining seats in both Smith’s Wood and Chelmsley Wood.

These have gone to the Green Party, whose success in these elections means they will be the official opposition when the council reconvenes next month.

SUCCESS: The Greens, who chose to launch their
local election campaign in Solihull, now have ten councillors

Their new members in North Solihull are Stephen Holt – the cycle tutor will represent Smith’s Wood – and social worker James Burn, who won in Chelmsley Wood

A third gain at Labour’s expense in Shirley West gives the Greens ten members, only six years on from winning their first seat in the borough.

Party leader Natalie Bennett has congratulated campaigners on their latest successes.

The council’s Conservative group were pushed hard in Castle Bromwich by UKIP; Mike Robinson saw his majority slashed to around a 100 votes (down from 1500 four years ago). They also staved off a challenge by the Independent Residents and Ratepayers in Blythe, who nearly repeated their 2012 upset.

But having successfully defended these seats, the Tories managed to increase their majority by one, after defeating Lib Dem leader Ian Hedley in Shirley East.

It’s the latest blow for the local Liberals, who have seen their number of councillors more than halve since the coalition government was formed in 2010. Only eight now remain ahead of next year’s General Election.

How they stand.

Con – 29 (+1)

Greens – 10 (+3)

Lib Dems – 8 (-1)

Lab – 2 (-4)

UKIP – 1 (+1)

Ind Ratepayers – 1 (-)

Turn Out: 33.86%

North Solihull Results:

Bickenhill

UKIP – 969

Lab – 471

Green – 266

Con - 1268

CON HOLD

Castle Bromwich

UKIP – 1244

Labour – 404

Con – 1351

Greens  - 114

Ind – 66

CON HOLD

Chelmsley Wood

UKIP – 556

Con – 142

Greens  - 1334

Lab – 511

GREEN GAIN 

Kingshurst & Fordbridge

UKIP - 1022

Lab - 713

Lib Dems - 43

Con - 277

Greens - 128

UKIP GAIN

Smith’s Wood

Lab – 487

Greens – 970

Con – 101

UKIP – 584

GREEN GAIN