Local residents need to know what their council is up to and how well portfolios are performing. Proper oversight is lacking.
These elections were very good indeed for the Conservatives – though there are warning signs of a potential Blue Wall effect in the south.
Labour had some startling setbacks – it was usually the independents who benefitted. Elsewhere we saw Conservative losses to the Lib Dems.
They’ll bank what good news they can get, but net losses of councillors and authorities is not what they had hoped for.
York, Derby High Peak, Gravesham, Amber Valley, and Basildon are among the councils where the Tories face losing power.
The final part of our series this week on May’s elections. Will there be a LibDem revival – which polls have yet to indicate?
Continuing our series, this week we look at the solid Conservative performance in the East Midlands.
The Culture Secretary goes campaigning in two Derbyshire marginals…and finds time to ensure that his Department is flying the flag of England on St George’s Day.
UKIP look set to hand Labour a string of critical marginals in the close-fought two way battle for this region.
The Conservatives hold a seat in Amber Valley
I want to commend every single one of you that stood for council or campaigned in any way in this poll.