LABOUR remains the largest party at Coventry City Council – but it has lost its overall majority in the local elections.
The party, which has had a controlling majority at the council since 2010, lost 15 seats, ending on 24.
Reform UK gained 18 seats to finish on 20, with the Conservatives losing four seats to end on six, and the Greens with four seats, having gained one.
That gain was at the expense of Coun Jim O’Boyle, the council’s cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change, who lost his seat in St Michael’s ward by just nine votes.
The council’s Labour leader George Duggins held on to his Longford seat by just 89 votes. He is reported to be considering his future as leader of the council’s Labour group.
And Conservative group leader Coun Gary Ridley, a councillor since 2002, lost his Woodlands seat to Reform.
All of the council’s 54 seats were up for grabs in this election for the first time in 22 years, due to boundary changes in the city.
Discussions between the parties will now take place to determine how the council will be run, with the BBC reporting that Labour are confident they can strike a deal with the Greens – which would give them the 28 seats needed for a majority.
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