Best local election results since 2003

Telford & Wrekin Liberal Democrats achieved our best results in 16 years in the local elections on 2nd May.

The headline result was Thomas Janke finishing top of the poll beating both Conservative candidates in Newport South & East, gaining 1,040 votes against 730 votes for the leading Conservative in this two-member ward. Sarah Syrda was only 41 votes away from gaining a seat, and pushed the second Conservative candidate into fourth place. Both Thomas and Sarah were elected to Newport Town Council.

The three long-serving Lib Dem councillors all consolidated their positions. Group Leader Bill Tomlinson convincingly defended Shawbirch with 62% of the vote. Karen Blundell increased her majority in Apley Castle with 59% of the vote. And Karen Tomlinson in Dothill turned a 2015 narrow victory into a very solid majority with 50% of the vote, also being elected to Wellington Town Council.

In the town council elections, Greg Spruce (Woodside) gained a seat from Labour on Madeley Town Council, the first time the Lib Dems have been represented on the Council. Pat Fairclough and Stephen de Launey (both Shawbirch) were re-elected to Wellington Town Council. Shana Roberts was elected to Brookside and Stirchley Parish Council in an uncontested election.

In addition, several Lib Dem candidates achieved second place, and the party is on a very solid footing to consolidate its gains in future elections. Nationally, the Liberal Democrats made more gains than in any local elections in the party's history, securing 803 council seats.