Labour losing their hold in Knowsley

The Labour party in Knowsley have seen their majority cut for the second year after the Green Party and the Independent Party made inroads on a council which has been solid red since its creation four decades ago.

Fifteen council seats were up for election, one in each of the wards in the borough.
Of the 15 seats up for election – Labour held on to 11, the Green Party gained two, an Independent took one seat and the Liberal Democrats held on to a seat they previously held.

The Green Party, got their first councillor in Knowsley last year when Kai Taylor took the Prescot South seat, have now seen their number tripled after Joanne Burke was elected in Prescot South and Ron Gaffney was elected to Whiston and Cronton.
The Liberal Democrats saw Ian Smith elected to Prescot North.

Cllr Graham Morgan, leader of Knowsley Council said: “Whilst we are clearly disappointed to lose three seats, we know that the national political picture hasn’t helped matters as our engagement with local communities told us that residents are fed up with uncertainties around Brexit.  

“In addition, there seems to have been a misunderstanding that our parks and green spaces aren’t safe which hasn’t helped – I can reassure our communities and confirm that they are safe and they are not for sale.  

“We will now regroup and focus our efforts on the issues that matter to our communities.”

Ian Smith leader at Knowsley Liberal Democrats, said: “The set of results show public dissatisfaction with Labour in both Knowsley and nationally. Lib Dem’s recorded the most gains at a local election ever across the country.

“In Knowsley people are still angry at Labour’s proposals around our parks and are responding to Lib Dem and Green messages about a different kind of politics.

“We want to use this result to push on next year and take seats off Labour in Huyton where we have strong local candidates”.

Cllr Joanne Burke, Green Party Prescot South Ward, said: “I am honoured the people of Prescot South have put their faith in me and the local Green Party by voting in such definite numbers to elect me onto Knowsley Borough Council.

“That means there now three Green Councillors.

“As a group we will be supporting all of the councils initiatives and decisions in the interest of our communities and challenging those that are not.

“I look forward to working with like-minded councillors from any party for the common good of our communities”. 

Halewood South winner, independent Barbara Dunn, who beat Gary See, said she was delighted with the result.

She said: “I just feel thrilled, obviously I have an incredible team of people who've supported me – it’s a great day.”

The result means independents now control two of the three seats in Halewood South.

The borough-wide turnout was 23.7%.