(08 May 2021, 2:08 pm)Metroline1511 wrote Although Labour have lost the Hartlepool seat and missed out on the Tees Valley Mayor, they have held Tyne & Wear councils and the North Tyneside Mayor.
As well as the Conservatives, the Greens have made gains. The SNP could gain 1 or 2 seats, the 2nd net gain would give them an outright majority in the Scottish Parliament.
Though they have lost control of Durham County Council.
53 LAB, 23 CON, 17 LD, 5 DI, 23 IND, 1 GRN, 4 NEP, with 64 required for a majority.
So you're looking at either:
a) LAB/LD majority of 7 (potentially 8 with the Green)
b) CON/LD/IND/DI majority of 5
c) CON/LD/IND/DI/NEP majority of 9
It's going to be an interesting couple of days, as the 'independents' are an extremely diverse range of councillors. You might end up with something like a CON/LD/DI minority including a couple of the independents, but also with a confidence and supply arrangement with the others.
Another big question for Durham is the new County Hall HQ development in Durham City. All previous opposition parties were vehemently opposed to the redevelopment and move 'in the current climate'. Its already well under construction, but I think their electorate would expect them to pull the plug on it now and lease the building to a 3rd Party instead.