The count for the Neville’s Cross Division election was declared just after midnight this morning. The figures are:

Across County Durham it was a very bad night for Labour who lost the equivalent of 39 seats with the Lib Dems gaining 17, Independents gaining 16 and the Conservatives gaining 6.

The balance across the County is Labour 67, Lib Dems 27, Independents 22 and Conservatives 10. Labour now has an majority of only 8 over all other parties.

As I predicted we remain the second party and the main opposition to Labour.

The Lib Dem gains were 5 in Durham City, where we took both pairs seats in Framwellgate Moor and in Sherburn, and one of the two seats in Deerness Valley where our candidate, John Wilkinson topped the poll.

Elsewhere we gained one seat in Derwentside, two in Easington, three in Sedgefield and 6 in Wear Valley.

Some big Labour names lost their seats including a former Leader Ken Manton, a former Deputy Leader Brian Walker and the current Chairman of the Council, Edna Hunter, for whom I have particular sympathy as she was the first ever woman to be Chairman of the County Council and has been a particularly good ambassador for County Durham.

So whatever happens now, there will be a breath of fresh air running through County Hall in the coming years.

Exciting times!