LABOUR POISED TO LOSE CONTROL OF CITY

Labour's twenty seven year grip on Newport politics is hanging by a thread after yesterday's City Council elections. Six seats are still outstanding in st. Julians and Bettws due to the deaths of candidates. But from the seats declared elsewhere Labour has lost a number of councillors. The Liberal Democrats have gained a seat in Ringland for the first time but it was the Conservatives who gained most taking both seats in Stow Hill, taking two of the three Caerleon seats and snatching a seat from Labour in Malpas. In Langstone former Tory now independent Simon Lane was re-elected along with his Tory rival David Attwell. Controversial candidate Andrew Cooksey sneaked in as a winner in Rogerstone in a closely fought Labour-Tory battle. Labour leader Bob Bright got back in by the skin of his teeth and will be joined by returning hard-hitters Ken Critchley and Allan Morris.The results currently stand as follows -
Labour 19 (-8)
Conservatives 17 (+5)
Liberal Democrats 6 (+3)
Plaid Cymru 1 (no change)
Independent 1 (no change)
In theory Labour can still retain control of the Council if it wins all six remaining seats to be contested. This seems unlikely as they held only three of them last time around. It seems more likely that they will retain the three seats in Bettws but the Liberal Democrats would regard themselves as favourites in St. Julians. If this does happen a combined Lib Dem - Conservative coalition would have a majority. Due to mainly national factors the political landscape has changed dramatically leaving the immediate future of control of the City Council uncertain.