Can Labour find a path to power in Coventry despite losing control?

2 hours ago

Simon GilbertPolitical Reporter, Coventry and Warwickshire

News image — Labour Group Leader George Duggins has been leader for 10 years and is the longest serving council leader in the history of Coventry City Council since it was formed in 1974

BBC George Duggins stands in the count hall and wears a green suit jacket, white shirt, green tie and a red Labour rosette. — Labour Group Leader George Duggins has been leader for 10 years and is the longest serving council leader in the history of Coventry City Council since it was formed in 1974

The future of Coventry City Council is uncertain after Labour lost its grip on the council.

Not least because the leader of Labour in Coventry, George Duggins, is considering his future after the party suffered what he described as "catastrophic" losses both in the city and nationally.

Labour held 39 of 54 council seats heading into Thursday's election. They left with 24 – four short of the 28 required to retain control of the local authority.

High profile losses included Jim O'Boyle, cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change and who oversaw several redevelopment projects. He lost his seat by nine votes. Labour had held power since 2010.

Reform candidates celebrate a victory in Coventry by clapping and punching the air. — Reform's success in the city was the primary reason for Labour losing control of Coventry City Council

Duggins told the BBC he believed the results were a message to Labour locally and nationally and replied "no comment" when asked if Sir Keir Starmer should remain as prime minister.

"You do need to question how a government, not even two years in, can see the kind of catastrophic results that have happened this afternoon," he said.

Asked about his own future, he said he would "think about it over the weekend" with the Labour group due to decide its leader on Monday.

But while Labour may have lost the control of the council, they could still navigate a path to power.

Labour needs to change approach but stick with Starmer, deputy leader tells BBC as MPs put pressure on PM

What latest election results show us in maps and charts

Sir John Curtice: Election results show politics in the UK has fragmented

The Green Party could be the key, after doubling their number of councillors to four. Interestingly, that is exactly the number needed if they wanted to form a majority coalition with Labour.

Esther Reeves, the Green group leader in Coventry, hinted an agreement could be on the cards.

She said: "I don't think it's telling anyone anything they don't know that we're not natural bedfellows with Reform. So we will be working out exactly what we are or aren't willing to do."

Esther Reeves wears a green stripy top and a black dress. A Green Party Rosette is pinned to her chest. — Coventry's Green Party Group Leader, Esther Reeves, was unambiguous that any deal with Reform was unlikely

Reform UK was the biggest beneficiary of Labour's losses. Before the election they had two councillors and ended with 20 – becoming the second largest party.

Jackie Gardiner, the Reform Group Leader in Coventry, said the group would explore relationships with other parties over the weekend.

She said: "It's about working together to solve the problems that we all face and I think that's done far better when we talk to each other."

Jackie Gardiner wears a black jacket and dark dress. There is a Reform rosette pinned to her chest. — Reform's Group Leader in Coventry, Jackie Gardiner, told the BBC she was expecting to have discussions with other groups in the coming days about possible partnerships

The Conservatives fell from 10 councillors to six. This included the loss of leader Gary Ridley.

A partnership between Reform and the Tories will no doubt be explored, although it would only have any chance of success if the Greens decided not to back Labour. It's also far from certain Reform or the Conservatives would agree to work together.

The election is over, but the real race for power has just begun.