Labour retains Warrington Council as Tories almost wiped out

The town’s two MPs – Conservative Andy Carter and Labour’s Charlotte Nichols – were both at the count at Birchwood Community Hub.

Andy Carter said the result was “naturally disappointing”.

“If you compared to 2021, we were looking in many of the wards that the Conservatives secured at 50% turnout and it’s down mid-30s now and I think there’s a message there that our voters have stayed at home,” he said.

Charlotte Nichols said she felt the results showed “a real move towards the Labour party right across town”.

“I think it’s a real sign of the trust that people in our community have put in us,” she said.

“There is a prevailing mood in the country that the Conservatives are squatting in Downing Street.

“There’s a lot of discontent with the way local services are being funded but I think actually, when you speak to each of the individual candidates in the individual wards, it has been local issues they’ve campaigned on and won on.”