Conservatives take control of Warwickshire ahead of mayoral result

The Conservatives have taken control of Warwickshire County Council as the early local election results show gains nationally for Theresa May’s party.

Warwickshire had been left in no overall control in 2013 when the then-Tory leader Alan Farnell lost his seat. This time it was the turn of Labour leader June Tandy to be a high-profile casualty, beaten by the Conservatives, as her party saw its seats cut in half.

Boundary reviews reduced the number of seats on the council by five, to 57, but that didn’t stop the Conservatives adding 10. It now has 36 seats, while Labour lost 12 and now only holds 10.

The West Midlands will find out who its first directly-elected mayor will be later today, with a close battle expected between Labour’s Sion Simon and Conservatives’ Andy Street.

Counting will begin this morning but because of the second preference vote system a result is expected around 6pm today.

Voters from seven local authority areas – Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton – cast their votes yesterday for the mayor, choosing from six candidates.