THE SNOW globe felt like it had been shaken, rattled and rolled as the Conservatives fell from the leading party at Worcester’s Guildhall.
Labour now has that mantle but with just 13 councillors, just what have we learned in the last elections before all 35 councillors face the electorate next year?
Worcester Green Party is a worthy second largest party
The rise of Worcester’s Greens may well be studied in years to come.
From a small operation, throwing all their resources at one target seat, the party has become an election winning juggernaut, capable of multiple campaigns across Worcester.
While the majority of seats gained are from the Conservatives, the swift – dare one say – demolition of Labour’s former Arboretum strong hold is a sign their message crosses Worcester’s political divide.
What should worry opponents is they are adding younger voices to the council in the likes of Hannah Cooper and Tor Pingree, ensuring the immediate future of the party is sustainable.
The relationship between Labour and the Greens hasn’t always been easy. A recognition of the Green’s achievements by Labour would go a long way to securing the sought-after ‘Rainbow Alliance’.
Worcester’s Conservatives are in real trouble
To lose one or two seats would have been unfortunate, to lose every seat they were defending a year before the council moves to all-out elections is downright foolhardy.
Barring an alliance with the Green Party there is no prospect of a Conservative administration at the Guildhall for the next five years at least – the party simply won’t pick up 10 seats next year to regain a majority.
And even if it did, who will lead them? Chris Mitchell has gone, Allah Ditta and Lucy Hodgson the same.
Adding into the departures of the likes of former leader Marc Bayliss, former Mayor of Worcester Steve Mackay and talents such as Andy Stafford, the Tories now have an uphill climb to return to power.
It seems like light years ago Labour were on the ropes, facing a Conservative party turbo-charged with UKIP returnees who appealed to Labour voters in areas such as Nunnery.
Worcester has achieved near gender equality on the council
Eight of those elected to Worcester City Council were female meaning a welcome 16 of the 35 councillors are now women – near to the 50/50 gender balance.
Three of Worcester’s political parties have a female leader and the Liberal Democrats now have four female councillors.
