Local Elections 2023: Conservatives lose only council in Oxfordshire

The Conservatives have lost their last remaining council in the county of Oxfordshire, a former party stronghold.

Cherwell District Council now has no political majority after the Tories lost five seats.

Elsewhere the Liberal Democrats leapfrogged the Conservatives to become the largest party in West Oxfordshire, which remains under no overall control.

The Lib Dems have won South Oxfordshire from no overall control and held Vale of White Horse.

Discussions will now take place to work out who forms an administration at Cherwell, which has been controlled by the Conservatives for more than 20 years.

An existing alliance already exists between the Liberal Democrats, Greens and Independents.

In West Oxfordshire, the Lib Dems gained three councillors ending up with 18 seats while the Tories lost three, finishing on 17.

The district council's boundaries closely match the parliamentary seat of Witney, once held by ex-Prime Minister David Cameron.

The Conservatives lost control of the council last year after 22 years in charge.

Before the election West Oxfordshire was run by a coalition of Liberal Democrat, Labour and Green councillors.

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