but no overall control2 May 2025SummaryReform UK win most seats on Worcestershire County Council The party pledges to cut waste in the authority Tory council leader Simon Geraghty loses his seat We're wrapping up our live coverage of the Worcestershire County Council election - thanks for following along with additional reporting from James Pearson There'll be more analysis this evening and in the coming days on BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester and BBC Midlands Today And you can find coverage of results from around the country here Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingBig change for Worcestershirepublished at 16:26 British Summer Time 2 May16:26 BST 2 MayJames PearsonPolitical reporter Worcestershire's Conservatives have lost control of its county council with Tory leader Simon Geraghty one of dozens to lose their seats Reform UK have delivered a seismic shock to the county's political scene With 27 seats they are now the largest party on the council Reform's success is a sign many voters in Worcestershire want change and are now looking outside Labour and the Conservatives All eyes are on whether Reform can now form an administration During the campaign Reform kept its key priorities relatively simple: an audit of the county council's finances to cut waste and ensure value for money and a pledge to put any "spare" money into roads While some of its councillors are former Tories many are making their first entry into local politics While this freshness may have been part of the party's appeal it may mean it takes them time to get to grips with running a local authority Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingFormer leader remaining stoicpublished at 16:23 British Summer Time 2 May16:23 BST 2 MayJames PearsonPolitical reporter who has been ousted as Conservative leader of the council tells me it's a "difficult day" for him personally and the party across Worcestershire and the country he thinks now is the time to "reflect and rebuild" "There will be another set of elections in just a few years' time," he says Citing infrastructure successes in the form of Worcestershire Parkway Geraghty says the Tories leave the council in "good shape" for the new administration "I've been incredibly proud to lead the county council over the last 9 years," he adds Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingThe pressure is on Reform - Labour MPpublished at 16:02 British Summer Time 2 May16:02 BST 2 MayAt the Guildhall in Worcester the city's Labour MP Tom Collins is trying to look on the bright side The party lost one seat - meaning they now have just two on the county council - but Collins suggests the result is a reflection of people being fed up with the Tories "The electorate have made it very clear that they want the Conservatives out of the county," he tells me He thinks people are frustrated with the pace of change since Labour came into government last July "I think there is an aspect of protest here to say: 'We want to see change we want to see it fast - go faster.'" "We've had some very simple answers proposed to very complex problems," he says "And now it's for them to demonstrate what they can actually do when they're given the opportunity." Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWhat happened in Wychavon?published at 15:44 British Summer Time 2 May15:44 BST 2 MayAlistair BinneyReporter Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingBadenoch defiant in face of drastic lossespublished at 15:39 British Summer Time 2 May15:39 BST 2 MayReform's progress in Worcestershire has been mirrored across the country Tory leader Kemi Badenoch says she's determined to win back the public's trust and the seats her party has lost "These were always going to be a very difficult set of elections coming off the high of 2021 and our historic defeat last year - and so it’s proving," she writes on X "The renewal of our party has only just begun and I’m determined to win back the trust of the public and the seats we’ve lost Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingConservatives decimated in Worcesterpublished at 15:19 British Summer Time 2 May15:19 BST 2 MayJames PearsonPolitical reporter All the results are in for the Worcester city area where the Conservatives have been wiped out The Greens have the enjoyed the most success having exceeded their expectations and won three but they'll be by far the largest party Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingMore on those numberspublished at 15:06 British Summer Time 2 May15:06 BST 2 MayJames PearsonPolitical reporter No party has overall control of Worcestershire County Council after the Tories lost control of the local authority for the first time in 20 years who are now the largest party on the county council The Conservatives have been left with just 12 seats Tory Leader Simon Geraghty lost his seat to Greens Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingNo overall controlpublished at 15:01 British Summer Time 2 May15:01 BST 2 MayBreakingWe now know no party will have overall control in Worcestershire can't reach the 29 needed to take an overall majority of the 57 seats Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingA nail-biter for the Greenspublished at 14:47 British Summer Time 2 May14:47 BST 2 MayAlistair BinneyReporter There was a dramatic moment in Wychavon - where there was a dead heat for the Littletons seat Hannah Robson of the Greens and Reform's Liz Williams each got 889 votes meaning their names had to be drawn at random to see who won meaning she takes the seat from the Tories She acknowledges it's not the ideal way to decide a vote but says "that's what we have to work with" "[It was] really terrifying," she tells me "I thank the universe for letting my ballot paper come out the box." She adds there was a lovely moment afterwards when she was hugged by Conservative and Labour campaigners Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingGood day for Greens in Worcesterpublished at 14:37 British Summer Time 2 May14:37 BST 2 MayJames PearsonPolitical reporter The Greens have won three seats in Worcester who took Riverside from Conservative council leader Simon Geraghty says the party is "snowballing" - thanks to people being "disheartened" by the two main parties "They want actual change in Worcester and they haven't seen that," she tells me adding that is also the likely reason for the gains made by Reform Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingFirst Worcestershire win for Labourpublished at 14:24 British Summer Time 2 May14:24 BST 2 MayGavin KermackReporter Labour have retained their Worcester seat of Rainbow Hill & Fort Royal - their first win of the day Former mayor Jabba Riaz takes over from Lynn Denham Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingResignationpublished at 14:13 British Summer Time 2 May14:13 BST 2 MayJames PearsonPolitical reporter He went on to argue the party’s decline started when David Cameron became its leader criticising the former prime minister for his “liberal socialism” and his decision to hold the EU Referendum The resignation letter finished by pondering whether one Boris Johnson could be persuaded to return: “then maybe “I wonder if Nigel Farage would be available for the post of quartermaster.” Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingTory defector Alan Amos wins for Reformpublished at 13:59 British Summer Time 2 May13:59 BST 2 MayGavin KermackReporter Another Conservative defector has kept hold of his seat who ditched the Tories for Reform earlier this year remains the councillor for Bedwardine in Worcester after winning the lion's share of the vote He walked away with 1,182 votes - compared to 678 for Labour's Matt Lamb Nigel Farage will be cracking open the champagne - Reform are winning seats up and down the country and speculation is mounting they could take control of Worcestershire County Council They've already won in neighbouring Staffordshire County Council today Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingReform riding highpublished at 13:48 British Summer Time 2 May13:48 BST 2 MayTom EdwardsReporter The results are coming in thick and fast now the Tories have managed to hold onto just two of the 10 county seats in the district Worcestershire County Council’s deputy leader Marcus Hart retained his seat by just 76 votes for the Conservatives but elsewhere West Mercia’s Tory Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion failed to get elected Former Conservative councillor Bill Hopkins has held onto his seat of St Chads - and says he's "absolutely delighted" He's predicting the party will take overall control of the county council "The Conservatives didn't live up to expectations," he says on why he left the party and we are the only party that can deliver change." Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingLeader loses seatpublished at 13:37 British Summer Time 2 May13:37 BST 2 MayBreakingJames PearsonPolitical reporter Worcestershire County Council leader Simon Geraghty has lost his seat to the Greens Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingReform out in frontpublished at 13:33 British Summer Time 2 May13:33 BST 2 MayJames PearsonPolitical reporter Reform have taken an early lead in Worcestershire So far they have won 13 seats on the county council their first ever electoral success in the county That compares to just 4 for the Conservatives It’s looking highly likely the Tories will lose control of the authority Here at Worcester’s Guildhall there’s an expectation council leader Simon Geraghty will lose his seat to the Greens Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingHuddleston: Tories are still the main opposition to Labourpublished at 13:21 British Summer Time 2 May13:21 BST 2 MayIt's been a good morning nationally for Reform - winning the Runcorn and Helsby parliamentary by-election by just six votes The party also won the Greater Lincolnshire mayoral race Leader Nigel Farage calls the results a "very, very big moment" for his party - going so far as to claim Reform has “supplanted the Tories as the main opposition” co-chairman of the Conservative Party and MP for Droitwich and Evesham He points out that the Tories still have 121 MPs to Reform’s five and will "most likely" still have more than 4,000 seats in local government after this election "That is not a credible comment from Mr Farage," he says that the Tories aren't in the best position it does look like we have lost Conservative councillors.” Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingDeputy leader holds onto his seatpublished at 13:10 British Summer Time 2 May13:10 BST 2 MayTom EdwardsReporter Deputy leader of the county council and leader of Wyre Forest District Council Marcus Hart has been re-elected to the Chaddesley Ward - and says he can breathe a sigh of relief But he acknowledges the difficulties the Tories face in these elections "[Voters] are sending a message to the Labour government," he tells me haven't emerged from the general election defeat of last year." Conservative votes have "collapsed" "Reform are clearly the protest party "They're taking votes from the Labour and they're coming straight through the middle." Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingTories hold on to seat in Wychavonpublished at 12:57 British Summer Time 2 May12:57 BST 2 MayBreakingAlistair BinneyReporter Conservative Linda Robinson has held onto her Upton Snodsbury seat 5.48 Worcester2pts win The six-year-old didn't achieve a lot in six starts over hurdles but he took well to fences in a 2m4½f handicap chase at Southwell in October when seemingly not seeing out the trip having been keen in front He bettered all previous form on his first try over 2m at Ludlow in February finishing best of all to go down by just half a length to an in-form rival with a jump to his left at the last probably costing him the win Electric Jet was unable to justify favouritism last time finishing third of three but rallying well after a couple of mistakes to be only three-quarters of a length behind Jet Of Dreams who franked the form when winning next time That represented a career-best on Racing Post Ratings and he can take advantage of an unchanged mark now dropping back into Class 5 company Racing Post+ subscribers can read more of Harry Wilson's tipping here: Harry Wilson with five fancies including a standout bet who 'can take advantage of an unchanged mark dropped in class'    Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more Published on 5 May 2025inFree tips Copyright © 2025 Spotlight Sports Group Limited or its licensors All of the results from yesterday’s County Council Election in the Worcester City District have now been returned For a full list of results and all other information including an interactive map, please visit our dedicated Elections pages with Reform UK taking the most of council's seats Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.comand on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Nigel Farage's party won 27 seats in Worcestershire today making them the largest party on the council they remained two seats short of an outright majority The Green Party and Liberal Democrats also gained seats in the area as locals appear to be looking beyond Conservative and Labour for leadership Reacting to the news, Simon Geraghty, who has been ousted as Conservative leader of the council, told the BBC that it had been "difficult day" for himself and local party members after he lost his seat, Riverside in Worcester, to the Greens Gillian Ruth BELL - Liberal Democrat - 138 Peter Desmond TURNER     Reform UK    - 956  Sara Jane WOODHOUSE - Liberal Democrat - 183     Ingrid SCHMEISING-BARNES    Liberal Democrat    131  Margaret ROWLEY    Liberal Democrat    599     Stephen Peter SQUIRES    Green Party    195    Emma Jane KEARSEY    Conservative    1137  Joshua William ROBINSON - Liberal Democrat - 1715 Samuel Marc EVANS - Liberal Democrat - 1141     John David COCHRANE     - Labour - 169     Helen Jayne JONES - Conservative - 474     Christopher Norman COOKE - Green Party - 154     James Andrew CLARKE - Liberal Democrat -502    Rita Lorraine DENT - Conservative - 257     Philip William HINGLEY    Reform UK    948    Helen Elizabeth DYKE    Independent    664     Linda Dorothy HARDWICK    Liberal Democrat    46     Mel ALLCOTT    Liberal Democrat    1656     Philip John EDMUNDSON    Labour    454     Cloud Clare Eloise GOLLOP    Liberal Democrat    118     Steven Robert COLELLA - Independent - 1129 Laura Maeve ROLLINS - Labour & Co-Operative Party -165 David Joseph NICHOLL - Liberal Democrat    135     Martin John ALLEN    Green Party    2027     Sarah Caroline MCDERMOTT    Conservative    497      Daniel Brian BIRCH    Conservative    1324    Christopher Hugh EDMONDSON    Reform UK    729     Nicola Louise Mary MORRIS    Green Party    691     Owen Mark RALPH    Liberal Democrat    154     Richard Julian MORRIS    Conservative    1276     Roy Charles HARMSWORTH    Liberal Democrat    155     Mark Sidney GOODGE    Conservative    707     Mary Elizabeth TASKER    Labour    305     Matthew Edward Wilson JONES    Liberal Democrat    196     Michele Jayne HULME    Reform UK    924     Emma Katherine STOKES    Conservative    493     Sally Danielle JONES    Liberal Democrat    99     Sebastian James SPIERS    Reform UK    816     Daniel WALTON    Labour & Co-Operative Party    735     Clifford HOBBS    Liberal Democrat    251     Richard Henry KIMBERLEE    Green Party    186     Paul John CLAYSON    Green Party    330     Andrew Paul FIELDSEND-ROXBOROUGH    Liberal Democrat    270     Hannah Mary ROBSON    Green Party    890     Aaron James POWELL    Conservative    833     John David LITTLECHILD    Liberal Democrat    89     Graham Paul KEMP    Heritage Party    16     Malcolm Gordon VICTORY    Green Party    1518    Sebastian BARBOUR    Conservative    628     Angel Florence CHAWNER    Reform UK    507    Emma TRUEMAN    Liberal Democrat    360     Paul BENNETT    Liberal Democrat    716     Julie Caroline MACLUSKY    Conservative    488     Chris MCSWEENY    Liberal Democrat    824   Karen Michelle HANKS    Conservative    685     Christopher Roland BURROWS    Labour    184   Natalie Maria MCVEY    Green Party    1559     Michael David SAVAGE    Reform UK    509    David Edgar Lawrence WATKINS    Conservative    462     Jamie CRAMP    Liberal Democrat    251     Scott BUTLER    Liberal Democrat    134     Michael Bleddyn STURT-JOY    Liberal Democrat    222    David Charles CHAMBERLAIN    Green Party    215     Dan BOATRIGHT-GREENE    Liberal Democrat    2263     Fiona Sarah NUNAN    Green Party    82     Christopher David WINDSOR    Labour    67     Tom WELLS    Independent    2194    65.12Max WINDSOR-PEPLOW    Reform UK    622    18.46Glen PROMNITZ    Conservative    361    10.72Paul BOATRIGHT-GREENE    Liberal Democrat    117    3.47Christopher Johnathan TAYLOR    Labour    75    2.23 Jabba RIAZ    Labour    794    32.59Clare WRATTEN    Green Party    768    31.53David CARNEY    Reform UK    595    24.43Gregory WILKINS    Conservative    185    7.59Bart RICKETTS    Liberal Democrat    70    2.87Mark Patrick DAVIES    Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition    24    0.99 EDMONDS (REF) & TUDGE (REF) elected for Redditch central division MONK (REF) & TAYLOR (REF) elected for Redditch East division BENNETT (REF) & EACOCK (REF) elected for Redditch South division FOSTER (REF) & MONK (REF) elected for Redditch West division Paul Richard JAGGER    Liberal Democrat    102     Archie Michael HARRISON    Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition    18     David Richard ROSS    Conservative    757     Bernadette CONNOR    Labour & Co-Operative Party    353     Oliver Yasha WALKER    Liberal Democrat    167     Fran OBORSKI    Liberal Party - Keep It Local    591     Marie HOLMES    Labour & Co-Operative Party    232     Nigel John GRACE    Liberal Democrat    226     Steven HOLLANDS    Conservative    214     Brett Raymond CAULFIELD    Green Party    143     Tony Andrew MUIR    Independent    331     Di SMITH    Labour & Co-Operative Party    309     Kevin George GALE    Conservative    229     Shazu MIAH    Liberal Party - Keep It Local    164     Mark Thomas Eliot HEAFIELD    Liberal Democrat    82     Martin John HEWLETT    Reform UK    570     Bertie BALLINGER    Conservative    277     Peter JACKSON    Liberal Democrat    66     Martin POTTER    UK Independence Party (UKIP)    19     Leigh WHITEHOUSE    Independent    350     John BECKINGHAM    Labour & Co-Operative Party    336     Suzanne Elizabeth NICHOLL    Liberal Democrat    93     Paul Simon HICKLING    Reform UK    758    Stuart WILD    Liberal Democrat    122     Nathan John DESMOND    Conservative    624     Clare CASSIDY    Liberal Democrat    167     Roger Paul BROOKER    Reform UK    541     Angelika WISNIEWSKA    Conservative    233     John William Roland THOMAS    Independent    267     Timothy SCHMEISING-BARNES    Liberal Democrat    139     Ian Robert CRESSWELL    Reform UK    1298    John CALDWELL    Liberal Democrat    536     Carl FORDINGTON    Conservative    1072     Peter Henry JONES    Green Party    314     Adam Cedric Hudson SCOTT    Labour    150     Linda ROBINSON    Conservative    1318     Philip David KILLORAN    Liberal Democrat    675    Robert Jon NICHOLS    Green Party    208     Steve AINSWORTH    Labour & Co-Operative Party    134     Jill Marjorie DESAYRAH    Labour    440     Connor Paul Terence SMITH    Reform UK    684     Sarah MURRAY    Liberal Democrat    536     Shirley Anne WEBB - Conservative - 1047     Martin Philip GERMAN - Liberal Democrat - 245     Julian Malcolm GRAY - Green Party - 152     Adam David KENT - Local Conservatives - 1832     Valerie Jane CLARKE - Liberal Democrat - 92 Amelia Louisa QUIRK - Green Party - 77