Lib Dems win most seats on Devon County Council - but fail to take overall majority

The make up of Devon County Council has today changed dramatically

Independent for Axminster Paul Hayward retained his seat in the East Devon count at Westpoint.
Author: Andrew KayPublished 2nd May 2025
Last updated 2nd May 2025

The Lid Dems are now the largest party on Devon County Council - but they're not in overall control.

Reform now has the second highest number of seats - and it's unclear if any parties will work together

Reform also won their first seat on Exeter City Council overnight – with Labour taking the other by-election.

Counting has been taking place today for Devon County Council, with counts taking place in the various districts.

Independent for Axminster Paul Hayward retained his seat at the East Devon count at Westpoint.

Devon County Council has been in Conservative control since 2009.

In 2009, the Conservatives took control of Devon County Council from the Liberal Democrats for the first time since 1989. The Liberal Democrat administration had led the County Council for the previous four years.

Prior to that, from 2001 until 2005, no party achieved a majority, and the Council agreed a power sharing arrangement with the first ever all-party administration in the County Council’s 120-year history. Boundary changes in 2005 increased the overall number of seats from 54 to 62, but then further boundary changes in 2017 took the overall number of seats from 62 down to 60.

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