Southampton MP reacts to bruising night for Labour
Labour have lost control of Southampton City Council
Southampton MP Darren Paffey admitted it had been a “really difficult night” for Labour as the party experienced significant losses in the local elections.
Mr Paffey said the results sent a message the government was not providing the change people needed quickly enough.
He said while Labour had lost its majority on Southampton City Council, as the largest party it still had the responsibility to get on with the job of running the local authority.
The Southampton Itchen MP watched the results come in at the Guildhall following polling day on Thursday, May 7.
Speaking after the final declaration, Mr Paffey said: “Labour has run the council for all but one year since 2012.
“Before that in the early part of the 2000s there were a number of councils where they was no overall control, so we know that it is entirely possible to have a council that’s run with either no majority or buy a largest party, and Labour is still by some way the largest party – still three times as many councillors as the biggest opposition group now.
“That means the mandate is still ours, the responsibility is still on Labour’s shoulders to get that job done of running this council, running this city, opening up opportunities for people who live and work and study here and making it a great place.
“That responsibility remains and that’s what Labour councillors will be redoubling their efforts to achieve.”
The biggest result of the night saw council leader Alex Winning lose his seat in Shirley.
Mr Paffey paid tribute to Cllr Winning for his leadership of the council, as well as other Labour councillors in Southampton and across the country who had lost their seats.
He added: “It’s undeniable this has been a really difficult night.
“The results show that and Labour will absolutely be reflecting on that in the coming days.
“I think it’s very clear there are messages around the change we have been tasked with bringing this country nationally and the role of our councils in delivering that.
“People are saying that that is not quick enough.
“Of course, it was really deep-seated problems societally and economically.
“It cannot be turned around overnight.
“However, we do have to hear what people are saying, that clamour for change, for help with things like the cost of living, with access to the health services they need and work opportunities.
“We have got to redouble our efforts, roll up our sleeves and really focus on getting change to the people who need it.”
Alongside the leader’s defeat, Andy Frampton, councillor responsible for housing, and Marie Finn, councillor responsible for adult social care and public health, lost their seats.
The first experience of the new political balance will come with the annual council meeting taking place on Wednesday, May 20.
Asked about potential political alliances in the chamber, Mr Paffey said: “The more urgent need is to elect a new leader for the council.
“It will then be a matter for that leader and their cabinet to make the decisions that are local decisions within this council about what will be best to be able to run the council and deliver the change people need and the many, many services people in our city rely on.
“I will absolutely leave that decision to them, but will support as an MP where I can.”