Conservatives lose control of Wiltshire Council

Friday, 2 May 2025 15:57

The Conservative Party will not control Wiltshire Council for the first time since it was converted into a unitary authority.

Following yesterday's local election, the Conservatives have lost seats to Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats, and no party will gain control of the council with an overall majority.

The Liberal Democrats now hold the most seats, but could not win the 50 seats required to take control of the council.

Although the majority of the map is Conservative Blue, they are the more rural, less densley populated areas (Image: Wiltshire Council)

The Conservative Party have lost 24 seats compared to 2021, though they have had some gains, with Chris Taylor overturning Sam Charleston in Salisbury St Paul's.

Reform UK have also gained seats. They held no seats in Wiltshire prior to this election and have gained 10, with Ed Rimmer being the first to be announced as the new councillor for Bemerton Heath.

The biggest gain has been by the Liberal Democrats with Alan Balyliss picking up Milford, formerly Conservative and 15 others across the county.

Meanwhile, Labour have almost been wiped out, with just one seat on Wiltshire Council as things stand, that being the seat of Ricky Rogers in Fisherton & Bemerton Village.

Wiltshire Council and Conservative leader Richard Clewer said earlier today: "It's quite a confused picture for Wiltshire. There's a lot of work to do in the next few days."

Local Results for Wiltshire Council:

Bemerton Heath: Ed Rimmer (Reform UK)
St Francis & Stratford: John Wells (independent)
Fisherton & Bemerton Village: Ricky Rogers (Labour)
Milford: Alan Bayliss (Liberal Democrats)
St Edmund's: Paul Sample (Liberal Democrats)
Harnham East: Sven Hocking (Conservatives)
Harnham West: Brian Dalton (Liberal Democrats)
St Paul's: Chris Taylor (Conservatives)

Wiltshire Council Seats (Image: WIltshire Council)

More to follow

Results of local parish councils, including Salisbury City Council, are due to be declared later this afternoon.

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