Labour make big gains in Wolverhampton

Labour made huge gains on Wolverhampton City Council as opposition Conservatives lost nine councillors – including the incoming mayor of Wolverhampton.

The city's longest serving councillor Paddy Bradley lost her Penn seat after 39 years representing the Tories.

The 75-year-old was due to become the ceremonial Mayor of Wolverhampton on May 16 but the role will now have to pass to another Conservative councillor to be chosen by the party.

The Tories were reduced to 13 members as the ruling Labour party seized nine seats.

Labour gained other previously safe Tory seats in Merry Hill and Wednesfield South as well as winning back seats the party lost in 2008 when Gordon Brown's popularity as Prime Minister had fallen away.

Oxley, East Park, Bushbury North, Wednesfield North, Heath Town and Fallings Park all returned to Labour.

Conservative leader Councillor Neville Patten said: "We are losing some very good councillors for what the Government is doing. Over the last few weeks people have lost faith in the Government despite it having to do things to put right the mess Labour left us in."

In Graiseley the Conservatives finished behind an independent candidate, retired police chief John Mellor. Meanwhile a former mayor of Wolverhampton, Labour's Phil Bateman, won back his seat in Wednesfield North having lost it four years ago.

The Liberal Democrats held on to the one seat they were defending in Spring Vale. Labour now has 44 of the 60 council seats with the Conservatives on 13 and the Lib Dems on three.