Green Party success but Labour holds Sefton and Knowsley

Neil Doolin has become the first Green councillor in Sefton

Labour has increased its majority on Sefton Council, as the borough's first ever Green councillor was elected.

The ruling party took one seat from the Conservatives and now controls 49 of the council's 66 seats.

The Green Party made history by winning its first ever seat on the borough's council.

Neil Doolin became the first Green councillor in Sefton, having taken 1,412 votes to Labour’s 1,307 in the Church ward.

The Green Party beat Labour by 105 votes

Mr Doolin said Green representation was "badly overdue" after "having three Labour councillors for over 18 years" and said the party now aimed to grow across Sefton.

"We picked up on big issues within Church ward in terms of attempts to shut down the local library and of course we have bigger issues in terms of the plan to drive a dual carriage way through Rimrose Valley," he said.

A proposal for a £250m bypass through the country park to improve access to the Port of Liverpool was first announced in 2017 and has since been put on hold until at least 2025.

Tories lose seat

Labour's Karen Cavanagh has been elected in the Harington ward, taking this seat from the Tories.

The Liberal Democrats have won three seats, including regaining Cambridge ward, which means they remain on nine seats.

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The Conservatives lost Harington ward to Labour but held Dukes ward seat with incumbent councillor Mike Prendergast winning comfortably.

About a third of councils have declared results so far, with more council and mayoral election results due in later and on Saturday.

No change in Knowsley

There has been no change in Knowsley as Labour retain control of the borough council

In Knowsley, Labour retained control of the borough council.

Turn out was 21% and no seats changed hands.

Council leader Labour's Graham Morgan won his Swanside seat with a majority of over 1,300 and a new councillor for Labour, Chantelle Lunt, secured St Gabriel’s ward where she beat the Green Party by 923 votes to 852.

Ms Lunt, who founded the Merseyside Black Lives Matter Alliance, said she was looking forward to bringing the community together" and making "a positive change".

Megan Dever, 22, became the youngest councillor in Knowsley after being elected to represent Labour in Roby.

Independent Steve Smith beat Labour's Louise Harbour to retain his seat in Whitefield.

Labour holds Halton

Neil Connolly (centre) was elected Daresbury, Moore and Sandymoor councillor

Labour has held Halton Borough Council, in Cheshire, taking the seat of Daresbury, Moore and Sandymoor from the Conservatives.

The change means Labour now has 50 seats, the Lib Dems three, and the Tories have one.

Council leader Labour's Mike Wharton, who was comfortably re-elected in Ditton, Hale Village and Halebank, said it was an "excellent result" and proved the party was "doing a lot of things right locally".

Elsewhere in Cheshire, Labour retained Wolverham in Cheshire West and Chester Council after a by-election yesterday, following Labour councillor Michael Edwardson's announcement that he was standing down for health reasons.

John Stockton from the party won with 576 votes. Second place was the Green Party candidate Kate Grannell with 73 votes and independent candidate Jonathan Starkey was third with 64.

The results of the Liverpool City Region metro mayor and Merseyside and Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner elections will be announced on Saturday.