Southampton has first Conservative leader for nine years

Daniel Fitzhenry is the new leader of Southampton City Council

A new leader has been appointed at Southampton City Council, after Conservatives gained control in elections earlier this month.

Daniel Fitzhenry replaces Labour's Christopher Hammond, who also announced he would step down as leader of the Labour group.

The Conservatives gained control from Labour for the first time in nine years in elections on 6 May.

The party won the final seat by just 10 votes, earning 25 seats to Labour's 23.

Councillors elected a new leader at a face-to-face meeting in Southampton's Guildhall

During the face-to-face, but socially-distanced, meeting at Southampton Guildhall on Wednesday, Mr Fitzhenry said it was a "great privilege and honour" to be elected leader.

Conservative councillor Alex Houghton - who was Sheriff of Southampton in 2020-21 - was also elected as the city's 799th mayor.

'New leadership'

The city's Labour group leader Christopher Hammond, who has been Southampton City Council leader since 2018, has announced he will step down as head of the party in the city.

Mr Hammond said the Labour group's "renewal is best served by new leadership at this time".

He will continue to represent Woolston ward.

A new Labour leader will be elected in the coming weeks, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) reported.