Lincoln: Labour strengthens grip on city council as Tories lose seats

Hamish Falconer, Labour's prospective Parliamentary candidate for Lincoln, described the result as a "great" win

The Labour Party has strengthened its grip on City of Lincoln Council, taking seats from the Conservatives.

A third of the authority's 33 seats were up for election and Labour gained three extra, taking its total to 23, while the Tories lost four.

One Conservative candidate believed the loss of votes were down to Tory voters "staying at home".

Hamish Falconer, Labour's prospective Parliamentary candidate for Lincoln, described the result as a "great" win.

"We've won seats right across the city," he said.

"There's been a lot of confidence put in a really great team of councillors here and we're looking forward to getting on with the job.

"I think it is definitely true that people in Lincoln just see that we do need to change, that the Conservatives have run out of steam.

"[But] I'll certainly not be expecting that the votes that have happened in this local election will come to me in a general election."

Lincolnshire PCC: Conservative Marc Jones is re-elected

The loss of Tory votes were down to Conservative voters "staying at home", one councillor says

Mr Falconer said he needed "to win over each and every vote (sic) myself" in the next general election, especially in the wider rural areas of Lincolnshire.

"We have a whole bunch of very committed teachers, local parents, people who are known in their areas who've worked incredibly hard.

"But I think people do also see a national message which they care about. They know that we are talking about the issues that matter to people in Lincoln and that is the cost of living, the NHS, the bread and butter issues that are affecting people's lives day by day."

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• Chris Mason: A rough night for the Conservatives

Conservative candidate Eddie Streingiel lost his seat after serving more than 30 years on the council.

He said: "I don't believe in sour grapes but I do believe the national scene has let me down and my side down overall in Lincoln. However, politics is what it is."

The Liberal Democrats gained an extra seat, taking the party's total to five, which is the same number as the Conservatives.

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