Jeremy Corbyn in Shropshire as Labour celebrates Telford council election victory
“Telford is red, from Wellington to Ironbridge.”
That was the proud declaration of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn when he visited the town to congratulate councillors after a successful local elections campaign.
Mr Corbyn was greeted by around 20 or so bleary-eyed councillors at Dale Park in Ironbridge to celebrate their campaign.
The Star's Nick Humphrey's tweeted from Ironbridge:
Telford & Wrekin’s Labour councillors not only bucked the national trend and resisted a Brexit backlash, but boosted their majority.
In a result that council leader Shaun Davies admitted he couldn’t have expected, Labour won eight new council seats and Mr Corbyn came to deliver his congratulations in person.
The council increased its number of seats from 28 seats to 36. Mr Corbyn, who grew up near Newport, said: “Telford is my home. I’m delighted with the results and it’s all down to hard work.”
The Labour leader also made a quick stop off at The Swan in Newport, the pub where he went to his first Labour meeting aged 16.
Nationally the picture was less rosy for Labour as well as the government.
The official opposition lost more than 75 seats across the UK while the Conservatives lost more than 600, in a turn which politicians on both sides of the divide said stemmed from frustration with the two major parties’ lack of Brexit progress since the referendum in June 2016.
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When it was suggested that it wasn’t necessarily a day for celebrating, given the national picture, Mr Corbyn said: “It depends where you are. We’re sad to lose some councillors who have done great work. But I’m an eternal optimist and I’m happy to be here celebrating in Telford.”
On Brexit he said: “I think there is huge impetus on MPs, whether they were leave or remain, that an agreement has to be reached.
“Brexit has been a big issue in these elections. We are the party that is trying to bring people together.”
It was in Ironbridge that Labour delivered one of their best results when Labour’s Carolyn Healy displaced Nicola Lowery of the Conservatives, winning 707 votes to 423.
The two were the only candidates for the Gorge’s one seat. Councillor Healy said: “I’m completely honoured and humbled to have been elected as your councillor.
“I’m looking forward to representing and serving my community.”
A “devastated” Ms Lowery said: “Regrettably I think the national situation has heavily influenced people voting, the turnout hasn’t been there for the Tory party although in some areas we’ve seen good support. I absolutely adore my community and I passionately believe everything happens for a reason.”
