The leader of Solihull Council says she remains “positive” despite the Conservatives losing control of the authority for the first time since 2011. Councillor Karen Grinsell has confirmed that the party will now run the authority as a minority administration.
By the end of the vote count, the results showed the Conservatives had secured 24 councillors – two short of the 26 needed for a majority. “We are still the largest party,” the leader told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. “The national picture will have played a part to a certain extent, but the majority of voters realised this is about local politics.”
Reform UK Surge in Solihull
Reform UK has been the story of the local elections nationally and enjoyed a surge in Solihull, gaining 13 councillors to become the second largest party on the authority. Asked if she felt threatened by Reform UK, Councillor Grinsell said: “I’m very positive. Some of the votes came close, even when we missed out. Elections of this nature will always throw up anomalies because there are so many candidates on the ballot paper.”
The leader said the Conservatives had been strong across the borough but conceded that in the north of the borough many voters turned to Reform UK. “We are still working for them – we have a massive project in Kinghurst which is Conservative led,” she said. “We can win them back.”
Support for National Leader
The Conservatives saw losses nationally, but Councillor Grinsell said she fully backs Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, who visited the borough during the election campaign. “Absolutely, 100 per cent support for her,” she said. “On the doorstep we were getting people saying they really love her. As time goes on she is getting stronger before that general election, whenever it comes.”
