THE Conservatives continued their success in the region by securing more seats than any other party in the Hartlepool Borough Council local elections.

Although the Conservatives won all 13 seats they stood candidates in, up from the four which they had before the elections, no party gained the 19 seats needed for a majority.

All 36 seats on the council were contested, three in each of the 12 wards, at the election count at Mill House Leisure Centre.

Cllr Mike Young, group leader for Hartlepool Conservatives, said the party ran “fantastic” campaigns nationally, regionally and locally in recent weeks.

Cllr Young said: “The people have spoken, Hartlepool has said exactly what they’ve been saying for a long time, they’re looking for a change, they’re looking for something new and it’s down to us to deliver.

“Let’s talk Hartlepool up, too long it’s been where we’ve talked it down and people are fed up of that message.”

He added it was “very early days” to be talking about coalitions and first they will reflect on the election.

He said: “It’s been forever since we’ve had this position, to do anything knee jerk is ridiculous.

“We’re going to level up and we’re going to build back better. With this kind of turnout we’ve got a massive opportunity to do that.”

The party added to their existing four seats by winning one in each of Burn Valley, De Bruce, Fens and Greatham, Foggy Furze, Headland and Harbour, Manor House, Rossmere, Seaton and Victoria.

Labour also increased the number of seats they had on the council, leaving the election with 11 councillors, up from six previously.

There was drama surrounding one of the two seats they gained in Rossmere, with Labour candidates Moss Body and Julie Clayton both recording 558 votes.

This meant straws had to be drawn to see who won the seat, with Mr Boddy successful.

Hartlepool Labour Group leader Cllr Brenda Harrison said despite the improved results for Labour, people in the town have made a statement in the elections.

She said: “It’s nearly double what we had before the election, we have some really committed people for Labour on the council.

“We will listen to the people of Hartlepool, who have obviously made quite a statement over the last few days, as to what they want.”

Council leader Cllr Shane Moore, Hartlepool Independent Union representative, retained his seat in Headland and Harbour, along with Tim Fleming, however they lost the three other seats they previously held.

He added he would be interested in again working with Conservative councillors, who the group has been in coalition with since 2019.

He said: “We’ve lost some good councillors unfortunately, but I’m sure we’ve gained some great new councillors as well.

“The current coalition has worked extremely well together. We put party politics aside and we have delivered a lot over the past two years, and I think there is a willingness to continue with that.”

However Reform UK’s Cllr John Tennant, chair of neighbourhood services committee, left the election without a seat after losing out in the newly created Throston ward.

Despite standing 15 candidates, the second most after Labour, the Veterans’ and People’s Party also left without a seat.

Ten independents were elected, including former ceremonial mayor Rob Cook in Hart, after previously losing his seat in De Bruce for Labour in 2019.