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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Aaron Curran

Labour retain majority in St Helens despite Green and Independent gains

Labour still hold a majority on St Helens Council despite a strong showing from the Green Party and Independents.

Labour lost out in Haydock and Newton-le-Willows West to the Greens and an Independent respectively. Labour were still able to hold onto a majority, winning 29 seats in the council. Counting kicked off at Sutton Leisure Centre on May 6, with several groups feeling optimistic, namely the Greens who wanted to carry on their surge in Haydock, Bold and Lea Green.

Billinge and Seneley Green's result piled further problems for the Labour party as they lost out on two seats to Independent candidates Colin Betts and Peter Peers. Deputy leader of the council and Newton-le-Willows East candidate Seve Gomez-Aspron remained pleased with the day's results, however, as he retained his seat.

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A strong day for the Greens saw them take a full house in Haydock as well as gains in Bold. Meanwhile Rainhill Independents took all seats.

All out elections posed a new challenge for Labour, with all seats up for grabs. However they seemed to handle the pressure well. In a statement council leader David Baines said: "I am delighted to say that Labour have maintained control of St Helens Council. In an all out election anything can happen, but what *has* happened is Labour have won a large majority of seats and have been given a clear mandate to deliver our plans for the borough."

The Conservative party did not perform as well, winning only two seats- both in Rainford. Full results can be accessed here

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