Cumberland Conservatives suffer a rout in historic 2022 elections

Cumberland Conservatives felt the sting of national politics at the ballot box on Thursday night, winning just three wards of the 18 up for grabs in the Carlisle District.

35.47 per cent of the electorate had their say at 114 polling stations in the area, elected councillors to the new Cumberland Council unitary authority which will govern Carlisle, Allerdale and Copeland.

As a unitary authority, the new council will have responsibilities and powers of decision-making on all aspects of local government in Cumberland including both highways and planning.

Fears were no doubt realised for Conservative candidates as controversy surrounding Downing Street severed the party’s grip on Carlisle.

Labour has secured nine seats in the Carlisle District and the Liberal Democrats clinched four.

Independent councillor Robert Betton was successful in winning the Botcherby seat and in a “significant” victory for the party, Helen Davison was elected for the Greens in Belah.

The Liberal Democrats have celebrated shock victories in Longtown and Stanwix

Current leader of Carlisle Constituency Labour Party, Lisa Brown was elected as Currock’s representative on the new authority.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service at the count, held at the Civic Centre, she said that the results signalled a turning of the tide.

“That’s their voters telling them they’re not happy.”

“It’s been so much more positive on the doorstep for us. To be the first councillors elected to this new authority, there’s been so much publicity but now the work really starts.”

Conservative candidate for the Castle ward Syed Ali said that he felt national politics hurt the local candidates this week. He missed out on the chance to represent Castle ward to Labour’s candidate Anne Glendinning who received 562 votes.

It is a similar picture for Labour in Allerdale and Copeland and the party expects to take control of the new Cumberland Council in its inaugural four year term.

Thursday night also brought cause for celebration for the Liberal Democrat underdogs.

FROM COPELAND COUNT: Landslide victory for Labour in Copeland at Cumberland Council election

Lib Dem candidate Brian Wernham took the Stanwix Urban seat with 1472 votes, Tory candidate Elizabeth Mallinson received 559 votes in second place. Stanwix has historically been a Conservative stronghold.

Mr Wernham said: “After 49 years of being a Conservative ward, Stanwix urban has now gone to the Lib Dems, I will now do my best to represent the people of Stanwix.

“It’s a very sizeable majority, the people definitely voted for modernisation and a new approach.”

IN FIGURES: The new Cumberland Council

Labour candidate Cyril Weber, a more than 40 year veteran of local politics said the he was “delighted” to be elected as Cumberland Council’s member for Harraby North with 708 votes.

Deputy mayor of Carlisle Mike Mitchelson secured the Brampton seat for the Conservatives with 752 votes. Tom Adams of the Greens received 720 votes.

FROM ALLERDALE COUNT: Labour 'look forward' to future as they dominate the Cumberland Council elections

John Mallinson was elected in Houghton and Irthington with 1024 votes, he will continue to serve as leader of Carlisle City Council until the authority is abolished when Cumberland Council takes full control in April 2023.

Geoff Mitchell won a decisive victory for the Conservatives in Wetheral with 1173 votes but it was a shock defeat for the party in Yewdale as Labour’s Jeanette Whalen took the seat with 944.

Conservative candidate for Morton, Neville Lishman, who missed out on the seat to Labour’s Anne Quilter said: “Although I fell short, I really enjoyed the campaign in Morton. I managed to get 12 of the 13 per cent swing needed. Congratulations to Ann Quilter on her victory.”

READ MORE: How Cumberland Election unfolded in dramatic night