Tonbridge and Malling Council continued a terrible day for the Conservatives in Kent, with the party losing 17 seats to tip the council into No Overall Control.

While the gains were distributed quite evenly among the opposition parties – Labour and the Liberal Democrats gaining two seats each, the Greens gaining four – the narrative post-election will be dominated by the relative collapse of the Conservative vote.

Though the Conservatives were spared the ignominy of having their council leader lose his seat – Matt Broughton holding on comfortably in East Peckham, West Peckham, Mereworth and Wateringbury – the now-common sight of a Liberal Democrat-Labour-Green coalition is the most likely makeup of the new administration.

The new distribution of seats is as follows:

• Conservatives: 20 seats
• Liberal Democrats: 11 seats
• Greens: 8 seats
• Labour: 3 seats
• Independents/Others: 2 seats

The council’s annual meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 17 May.

 

If you wish to discuss this council’s result in more detail, please contact [email protected]