THE Conservative Party strengthened its hold on Hampshire County Council as Ukip suffered a complete wipeout in local party elections.

In total the Tories had 52 per cent of the vote and 56 seats, an increase of nine on its previous tally of 47 seats.

Meanwhile the Lib Dems managed 27 per cent of the vote and 19 seats, while Labour won two and Community Campaign (Hart) won one.

The results in Hampshire were broadly in keeping with the national picture, where Ukip failed to win a single seat it was contesting and Labour also struggled.


The turnout for the 2017 County Council elections was 36 per cent of the electorate. 

John Coughlan, County Returning Officer and Hampshire County Council Chief Executive confirmed the next steps for the County Council: “The majority party will now meet to consider its key appointments. The Annual General Meeting of the County Council on 25 May will appoint the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Leader of the County Council. The newly elected Leader will make appointments to the Cabinet ahead of its first meeting on 19 June. 

“I look forward to working with all of Hampshire County Council’s Members in serving the county’s 1.3 million residents over this next Administration period – delivering important public services; from education, roads, highways and social care for vulnerable children and adults, to access to the countryside and libraries. 

“The County Council elections have run very smoothly and I would like to thank all of the staff in the district and borough councils, and the County Council for their contribution in the process.” 

Edward Heron (Conservatives) won the Lyndhurst & Fordingbridge seat with 3,506.

He is the district council’s deputy leader. Alexi Sugden of the Lib Dems received 1,131 and Janet Richards for the Green Party collected 460 votes.

John Haywood of Labour wins 345 and Jane Ward of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition wins 61.

Michael Thierry (Conservatives) won the vote for the Ringwood seat.

Michael Thierry, a former Mayor of Ringwood, left his position early to concentrate on the county council election. He won with 2,502 votes, as Tom Cornwall of the Lib Dems gained 754 votes and Peter Kelleher of Labour received 521.

Julian Konczak of the Green Party got 316.