Local Elections 2024: Conservatives lose Adur District Council to Labour for first time

Labour has won control of Adur District Council for the first time ever following the local elections.

The authority has been run by the Conservatives since 2002, and has never previously had a Labour administration.

The Conservatives lost seven seats, and independents one, leaving the new council as Labour 17, Conservatives eight, Green two and independents two.

Before the election, Conservatives held 15 seats on the authority, which covers towns including Shoreham-by-Sea, Southwick and Lancing.

It was formed on the 1 April 1974, and was named after the River Adur which meets the sea in Shoreham.

Since 2008 it has worked in partnership with Worthing Borough Council, which Labour took from the Tories in 2022.

It follows Rushmoor council in Hampshire, which Labour took from the Tories earlier this morning.

Councillors there blamed the loss on Reform.