Labour has retained the control of Norwich City Council, despite a set of disappointing election results that bucked the national trend for the party.

The Labour group's ranks at City Hall were dented, with the loss of two wards to the Greens following the voting on Thursday.

Thirteen of the 39 seats on the city council were up for grabs - one in each ward. 

Eastern Daily Press: Gillian Francis, who took Sewell from LabourGillian Francis, who took Sewell from Labour (Image: Denise Bradley/Newsquest)

Following the count at St Andrew's Hall, the political makeup of the authority is now Labour (23), Greens (13) and Liberal Democrats (three). 

The two seats to change hands were Sewell Ward, which was taken by Gillian Francis, and Wensum, which was taken by Liam Calvert.

Both wards were once true red seats, but Sewell is now entirely Green and the Wensum vote sees a significant swing from 2019, when there were almost 500 votes between the Labour winner and the Greens. 

The party's performance in Norwich was in contrast to the national picture, which saw Labour pick up seats in many places.

Eastern Daily Press: Norwich City Council election count 2023 PICTURE: Denise Bradley/NewsquestNorwich City Council election count 2023 PICTURE: Denise Bradley/Newsquest (Image: Denise Bradley/Newsquest)

Reacting to the news, the outgoing leader of the council, Labour’s Alan Waters said: “We are pleased that we got some solid results in the seats we were defending. 

“We are disappointed to be losing an activist councillor in Sewell in Julie Brociek-Coulton and a good candidate in Laura McCartney-Gray in a nail-biting result. 

“We have got a lot to reflect on, on why we didn’t win those seats and where our campaigns [didn’t break through] and where we need to improve.” 

Eastern Daily Press: Matt Packer has returned back to Norwich City Council PICTURE: Denise BradleyMatt Packer has returned back to Norwich City Council PICTURE: Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley/Newsquest)

Mr Waters praised the party’s breakthrough gains in other areas in Norfolk, particularly Broadland, which he said bode well for Labour gaining Norwich North at the general election. 

Jamie Osborn, who was speaking on behalf of the Green group, said: “It is very very positive, we went into this determined to try to listen to voters and work hard all year round on the issues that matter to them.” 

Mr Osborn said he thought voters were responding to their positive message, offering a change from established parties. 

James Wright, the leader of the Liberal Democrats at City Hall, said it has been a good day for the party nationally and locally, and was delighted to see Judith Lubbock re-elected for Eaton. 

 

Norwich City Council election results

Key: C - Conservative, G - Green, I - Independent, L - Labour, LD - Liberal Democrats, OMRLP - Official Monster Raving Loony Party, HP - Heritage Party - Freedom. Family. Nation, none given (NG) *Denotes sitting councillor **Denotes sitting councillor running in a separate seat

Bowthorpe: Sean Bennett (LD) 238, Oscar Houseago (C) 295, Peter Prinsley (L) 1,185, Tamara Rampley (G) 236. Turnout: 28.3pc 

Catton GroveJess Carrington (L) 1309, Tony Park (G) 350, Richard Potter (C) 500, Ian Williams (LD) 148. Turnout: 29.2pc 

Crome: Simon Jones (C) 552, James Killbery (G) 399, Nigel Lubbock (LD) 152, Matthew Packer (L) 1,299. Turnout: 28.8pc 

Eaton: Iain Gwynn (C) 463, Carli Harper (L) 913, Judith Lubbock* (LD) 2,215, Jane Saunders (G) 501. Turnout: 52.3pc 

LakenhamKeith Driver* (L) 1399, Mark Finbow (G) 486, Eric Master (C) 341, Arthur Wu (LD) 231. Turnout: 31.9pc 

Mancroft: Thomas Cornish (C) 225, Amanda Fox (G) 1,491, Jasper Haywood (L) 642, Alan Wright (LD) 75. Turnout: 32.5pc 

Mile Cross: Jane Fisher (C) 267, Desmond Fulcher (LD) 122, Abby Hoffman (I) 56, Tom Holloway (G) 660, Jacob Huntley* (L) 1,016. Turnout: 27.4pc 

Nelson: David Fairbairn (LD) 164, John Fisher (C) 212, Hannah Hoechner (G) 2,281, Michael Howard (L) 1,322. Turnout: 49pc 

Sewell: Helen Arundell (LD 72), Stephen Bailey (C) 189, Julie Brociek-Coulton* (L) 1,091, Gillian Francis (G) 1,666. Turnout: 37.3pc 

Thorpe Hamlet: Jeremy Hooke (LD) 158, Jane Overhill (L) 997, Alice Saunders (C) 336, Josh Worley (G) 1,420. Turnout: 37.3pc 

Town Close: Mary Chacksfield (C) 543, Carol Chilton (LD) 243, Karen Davis* (L) 1,835, Iolo Jones (G) 696. Turnout: 41.9pc 

University: Sean Gough (G) 492, James Hawketts (LD) 512, Hassan Iqbal (C) 173, Beth Jones* (L) 1,206. Turnout: 31pc 

Wensum: Benedict Baldwin (C) 232, Liam Calvert (G) 1,305, Gordon Dean (LD) 80, Laura McCartney-Gray (L) 1,283. Turnout: 35.2pc