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12
Feb 2023
How will the Masham by-election defeat affect North Yorkshire Conservatives?
The Conservatives in North Yorkshire suffered a blow this week after losing the Masham and Fountains by-election.
Liberal Democrat Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, the Countess of Swinton, took the North Yorkshire County Council seat which had previously been held by long-serving Conservative Margaret Atkinson.
It’s the latest defeat for the local Tories, who failed to win a majority in Harrogate and Knaresborough in last May's local election.
That meant the Lib Dems seized control of the county council's Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee but the Conservatives retained overall control across the county.
But this week's loss has reduced the Tories' majority to just two and raised the prospect of the party losing overall control of the county for the first time in over 20 years.
A further dent in the Tories' majority
In just eight weeks time, the upcoming North Yorkshire Council will take over local government in the county. Councillors will transfer from North Yorkshire County Council and serve for four more years.
The swing in power has been dramatic since May last year.
In Harrogate and Knaresborough, the Liberal Democrats now hold 11 seats compared to two just nine months ago following this week's election in Masham.
How the make-up of North Yorkshire County Council looked prior to the by-election.
The Masham result was particularly pertinent given that the Conservatives had won the seat in the May 2022 elections with 1,076 votes.
This week's by-election was a two-horse race after the opposition Green Party pulled out of the contest in an effort to bolster the Lib Dems' chances.
Overall, the Conservatives are the largest party with 46 seats on the council with opposition parties taking up 44.
Read more:
- Green Party steps aside for upcoming Masham by-election
- Liberal Democrats win Masham and Fountains by-election
The dent in the majority means the party are just one by-election away from losing overall power.
The loss of overall control would have implications for major decisions. Should the council be required to pass a tough budget with far reaching cuts or hike in council tax, it could result in a tight vote.
The make-up of the council could also lead to close votes on politically difficult topics, such as fracking.
However, such a controversial topics may also see other councillors from different political parties vote against their own party line.
‘You can promise the earth in opposition’
While the defeat may leave the Conservatives in a tough position on paper, local councillors are upbeat about the situation.
Cllr Nick Brown, who sits as a Conservative in the Wathvale and Bishop Monkton division, told the Stray Ferret that the party respected the electorate's decision and that Tory councillors would continue to work for constituents.
He said the Liberal Democrats would find it “difficult” to put words into action.
Cllr Brown said:
He added that he hoped the result was a “blip” for the local party.
He said:
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have taken the result in their stride.
Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough parliamentary constituency, said the result “put the Tories on notice”.
He said:
Meanwhile, Green party Cllr Arnold Warneken, who represents Ouseburn division, said it was not straight forward in opposing the Conservatives despite their slim majority.
He said:
Cllr Warneken added that he was prepared to work with any party and was not bound by “political dogma”.
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