The first all-out council elections in Stevenage for 25 years have seen the Conservatives reduced to a single seat - with Labour the beneficiaries.

Voters went to the polls yesterday (Thursday, May 2), and decided to increase Labour's majority on the council.

The Conservatives lost eight of their nine seats, with only Cllr Phil Bibby remaining. It means that the Liberal Democrats, who retained all of their six seats and are led by Cllr Robin Parker, are now the official Opposition on the council.

A dramatic day saw a recount and then the drawing of lots in Woodfield ward, with Conservative Margaret Notley and Labour's Robert Boyle level on votes.

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Margaret Notley, twice mayor of Stevenage and first elected as a councillor in 1992, was the unfortunate loser, though she received a series of rousing 'hip hip hoorays' from the Conservative representatives after the result was announced.

It is the first time a non-Conservative has ever won in Woodfield ward, which was created in 1999. There were big changes in Longmeadow, too, with Labour taking all three seats having not previously won there since 2014.

Stevenage Borough Council is now made up of 32 Labour councillors, six Liberal Democrat councillors, and one Conservative councillor. Cllr Richard Henry remains leader of the council.

Full Stevenage Borough Council election results

Almond Hill: Labour HOLD THREE

Paul Dawson (Green) - 447

Marcel Houps (Conservative) - 469

Lin Martin-Haugh (Labour) – 834 - elected

Tom Plater (Labour) – 814 - elected

Richard Reece (Liberal Democrats) – 356

Jeannette Thomas (Labour) – 783 - elected

Turnout: 29.14% (up from 28.32% in 2023)

Bandley Hill and Poplars: Labour HOLD TWO and GAIN ONE

Jim Brown (Labour) – 749 - elected

Adrian Busolini (Green) – 183

Kamal Choudhury (Labour) – 689 - elected

David Denny-Stubbs (Conservative) – 530

Victoria Facey (Conservative) – 508

Michael Hearn (Reform UK) – 266

Charles Littleton (Liberal Democrats) – 271

Riad Mannan (Liberal Democrats) – 218

Mark Pickersgill (Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts) – 62

Peter Wilkins (Liberal Democrats) – 252

Jade Woods (Labour) – 701 - elected

Matthew Wyatt (Conservative) – 462

Turnout: 32.49% (up from 29.10% in 2023)

Bedwell: Labour HOLD THREE

Christopher Berry (Liberal Democrats) – 296

Cathy Bibby (Conservative) – 367

Nazmin Chowdhury (Labour) – 830 - elected

Steve Glennon (Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts) – 109

Steven Hodges (Green) – 282

Conor McGrath (Labour) – 887 - elected

Ellie Plater (Labour) – 786 - elected

Turnout: 27.3% (up from 24.64% in 2023)

Chells: Liberal Democrats HOLD THREE

Julie Ashley-Wren (Liberal Democrats) – 741 - elected

Stephen Booth (Liberal Democrats) – 698 - elected

Christine Clarkson (Conservative) – 290

David Ingarfill (Green) – 212

John Lloyd (Labour) – 509

Patrick Newman (Labour) – 460

Thea Pendlebury (Labour) – 448

Tom Wren (Liberal Democrats) – 738 - elected

Turnout: 28.47% (down from 30.31% in 2023)

Longmeadow: Labour GAIN THREE

Doug Bainbridge (Reform UK) – 191

Jim Borcherds (Green) – 491

Peter Clark (Labour) – 700 - elected

Philip Durling (Reform UK) – 164

Akin Elekolusi (Labour) – 593 - elected

Bret Facey (Conservative) – 568

Alex Farquharson (Conservative) – 590

Lynda Guy (Labour) – 663 - elected

Matthew Hurst (Reform UK) – 193

Helen Kerr (Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts) – 48

Adam Mitchell (Conservative) – 571

Matthew Snell (Liberal Democrats) – 180

Turnout: 36.78% (up from 33.12% in 2023)

Manor: Liberal Democrats HOLD THREE

Louisa Barr (Labour) – 397

Andy Goldsmith (Conservative) – 311

Ashlee Hodson (Green) – 189

Andy McGuinness (Liberal Democrats) – 1,077 - elected

Maureen McKay (Labour) – 357

Robin Parker (Liberal Democrats) – 1,122 - elected

Graham Snell (Liberal Democrats) – 1,023 - elected

Peter Taylor (Labour) – 328

Turnout: 33.26% (down from 34.60% in 2023)

Martins Wood: Labour HOLD THREE

Myla Arceno (Labour) – 798 - elected

Janet Bainbridge (Reform UK) – 267

Lloyd Briscoe (Labour) – 751 - elected

Andy Facey (Conservative) – 421

Mark Gentleman (Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts) – 61

Robert Henry (Reform UK) – 252

Chris Hodson (Green) – 238

Naomi Lovelace-Collins (Green) – 203

Anthony Segadelli (Liberal Democrats) – 228

Carolina Veres (Labour) – 717 - elected

Turnout: 30.88% (up from 29.93% in 2023)

Old Town: Labour HOLD TWO and GAIN ONE

Andrew Anderson (Liberal Democrats) – 226

Harry Curtis (Conservative) – 523

Coleen Houlihan (Labour) – 733 - elected

Mason Humberstone (Labour) – 661 - elected

Mark Kerr (Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts) – 69

Dhiren Malavia (Conservative) – 433

Maria Wheeler (Conservative) – 504

Andy Whitmore (Green) – 301

Nigel Williams (Labour) – 665 - elected

Turnout: 35.70% (up from 35.18% in 2023)

Roebuck: Labour HOLD TWO and GAIN ONE

Nigel Bye (Liberal Democrats) – 310

Forhad Chowdhury (Labour) – 701 - elected

Bryan Clare (Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts) – 92

Pawel Gora (Green) – 286

Alistair Gordon (Labour) – 701 - elected

Nick Leech (Conservative) – 433

Anne Wells (Labour) – 727 - elected

Turnout: 27.48% (down from 28.57% in 2023)

Alistair Gordon and Forhad Chowdhury were tied for second and third place. After the drawing of lots, it was confirmed that an additional vote was allotted to Forhad Chowdhury. He was elected in second place, and Alistair Gordon was elected in third place.

Shephall: Labour HOLD THREE

David Barks (Liberal Democrats) – 219

Rob Broom (Labour) – 737 - elected

Barbara Clare (Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts) – 100

Celia Lawrence (Conservative) – 289

Sarah Mead (Labour) – 733 - elected

Stephani Mok (Green) – 209

Simon Speller (Labour) – 665 - elected

Turnout: 25.30% (down from 27.16% in 2023)

St Nicholas: Labour HOLD THREE

Sandra Barr (Labour) – 1,052 - elected

Amber Gentleman (Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts) – 128

Richard Henry (Labour) – 962 - elected

Hazel Jones (Liberal Democrats) – 260

Chris Keane (Green) – 305

Mel Mitchell (Conservative) – 407

Claire Parris (Labour) – 938 - elected

Turnout: 31.07% (up from 28.41% in 2023)

Symonds Green: Labour HOLD THREE

Clive Hearmon (Liberal Democrats) – 316

Jackie Hollywell (Labour) – 787 - elected

Jack Ingarfill (Conservative) – 510

Trevor Palmer (Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts) – 101

Ceara Roopchand (Labour) – 627 - elected

Loraine Rossati (Labour) – 666 - elected

Becca Watts (Green) – 351

Turnout: 32.16% (down from 33.21% in 2023)

Woodfield: Conservatives HOLD ONE, Labour GAIN TWO

Amodio Amato (Reform UK) – 146

Phil Bibby (Conservative) – 624 - elected

Robert Boyle (Labour) – 571 - elected

Leanne Brady (Labour) – 602 - elected

Jill Brinkworth (Liberal Democrats) – 227

Neil Brinkworth (Liberal Democrats) – 204

Jody Hanafin (Conservative) – 559

Margaret Notley (Conservative) – 571

Swatantra Tripathi (Labour) – 520

Richard Warr (Green) – 227

Turnout: 38.15% (up from 35.16% in 2023)

Robert Boyle and Margaret Notley received the same number of votes. After the drawing of lots, Robert Boyle was allotted an additional vote. He was duly elected.