Essex 2024 political analysis

Colchester remains in No Overall Control, with minimal changes in seat numbers. The Greens made a single seat gain at the expense of the Lib Dems and the Conservatives remain the largest party. The Lib Dems are expected to continue running the Council as a minority administration, with support from Labour.

Rochford remains in No Overall Control, but saw further losses for the Conservatives, with the Lib Dems and Independents the beneficiaries. The Liberal Democrat party followed its positive performance in 2023 with further gains, to overtake the Conservatives. The Liberal Democrat, Green and Independent coalition administration is likely to continue.

Harlow’s Conservative majority was reduced to its narrowest margin of just one seat as Labour made four gains from the Conservatives in the region. Harlow had been a key Labour target as Keir Starmer
made a visit to the town in the run up to polling day, and the party may be aggrieved that they just missed winning the seat from the Conservatives despite making gains there.

Labour gained nine new seats in Basildon while the Conservative party lost 12, losing their overall majority. There were also Independent gains. A boundary change this year meant that the whole council was elected instead of the usual third. Coalition talks are now expected to take place between parties.

In a repeat of the result in 2023, the Conservatives retained control of Epping Forest as the Lib Dems and Independents were unable to take advantage of the party’s poor national performance to make significant gains.

As predicted, Labour have overtaken the Conservatives to become the largest majority party on the hung council. This will be a significant blow to the Conservative party which increased its majority by one seat last year. The Green party also gained one seat.

Labour gained overall majority of the council for the first time since 2014, continuing its resurgence in 2023, where the Conservatives lost seats but still retained a slender majority. With the Conservatives defending a large number of seats, and having overseen the disastrous financial situation that has gripped the authority over the past few years, the result should come as little surprise. Labour will be buoyed by its strong showing in a key target seat ahead of the general election expected later this year.