Local elections 2023: Labour gains another Topsham seat on Exeter City Council

Labour is still the dominant force on Exeter City Council but experienced a mixed night in the local elections.

For the second year running, it gained a second seat in the former Tory stronghold of Topsham, but lost a seat in St Thomas to former Lib Dem council leader Adrian Fullam.

Meanwhile, in the only other seat to change hands, the Greens won in Newtown and St Leonard's, which had previously been occupied by an independent who didn't seek re-election.

Only a third of the 39-seat council was up for election – in line with the usual cycle.

Labour still holds 25 seats, the same as before the election, although its tally is one down on the 2022 election result due to one of its councillors then becoming an independent.

The Greens are up one to six councillors – now the largest outright opposition party on the council – but they are expected to continue working with the Liberal Democrats as part of the 'Progressive Group'.

Meanwhile, it was another poor night in Exeter for the Conservatives, who now have just four councillors after losing another in Topsham. However, the party successfully fought off a strong Labour challenge to retain St Loye's.

And after gaining a seat in St Thomas and defending their existing one in Duryard & St James, the Liberal Democrats now have three councillors.

Exeter City Council results

Alphington

• Yvonne Atkinson (Labour): 1,187 – HOLD
• Katherine New (Conservatives): 653
• John Bowman (Green): 306
• Jamie Horner (Liberal Democrat): 150

Duryard and St James

• Michael Mitchell (Liberal Democrat): 938 – HOLD
• David Blagden (Labour): 791
• Simon Egan (Green): 278
• Harry Johnson-Hill (Conservatives): 213

Exwick

• Susannah Patrick (Labour): 1,145 – HOLD
• Kayleigh Luscombe (Conservatives): 333
• Mark Shorto (Green): 268
• Frankie Rufolo (Independent): 263
• Joanne Giencke (Liberal Democrats): 117

Heavitree

• Carol Bennett (Green): 1,308 – HOLD
• Gemma Rolstone (Labour): 1,020
• Lucy Haigh (Independent): 301
• Alfie Carlisle (Conservatives): 278
• Rod Ruffle (Liberal Democrat): 100

Mincinglake and Whipton

• Ruth Williams (Labour): 1,191 – HOLD
• David Luscombe (Conservatives): 352
• Alex Stephan (Green): 198
• Mike Payne (Liberal Democrat): 184

Newtown and St Leonards

• Andy Ketchin (Green): 1,373 – GAIN FROM IND
• Carol Whitton (Labour): 1,035
• Julian Gallie (Conservaties): 213
• Vanessa Newcombe (Liberal Democrat): 104

Pennsylvania

• Martyn Snow (Labour): 1,194 – HOLD
• Lizzie Woodman (Green): 882
• Robert Sheridan (Conservatives): 423
• Will Aczel (Liberal Democrats): 199

Pinhoe

• Mollie Miller (Labour): 1,251 – HOLD
• Cynthia Thompson (Conservatives): 778
• Ann Barbara Keen (Green): 227
• Rory Jack Clark (Liberal Democrat): 183

Priory

• Jane Begley (Labour): 1,062 – HOLD
• Ben Hawkes (Conservatives): 469
• Joel Stobart (Green): 278
• Philip Thomas (Liberal Democrat): 237

St Davids

• Diana Moore (Green): 1,322 – HOLD
• Ellen Miriam Stuart (Labour): 752
• George Baker (Conservatives): 230
• Andrew Soper (Liberal Democrats): 85

St Loyes

• Alison Sheridan (Conservatives): 1,127 – HOLD
• Jake Bonetta (Labour): 980
• Jack Vickers (Green): 189
• Phil Brock (Liberal Democrat): 164

St Thomas

• Adrian Fullam (Liberal Democrats): 1,217 – GAIN FROM LAB
• Deborah Darling (Labour): 1,109
• Johanna Korndorfer (Green): 210
• Ashley Carr (Conservatives): 167
• Natasha Jane Hannaford (Reform UK): 57

Topsham

• Matthew Williams (Labour): 1,394 – GAIN FROM CON
• Rob Newby (Conservatives): 1,098
• Jonathan Mills (Green): 259
• Christine Campion (Liberal Democrat): 230

Total turnout: 36 per cent