Politics · 8 May 2026
Tories lose Hampshire after 29 years in control
The Conservatives lost control of Hampshire County Council overnight after running the authority continuously since 1997. The party is now down to 23 seats, dropping 21 from its 2021 total, with the council falling into no overall control. Reform was up 16 seats, the Lib Dems up four to 18, while Labour lost a seat to leave it with just one councillor.
Reported by ITV News · How we write briefs