Notts: Labour lose control of County Council after Campbell resignation wipes out single-seat majority

Coun Ian Campbell’s decision to quit the Labour party means they have lost their overall majority at County Hall.
County Hall at Trent BridgeCounty Hall at Trent Bridge
County Hall at Trent Bridge

Retford West councillor Campbell has resigned from the party, saying he didn’t like the direction Labour was going in.

Coun Campbell’s decision to become an Independent councillor means some changes to the set-up at County Hall as no political group now has an overall majority.

Labour remains the largest party with the most councillors, holding 33 of the 67 seats but 34 are required for an overall majority.

The Conservative have 21 seats, the Liberal Democrats eight and the Independent alliance, made up of the Mansfield Independent Forum and Selston Area Independents have three seats,

Coun Campbell now joins Coun Maureen Dobson as the second Independent on the council.

Mick Burrows, chief executive of the county council, said: “First and foremost, the people of Notts should be reassured that it is business as usual for all our services.”

“Politically, the Labour Group remains the largest single group, however when a member of a political group resigns from their party and becomes an independent member, or joins another group, it affects the political balance of the council.

“In this case, the Labour Group now has 33 councillors and all of the other councillors, when added together, total 34.”

“This means that there is now no overall control of the council by a single political party.”