00:00Across the Liverpool city region, voters have delivered a set of local election results that have reshaped the political map
00:07in several areas, with clear gains for Reform UK and setbacks for Labour in key councils.
00:13In St Helens, Reform UK has taken control of the council. Following an all-out election, winning 34 seats, Labour
00:20has been reduced to just two seats, making a significant shift in a council that was previously under Labour control.
00:26For outgoing, council leader Anthony Burns, who's also lost his seat in Blackbrook, said the result was difficult to take.
00:33He said politics can be cruel sometimes, and added that voters lend you their vote and sometimes it can be
00:39taken away. That's democracy.
00:41Across the wider city region, Nosley Council saw a more mixed picture. Labour retained overall control but lost seats to
00:48Reform UK, Independents and other parties, whilst also making some gains elsewhere.
00:52Council leader Graham Morgan said he was disappointed to lose excellent councillors and suggested national politics may have influenced local
00:59results.
01:01In Sefton, Labour retained control of the council but with a reduced majority, following gains by the Liberal Democrats, Reform
01:07UK, Independents and the Greens.
01:09The Conservatives lost all their remaining seats. Labour group leader Marion Atkinson said she was really emotional after holding her
01:15seat in what was the first all-out election in Sefton in more than 20 years.
01:19Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotherham also reflected on the results, warning that Labour cannot afford to ignore what
01:26these results are telling us.
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