Labour Faces Historic Loss in Reading Council

Labour looks set to lose control of Reading Borough Council next month - for the first time in nearly four decades, according to a new forecast.

Britain Votes Now predicts unprecedented losses at the local elections on 7 May, saying Labour could lose seven seats.

Labour currently holds 31 councillors; the council also has eight Greens, three Conservatives, three Liberal Democrats, one Reform UK and one Independent.

The forecast would leave Labour on 24 councillors - one short of the 25 needed for a majority.

It would be the first time the party has lost control after 39 of the last 40 years under Labour.

Three Labour lead councillors face predicted defeats: Karen Rowland in Abbey (Greens 53%), Adele Barnett-Ward in Thames (Greens 57%) and Ellie Emberson (Greens 54%).

Overall Britain Votes Now predicts the Greens will win 11 seats, Labour will keep Norcot, Whitley and Church, and the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats will take one each.

The site doesn't factor in a casual vacancy from Sam Juthani, who was elected for Caversham Heights in 2023. For that ward it gives Conservatives 40% and Greens 35%, and the result is unclear.

Green group leader Cllr Rob White flagged the prediction on X, calling it "a very interesting prediction".

Labour group leader Cllr Liz Terry said: "Polls are polls are polls, I'm confident in our candidates and sitting councillors, we've been talking to people since last summer."

She added: "I don't want to be foolishly predicting it'll all be fine either, but the Labour team have been out there working hard listening to people all year round."

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter