Labour bucked the national trend and had a hugely positive night in Birmingham, retaining control of the council until 2018.
The party made surprise gains in the UK’s second city after it was initially thought to be under threat from the Conservatives. Labour took two extra seats in the vote taking its count up to 80. It took Weoley from the Conservatives and Springfield from the Liberal Democrats.
Council leader John Clancy, who took over the role from Sir Albert Bore in December, said “Birmingham is a Labour city.” He added: “We have held all of the tricky seats very comfortably.”
Elsewhere in the Midlands, Labour made gains in Redditch and became the largest party in Walsal, although there is still no overall control. It retained power in Nuneaton and in Derby and Cannock. But lost control of Dudley after losing three seats.
The Conservatives gained four seats and UKIP one.
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