Lib Dems to run city council as minority administration
MINORITY ADMINISTRATION: Hull City Council
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
The Liberal Democrats will run Hull City Council as a minority administration and Councillor Mike Ross will continue as leader of the authority, it was confirmed at a full council meeting today.
The Lib Dems, who have been in power at the Guildhall since 2022, remain the largest party at the council after the the Local Elections on May 7 with 26 of the 57 seats available, with Labour on 16 and Reform UK on ten – their first seats on the authority. There are also three Independent Group members and two Independents.
The Lib Dems have also agreed their Cabinet for the following year, and said the team will “work to make Hull cleaner, safer and more welcoming”.
The Cabinet is:
Coun Mike Ross, leader of the Council
Coun Jackie Dad, deputy leader
Coun Linda Chambers, portfolio holder for adult services and public health
Coun Ted Dolman, portfolio holder for communities and community safety
Coun Paul Drake-Davis, portfolio holder for economic renewal, housing and organisational development
Coun Jack Haines, portfolio holder for communications and policy delivery
Coun Mark Ieronimo, portfolio holder for transportation and highways
Coun Charles Quinn, portfolio holder for environment
Coun Sarita Robinson, portfolio holder for corporate services
Coun Linda Tock, portfolio holder for children’s services.
Coun Dad’s responsibilities include the culture portfolio previously held by Rob Pritchard, who lost his West Carr seat to Reform’s Ben Padwick in the elections.
Coun Ross said: “After a successful election result the Liberal Democrats will continue to run Hull City Council.
“We’re going to continue to fight to make Hull a better place to live and we’re going to continue to be a listening council.
“After Labour collapsed in Hull and won just one seat at the last election, the choice people have in Hull is clear. They can have a Reform UK politician who won’t deliver positive change or they can back this strong Lib Dem team, working hard for you and listening to what you think about our city.”
Turnout in the election, which was for 19 (a third) of the council’s seats, was 30.25 per cent.
Reform topped the popular vote with 17,880 (35.66 per cent), just ahead of the Lib Dems on 15,941 (31.80 per cent), followed by Labour on 8,750 (17.45 per cent), the Greens on 6,139 (12.25 per cent), and the Conservatives on 1,202 (2.40).