The Labour Party’s dismal showing in this week’s local elections went from bad to worse as it lost control of Durham County Council for the first time since the Council’s creation in 1919. Having gone into the elections with 68 councillors, results announced tonight saw the party lose 21 seats and, with it, their majority. While Labour remain the largest single party on the Council, the historic results saw the Conservative Party increase their seats to 24, up from 10. In Durham City, the Liberal Democrats retained all three wards: David Stoker was elected for Durham South, David Freeman and Richard Ormerod for Elvet and Gilesgate, and Liz Brown for Neville’s Cross.