WINCHESTER City Council is now under new leadership after this year's local election saw an end to the Tory's nine-year reign.

The count at River Park Leisure Centre gave reason to celebrate to the Lib Dems, who gained five seats from the Conservatives, and retained a further six.

Several prominent Tories lost their seats including cabinet members Jan Warwick (Badger Farm and oliver's Battery) and Guy Ashton (St Michael) as well as former mayor Eileen Berry (St Barnabas), Rose Burns (St Bartholomew) and Roger Huxstep (Whiteley and Shedfield).

The most notable victory was Kim Gottlieb who unseated Guy Ashton in St Michael ward. Cllr Gottlieb has stood down from his previous seat in Alresford to contest the city centre ward. His high-profile campaign over Silver Hill helped him accrue 1,718 votes.

New council leader, Lucille Thompson, insists the swing was a result of the party's 'hard work and determination', and should not 'be put down to Brexit'.

She said: "It's been a long night, but I am delighted, and it has been absolutely momentous. We had more gains than anyone predicted.

"But I'm not putting this down to Brexit. I know a lot of people are saying the Conservatives face backlash over the whole situation in Westminster.

"The truth is, we have very much campaigned hard. Before I didn't feel the council listened, but we do."

Cllr Thompson added: "I want to see a change, and offer to residents what should have been offered. We want to build more affordable homes, and to provide good public services for the people."

A total of 40,317 votes were cast on May 2, with a turnout of 45.1 per cent across the district. Turnout was up in many wards from the poll in 2018

Former council leader, Caroline Horrill, was successful in retaining her seat on the Wonston and Micheldever ward, but expressed her disappointment over losing the council, insisting the Tories would 'come back better'.

She said: "We need to regroup and hold the Lib Dems to account. We will come back and appeal to the people of Winchester.

"It will be interesting to see what happens under the new leadership. The Lib Dems were constantly opposing us, so I wonder what will happen."

Cllr Horrill specifically questioned how the new leaders would deal with the leisure centre project which is now underway in Bar End, pointing out how the Lib Dems "consistently opposed" the plans.

The political make-up of Winchester City Council now consists of 18 seats for the Conservative Party, and 27 seats for the Lib Dems. It is their highest seat majority since the early noughties.

Cllr Thompson said: "The new structure is very exciting, and it is certainly nice to have that cushion following a very big majority."

Alresford and Itchen Valley – LIBERAL DEMOCRAT HOLD
BORGES, Karl (Green): 404
GORDON-SMITH, Russell (Liberal Democrat): 1,559
SAUNDERS, Annie (Conservative): 1,365
WIGHT, Ian (Labour): 68
Turnout: 50.3%
Badger Farm and Oliver`s Battery - LIBERAL DEMOCRAT GAIN
DOLBY, Neil (Labour): 80
PRIESEMANN, Max (Green): 279
WARWICK, Janet (Conservative): 1,513
WILLIAMS, Hannah (Liberal Democrat): 1,548
Turnout: 53.7%
Bishop's Waltham - CONSERVATIVE HOLD
GOODING, Sarah (Green): 290
HAINES, Steve (Labour): 121
McLEAN, David (Conservative): 1,202
WILLIAMS, Jonathan (Liberal Democrat): 839
Turnout: 40.1%
Central Meon Valley - CONSERVATIVE HOLD
CAMPBELL, Sheila (Liberal Democrat): 783
HARPUM, Christopher (Labour): 115
NORMAN, Mik (Green): 399
WESTON, Vicki (Conservative) 1,635
Turnout: 41.1%
Colden Common & Twyford - LIBERAL DEMOCRAT HOLD
BRONK, Tony (Liberal Democrat): 1,023
BROWN, Paul (Labour): 45
GRAHAM, Lucinda (Green): 165
LAI, Andy (Conservative): 883
Turnout: 49.9%
Denmead - CONSERVATIVE HOLD
CLEMENTSON, Judy (Conservative    ): 1,067
GODWIN, Judith    (Liberal Democrat): 728
PARKER, Robert (Green): 177
PICTON-JONES, David (Labour): 93
Turnout: 32.8%
Southwick & Wickham - LIBERAL DEMOCRAT HOLD
EVANS, Therese (Liberal Democrat): 1,069
RAPPE, Loraine (Conservative): 575
SONY, Paul (Labour): 68
Turnout: 38.7%
St. Barnabas - LIBERAL DEMOCRAT GAIN
BERRY, Eileen (Conservative): 1,102
CRASKE, Mike (Liberal Democrat): 2,052
FIELD, Adrian (Labour): 106
PERROTT, Mike (Green): 222
Turnout: 52.4%
St. Bartholomew - LIBERAL DEMOCRAT GAIN
ADAMS, Andrew (Labour): 161
BURNS, Rose (Conservative): 662
FERGUSON, Paula (Liberal Democrat): 1,672
SKELTON, Teresa (Justice and Anti-Corruption): 77
WALKER-NIX, David (Green Party): 181
Turnout: 44.6%
St. Luke - LIBERAL DEMOCRAT HOLD
DAVIES, Patrick (Labour): 158
GOODING, Giles (Green): 88
GREEN, Derek (Liberal Democrats): 487
TAIT, Ian (Conservative): 406
Turnout: 34.1%
St. Michael - LIBERAL DEMOCRAT GAIN
ASHTON, Guy (Conservative): 874
ELLIS, Gavin (Labour): 177
GOTTLIEB, Kim (Liberal Democrat): 1,718
HALLMANN, Julia (Green): 257
Turnout: 49%
St. Paul - LIBERAL DEMOCRAT HOLD
BARRATT, Karen (Labour): 194
SIMONS, David (Conservative): 505
TOD, Martin (Liberal Democrats): 1,593
WAINWRIGHT, Andrew (Green): 284
Turnout: 46.6%
The Worthys - LIBERAL DEMOCRAT HOLD
BIDDLE, Signe (Conservative): 536
HARLEY, Charlotte (Green): 150
RUTTER, Jane (Liberal Democrat): 1,426
VALENTINE, Tessa (Labour): 66
Turnout: 48.2%
Upper Meon Valley - CONSERVATIVE HOLD
KERSHAW, June (Labour): 62
LUMBY, Hugh (Conservative): 1,235
NORTH, Lewis (Liberal Democrat):    856
Turnout: 48.9%
Whiteley & Shedfield - LIBERAL DEMOCRAT GAIN
FERN, Jonathan (Liberal Democrat): 998
HUXSTEP, Roger (Conservative): 688
RIDLEY, Alison (Labour): 65
Turnout: 38.2%
Wonston & Micheldever - CONSERVATIVE HOLD
GORDON, Ian (Liberal Democrat): 874
HORRILL, Caroline (Conservative): 1,655
WILKINSON, Jude (Labour): 140
Turnout: 47.4%