Light blue wave sweeps across East Suffolk |
Across Suffolk 70 seats were up for grabs at the County Council elections - and by early Friday afternoon, Reform UK had secured majority control of the authority for the first time.
In the process they massively increased the six seats they had when the county council had been dissolved for the election, reaching 41 at the end of the final count.
With new divisions created following a review conducted by the Local Government Boundary Committee for England it meant that in East Suffolk 23 divisions - that included wards in Lowestoft - were contested.
Ballot boxes at the East Suffolk division counts for the 2026 Suffolk County Council elections. Image Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)
A total of 24 county councillors were elected at the count in Lowestoft, with two in the Beccles and Kessingland division, where there were just 20 votes between the top three candidates.
Setting the tone for what she described as an "absolutely incredible" day, June Mummery - who was elected as the first Reform UK councillor from the Lowestoft area for Suffolk County Council following a by-election in December last year - secured a landslide win with almost 900 more votes than her nearest contender in the Carlton Colville division.
June Mummery was elected onto Suffolk County Council for the Carlton Colville division. Image Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)
This opening result at 10.21am pre-empted euphoric scenes and huge victories that would follow - as 15 more Reform UK representatives were elected onto Suffolk County Council in East Suffolk.
By 2.25pm, with the final result being the Walton & Trimleys division in East Suffolk, Reform UK had secured 16 seats, the Green Party four, Conservatives two, Liberal Democrats one and Independent one.
Speaking after Reform UK had secured control of the authority, a delighted Mrs Mummery said: "It is absolutely incredible.
"I am delighted with what we have achieved as we have worked very hard.
"I took the Carlton Colville ward because I started a project there that I hope to see out.
"People are fed up with the cost of living, the potholes - now it is about getting back on the shopfloor and getting back to business for the great people of........