Why two? 

Do you really need to ask?

Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, spent Friday morning in Shropshire handing out ice creams to members of the public, cracking jokes about “support for the Tories melting away”. The Lib Dems won the council there for the first time, taking one ward by a single vote and a second tied vote on the drawing of straws. Davey then ate two scones, one with cream on top and one with jam on top, to celebrate gains in both Devon and Cornwall, where fierce debate rages over the best way to make a cream tea. The Lib Dems won more councils and councillors than the Conservatives and now run more town halls nationwide. (Extract from Tim Shipman www.thetimes.com)

(He’s got one the “right way up” but looks to be spooning jam on first for the second)

With “No overall control” in both councils what is the big picture?

Devon – 60 seats

Lib Dems have 27 seats. Then there are the 2 East Devon Independents Paul Hayward and Jess Bailey, used to working in a Lib Dem led coalition, and 6 greens in play. So Owl expects a Lib Dem led administration with either formal MOUs or “supply and maintenance” agreements to emerge.

Reform 18 and Conservatives 7 together can only muster 25 right wing votes. 

Cornwall – 87 seats

Cornwall is much more complicated. 

Reform is the largest party with 28 seats but was reported on BBC news last night as complaining that none of the other parties will talk to them. 

The Lib Dems have 26 seats, nearly as many.

There are 16 Independents, 7 Conservatives, 4 Labour, 3 Greens, and 3 Mebyon Kernow. 

At least 44 councillors have to work together to run Cornwall which means both Reform and Lib Dems are in with a chance.