Barnsley Council leader says local election has become a 'referendum on Keir Starmer' as he expresses concerns
Reform are expected to take the historically Labour council
The leader of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council has expressed concern over the election results today.
Sir Stephen Houghton has been in charge of Barnsley council for 30 years now, representing the Cudworth ward for Labour.
However he is expected to hand over this long-held position later today, as Reform UK have been predicted to take control of the council after yesterday’s election.
.jpeg?crop=3:2,smart&trim=&width=640&quality=65)
“Obviously we’re worried,” Sir Houghton told The Star at Barnsley Metrodome, where ballots are being counted.
“We’ve been out on the doorstep, we know how tough it is and we’ve seen results overnight coming through.
“So we’re concerned that could be us today.”
He said the local election had been hijacked by national politics, and feels the successes of Barnsley Council have been ignored in favour of discussions about national leaders Nigel Farage and Keir Starmer.
“This is the local election that never was,” he added.
“It was about national politics and that’s what’s done it.
“Reform had nothing to say about Barnsley, or the council or the good work that it’s done, because we’ve done a great job.
“All they’ve focused on is getting rid of Keir Starmer, it’s become in many ways a referendum on that.”
He expressed pride about the changes in Barnsley town centre, describing it as ‘absolutely fantastic’, as well as celebrating successes around education and the environment.
Yesterday, Barnsley North MP Dan Jarvis turned to Facebook to celebrate Sir Houghton’s time in office.
Dan Jarvis wrote: “Steve Houghton is the most experienced council leader in the country — for 30 years, he’s led our town through good and bad times.
Thanks to his leadership, we have an exceptional town centre, we’re the UK’s first Tech Town, and Barnsley has the fastest growing economy in our region.
“He’s the best person to continue leading our borough into the future.”
Follow our Live Blog from Barnsley for all the lates updates here.