The leader of Reading Borough Council and one of the town’s MPs have reacted to the 2022 all-out election results.

Councillor Jason Brock, the Labour leader of the council, was successfully able to keep his seat in Southcote, and the elections saw the numbers of Labour councillors increase from 29 to 32.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service spoke to him after all results were called on Friday, May 6.

Cllr Brock said: “All out elections are a very unusual thing to happen in Reading and I suspect it will be 20 years before we have these again.

“It was a tense time for all of us but I’m really pleased that residents across the town have put their faith in Labour to keep running the council and now it’s time for us to get on and deliver for them.

ELECTION 2022: Reading Borough Council election results in full 

“It’s incredible that we’re moving forward against the Tories which is exactly where we want to be when it comes to winning the two parliamentary seats here in Reading.

“Clearly the Greens have made some advances and that’s something we’re going to have deal with and we have to respond to that because the Greens have essentially pitched themselves in the East of Reading as the new Tories.

“Everyone has put in a fantastic performance, Sue Kitchingham over in Caversham Heights to take that seat off the Tories is extraordinary accomplishment, Will Cross to hold on in Redlands for that third seat, massive.

“Glenn Dennis and Mark Keeping to win in Kentwood incredible result. I’m sorry for those who haven’t won and I hope they’ll stick around, they are all great candidates and I want to see them back here next year winning.”

Matt Rodda, the Labour MP for Reading East congratulated campaigners and the newly-elected councillors.

He was seen at the count at the Rivermead Leisure Centre throughout the day, while Alok Sharma, the Conservative MP for Reading West was absent.

Mr Rodda said: “Nationally and indeed in Reading these results have been a turning point for Labour, we’ve had incredible results in a number of areas, and it means we’re on course to win a general election, and that would mean winning Reading East and Reading West parliamentary seats potentially.

“I’m very grateful for that support and believe it will lead to a Labour Government.

“I’m delighted to welcome Sue Kitchingham to Reading Borough Council, she’s a teacher, she lives locally in Caversham and she’s our first ever councillor in Caversham Heights which has for a long time been a Conservative stronghold.

“We’ve also gained councillors across town in a range of wards, in areas ranging from Tilehurst in the west, new people have joined our team in the town centre, we’ve also retained a seat in Redlands and Katesgrove, and we’ve done well in Woodley where we’ve held onto a seat and increased our majority – one that the Tories won last year.

“Outside of Reading we’ve won seats in Wokingham town centre and in Surrey, so we’ve done incredibly well in this area and I’m very proud of all our candidates and I’d like to thank the public for their support.”