Reading Local Election results 2024: Labour keep power

In a dramatic contest in the Emmer Green ward, incumbent Conservative councillor Simon Robinson lost his seat to Daya Pal Singh, the Labour candidate, who previously served for 12 years as a councillor for Kentwood in Tilehurst.

Mr Pal Singh thanked voters in Emmer Green for "putting their trust in him."

Daya Pal Singh, elected Labour councillor for Emmer Green ward. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service (Image: LDRS)

In Kentwood itself, incumbent Labour councillor Mark Keeping fended off a challenge from Conservative campaigner Nick Fudge.

Over in Caversham Heights, newcomer Jenny McGrother was able to hold the area for Labour amid a contest from Conservative candidate Paul Carnell, who was seeking to regain his place on the council after losing it in the election last year.

Jenny said that she was "standing on the shoulders of giants" as retiring Labour councillor Sue Kitchingham is highly regarded in the area.

She added that she was proud to be able to carry the torch on.

Jenny McGrother, elected Labour councillor for Caversham Heights ward. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service (Image: LDRS)

Meanwhile, the Greens maintained their place as the leading opposition party.

They picked up a seat in Katesgrove, with their candidate Kate Nikulina, who has run in the last three elections, beating out Labour newcomer Navjit Kaur Gill.

Dave McElroy held onto his seat in Redlands, after a challenge from Labour's Dr Sunila Lobo.

Dave McElroy, who was re-elected as a Green councillor for the Redlands ward. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service (Image: LDRS)

Like Mr Pal Singh, David Stevens has returned to the council as a Labour representative.

He was previously a Conservative cllr for the old Thames ward, and served as mayor in 2020, the year of the pandemic.

Mr Stevens crossed the floor to join Labour in 2022, but lost his place in the election that year when standing for Kentwood.

He said: "I was first elected 20 years ago, I had two years off, now I'm back in again after two years.

"Essentially, I'm with the Labour Party now, they seem to be very happy to have me and I've made some very good colleagues, very good friends.

"The ward councillors have been incredibly supportive and there will be a nice little gang of people working with me."

David Stevens, elected Labour councillor for Abbey ward on Reading Borough Council. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service (Image: LDRS)

The count was attended by Matt Rodda, the Labour MP for Reading East, and competing candidates for the new Reading West & Mid Berkshire constituency, Helen Belcher OBE, the Liberal Democrat candidate, and Olivia Bailey, Labour's candidate.

Meanwhile, cllr McElroy, who has now been elected three times in 2021, 2022 and this year, is the Green party's candidate for the Reading Central MP seat created last year.

The Liberal Democrats were able to keep their incumbent cllr James Moore in Tilehurst ward, who is a member of the influential planning applications committee.

All in all, Labour maintained its number of councillors at 32, Greens gained one seat to make eight, the Conservatives lost one seat, now having four councillors, and the Lib Dems keep three.

Just under a third of eligible people in Reading voted, with a recorded turnout of 32.03 per cent.