Labour’s only county council winner in Lichfield and Burntwood has admitted it was a “terrible day” for the party.
Cllr Sue Woodward saw her colleagues fall by the wayside as the results came in last week and was forced to battle it out for her own Burntwood North seat, winning it by a mere 50 votes ahead of Conservative hopeful Heather Tranter.
The local results represented a wider tale of woe for Labour across the county and the country.
Speaking after the vote, Cllr Woodward said she was pleased local residents had decided to back her for another term.
“I’m not going to echo what John McDonnell said about it being a tough day for Labour – it was a terrible day,” she said. “I’ve lost some very good colleagues from across the county council.
“But I’m very grateful to the electors in Burntwood North for sticking with me, for giving me the confidence to carry on for another four years representing the people.
“You don’t win an election campaign over a couple of months, you win it over the whole term. I’m very grateful.”
Across Staffordshire, Labour collected just ten of the 62 county council seats.
Cllr Woodward has been elected as the leader of the opposition group and says she intends to keep the controlling Conservative group on their toes.
“Effective opposition is an important part of our democracy,” she said.
“I’m so proud to be re-lected as leader of the opposition at Staffordshire County Council.”
