The Liberal Democrats came within a whisker of taking overall control of Stockport council after wiping out the Tories in their heartlands with a formidable local election showing
Coun Mark Hunter’s group cleaned up in both Bramhall wards and the newly-formed Norbury and Woodsmoor to finish the day with 30 seats, just two shy of what was needed to form a majority on the 63-seat authority.
The Lib Dems have run the town hall as a minority administration since wresting back the reins from Labour last year. And the borough’s first ‘all out’ elections since 2004 - owing to boundary changes - presented the opportunity to increase their grip on the council.
