Shirley South – GREEN HOLD
And it is good news for the Greens who take their first seats on the council, former Mayor Shahin Ashraf came in at 1,806 just behind group leader Max McLoughlin on 1,895.
Reform and the Conservatives come a close second, with similar numbers for each councillor. Labour look set to have no presence in the borough.
The Tories now need four councillors for a majority.
Full result
Shahin Ashraf – Green – 1,806 ELECTED
Stewart Blunt – Reform UK – 1,436
Joanne Brown – Lab – 235
Simon Burke – Con – 1,329
Jane Carthew – Lib Dem – 259
Dipesh Chauhan – Con – 1,128
Christopher Dean – Reform UK – 1,375
Stuart Hedley – Lab – 168
Jill Ketley – Lib Dem – 204
Max McLoughlin – Green leader – 1,895 – ELECTED
Daniel Morris – Reform UK – 1,300
Howard Nichols – Con – 1,226
Kevin Raven – Lab – 168
Alan Wigley – Green – 1,689 – ELECTED
Balsall and Berkswell – CON HOLD
Another Conservative hold, that puts them well ahead with 22 seats. Reform could still take the council but they would have to win every seat in the remaining four ward.
Greens and Labour are trailing behind now will still no councillors elected, the Lib Dems are holding strong on three,
Full results
Terry Baker – Con – 1,797 ELECTED
Trevor Barker – Green – 550
Margaret Brittin – Lab – 362
Bob Carleton – Lib Dems – 594
Heather Delaney – Con – 2,264 – ELECTED
Tj Desai – Reform UK – 685
Tony Dicicco – Con – 1,944 – ELECTED
Anna Gretton – Lab – 344
Matthew Stephens – Lab – 229
Garry Taylor – Reform UK – 788
Steve Thomson – Reform UK – 757
Silhill – CON HOLD
Another hold for the Conservatives as they seem to be making a comeback. Bad news for Reform as local party leader Michael Gough loses his seat.
The same story for the Greens and Labour who are not having a good day, they haven’t manage to hold onto a single seat, and with five ward left, they might becoming concerned.
Full results
Hitesh Bikumalla – Con – 2,209 ELECTED
Nicola Cadet De Fontenay – Lib Dem – 763
Michael Gough – Reform UK – 1427
James Henry – Green Party – 661
Janet Marsh – Labour – 376
Emma Marshall – Green – 648
Gayle Monk – Lib Dem – 676
Josh O’Nyons – Con – 2,226 – ELECTED
Bhavan Pemmaiah – Reform UK – 1,140
Wazma Qais – Con – 1,963 – ELECTED
Rosemary Sexton – Green – 594
Nick Stephens – Lab – 326
Patsy Stone – Lab – 264
Paul Thompson – Reform UK – 1,254
Terry Whitehead – Lib Dem – 643
Knowle – CON HOLD
The Conservatives trundle ahead as they keep a firm grasp on Knowle, Reform UK come in with the next biggest share of the vote with Labour trailing behind, in a trend we have seen for most of the wards.
It will be a tough call to see if the Tories will be able to keep hold of the council, and we might be seeing a no overall control.
Currently we have 16 Conservatives, 14 Reform UK and three Lib Dems. We have heard from 11 wards with six left to declare.
Full results
Yvonne Clements – Con – 2,667 – ELECTED
John Dillon – Reform UK – 951
Amy Donohoe-Brown – Green – 541
Steven Egan – Reform UK – 900
Roy England – Reform UK – 907
Edward Fitter – Con – 2,580 – ELECTED
Roger Halford – Green – 484
Janet Hall – Lab – 254
Lionel King – Lib Dem – 384
James McLoughlin – Lab – 212
Katy Moxley – Green – 493
Dave Pinwell – Con – 2, 678 – ELECTED
Matt Purssell – Lib Dem – 269
Zachary Stanier – Lab – 174
Olton – LIB DEM HOLD AND CON GAIN
We are switching things up again now with the Lib Dems having a run of success, both current councillors held onto their seats, with the Tories hot on their tails.
Full results
David Berg – Lab – 342
Lachhman Singh – Con – 1, 576
James Bradley – Lib Dem – 1,814
Michael Carthew – Lib Dem – 1, 714
Karima Chaouch – Ind – 169
Peter Dixon – Reform UK – 1,142
Richard Evans – Lib Dem – 1, 323
Simon Hawker – Reform UK – 1, 069
Jane Holt – Green – 601
David James – Green – 468
Ian Jamieson – Lab – 220
James Johnson – Con – 1, 669 – ELECTED
James Murray – Reform – 1,034
Sarah Shah – Lab – 231
Easwar Vivekanandan – Green – 433
Wasim Zaman – Con – 1, 339
Elmdon – REFORM UK GAIN
It is getting interesting as the Lib Dems hold onto their first seat of the day, with Laura McCarthy getting the highest number of votes on 1,585.
She is followed by Reform’s Eleonora Gough and Robert Johnson on 1,498 and 1,475 respectively.
That leaves us with 14 Reform, 12 Conservative and one Lib Dem.
Full results
Rachel Braeburne – Lab – 201
Ian English – Lab – 206
Eleonora Gough – Reform UK – 1,498 – ELECTED
Sandra Green – Con – 791
Georgina Hartland – Con – 749
Stephen Holt – Green – 345
Robert Johnson – Reform UK – 1,475 – ELECTED
Kate Jones – Lib Dem – 1,330
Seren Jones – Green – 312
Paul Maguire – Lab – 166
Richard Marshall – Green – 294
Pav Matharu – Con – 635
Laura McCarthy – Lib Dem – 1,585 – ELECTED
Michael Ward – Lib Dem – 1,244
Michael Welsh – Reform UK – 1,360
Castle Bromwich – REFORM UK GAIN
Another gain for Reform, and that puts the council makeup as 12 for 12 to Reform and Conservatives.
Deputy Mayor Martin McCarthy lost his seat, with Reform taking their biggest share of the votes so far.
Full results
Kashif Ahmed – Lab – 360
Jamie Campbell – Reform UK – 2,181
Lee Dicken – Lab – 342
Bernie Donnelly – Con – 1,066
Samuel Enthrone – Lab – 315
Alan Feeney – Reform UK – 2,376
Leslie Kaye – Con – CURRENT – 1, 053
Peter Lee – Lib Dem – 217
Anthony Lowe – Greens – 538
Martin McCarthy – Con – 1,097
Chris Whelan – Reform UK – 2,089
Shirley East and Sharmans Cross – CON HOLD
Another hold for the Tories as Leader of the Council Karen Grinsell and Borough Mayor hold their seats.
I think this was not a surprise for anyone. Reform again are coming in second to the Tories, but not quite enough to wrestle any seats off them.
We now sit at 12 Conservatives and 9 Reform UK.
Full results
Peter Byrne – Reform UK – 1,118
John Dufficy – Lab – 416
Srini Eaga – Green – 883
Roger Gemmell – Lib Dem – 559
Karen Grinsell – Con – 2,748 – ELECTED
Anthony Howe – Con – 360
Annette Mackenzie – Con – 2,635 – ELECTED
Kushi Maddikunta – Green – 760
Afzal Mirza – Lab – 300
Jane Paradine – Reform UK – 993
Mark Parker – Con 2, 481 – ELECTED
Mark Pearson – Green – 848
Charles Robinson – Lib Dem – 549
Richard Whitehouse – Reform UK – 973
Fordbridge – REFORM UK GAIN
Back to Reform again as they make more gain off the Tories.
Greens not doing as well in this ward, with the Conservatives level pegging.
Full results
Jacov Beardmore – Con – 361
Henry Bodle – Green – 437
David Cole – Con – 470
Sam Flint – Green – 416
Samantha Gethen – Reform UK – 1, 441 – ELECTED
Paul Goldingay – Reform UK – 1, 452 – ELECTED
Kamren Grant – Con – 314
Ken Harrop – Lab – 219
Tony Ludlow – Lib Dem – 149
Jackie Moore – Lab – 247
Den O’Neil – Reform UK – 1326 – ELECTED
Anthony Sangha – Lab – 176
Blythe – CON HOLD
The Conservatives are flying now, with another hold. Reform are putting up a good fight, and we’re seeing a big gain from them today.
Labour and the Lib Dems are having a tough afternoon with currently no councillors holding onto their seats.
Full results
Ham Choudry – Lab – 335
Simon Coles – Con – 1,489 – ELECTED
Teresa Anne – Lab – 383
Mark Evans – Reform UK – 1,125
Craig Lewis – Lab – 309
John Galpin – Lib Dems – 381
Keith Green – Con – 1,614 – ELECTED
Richard Holt – Con – 1, 576 – ELECTED
Vijay Inamdar – Green – 646
James Oliver – Lib Dems – 410
Dermot Reid – Reform UK – 1,098
Jamie Walker – Reform UK – 1, 113
Dorridge and Hockley Heath – CON HOLD
And the Tories triumph again, holding onto all three seats.
Former leader of the council Ian Courts held his seat here, before standing down.
Reform are on the heels of the Conservatives, but it seems the Borough voters are sticking with the status quo.
Although not winning a seat the Greens have increased their share of the vote, and are emerging as a popular party.
Full results
David Brittin – Lab – 236
Luke Edwards – Ind – 149
David Godfrey – Lib Dem – 352
Tess Green – Lab – 242
Cameron Hall – Reform UK – 950
Alex Insley – Reform UK – 962
Christopher Johnson – Lib Dem – 275
James Leah – Green – 806
Andy Mackiewicz – Con – 2,842 – ELECTED
Kirsty Mackinlay – Green – 969
Peter Sylvester – Green – 858
James Tilsley – Labour – 188
Sally Tomlinson – Con – 2,940 – ELECTED
Simon Turner – Reform UK – 905
Paul Whitehouse – Con – 2,503 – ELECTED
St Alphege with Monkspath and Hillfield – CON HOLD
Now it seems we go back to our regularly scheduled programming with the Conservatives holding onto all three of their seats.
The Tories stormed ahead with all three councillors getting well over 2,000 votes each.
Reform have made gains, with them coming in second, just in front of the Greens.
The Lib Dems and Labour picked up more votes in this ward, possibly due to the redrawing of the boundaries.
Full results
Patricia Berry – Reform UK – 1,415
Mark Geary – Lib Dem – 807
Noel Grace – Lab – 527
Bob Grinsell – Con – 2,565 – ELECTED
Peter Harwood – Reform UK – 1,300
Ken Hawkins – Con – 2,939 – ELECTED
Brian Hunter – Green – 719
Angela Kikigawa – Lab – 410
Sardul Marwa – Con – 2,392 – ELECTED
Angela Sandison – Reform UK – 1,247
Paul Tuxworth – Lab – 278
John Wyatt – Lib Dems – 608
Kingshurst and Smith’s Wood – REFORM UK GAIN
Another clean sweep for Reform UK, taking all three seats
It was a close battle for sitting Green councillor Jean Hamilton with 1,061, but she was pipped to the post by Reform’s Adrian Stefanovici.
Greens did better in this ward, with Dee Boyce getting 980 votes, and Mark Wilson with 960.
Tough result for Labour as Hazel Dawkins took 210, losing her seat, and the only Labour representative on the council.
Tory’s once again polling badly, with only a few hundred votes each.
Full results
Sarah Alan – Lab – 257
Dee Boyce – Green – 980
Collette Brown – Reform UK – 1,590 – ELECTED
Mark Caddick – Labour – 250
Hazel Dawkins – Lab – 210
Katherine Foy – Lib Dems – 91
Jean Hamilton – Green – 1,061
Georgia Peplow – Con – 279
Ethan Potter – Con – 274
Adrian Stefanovici – Reform UK – 1,534 – ELECTED
Lisa Taylor – Reform UK – 1,570 – ELECTED
Mark Wilson – Greens – 960
Sarah Young – Con – 219
Chelmsley Wood – REFORM UK GAIN
Reform UK are off to a staggering start with all three ward councillors being elected. Ian Brown, Michael James and Phil Tierney top the votes with 1,346, 1,279 and 1,264 respectively.
Green councillor Shesh Sheshabhatter lost her seat with just 812 votes.
The conservatives polled less than expected, coming in just a few votes over Labour and the Lib Dems.
Full result
Ian brown – Reform UK – 1346 – ELECTED
Jim Cooper – Con – 214
John Courtenay – Con – 190
Sally Farrell – Lab -190
April Halpin – Greens – 771
Michael James – Reform UK – 1,279 – ELECTED
Andy Miller – Greens – 753
Shesh Sheshabhatter – Green – 812
Glenis Slater – Lib Dems – 64
Elizabeth Thacker – Lab – 148
Phil Tierney – Reform UK – 1,264 – ELECTED
Martin Tomlinson – Con – 165
Lydia Turner – Lab – 114
The waiting game…
After a quick start with the counting starting an hour earlier than expected, things seemed to have slowed down.
Lots of milling around and pacing from councillors across the political spectrum, with party leaders telling us things are looking close.
Over in neighbouring Birmingham, Reform UK have had a great start, with six councillors elected so far and Labour seeming to be losing their tight control of the authority.
Mood in the room
Generally the Conservatives are quietly confident, with Solihull having always been a fairly safe area for them.
Reform UK are hoping to make some inroads, but it will be a struggle, as the four reform councillors sitting at the moment crossed the floor from the Tory’s.
The Greens are looking to hold on to the gains from the last election, and are the party, alongside the Lib Dems with the second most seats.
After a disappointing night for Labour locally and nationally, any inroads they can make in this blue stronghold will be welcomed.
MP Saqib Bhatti and Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst are in attendance.
Verification and turnout
Verification has been completed and counting is set to commence.
The three candidates with the greatest number of votes will be elected for a four, two, and one year term, respectively.
In the event of a tie between any of the top three placed candidates, lots will be drawn to establish length of term on Tuesday May 26.
If there is a tie between third and fourth place, lots will be drawn today to determine who is elected.
Overall turnout was 44.84 per cent across the 17 wards.
In Balsall and Berkswell there was a 49.34 per cent turn out, 43.72 per cent in Blythe, 45.75 per cent in Castle Bromwich and the lowest turnout in Chelmsley Wood with 28.28 per cent.
Dorridge and Hockley Heath had a 57.26 per cent turn out, Elmdon 44.91 per cent, Fordbridge 28.49 per cent and Kingshurst and Smith’s Wood the second lowest with 28.35 per cent.
Knowle had the highest with 55.19 per cent, Lyndon with 41.32 per cent, Meriden and Arden 44.82 per cent, Olton 50.41 per cent and Shirley East and Sharmans Cross 49.92 per cent.
Shirley South had 47.74 per cent, Shirley West 46.29 per cent, Silhill 49.87 per cent and second highest is St. Alphege with Monkspath and Hillfield with 52.11 per cent.
The seats being contested
Polls closed at 10pm last night and verification has begun for the 2026 local elections in Solihull.
This year residents voted for up to three candidates following a change in ward boundaries.
Of the seats being decided today 27 are held by Conservatives, eight by the Greens and Lib Dems, with four Reform, three independent and one Labour.
We will be brining you live updates and exclusive interviews from the candidates.