Labour leader Keir Starmer was in Carlisle to congratulate party members who swooped to victory in the local elections.
The party has taken control of the new Cumberland Council – which is set to replace Allerdale, Carlisle and Copeland and the county councils next year.
The Labour leader met with local Labour representatives in Carlisle’s Station Hotel yesterday, Friday.
Sir Keir told Cumbria Crack: “It’s extremely positive and it’s brilliant. I was here just a week ago and to come back is brilliant. Everyone is so chuffed. It’s good for Cumberland and good for the Labour Party to show what we can do.”
Labour won 30 seats on the new authority, which means it has overall control.
The Conservatives have seven seats, the Liberal Democrats four seats, independent councillors three and the Green Party two seats.
This means Labour have gained 12 seats, the Conservatives have lost 14, the Liberal Democrats gained two, the Green Party gained two and the Independents lost two.
Barbara Cannon, who has been elected to represent the St Michael’s ward in Workington, said: “We worried and strategised about what may happen and we have done better than we expected.
“People talking to us on the doorstep about the cost of living crisis and the price of petrol and the Government letting them down, although I don’t think Partygate was a big an issue. People are frustrated and fed up and I think they have spoken clearly and said enough.
“We have a lot of work to do now and quickly. I didn’t think we’d do this well, I thought we’d be talking about alliances. It’s very exciting.”
Lisa Brown, who was elected in the Currock ward for Labour and is among those in the running to be the leader of Cumberland Council, said: “I am unbelievably happy. It is our time.
“It has been a long time coming. You could see when you spoke to people how despondent they were locally and nationally.
“People didn’t reflect on what they were going through on an everyday basis (during the pandemic), but this result is for those people across Cumberland that this council can now help.”
Although the local party was hopeful of a positive result in the Cumberland Council elections, it has taken many by surprise.
“It is beyond what we expected,” said Mrs Brown.
“But also the Lib Dems have taken seats and Helen (Davison) for the Greens. She is an outstanding and hardworking local councillor.
“I don’t buy into this protest vote narrative, this result is rewarding hard work by local Labour candidates, especially in Carlisle.”
It is too early to say how the results in the local elections might translate into a general election, according to Mrs Brown.
“It is always difficult,” she said. “Local politics, unless you live in the area it is hard to know what the political situation is like.
“Mike Starkie (in the last general election) said the Conservatives had taken over but that doesn’t ref;erct where we are now.
“The Conservatives have been convincingly rejected.”
Mrs Brown welcomed Sir Keir to Carlisle and was delighted to see him.
“It was really great,” she said. “It’s no short distance from London to Carlisle and he was up here just a week ago.
“Everyone was pleased to see him, it lifts people here and everyone who has put up posters, delivered leaflets and campaigned.
“To see them so happy and excited, that is the reward for the hard work.”
