MEMBERS of the Conservative group in York admitted they had “been given a kicking” as the votes continued to be counted in the local elections tonight.

By 6pm on Friday just two Conservatives had been elected to City of York Council, demolishing the former Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition that has led the council for the previous four years.

All three Conservative seats in Rawcliffe and Clifton Without went to the Liberal Democrats. The Conservative group’s deputy leader, Stuart Rawlings, lost his seat but said: “We have achieved an awful lot in the past four years so I can’t believe it’s not national issues.”

The Liberal Democrats were the big winners - taking all three seats in Haxby and Wigginton ward as well as picking up seats in Strensall and Wheldrake.

Cllr Paul Doughty, a Conservative councillor who was re-elected to his seat in Strensall, admitted it had been a difficult election for the group.

He said: “I think we have been given a kicking, quite frankly. But parliamentarians across the board are to blame for the national situation, not just the Conservative party. Residents are quite rightly taking out their frustrations and anger.

“What I would like to see now is a clean slate. Having seen some losses we will re-group and hopefully we will re-build. I am elected to represent residents in my ward and I will do the best I can for them.”

In Bishopthorpe, former Conservative councillor turned independent John Galvin held on to his seat. He said: “Quite frankly it has been a disaster for the Conservative party in York. This is nothing to do with Brexit, the party in York is not in a good place.”

And in Acomb ward, one of the seats was formerly held by Conservative Keith Myers but was won by Labour’s Katie Lomas.

Mr Myers had been the Conservative group’s nomination to be the next Lord Mayor but will now not be able to take up the role.

The Green Party has held on to its four existing seats on the council, with Andy D’Agorne and Dave Taylor winning in Fishergate, Denise Craghill re-elected in Guildhall and Rosie Baker taking a seat in Micklegate after the ward’s former Green councillor, Lars Kramm, moved to stand in Copmanthorpe. Copmanthorpe was won by former Conservative council leader, now independent, David Carr.

Labour councillor Jonny Crawshaw, who was re-elected in Micklegate ward along with new Labour councillor Pete Kilbane, said: “We’re really pleased to take two seats in Micklegate, I’m disappointed we didn’t manage to take all three.

“It looks as though the Conservative vote has completely collapsed.”

Labour group leader Janet Looker held on to her seat in Guildhall but her Labour colleague James Flinders lost his seat to another Labour candidate, Fiona Fitzpatrick.

Liberal Democrat group leader Keith Aspden also held his seat in Fulford and Heslington.