The leader of the BCP Conservative Group said his party’s poor performance in the local elections came in a campaign focused on national issues.

Cllr Philip Broadhead, who narrowly regained his seat by just five votes, said this made it really disappointing to see some “really good local councillors of all colours” lose out.

In a tough day at the BIC, which mirrored events elsewhere in the country, the Conservatives saw their seat total on BCP Council plummet from 34 to just 12.

Several senior Tories failed in attempts to regain their seats including cabinet members Mike White (Hamworthy) and Beverley Dunlop (Moordown), and former portfolio holder Mark Anderson.

Cllr Broadhead told the Daily Echo: “Locally this is like 2019 all over again – that was a local election dominated by national issues and we ended up with a council that was no overall control.

“That is exactly where we are now. Back then we were the largest party. This time around the Liberal Democrats are the largest party.”

Bournemouth Echo: Tories in conversation as the results are declared at the BIC in the BCP Council 2023 electionsTories in conversation as the results are declared at the BIC in the BCP Council 2023 elections (Image: Richard Crease)

Cllr Broadhead said the Conservatives took over the council in late 2020 in “pretty poor shape” from the Liberal Democrat-led coalition, citing issues with planning, roads and finance.

“This time we have left them with a council that is on the up and in a secure financial position with a £13million surplus this year alone, so it will be really interesting to see what they do with it,” he said.

Discussing the tough day for his party, Cllr Broadhead said: “We have seen a similar situation across the country.

"I have never been in a local election that was as dominated by national issues as this one is and of course that is really disappointing to some really good local councillors of all colours who have lost their seats here and across the country, often through no fault of their own actually.

“Let’s remember, these are not national politicians. As a local councillor we are not MPs, we are not mayors, we are there as local people serving our communities and we want to be judged by what we do and not what people in Westminster do.”

Cllr Broadhead’s Talbot and Branksome Woods ward went to a recount, which he described as “never amazing".

“Fortunately I was already winning and it went more in my favour on the second time but it does show the real variance in views from people,” he said.

“We have seen so many different parties across BCP Council now, not a one-party conurbation by any stretch. Now we have all just got to work together.”

Full list of Conservative wins in the 2023 BCP Council elections

Hazel Allen - Bournemouth Central

John Challinor - Canford Cliffs

May Haines - Canford Cliffs

Anne Filer - East Cliff and Springbourne

Cameron Adams - Kinson

Duane Farr - Kinson

Lawrence Williams - Littledown

Bobbie Dove - Littledown

Philip Broadhead - Talbot and Branksome Woods

Karen Rampton - Talbot and Branksome Woods

John Beesley - Westbourne and West Cliff

David d'Orton-Gibson - Westbourne and West Cliff