The election results for Wokingham borough have been announced.

For the most part, the day went well for incumbent councillors who were seeking re-election.

The ruling Conservatives for the most part held the line. They won 14 out of the 18 seats that were up for election last time, in 2016. This year, they managed to hold on to 11 of those and gain one seat.

The most gains were made by the Liberal Democrats, who won three seats at the expense of the Conservatives.

ELECTION 2021: Wokingham results in full here

The Liberal Democrats gained a seat in Emmbrook from long serving Conservative incumbent UllaKarin Clark. Clark had served as a councillor since 2003, but was beaten by Morag Malvern, who won by a majority of  221 votes. The Liberal Democrats had accused the Conservatives, including former Cllr Clark, of lying over the council’s finances in their campaign material.

Councillor Lindsay Ferris, the leader of the Wokingham Liberal Democrats, said: “I’m very pleased that two of my colleagues and myself have managed to retain their seats with good majorities and we’ve won the Emmbrook seat, making one gain, and we are hopeful of potentially making more.”

The Liberal Democrats would later take the Evendons and Wescott seats from the Conservatives. Lib Dem candidate Peter Dennis scuppered former council leader Julian McGhee Sumner’s attempt to re-enter the borough chamber for Wescott. The seat had been held by Conservative Cllr Oliver Whittle, who choose not to stand. Meanwhile, in Evendons, long serving Conservative Cllr Dianne King chose not to seek another term. Her seat will be taken up by Marog Malvern of the Liberal Democrats.

One of the biggest results was the defeated of incumbent Labour Councillor Andy Croy, who lost his Bulmershe & Whitegates seat to Shahid Younis.

Mr Younis said he was “delighted” with the result.

“I’m absolutely delighted. I’m pleased to be back, I just wish to thank all the residents of Bulmershe & Whitegates for giving me that privilege to serve them again.”

He had previously been a councillor for Bulmershe & Whitegates from 2011 to 2019. However, he was unhorsed by Labour’s Shirley Boyt in the 2019 Local Elections.

Mr Croy had served as the Labour group leader on Wokingham Borough Council. Three Labour councillors remain in the borough chamber: Shirley Boyt and Carl Doran, both representatives for Bulmershe & Whitegates, and Rachel Burgess, representative for Norreys. It is understood Cllr Burgess will take Mr Croy’s place as leader.

For his part, Mr Croy said: “We’ll carry on. If you’re on the Left of politics there’s the idea of the struggle, and it’s a struggle for a reason, because it’s not easy!”

READ MORE: Labour suffer blow as Wokingham party leader is defeated

It was a day that saw plenty of new faces elected, as eight of the councillors elected in 2016 chose not to stand in this election. They include Charlotte Haitham-Taylor (CON, Shinfield South) the former leader of the council who was ousted in 2018, and Richard Dolinski (Independent, Loddon) who left the Conservatives to stand as an Independent because he didn’t like the way Charlotte Haitham-Taylor had been treated.

Cllr John Halsall, who will remain Wokingham Borough Council leader, has been asked to reflect on the election and the careers of his Conservative colleagues who have retired or stepped down.