In a stunning upset, Labour candidate Richard Parker has been elected as the new mayor of the West Midlands. After six out of seven local authorities conducted vote checks, a full recount was ordered in Coventry due to the extremely close race. Parker’s surprising victory is a major blow to the Conservative party, who had already suffered significant losses in local elections across England.
Incumbent mayor Andy Street, who had been in office since 2017 and was seeking a third term, was soundly defeated by Parker in a race that few predicted would be so close. The result is sure to have major implications for the political landscape of the region and beyond.
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