Less than a week after the local election results its uncertain who will lead Cherwell District Council as negotiations are still underway on who will take control.

Despite the Liberal Democrats becoming the largest party in Cherwell District Council for the first time in the party's history, the council remains with no party in overall control.

The Liberal Democrats took seven wards from the Conservatives and are now the biggest party with 17 seats.

Labour and the Greens gained one each while the Conservatives lost nine.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Cherwell District Council, David Hingley, said: "Because the Liberal Democrats have the largest number of councillors, that gives us the strongest mandate to put together the next administration.

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"What we’re trying to do at the moment is we are thinking about how we best do that, how we work with other parties to do that, and then hopefully the outcome of that will be a Liberal Democrat administration taking the districts forward into the future.

"At the moment we are having discussions. 

"I am open to any party or any councillors who share the values of the Liberal Democrats to talk about how they might play a part in the future of Cherwell, and we’re in that interim period at the moment where we are putting everything together.

"We think what voters want is for us to talk, so we are always open for exploring how that can happen, and we will get to a conclusion shortly.

"We are absolutely thrilled at the results and we are looking forward to what comes next."

Oxford Mail: Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Cherwell District Council, David Hingley

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Ian Middleton, Kidlington East councillor for Cherwell District Council Green party, said: "It was a very good election for the Greens - they gained a considerable increase in representation across country, and were the second most successful party in the local elections.

"I think the elections were reflective of the national picture at the moment in terms of the Conservatives being past their sell by date.

"This was reflected in local government, particularly for Cherwell, the writing has been on the wall for some time."

He added: "We are in discussions with the Liberal Democrats about where we go forward with that arrangement.

"I’m optimistic that the Greens will have a key part to play part to play in the administration."

Oxford Mail:

Leader of the Labour Group party for Cherwell District Council, Sean Woodcock, said: "It was a fantastic set of results for Labour in the Banbury constituency and a just reward to all those who worked so hard for the party over recent weeks.

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"In the district council elections too we had some stunning results with big wins in Banbury and in Chipping Norton for Geoff Saul."

Oxford Mail: Sean Woodcock will be standing as Labour's candidate for Banbury in the next general election

Kieron Mallon, councillor for the Cherwell District Council Conservative party, said: "The results for my party were disappointing, but looking at the results particularly in the north of the county, the Conservative party were a very good second in all of the seats that they didn't win, which is heartening, and I think bodes well for the future."

Oxford Mail: Kieron Mallon, Leader of Banbury Town Council.