It was Independent’s Day in Allerdale with half the borough’s ruling executive toppled in the borough elections as mainstream parties faced a Brexit backlash.

The highest profile casualty was Mark Fryer, deputy leader of the council, in night of big shocks for the Labour-led council.

Fellow members of the eight-strong executive Konrad Hansen, Barbara Cannon and Bill Jefferson also failed in their re-election bid.

Independent candidates clinched more seats than either Labour or the Conservatives, with Independent Moorclose councillor Stephen Stoddart describing the upset as a “political tidal wave”.

The Independents capitalised on widespread disillusionment with party politics in a year dominated by national issues, with Brexit also blamed on generally low turnouts.

This year saw a major change in the political landscape, with the number of Allerdale councillors slashed from 56 to 49 following a boundary review.

Alan Smith, leader of the council, described his election victory as “bitter sweet”.

He said: “We have had a hiding. It’s split three ways but that’s life. We will still take care of our wards and our people. It’s a setback but I have had eight years as leader: I have lived the dream. This sports centre you we are standing in is part of that legacy.”

There were contests in all but three wards – Allhallows and Waverton (one seat) and Boltons (one seat) and Marsh and Wampool (two seats). These were all uncontested with all the candidates standing for the Conservatives.

Ahead of the election 15 seats were held by Conservatives, 27 by Labour, 5 by Independents and 4 non-affiliated and one UK Independence councillor.

Post-election, Independents have 19 seats, Conservatives 15, Labour 14 and Putting Cumbria First 1.

This means no one party has an overall majority, with the Independents not forming a united group.

Councillors now look set to work to form a coalition though what shape it will take is not clear at this early stage.

Reacting to his election defeat, deputy leader Mark Fryer said: “We’ve been here before, I’ve always been fighting for my community, it’s in my DNA”

Conservative Tony Markley, who was elected to the Solway Coast area, said the national political situation had definitely affected the way candidates have been received on the doorstep.

Speaking after he was elected, Labour councillor for Flimby Peter Kendall, described it as a “hollow victory”.

He said: “It hasn’t been a good night for us really. Nationally, I think the Brexit issue has been a major distraction. And I do feel sorry for my fellow Labour councillors who have absolutely worked their socks off over the last eight years. But I am proud to serve Flimby.”

Allerdale Borough Council election results

All Saints Ward (Cockermouth)

Eric Atkinson (the For Britain Movement) – 176

Peter Deeks (Liberal Democrats) – 401

Ron Munby (Conservatives) – 591 

Keith Skelton (Labour) – 573

Alan Smith (Labour) – 666

Christine Smith (Labour) – 524

Anthony Todd (Conservative) – 450

Alan Tyson (Conservative) – 674

Voter turnout 40.38 per cent

Rejected ballot papers – 38

Allhallows and Waverton

Mike Johnson (Conservative)

Aspatria

Daniel Brown (Labour) – 227

Ronald Emerson (Conservative) – 232

Jim Lister (Conservative) – 401 

Michael Little (Putting Cumbria First) – 344 

William Snaith (Labour) – 239

Voter turnout – 28.66 per cent

Rejected ballot papers – 7

Boltons

Malcolm Grainger (Conservative)

Broughton St Bridgets

Margaret Brown (Labour) – 308

Nicky Cockburn (Indepedent) – 787 (elected)

Janet Farebrother (Labour) – 434 (elected)

Leslie Parker (Conservative) – 170

Roger Peck (Liberal Democrats) – 182

Neil Rumbold (Conservative) – 281

Turnout – 41.37 per cent

Rejected ballot papers – 4

Christchurch (Cockermouth)

Chris Clarkin (Conservative)

Joan Ellis (Labour) – 596 (Elected)

Paddy Gorrill (Conservative)

Andrew Semple (Labour)

Crummock and Derwent Valley

Carmen Bell (Conservative) – 291 

Jill Perry (Green) – 238

Alexander Rayment (Labour) – 105

Rejected papers: 10

Voter turnout: 41.68 per cent.

Dalton

Marion Fitzgerald (Independent) – 460 

Stephen Haradlsen (Conservative) – 106

Ross Hayman (Labour) – 121

Rejected ballot papers – 3

Turnout – 30.46 per cent

Ellen and Gilcrux

Louise Bell (Labour)

John Colhoun (Labour)

Hugo Graham (Conservative)

Susan Graham (Conservative)

Dianne Standen (Green)

Flimby

Ashley Cook (Conservative) – 86

Peter Kendall (Labour) – 255 

Voter turnout: 25.88 per cent

Rejected ballot papers – 25

Harrington and Salterbeck

Carole Armstrong (Independent) – 467

Herbert Briggs (Independent) – 575

Andrew Davidson (Conservative) – 82

Ruth Gildert (Conservative) – 121

Hilary Harrington (Independent) – 711

James William (Conservative) – 98

Frank Johnston (Labour) – 427

Denise Rollo (Labour) – 359

Mike Rollo (Labour) – 325

Voter turnout – 27.98

Rejected ballot papers – 7

Keswick

Ronnie Bell (Conservative) – 416

Markus Dale Campbell-Savours (Labour) – 793 

Allan Daniels (Conservative) –  570 

Denstone Kemp (Labour) – 532

Sally Lansbury (Labour) – 650 (elected)

Jack Lenox (Green) – 396

Ruth Noonan (Green) – 289

Don Thoburn (Conservative) – 509

Allan Todd (Green) – 391

Gwenda Ward (Liberal Democrats) – 177

Marsh and Wampool

Alan Hedworth (Conservative)

Derick Hodgson (Conservative)

Maryport North

Steve Ashworth (Labour) – 360

Adrian Davis-Johnston (Conservative) – 119

Harry Gilbert (Conservative) – 97

Iain Greaney (Independent) – 1,012 (elected)

Genna Haraldsen (Conservative) – 67

George Kemp (Independent) – 921 (elected)

Angela Kendall (Labour) – 406

James Kirkbride (Independent) – 784 (elected)

Bill Pegram (Labour) – 427

Rejected ballot papers – 3

Maryport South

Stevan Bradley (Conservative) – 55

Alan Kennon (Conservative) – 60

Dave King (the For Britain Movement) – 98

Peter Little (Independent) – 347 (elected)

Carni McCarron-Holmes (Labour) – 377 (elected)

Sharon Stamper (Labour) – 324

Voter turnout – 24.82 per cent

Rejected ballot papers – 4

Moorclose and Moss Bay (Workington)

Barbara Cannon (Labour) – 386

Jonathan Coles (Conservative) – 67

Dawn Jenkinson (Conservative) – 71

Patrick McCarthy (no party listed) – 63

Blain Sansom (Independent) – 669 (elected)

Neil Schofield (Labour) – 375

Christine Smithson (Conservative) – 45

Stephen Stoddart (Independent) – 915 (elected)

Dave Tennyson (Labour) – 349

Lynda Williams (Independent) – 674 (elected)

Seaton and Northside

Joanne Beech (Labour) – 546

Alistair Grey (Green) – 190

Jimmy Grisdale (Labour) – 392

Daniel Horsley (Independent) – 816 (Elected)

Garry Humphrey (Labour) – 341

Mark Jenkinson (Conservative) – 582 (Elected)

Joe Sandwith (Independent) – 947 (Elected)

Colin Smithson (Conservative) – 97

Steven Williams (Conservative) – 117

Voter turnout – 33.03 per cet

Rejected ballot papers – 5

Silloth and Solway Coast

John Cook (Conservative) – 891

Bill Jefferson (Independent) – 772

Tony Markley (Conservative) – 995

Owen Martin (Conservative) – 812

Sharon Watson (Green) – 468

Voter turnout – 39.11 per cent

Rejected – 15

St John’s (Workington)

Brian Carter (Conservative) -180

Alastair Cook (Conservative) – 120

Louise Donnelly (Conservative) – 190

Konrad Hansen (Labour) – 447

Michael Heaslip (Labour) – 505 

Joe Holliday (Independent) – 850 

David King (Independent) – 467

Anthony McGuckin (Labour) – 461

Peter McHarry (Liberal Democrats) – 143

Robin Muldrew (Green) – 89

Paul Scott (Independent) – 582

Voter turnout – 34.72 per cent.

Rejected ballot papers – 15

St Michael’s (Workington)

Mary Bainbridge (Labour) – 425

Diane Carter (Conservative) – 105

Felicity Crowley (Green) – 111

Billy Miskelly (Labour) – 343

Arwen Tuck (Conservative) – 64

Will Wilkinson (Independent) – 463 

Voter turnout – 31.7 per cent

Rejected ballot papers – 11

Stainburn and Clifton (Workington)

Mark Fryer (Labour) – 310

Peter Gaston (no party listed) – 363 

Janet King (Independent) – 439 

Wendy Lightfoot (Labour) – 257

Craig Tunstall (Conservative) –  180

Fliss Watts (Green) – 121

Warnell Ward

Tony Annison (Conservative) – 374 

Bill Goldsmith (Labour) – 141

Charles Miles (Liberal Democrats) – 103

Voter turnout – 40.45

Rejected ballot papers – 16

Wigton and Woodside

Patricia Ackred (Green) – 194

Joe Cowell (Independent) – 364

John Crouch (Labour) – 658

John Graham (Conservative) – 337

Sandra Hodson (Independent) – 553

Elaine Lynch (Labour) – 650 

Katharine Oliver (Conservative) – 355

Alan Pitcher (Conservative) – 563

Heather Robbins (Labour Party) – 461

Voter turnout – 30.9 per cent

Rejected ballot papers – 12