PENDLE Council remains under no overall control as the political make up of the authority remained much as it was after Thursday's local elections.

The Liberal Democrats picked up one councillor as all the Independent candidates who were part of the Gaza rebellion which saw the entire Labour group quit were re-elected.

Among them were current council leader Cllr Asjad Mahmood and former authority boss Cllr Mohammed Iqbal.

This means that the largest party are the Conservatives with 13 councillors and the LibDems with eight.

There are two independent councillors not part of the former Labour Independent Group of 10.

There remains not a single Labour councillor on an authority they once controlled.

Cllr Iqbal said: 'I'm delighted to be elected for another four years.

"I've been a councillor for 26 years and I'm grateful for the support I've had from voters.

"Today's results are about divisive Tory politics and national party stances on Palestine.

"People are fed-up with the Conservative government. The country wants change but I would appeal to Kier Starmer to listen to people on the ground, who will not be dictated to.

"This country and the Labour Party have a history of speaking out about injustices, here or across the world. Sadly Labour is choosing to be 'soft Conservatives' at the moment.

"I would never say we'd not rejoin Labour in the future. But Keir Starmer needs to change his ways."

LibDem Cllr David Whipp , deputy leader of Pendle Council, said: "The independent councillors, formerly Labour, and Lib-Dem councillors have a good relationship and we hope to continue our shared administration going forward.

"In the West Craven and Colne area, people feel badly let-down by national government. They're saying enough is enough - the Conservatives have had their day.

"People are struggling to get doctors appointments, hospital treatment or getting their children into a school of choice.

"The future of leisure centres has also been contentious. The Tories say one Pendle leisure centre needs to close. No national government funding has come forward for the Colne leisure centre. That's an issue."

Conservative group leader Cllr Nadeem Ahmed said: "Nelson and Colne have had significant government funding through levelling-up, UK Shared Prosperity Fund and other schemes. But I think people don't yet see the physical improvements. The Colne theatre and market hall work is under way but the Nelson schemes, such as Pendle Rise shopping centre, are much bigger and yet to be seen. So that will probably affect public opinion in future.

"Generally, people are disillusioned with national politics and there's a reaction against the Tories. We're seeing that today and we need to address those issues.

"But I don't detect any big enthusiasm for Labour and Keir Starmer either.

"However I also think local people recognise the hard work done by local councillors of all political parties. There are lots of factors at play."