 At the last election in 2003 Labour lost their majority on the council, after winning 23 seats, compared to 15 for the Liberal Democrats, 13 Conservatives and 8 independents.A coalition between the Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and independents then took control of the council.In 2004 a Labour councillor for Guisborough, and former deputy leader of the party, Keith Pudney, became an independent, before becoming a Liberal Democrat in 2005.