The election was won by the Labour Party, who gained enough seats to achieve an overall majority and took control of the council.

A coalition of Conservative and UK Independence Party (UKIP) councillors had taken control of the council after the 2016 election, with thirty members in total and a working majority.

The Local Government Chronicle described Labour as 'well placed to regain control' by winning the seats won by UKIP councillors in 2014.

[7] Rob Ford in the Guardian wrote that a Labour victory in Plymouth would help the party 'demonstrate strength in critical English swing areas'.

[15] The Herald described the election as voters deserting UKIP, with Plymouth returning to a two-party political system.

The newspaper also emphasised Sima Davarian-Dehsorkhe as the best-performing Liberal Democrat candidate, winning more than 10% of the vote in Plymstock Dunstone.