1996 Reading Borough Council election

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1996 Reading Borough Council election
←  1995 2 May 1996 (1996-05-02) 1997  →
16 seats of 45 on council
23 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond partyThird party
 
Lab
LD
Con
Leader David Sutton Jim DayTony Markham
Party Labour Liberal Democrats Conservative
Seats before3258
Seats after3564
Seat changeIncrease2.svg3Increase2.svg1Decrease2.svg4
Popular vote18,2826,8657,541
Percentage55.320.822.8
SwingDecrease2.svg1.3Increase2.svg2.9Decrease2.svg1.6

The 1996 Reading Borough Council election was held on 2 May 1996, at the same time as other local elections across England. Sixteen of the 45 seats on Reading Borough Council were up for election, being the usual third of the council (15 seats) plus a by-election in Redlands ward, where Labour councillor Tony Jones had resigned. [1]

Contents

Labour increased its majority on the council, and David Sutton remained leader of the Labour group and leader of the council. The Liberal Democrats became the second largest group on the council, overtaking the Conservatives, who were left with just four seats. The leader of the Conservative group ahead of the election was Tony Markham, but he lost his seat at the election. Ed Young was appointed leader of the Conservative group shortly afterwards. The Liberal Democrats also replaced their leader after the election, with outgoing leader Jim Day being appointed mayor of Reading, and Ian Fenwick appointed the new leader of the Liberal Democrat group in his place. [2]

Results

Reading Borough Council Election, 1996
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Labour 1330+381.3%55.3%18,282-1.3
  Conservative 104-46.3%22.8%7,541-1.6
  Liberal Democrats 210+112.5%20.8%6,865+2.9
  Green 00%1.1%3800.0

Ward results

The results in each ward were as follows (candidates with an asterisk* were the previous incumbent standing for re-election): [3] [4]

Abbey Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jane Griffiths* 1,317 72.4 +0.3
Conservative Richard Willis28815.8+1.3
Liberal Democrats Julian Fertray21411.8-1.6
Turnout 1,819
Labour hold Swing -0.5
Battle Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Andrew Tattersall* 1,170 74.9 -4.0
Conservative Heather Jones25416.3+1.5
Liberal Democrats Adam Canning1398.9+2.4
Turnout 1,563
Labour hold Swing -0.45
Caversham Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Susan Stainthorp 1,511 54.8 +2.5
Conservative Mark Anderson96234.9-4.2
Liberal Democrats Robin Bentham28410.3+1.7
Turnout 2,757
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +3.35
Church Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Maureen Lockey* 1,012 67.7 -3.6
Conservative Mark Graves28719.2+2.8
Liberal Democrats Susan Orchard-Doughty1318.8-3.5
Green Richard Bradbury654.3n/a
Turnout 1,495
Labour hold Swing -3.2
Katesgrove Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour David Sutton* 959 65.9 -6.7
Conservative Shirley Mills27518.9-0.1
Liberal Democrats Andrew Coleman15910.9n/a
Green Philip Unsworth624.3-4.1
Turnout 1,455
Labour hold Swing -3.3
Kentwood Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Sandy Scaife 1,200 48.1 -1.7
Liberal Democrats Richard Duveen71128.5+4.8
Conservative John Oliver*58623.5-3.1
Turnout 2,497
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +0.7
Minster Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Leighton Yeo 1,414 56.7 -8.1
Conservative Tony Markham*80532.3-2.9
Liberal Democrats Roger Hayes27511.0n/a
Turnout 2,494
Labour gain from Conservative Swing -2.6
Norcot Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Helen Hathaway 1,355 72.4 +2.9
Liberal Democrats Martin Scott23612.6-3.2
Conservative Vanessa Jones22612.1+0.5
Green Joseph Loudon542.9-0.2
Turnout 1,871
Labour hold Swing +3.05
Park Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jonathan Hartley 1,607 79.1 +3.2
Liberal Democrats George Preston42420.9+10.0
Turnout 2,031
Labour hold Swing -3.4
Peppard Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Christopher Bolt 1,496 51.2 +1.9
Conservative Mary Irwin*98133.5-0.3
Labour Adam Wood44715.3-1.6
Turnout 2,924
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +1.1
Redlands Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jonathan Morris* 1,258 57.3 -4.2
Conservative James Wilson40718.6+0.3
Liberal Democrats Jeffrey Hannan37617.1+3.6
Green Mary Westly1537.0+0.3
Turnout 2,194
Labour hold Swing -2.25
Redlands Ward (by-election)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Elizabeth Winfield-Chislett 1,359 65.5
Liberal Democrats Paul Fitchett71534.5
Turnout 2,074
Labour hold Swing
Southcote Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Askar Sheibani 1,345 65.3 +12.1
Conservative Susan White45522.1-0.5
Liberal Democrats Deon Pheiffer26112.7n/a
Turnout 2,061
Labour hold Swing -5.8
Thames Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Jeanette Skeats 1,435 46.2 -1.6
Liberal Democrats Martin Reilly1,01432.7+5.4
Labour Betty Tickner65421.1-3.7
Turnout 3,103
Conservative hold Swing -3.5
Tilehurst Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Jim Day* 1,444 62.8 +4.4
Labour John Ennis48921.3-3.6
Conservative David Jones32214.0+0.3
Green Judith Green462.0-1.1
Turnout 2,301
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +4.0
Whitley Ward
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour James Hanley 1,185 82.1 -5.0
Conservative Lloyd Henry25817.9+5.0
Turnout 1,443
Labour hold Swing -5.0

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References

  1. ↑ "By-election shock 'Wot… no Tory?'". Evening Post. Reading. 19 April 1996. p. 65. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  2. ↑ "Parties' new faces". Evening Post. Reading. 14 May 1996. p. 3. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  3. ↑ "Who will get your vote?". Evening Post. Reading. 11 April 1996. p. 24. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  4. ↑ "Ward by ward guide to how you voted". Evening Post. Reading. 3 May 1996. p. 21. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
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