2018 Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council election

Last updated

Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council Elections, 2018
Flag of England.svg
  2016 3 May 2018 2019  

One third (17 of 51) to Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council
26 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond partyThird party
 
LeaderTim Swift Scott Benton James Baker
Party Labour Conservative Liberal Democrats
Leader's seatTownBrighouseWarley
Seats won10, 58.8%4, 23.5%2, 11.8%
Seat changeIncrease2.svg1Decrease2.svg1Increase2.svg1
Popular vote28,14221,1836,521
Percentage46.3%34.8%10.7%
SwingIncrease2.svg8.4%Increase2.svg4.9%Decrease2.svg4.7%

Council control before election

No Overall Control

Council control after election

No Overall Control

2018 local election results in Calderdale Calderdale UK ward map 2018 Election.svg
2018 local election results in Calderdale

The 2018 Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 3 May 2018 to elect members of Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council in England. [1] This was on the same day as other local elections. One councillor was elected in each ward for a four-year term so the councillors elected in 2018 last stood for election in 2014. Each ward is represented by three councillors, the election of which is staggered, so only one third of the councillors were elected in this election. Before the election there was no overall control with a minority Labour administration. Following the election Labour, having gained one councillor, was still two councillors away from a majority so it remained no overall control.

Contents

Independent Conservative Councillor Mike Payne of Sowerby Bridge Ward, who was suspended from the Conservative Party in April 2018, was reinstated into the party during this election cycle. [2]

Council results

Calderdale [3]
PartyCandidatesVotes
StoodElectedGainedUnseatedNet % of total %No.Net %
  Labour 171021Increase2.svg158.841.925,4539.2
  Conservative 17412Decrease2.svg123.534.821,1835.0
  Liberal Democrats 16210Increase2.svg111.810.76,521-1.5
  Independent 4101Decrease2.svg15.97.64,6311.6
  Green 1700000.04.22,570-2.6
  Yorkshire 100000.00.31740.3
  National Front 100000.00.2980.2

Council Composition

Prior to the election the composition of the council was:

2320152
LabourConservativeICLib DemInd

After the election the composition of the council was:

2419161
LabourConservativeICLib DemInd
PartyPrevious councilNew council
Labour 2324
Conservative 2019
Liberal Democrats 56
Independent 21
Ind. Conservative 11
Total5151

Reaction

The local paper, the Halifax Courier , said that the Labour group were happiest with the result having got closer to overall control. [4] When the leaders of the groups were later interviewed, Tim Swift, leader of the Labour group, highlighted the win of Skircoat ward and said that the overall result was pretty good for Labour. James Baker, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, highlighted the first win of a new ward in Calderdale as opposed to merely a successful defence since 2010 when the national Liberal Democrat party went into coalition with the Conservatives in the UK parliament. Baker said that they would work with labour to get what they could of their policies enacted. Scott Benton, leader of the Conservative group, highlighted that Labour had failed to gain overall control despite the point in the national political cycle being a good time for opposition parties. Specifically Labour had been in opposition for 8 years at this point. Benton described the Conservative performance as solid. [5]

Ward results

The ward results listed below are based on the changes from the last time this third was up for election, in the 2014 elections, [6] not taking into account any mid-term by-elections or party defections.

Brighouse ward

Brighouse
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Howard Granville Blagborough 2,065 58.2 31.3
Labour Oliver George Willows1,23834.913.2
Liberal Democrats Jennie Rigg 1343.80.7
Green Kate Sweeny1073.03.0
Majority82723.30.1
Turnout 3,55042.83.4
Conservative hold Swing 9.1

The incumbent was Howard Blagborough for the Conservative Party. In the 2014 election both a UKIP candidate & an Independent candidate got over 20% of the vote but neither stood in this election. The swing is expressed between the Conservative & Labour Parties.

Calder ward

Calder
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Sarah Courtney 3,075 61.9 24.1
Conservative Richard Hugh Marshall1,01520.45.9
Liberal Democrats Donal Antony Martin O'Hanlon4609.3−6.1
Green Jenny Shepherd3998.0−12.0
Majority2,06041.518.2
Turnout 4,96453.88.5
Labour hold Swing 18.0

The incumbent was Alison Miles for the Labour Party who stepped down at this election. The swing is expressed between Labour & Green as Green were second in 2014. There was a 9.1% swing from Conservatives to Labour.

Elland ward

Elland
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Angie Gallagher 1,507 44.3 12.7
Conservative David Collins1,41741.711.7
Liberal Democrats Michael Wallace Whiting3028.9−18.3
Green Barry Edward Crossland1695.0−2.8
Majority902.61.0
Turnout 3,39939.15.1
Labour hold Swing 0.5

The incumbent was Angie Gallagher for the Labour Party.

Greetland & Stainland ward

Greetland & Stainland
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Marilyn Greenwood 1,706 49.9 19.6
Conservative Oliver Darryl Williams1,09832.13.8
Labour Mike Barnes49814.61.1
Green Mark Richard Mullany1123.3−2.6
Majority60817.815.8
Turnout 3,42040.14.1
Liberal Democrats hold Swing 7.9

The incumbent was Marilyn Greenwood for the Liberal Democrats. UKIP did not stand a candidate this time where they had polled over 20% last time. The swing is from Conservative to Liberal.

Hipperholme & Lightcliffe ward

Hipperholme & Lightcliffe
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Colin Raistrick 1,484 41.5 −14.5
Conservative James Pillai1,26735.58.7
Labour Steven Cliberon60016.83.4
Green Martin John Hey1103.13.1
Liberal Democrats Alisdair Calder McGregor1052.9−0.3
Majority2176.1−23.2
Turnout 3,57439.81.9
Independent hold Swing -11.6

The incumbent was Colin Raistrick, an Independent. The swing was 11.6 from Independent to Conservative & there was a 2.7% swing from Labour to Conservative.

Illingworth & Mixenden ward

Illingworth & Mixenden
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Dan Sutherland 1,398 52.0 10.8
Conservative Guy Beech1,00537.318.4
Green Angela Christine Street1184.44.4
Independent Sean Loftus1033.83.8
Liberal Democrats Alexander Parsons-Hulse652.4−0.1
Majority39314.610.1
Turnout 2,69130.0−1.3
Labour hold Swing -3.8

The incumbent was Dan Sutherland for the Labour Party. There was a swing of 3.8% from Labour to Conservative. UKIP which did not stand this time got over 35% of the vote in 2014.

Luddendenfoot ward

Luddendenfoot
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Scott Anthony Patient 1,984 51.1 17.3
Conservative Jill Smith-Moorhouse1,42836.82.4
Liberal Democrats Catherine Jane Crosland3077.9−5.9
Green Michael John Prior1503.9−12.9
Majority55614.313.8
Turnout 3,88448.48.5
Labour gain from Conservative Swing 7.4

The incumbent was Jill Smith-Moorhouse for the Conservative Party. The biggest swing was 15.1% from Green to Labour.

Northowram & Shelf ward

Northowram & Shelf
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Stephen Baines 2,119 63.1 21.2
Labour Helen Sutcliffe80824.14
Yorkshire Daniel Richard Manning1745.25.2
Green Elaine Hey1514.54.5
Liberal Democrats Jon Grinham962.9−0.1
Majority1,31139.131.6
Turnout 3,35637.01.2
Conservative hold Swing 8.6

The incumbent was Stephen Baines for the Conservative party who was the deputy leader of the Conservative group at the time of the election. UKIP was second place in 2014 with almost 35% of the vote but did not stand this time.

Ovenden ward

Ovenden
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Helen Josephine Rivron 1,043 54.8 −4.9
Conservative Gill Tolley58330.74.7
Green Katherine Louise Horner19410.210.2
Liberal Democrats John Reynolds784.1−5.6
Majority46024.2−9.6
Turnout 1,90222.70.1
Labour hold Swing -4.8

The incumbent was Helen Rivron for the Labour Party. There was a swing of 4.8% from Labour to Conservative. The biggest swing was 7.9% from Liberal to Green.

Park ward

Park
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Mohammad Naeem 2,800 56.6 −5.9
Independent Surraya Bibi1,74235.235.2
Conservative Amjad Mahmood Bashir 2455.0−24.0
Green Finn Mygind1432.9−1.8
Majority1,05821.4−12.1
Turnout 4,94953.44.1
Labour hold Swing -20.6

The incumbent was Ferman Ali for the Labour Party who stepped down at this election. Amjad Bashir standing for the Conservatives is a sitting MEP for Yorkshire & Humber where he was elected for UKIP and defected to the Conservatives. [7] There was a 20.6% swing from Labour to the Independent and a 29.6% swing from Conservatives to the Independent. Surraya Bibi standing as an Independent was previously a member of the Labour Party but resigned complaining that the candidate selection process was not working correctly. [8]

Rastrick ward

Rastrick
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Regan Gerhard Dickenson 1,945 56.5 5.1
Labour Co-op Peter Judge1,21335.32.4
Liberal Democrats Kathy Haigh-Hutchinson1544.5−1.9
Green Angharad Lois Turner1233.63.6
Majority73221.32.7
Turnout 3,44041.77.0
Conservative hold Swing 1.4

The incumbent was Christine Beal for the Conservative Party who stood down at this election. TUSC which did not stand this time had polled 8.1% in 2014.

Ryburn ward

Ryburn
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Steven Leigh 1,451 38.2 −12.1
Independent Robert Holden1,30234.334.3
Labour Co-op David William Veitch80521.2−5.1
Liberal Democrats Rosemary Tatchell1313.5−2.7
Green Katie Witham982.6−13.4
Majority1493.9−20.1
Turnout 3,79443.49.0
Conservative gain from Independent Swing -23.2

The incumbent was Robert Holden, standing as an Independent. He was elected for the Conservative Party in 2014 but resigned after whistleblowing over irregularities in the 2015 election accounts having also disagreed with the 2016 candidate selection. [9] [10]

Skircoat ward

Skircoat
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Colin Hugh Hutchinson 2,017 46.8 25.5
Conservative Andrew James Tagg1,96345.511.4
Liberal Democrats Sean Bamforth1964.5−14.4
Green Anne Marie Nelson1272.9−5.2
Majority541.3−11.6
Turnout 4,31245.26.6
Labour gain from Conservative Swing 7.1

The incumbent was Andrew Tagg for the Conservative Party. UKIP polled 17% in 2014 but did not stand this time. The local paper described this result as a shock and the first time Skircoat ward had been held by Labour since the formation of Calderdale council 44 years earlier. [11]

Sowerby Bridge ward

Sowerby Bridge
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Dot Foster 1,636 50.4 17.9
Conservative Jeff Featherstone1,25938.813.3
Liberal Democrats Tom Stringfellow1865.7−1.4
Green John Richard Ward Nesbitt1524.7−3.0
Majority37711.65.9
Turnout 3,24337.83.2
Labour hold Swing 2.3

The incumbent was Dot Foster for the Labour Party. UKIP did not stand this time but polled 27% in 2014. There was a swing of 2.3% from Conservatives to Labour.

Todmorden ward

Todmorden
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Susan Mary Press 1,976 54.1 19.3
Conservative Jacob Nathaniel Cook70419.3−5.4
Liberal Democrats Janet Mary Battye63017.3−7.8
Green Kieran Luke Turner2326.4−7.8
National Front Chris Jackson982.72.7
Majority1,27234.824.8
Turnout 3,65240.53.5
Labour hold Swing 12.4

The incumbent was Susan Press for the Labour Party.

Town ward

Town
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Bob Metcalfe 1,392 53.4 13.1
Conservative Mark Llewellyn Edwards97137.319.6
Green Alan Patrick McDonald1274.94.9
Liberal Democrats Benjamin George Simmons1023.9−0.1
Majority42116.2−6.6
Turnout 2,60629.90.2
Labour hold Swing -3.3

The incumbent was Bob Metcalfe for the Labour Party. UKIP polled 37% in 2014 but did not stand this time.

Warley ward

Warley
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Amanda Parsons-Hulse 1,869 46.1 17.4
Labour Audrey Smith1,46336.11.4
Conservative Shakir Saghir64816.0−12.2
Green Frank James Holt581.4−5.8
Majority40610.04.1
Turnout 4,05244.76.4
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing 8.0

The incumbent was Michelle Foster for the Labour Party who stood down at this election. There was a swing of 8.0% from Labour to Liberal Democrat & the largest swing was 14.8% from Conservative to Liberal Democrat.

References

  1. "Who is standing in the local elections for Calderdale Council". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  2. "Tory Islamophobia row: 15 suspended councillors quietly reinstated". The Guardian. 24 March 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  3. "Election of Local Councillors 2018 - 03/05/2018". Election results. Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale . Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  4. "Election results". Halifax Courier.
  5. "Fallout from the Calderdale Council local elections 2018". Halifax Courier.
  6. "Local Election Results 2014". Calderdale Metropolitan Council. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  7. "council candidates". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  8. "comments on Tim Swift's statement". Vote for Surraya FB group. Facebook. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  9. "my route to independence". Rob Holden. Retrieved 18 April 2018.[ dead link ]
  10. "Whistleblower councillor suspended". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  11. "Calderdale results". Halifax Courier.