2021 Isle of Wight Council election

Last updated

2021 Isle of Wight Council election
Flag of the Isle of Wight.svg
  2017 6 May 2021 (2021-05-06)2026 

All 39 seats to the Isle of Wight Council
20 seats needed for a majority
Turnout36.93% Decrease2.svg 3.99 pp
 First partySecond partyThird party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderDave Stewart
Party Conservative Independent Green
Leader's seatChale, Niton and Shorwell (lost)
Last election25 seats, 41.3%11 seats, 28.2%1 seats, 12.6%
Seats before23141
Seats won18132
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 7Increase2.svg 2Increase2.svg 1
Popular vote15,8259,9814,541
Percentage38.7%24.4%11.1%
SwingDecrease2.svg2.6%Decrease2.svg 3.8%Decrease2.svg 1.5%

 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderIan Stephens Richard Quigley Andrew Garratt
Party Island Independent Network Labour Liberal Democrats
Leader's seatRyde WestCowes NorthParkhurst and Hunnyhill
Last electionNew grouping1 seat, 9.7%2 seats, 6.2%
Seats before111
Seats won211
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 2Steady2.svgDecrease2.svg 1
Popular vote1,3274,7602,139
Percentage3.2%11.6%5.2%
SwingIncrease2.svg 3.2%Increase2.svg 1.9%Decrease2.svg 1.0%

 Seventh partyEighth party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderJonathan BaconDaryll Pitcher
Party Our Island Vectis Party
Leader's seatBrading and St HelensWootton Bridge
Last electionNew partyNew party
Seats won11
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 1Increase2.svg 1
Popular vote1,427886
Percentage3.5%2.2%
SwingIncrease2.svg 3.5%Increase2.svg 2.2%

Isle of Wight UK local election 2021 map.svg
Election results

Council leader before election

Dave Stewart
Conservative

Council leader after election

Lora Peacey-Wilcox
The Alliance Group

Elections to Isle of Wight Council took place on 6 May 2021 as part of the 2021 United Kingdom local elections. These were held at the same time as the elections for the Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner. [1] The elections saw the Conservatives lose control of the council, losing seats against the national trend for the party.

Contents

Results summary

PartySeatsCandidatesVotesVote %
Conservative 18Decrease2.svg 73915,825Decrease2.svg2,55238.7Decrease2.svg2.6
Independent 13Increase2.svg 2229,981Increase2.svg 2,52724.4Decrease2.svg 3.8
Green 2Increase2.svg 1194,541Decrease2.svg 1,05611.1Decrease2.svg 1.5
Island Independent Network2Increase2.svg 261,327Increase2.svg 1,3273.2Increase2.svg 3.2
Labour 1Steady2.svg284,760Increase2.svg 45211.6Increase2.svg 1.9
Lib Dem 1Decrease2.svg 1122,139Decrease2.svg 6365.2Decrease2.svg 1.0
Our Island1Increase2.svg 151,427Increase2.svg 1,4273.5Increase2.svg 3.5
Vectis Party1Increase2.svg 13886Increase2.svg 8862.2Increase2.svg 2.2
Freedom Alliance0Steady2.svg138Increase2.svg 380.09Increase2.svg 0.09
TUSC 0Steady2.svg120Increase2.svg 200.05Increase2.svg 0.05
Total39Decrease2.svg113640,944Decrease2.svg608

    Background

    New ward divisions were used for this election, with thirty wards changing, [3] with the number of wards reduced by one to 39 single-member seats. [4] In the previous election, the Conservatives had won a majority with twenty five seats, with Independents (including the Island Independent Group), Liberal Democrats, Greens, and Labour also winning seats.

    For the 2021 election, as well as existing independent candidates, the new Our Island also announced its intention to support several independent candidates. [5] [6] [7]

    Aftermath

    The incumbent Conservative leader of the council lost his seat to the Green Party, [8] and was replaced as group leader by Steve Hastings, who subsequently invited other councillors to coalition talks. [9]

    On 26 May, independent councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox was elected leader of the council with 20 votes to Hastings’s 18. There was a single abstention from the Labour councillor, who was absent. [10] Island Independent Network councillor Ian Stephens was elected her deputy. Independent councillor Geoff Brodie was elected as the Chair of the Council, with Green councillor Claire Critchison elected Vice-Chair. [11] [12]

    The leadership and cabinet - termed the "Alliance Group" - includes Independent, Green, Island Independent Network and Our Island councillors who together make up 18 of the 39 seats on the council. With the additional external support from the Liberal Democrats and the Vectis Party this constitutes a majority of 20 out of the 39 council seats. [13] [14]

    In August 2021, Cllr Brodie quit the Alliance Group over planning issues, but continues to support the administration. [15] [16]

    Division results

    Bembridge

    Bembridge
    PartyCandidateVotes%±%
    Conservative Joe Robertson 921 67.67
    Our IslandAlasdair Steane44032.33
    Majority48135.34
    Turnout 1,36142.32

    Binstead and Fishbourne

    "Elections Management - Service Details". www.iow.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  1. "2021 ISLE OF WIGHT LOCAL ELECTION – FULL RESULTS". Island Echo. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  2. "What will the Isle of Wight be voting for on May 6? Election explained". Isle of Wight County Press. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  3. "Local Government Boundary Commission for England Consultation Portal". consultation.lgbce.org.uk. Archived from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  4. "Our Island announce their first candidates for May 2021 Isle of Wight council elections". Isle of Wight News from OnTheWight. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  5. "Our Island Archives". Isle of Wight News from OnTheWight. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  6. Toogood, Darren (1 February 2021). "FIRST 'OUR ISLAND' ELECTION CANDIDATES ANNOUNCED" . Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  7. "Conservative Isle of Wight Council Leader loses seat to Green".
  8. "Acting Tory leader invites opposition councillors to join and form majority".
  9. "Conservatives promise 'robust' opposition as Team Alliance wins council control".
  10. "Lora Peacey-Wilcox Elected as the New Leader of the Isle of Wight Council". 26 May 2021.
  11. "Isle of Wight Council appoints Independent Lora Peacey-Wilcox as new leader". BBC News. 27 May 2021.
  12. "Isle of Wight Council under new leadership".
  13. "Isle of Wight Council appoints Independent Lora Peacey-Wilcox as new leader". BBC News. 27 May 2021.
  14. "Geoff Brodie resignation: Council leader pleased by promise of support".
  15. "Council chair quits ruling Alliance Group".
  16. Hill, Louise (18 October 2022). "Tory resignation by 'disillusioned' ex leader prompts possible election in Isle of Wight next month". Hampshire Live. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  17. "Isle of Wight power shift: Cllr Michael Lilley bids farewell to Alliance Group". 9 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  18. "Councillor Daryll Pitcher resigns months after rape conviction". BBC News. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  19. "Isle of Wight Councillor resigns for Ventnor and St Lawrence". 23 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  20. Binstead and Fishbourne
    PartyCandidateVotes%±%
    Independent Ian Dore 701 55.11
    Conservative Ed Hopper40131.53
    No DescriptionSimon Cooke17013.36