The 2021 West Northamptonshire Council election took place during 2021, alongside nationwide local elections. The election was originally due to take place in May 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]
Following the insolvency of Northamptonshire County Council, local government in Northamptonshire was reorganised, with two Unitary authorities, West Northamptonshire and North Northamptonshire, replacing the preceding County Council, and Borough and District councils. The first election to the new authorities was due to take place in May 2020, but was pushed forward due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in England.[3]
Campaign
The election was initially supposed to occur in 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Conservatives launched their campaign on 30 March, declaring that the new Councils would "give everyone in Northamptonshire a fresh start."[4] The Liberal Democrat campaign launch was delayed by the death of the Duke of Edinburgh and promised a "listening, caring and competent council."[5]
There were several controversies during the campaign. The Conservatives were criticised for a mistake on a leaflet in Silverstone ward, which had not been adapted from the standard template. This caused embarrassment, as the stock promise was '[insert prominent local pledges here, e.g. save our libraries]' despite local anger at Conservative plans to close twenty-one libraries in the previous council.[6] The Conservatives, in turn, criticised the Liberal Democrats for a leaflet in the style of a tabloid newspaper, though the Labour Party and the Greens both defended the leaflet.[6] The Labour candidate for Sixfields, Graham Croucher, was expelled from the party after standing against the official Labour candidate in the Northampton Town Council election.[7]
Results
Polling was open from 07:00 until 22:00 on 6 May 2021,[8] with the Conservative Party winning a majority of 66 of the 93 seats (71% of seats) on 51% of the overall votes.[9] This resulted in a Gallagher index score of 16.8, meaning the council is highly disproportionate.
Seats won (outer ring) versus total number of votes (inner ring)
The turnout of the election was at 29.98%, which was suggested to be low due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]
Summary of seats returned
Gains and losses calculated from nominal results of the 2017 Northamptonshire County Council election, which used the same electoral divisions.
West Northamptonshire Council Local Election Result 2021
↑ Compared with the 2017 Northamptonshire County Council election
↑ Graham Croucher was expelled from the Labour Party after close of nominations due to standing as an independent against the official Labour candidate in the Northampton Town Council election.
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