2023 Mid Devon District Council election

Last updated

2023 Mid Devon District Council election
Flag of Devon.svg
  2019 4 May 2023 (2023-05-04)2027 

All 42 seats to Mid Devon District Council
22 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderLuke TaylorClive Eginton
Party Liberal Democrats Conservative
Last election12 seats, 29.6%18 seats, 34.1%
Seats before1117
Seats after335
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 21Decrease2.svg 13
Popular vote19,45113,811
Percentage46.8%33.2%
SwingIncrease2.svg 17.2%Decrease2.svg 0.9%

 Third partyFourth party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderElizabeth Lloyd
Party Green Independent
Last election2 seats, 8.6%10 seats, 13.9%
Seats before212 [a]
Seats after31
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 1Decrease2.svg 9
Popular vote2,7933,286
Percentage6.7%7.6
SwingDecrease2.svg 1.9%Decrease2.svg 6.0%

Mid Devon UK ward map 2023.svg
Winner of each seat at the 2023 Mid Devon District Council election

Leader before election

Barry Warren
Independent
No overall control

Leader after election

Luke Taylor
Liberal Democrats

The 2023 Mid Devon District Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Mid Devon District Council in Devon, England. [2] [3] It was held on the same day as other local elections in the United Kingdom.

Contents

The Liberal Democrats took control of the council for the first time since 1999. [4] [5]

Overview

Prior to the election the council was under no overall control, being run by a minority administration of some of the independent councillors, with independent Barry Warren serving as leader of the council. [6]

New ward boundaries took effect for this election, following a review by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. The number of seats stayed the same at 42, but the configuration of wards was changed to comprise five 3-member wards, ten 2-member wards and seven single member wards. [7] [8]

The election saw the Liberal Democrats win a majority of the seats on the council. The independents and Conservatives both lost significant numbers of seats: leader of the council Barry Warren lost his seat, as did the Conservative group leader Clive Eginton. [9] Liberal Democrat group leader Luke Taylor was appointed leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 24 May 2023. [10]

Results summary

2023 Mid Devon District Council election [11]
PartyCandidatesSeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Liberal Democrats 36 [12] [13] 33210Increase2.svg 2178.546.819,451+17.2
  Conservative 405013Decrease2.svg 1311.933.213,811–0.9
  Green 8320Increase2.svg 27.16.72,793–1.9
  Independent 121010Decrease2.svg 102.47.93,286–6.0
  Labour 13000Steady2.svg0.05.32,212–1.8
  Reform UK 1000Steady2.svg0.0<0.119N/A

Ward results

Mid Devon District Council election results. [14]

Bradninch

Bradninch [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Luke Taylor* 650 82.2 N/A
Labour Piers Kotting9211.6N/A
Conservative James Rutledge496.2N/A
Majority 55870.6N/A
Turnout 79348.5N/A
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Cadbury

Cadbury [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Rhys Roberts 277 41.5 N/A
Liberal Democrats Georgina Stone16324.4N/A
Independent Bob Deed*13720.5N/A
Labour Linda Luckhaus7110.6N/A
Reform UK Jennifer Riddle192.8N/A
Majority 11417.1N/A
Turnout 66745.1N/A
Conservative win (new seat)

Canonsleigh

Canonsleigh (2 seats) [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Jane Lock 736 63.6 N/A
Green Gill Westcott 521 45.0 N/A
Conservative Christine Collis*37532.4N/A
Conservative Paul Osman33328.8N/A
Turnout 1,16640.3N/A
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Green win (new seat)

Clare & Shuttern

Clare & Shuttern (2 seats) [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Chris Adcock 787 58.5 N/A
Liberal Democrats Rachel Gilmour 732 54.4 N/A
Conservative Isobel Grant54940.8N/A
Conservative Isla Farrington49336.7N/A
Turnout 1,36744.9N/A
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Crediton Boniface

Crediton Boniface (2 seats) [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Jim Cairney* 497 57.4 N/A
Liberal Democrats John Downes* 494 57.0 N/A
Independent Steve Huxtable21524.8N/A
Conservative Gina Ford19422.4N/A
Labour John Humphreys13815.9N/A
Turnout 87027.5N/A
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Crediton Lawrence

Crediton Lawrence (2 seats) [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Frank Letch* 611 58.9 N/A
Liberal Democrats Guy Cochran 556 53.6 N/A
Labour Laurie Laybourn30729.6N/A
Conservative Sam Scougall-Scott25424.5N/A
Turnout 1,05834.3N/A
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Cullompton Padbrook

Cullompton Padbrook (2 seats) [21]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Lloyd Knight 457 55.4 N/A
Liberal Democrats Sue Robinson 370 44.8 N/A
Conservative John Berry*34541.8N/A
Conservative Susan Lane-Smith26331.9N/A
Green Anthony Humble-Smith12314.9N/A
Turnout 82827.6N/A
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Cullompton St Andrews

Cullompton St Andrews (3 seats) [22]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Emma Buczkowski 636 59.7 N/A
Liberal Democrats James Buczkowski* 634 59.5 N/A
Independent Nikki Woollatt* 479 45.0 N/A
Conservative Jane Attwood32230.2N/A
Labour Edward Southerden22621.2N/A
Conservative Martin Whatley21720.4N/A
Conservative Melvyn Hanks20519.2N/A
Turnout 1,07027.0N/A
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Independent hold

Cullompton Vale

Cullompton Vale [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Matt Fletcher 166 65.6 N/A
Conservative Rosemary Berry8734.4N/A
Majority 7931.2N/A
Turnout 25331.8N/A
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Halberton

Halberton [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Gwen DuChesne 360 60.4 N/A
Conservative Ray Radford*23639.6N/A
Majority 12420.8N/A
Turnout 59638.1N/A
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Lower Culm

Lower Culm (3 seats) [25]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Andrea Glover 814 45.3 N/A
Liberal Democrats Cathy Connor 702 39.1 N/A
Liberal Democrats John Poynton 673 37.5 N/A
Conservative Richard Chesterton*64936.1N/A
Conservative Brian Lane-Smith46125.7N/A
Independent Bob Evans*43424.2N/A
Conservative Lewis Worrow41923.3N/A
Independent Barry Warren*40322.4N/A
Labour John Bell23613.1N/A
Turnout 1,79933.3N/A
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Sandford & Creedy

Sandford & Creedy (2 seats) [26]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Helen Tuffin 632 51.6 N/A
Green Mark Jenkins 576 47.1 N/A
Conservative Margaret Squires*57547.0N/A
Conservative Alex Monro51742.2N/A
Turnout 1,23843.6N/A
Green win (new seat)
Green win (new seat)

Silverton

Silverton [27]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Josh Wright* 500 85.3 N/A
Conservative Jerry Brook8614.7N/A
Majority 41470.6N/A
Turnout 58637.9N/A
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Taw Vale

Taw Vale [28]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Steve Keable 444 53.7 N/A
Conservative Clive Eginton*38346.3N/A
Majority 617.4N/A
Turnout 82748.5N/A
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Tiverton Castle

Tiverton Castle (2 seats) [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Ben Holdman 553 55.6 N/A
Liberal Democrats David Wulff 532 53.5 N/A
Conservative Elizabeth Slade*27327.4N/A
Conservative Luis Gordon26526.6N/A
Independent Chris Berry19819.9N/A
Turnout 1 00930.1N/A
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Tiverton Cranmore

Tiverton Cranmore (3 seats) [30]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Les Cruwys* 606 54.5 N/A
Liberal Democrats Beckett Fish 463 41.6 N/A
Liberal Democrats Lance Kennedy 445 40.0 N/A
Conservative Sue Griggs*34631.1N/A
Conservative Guy Edwards27124.4N/A
Independent Chris Daw*26223.6N/A
Independent Steve Bush22920.6N/A
Conservative Nina Lindsay20218.2N/A
Labour Tom Ewings1099.8N/A
Turnout 1,12128.8N/A
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Tiverton Lowman

Tiverton Lowman (3 seats) [31]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Andy Cuddy 574 50.9 N/A
Liberal Democrats Gordon Czapiewski 455 40.4 N/A
Liberal Democrats Matt Farrell 405 35.9 N/A
Conservative Rebecca Clarke36031.9N/A
Conservative Neal Davey*35531.5N/A
Conservative Colin Slade*31327.8N/A
Independent Tim Bridger25022.2N/A
Labour Jason Chamberlain24521.7N/A
Turnout 1,13223.0N/A
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Tiverton Westexe

Tiverton Westexe (3 seats) [32]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Dave Broom 494 40.7 N/A
Liberal Democrats Jamie Frost 444 36.6 N/A
Conservative Claudette Harrower 334 27.5 N/A
Conservative Stephen Pugh*28723.7N/A
Conservative Richard Watson27722.8N/A
Independent Wally Burke*27322.5N/A
Independent Jason Lejeune23619.5N/A
Labour Alex Bingham22118.2N/A
Green Martin Atkinson20817.1N/A
Independent Steve Flaws17014.0N/A
Green Chris Musgrave15612.9N/A
Turnout 1,22525.3N/A
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Upper Culm

Upper Culm (2 seats) [33]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Simon Clist * 814 60.8 N/A
Liberal Democrats Natasha Bradshaw 807 60.3 N/A
Conservative James Bartlett*42832.0N/A
Conservative Michael Cooper36627.3N/A
Labour Terence Edwards1279.5N/A
Turnout 1,34639.6N/A
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Upper Yeo & Taw

Upper Yeo & Taw (2 seats) [34]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Stuart Penny* 591 47.8 N/A
Liberal Democrats Natalia Letch 561 45.4 N/A
Conservative Peter Heal*52442.4N/A
Liberal Democrats Andi Wyer*38230.9N/A
Labour Hayden Sharp20816.8N/A
Turnout 1,24638.3N/A
Conservative win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Way

Way [35]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Polly Colthorpe* 351 50.5 N/A
Green Rosie Wibberley34449.5N/A
Majority 71.0N/A
Turnout 69540.6N/A
Conservative win (new seat)

Yeo

Yeo (2 seats) [36]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Sandy Chenore 553 43.3 N/A
Conservative Martin Binks 490 38.4 N/A
Conservative Angus Howie48938.3N/A
Liberal Democrats Paul Perriman38129.8N/A
Labour John Dean23318.2N/A
Green Danuta Karpinska23318.2N/A
Turnout 1,28143.4N/A
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Changes 2023–2027

Upper Yeo & Taw

Upper Yeo & Taw by-election, 7 March 2024 [38]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Alex White 405 52.2 +21.3
Conservative Peter Heal22629.1−13.3
Labour Hayden Sharp9111.7−5.1
Green Mark Scotland547.0New
Majority 17923.1N/A
Turnout 77624.2−14.1
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +17.3

By-election triggered by the resignation of Stuart Penny, who was elected as a Conservative in 2023 but had left the party in August 2023 to sit as an independent before resigning from the council altogether. [39]

Tiverton Westexe

Tiverton Westexe by-election, 20 June 2024
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Adam Stirling 431 45.4 +13.1
Conservative Paul Osman24826.1+4.3
Independent Jason Lejeune18219.2New
Green Laura Buchanan889.3−4.3
Majority 18319.3N/A
Turnout 95419.4−5.9
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +4.4

By-election triggered by disqualification of Jamie Frost for non-attendance. He had been elected in 2023 as a Liberal Democrat, but had left the party and sat as an independent until his disqualification.

Clare and Shuttern

Clare and Shuttern By-Election 1 May 2025
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Martyn Stratton 664 50.0 –8.9
Conservative Toby William Gray61546.3+5.2
Labour Terry Edwards483.6N/A
Majority 4936.9N/A
Turnout 1,37344.5–0.4
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Decrease2.svg7.1

Crediton Lawrence

Crediton Lawrence by-election: 26 June 2025
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Tim Stanford 540 64.9 +12.8
Reform UK Andy Hankins22627.2N/A
Labour Terence Edwards667.9–18.3
Majority 31437.7N/A
Turnout 84327.1–7.2
Registered electors 3,110
Liberal Democrats hold

References

  1. Of the independent councillors prior to the election, eight formed the "Non-aligned group" led by Barry Warren. [1]
  1. "Your councillors by political grouping". Mid Devon District Council. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  2. "Elections 2023". Mid Devon District Council . Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  3. "Election timetable in England". UK Government . Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  4. "Mid Devon result - Local Elections 2023". BBC News. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  5. "Local elections 2023: Lib Dems win big Mid Devon majority". BBC News. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  6. Heptinstall, Ollie (28 February 2023). "Mid Devon's new leader confirms his top team as turmoil continues". Devon Live. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  7. "News Release from the Local Government Government Boundary Commission". Mid Devon District Council . Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  8. "The Mid Devon (Electoral Changes) Order 2021", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2021/889, retrieved 30 July 2023
  9. Heptinstall, Ollie (8 May 2023). "Local elections: Liberal Democrats win majority in Mid Devon". Midweek Herald. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  10. "Council minutes, 24 May 2023". Mid Devon District Council. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  11. "Mid Devon result - Local Elections 2023". BBC News. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  12. "Statement of Persons Nominated - District Elections". Mid Devon District Council . Retrieved 9 April 2023.
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  14. "District Council results". Mid Devon District Council . Retrieved 9 May 2023.
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  16. "Cadbury - District Election Results - MIDDEVON.GOV.UK". www.middevon.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  17. "Canonsleigh - District Election Results - MIDDEVON.GOV.UK". www.middevon.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  18. "Clare & Shuttern - District Election Results - MIDDEVON.GOV.UK". www.middevon.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  19. "Crediton Boniface - District Election Results - MIDDEVON.GOV.UK". www.middevon.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  20. "Crediton Lawrence - District Election Results - MIDDEVON.GOV.UK". www.middevon.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  21. "Cullompton Padbrook - District Election Results - MIDDEVON.GOV.UK". www.middevon.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  22. "Cullompton St Andrews - District Election Results - MIDDEVON.GOV.UK". www.middevon.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
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  24. "Halberton - District Election Results - MIDDEVON.GOV.UK". www.middevon.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  25. "Lower Culm - District Election Results - MIDDEVON.GOV.UK". www.middevon.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
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  27. "Silverton - District Election Results - MIDDEVON.GOV.UK". www.middevon.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  28. "Taw Vale - District Election Results - MIDDEVON.GOV.UK". www.middevon.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  29. "Tiverton Castle - District Election Results - MIDDEVON.GOV.UK". www.middevon.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  30. "Tiverton Cranmore - District Election Results - MIDDEVON.GOV.UK". www.middevon.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  31. "Tiverton Lowman - District Election Results - MIDDEVON.GOV.UK". www.middevon.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  32. "Tiverton Westexe - District Election Results - MIDDEVON.GOV.UK". www.middevon.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  33. "Upper Culm - District Election Results - MIDDEVON.GOV.UK". www.middevon.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  34. "Upper Yeo & Taw - District Election Results - MIDDEVON.GOV.UK". www.middevon.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  35. "Way - District Election Results - MIDDEVON.GOV.UK". www.middevon.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  36. "Yeo - District Election Results - MIDDEVON.GOV.UK". www.middevon.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  37. Boothroyd, David (1 March 2024). "Horsham switchover". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  38. Walford, Stephen. "Upper Yeo & Taw By Election - MIDDEVON.GOV.UK". www.middevon.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  39. Gerrard, Bradley (29 February 2024). "Four candidates to battle for Mid Devon by-election". Crediton Country Courier. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  40. Clarke, Lewis (19 April 2024). "Claudette jumps from Tories to Lib Dems as party's Mid Devon majority grows". Devon Live. Retrieved 9 May 2024.