2023 Mid Suffolk District Council election

Last updated
2023 Mid Suffolk District Council election
County Flag of Suffolk.svg
←  2019 4 May 2023 (2023-05-04)2027 →
All 34 seats to Mid Suffolk District Council
18 seats needed for a majority
Turnout36.9%
 First partySecond party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderAndy MellenSuzie Morley (defeated)
Party Green Conservative
Last election12 seats, 34.0%16 seats, 40.6%
Seats before1216
Seats won246
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 12Decrease2.svg 10
Popular vote23,27411,457
Percentage56.8%28.0%
SwingIncrease2.svg 22.8%Decrease2.svg 12.6%
 Third partyFourth party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderJohn Field [1]
Party Liberal Democrats Independent
Last election5 seats, 17.7%1 seat, 3.4%
Seats before51
Seats won40
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 1Decrease2.svg 1
Popular vote4,451n/a
Percentage10.9%n/a
SwingDecrease2.svg 6.8%n/a
2023 Mid Suffolk District Election Map.svg
Winner of each seat at the 2023 Mid Suffolk District Council election
Leader before election

Suzie Morley
Conservative
No overall control

Leader after election

Andy Mellen
Green

The 2023 Mid Suffolk District Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Mid Suffolk District Council in Suffolk, England. [2] This was on the same day as other local elections across England.

Contents

Summary

Ahead of the election the council was identified as a target for the Green Party. The council had been under no overall control since the previous election in 2019, and the Conservatives had retained minority control only with the support of the independent councillor and the chair's casting vote. At the 2019 election in the Stowmarket St Peters ward the Conservative candidate had only won by a single vote. [3]

The Green Party launched their local election campaign in Stowmarket on 5 April 2023. [4]

The council has become highly increasingly closely fought in recent years, partly due to local opposition to large-scale housing development and concerns of damage to the rural environment. [5]

The Greens won majority control following the election, and the Conservative leader of the council, Suzie Morley, lost her seat. It was the first time in the Green Party's history that they had taken majority control of a council. [6] The Green group leader, Andy Mellen, was formally appointed leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 22 May 2023. [7]

Overall result

The overall results were: [8]

2023 Mid Suffolk District Council election
PartyCandidatesSeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Green 2924120Increase2.svg 1270.656.823,274+22.8
  Conservative 276010Decrease2.svg 1017.628.011,457–12.6
  Liberal Democrats 13401Decrease2.svg 111.810.94,451–6.8
  Labour 8000Steady2.svg0.03.61,490–0.3
  Reform UK 2000Steady2.svg0.00.7303New

Ward results

The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by Mid Suffolk District Council following the close of nominations on 5 April 2023. [9] The results were as follows, with an asterisk (*) indicating an incumbent councillor standing for re-election. [10] [11]

Bacton

Bacton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Andy Mellen* 745 75.5 +10.6
Conservative John Davie-Thornhill20721.0–14.1
Liberal Democrats David Appleton353.5N/A
Majority53854.5+24.5
Turnout 99242.8+5.6
Registered electors 2,317
Green hold Swing Increase2.svg12.5

Battisford and Ringshall

Battisford & Ringshall
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Dan Pratt* 608 68.6 +11.5
Conservative David Whybrow22625.5–17.4
Liberal Democrats David Payne525.9N/A
Majority38243.1+39.1
Turnout 88835.8+4.3
Registered electors 2,482
Green hold Swing Increase2.svg14.5

Blakenham

Blakenham
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Adrienne Marriott 434 55.5 +3.8
Conservative Steven Wells34844.5+15.9
Majority869.0–14.1
Turnout 79226.8–1.4
Registered electors 2,956
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Decrease2.svg6.0

Bramford

Bramford
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative James Caston* 395 54.3 –3.3
Green Emma Buckmaster20127.6N/A
Liberal Democrats Attila Borzak13218.1–24.3
Majority19427.0+11.8
Turnout 73234.3+3.1
Registered electors 2,134
Conservative hold Swing Decrease2.svg3.3

Chilton (Stowmarket)

Chilton (Stowmarket) (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Terence Carter* 1,062 71.7 +23.4
Green David Napier 998 67.4 N/A
Conservative Vikash Mantha42628.8–19.9
Turnout 1,48130.1+4.6
Registered electors 4,923
Green gain from Conservative
Green hold

Claydon and Barham

Claydon & Barham (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green David Penny 708 42.9 +2.8
Conservative John Whitehead* 654 39.6 –13.8
Green Benjamin MacKinnon62437.8N/A
Conservative Nick Gowrley57234.6–16.5
Liberal Democrats Martin Wheatley22313.5–17.0
Labour Terence Wilson18511.2N/A
Liberal Democrats David Poulson1448.7N/A
Turnout 1,65135.3+4.3
Registered electors 4,682
Green gain from Conservative
Conservative hold

Combs Ford (Stowmarket)

Combs Ford (Stowmarket) (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Keith Scarff* 1,059 70.1 +31.6
Green Miles Row 1,029 68.1 +37.4
Conservative Kieren Lathangue-Clayton67244.5+13.8
Reform UK David Card25016.5N/A
Turnout 1,51132.5+2.0
Registered electors 4,648
Liberal Democrats hold
Green gain from Independent

Debenham

Debenham
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Teresa Davis 684 61.9 N/A
Conservative Henry Dobell42138.1–32.0
Majority26323.8N/A
Turnout 1,10845.0+8.0
Registered electors 2,463
Green gain from Conservative

Elmswell and Woolpit

Elmswell & Woolpit (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Sarah Mansel* 1,583 76.7 +17.1
Green Jen Overett 1,358 65.8 +11.0
Conservative Jason Duggan62330.2–12.4
Turnout 2,06537.2+2.2
Registered electors 5,558
Green hold
Green hold

Eye

Eye
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Lucy Elkin 693 70.2 N/A
Conservative Kev Crispin29429.8–23.1
Majority39940.0N/A
Turnout 99544.2
Registered electors 2,249
Green gain from Conservative

Fressingfield

Fressingfield
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Lavinia Hadingham* 546 51.5 –3.3
Green Colin MacKinnon51548.5+26.7
Majority313.0–30.0
Turnout 1,07144.7+4.5
Registered electors 2,397
Conservative hold Swing Decrease2.svg15.0

Gislingham

Gislingham
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Rowland Warboys* 792 71.5 +22.7
Conservative Anne-Marie Hogan31528.5–12.1
Majority47743.0+34.6
Turnout 1,12242.8+1.8
Registered electors 2,622
Green hold Swing Increase2.svg17.4

Haughley, Stowupland and Wetherden

Haughley, Stowupland & Wetherden (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Rachel Eburne* 1,407 80.2 +2.0
Green Janet Pearson 1,210 69.0 –4.2
Conservative Lesley Canham42524.2+4.9
Turnout 1,75436.0–4.0
Registered electors 4,866
Green hold
Green hold

Hoxne and Worlingworth

Hoxne & Worlingworth
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Matthew Hicks* 509 51.2 –7.7
Green Charlie Meyer28728.9+8.8
Liberal Democrats Steve Card979.8–2.1
Labour Stephen Nixon929.3+0.2
Majority22222.3–15.2
Turnout 99442.6+1.9
Registered electors 2,334
Conservative hold Swing Decrease2.svg8.3

Mendlesham

Mendlesham
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Andrew Stringer* 816 79.1 +7.1
Conservative Paul Allen21520.8–7.2
Majority60158.2+14.4
Turnout 1,03241.6–7.9
Registered electors 2,479
Green hold Swing +7.1

Needham Market

Needham Market (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Ross Piper 943 53.2 N/A
Liberal Democrats Terry Lawrence 673 37.9 –25.6
Liberal Democrats Sylvie Watson63635.9–24.4
Conservative Kay Oakes56431.8–1.3
Turnout 1,77434.4+6.2
Registered electors 5,160
Green gain from Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats hold

Onehouse

Onehouse
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green John Matthissen* 534 58.6 +3.0
Conservative James Spencer28331.0+1.6
Labour Rob Davies879.5N/A
Majority25127.5+1.7
Turnout 91239.3+0.9
Registered electors 2,318
Green hold Swing Increase2.svg0.7

Palgrave

Palgrave
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Tim Weller 536 51.9 +10.0
Conservative Tim Passmore 44443.0–15.1
Reform UK Evan Heasley535.1N/A
Majority929.0N/A
Turnout 1,03443.8+6.9
Registered electors 2,360
Green gain from Conservative Swing Increase2.svg12.6

Rattlesden

Rattlesden
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Nicky Willshere 694 65.4 +2.0
Conservative Stephen Gerrish35133.1+7.4
Majority34332.3+5.0
Turnout 1,06142.5+1.6
Registered electors 2,497
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Decrease2.svg2.7

Rickinghall

Rickinghall
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Gilly Morgan 466 53.0 −9.4
Labour Bob Caley39544.9+7.3
Majority718.1−15.6
Turnout 87936.7+1.4
Registered electors 2,396
Conservative hold Swing -9.4

St Peters (Stowmarket)

St Peters (Stowmarket)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Ollie Walters 589 73.7 N/A
Conservative Richard Stevens21026.3–23.8
Majority37947.4N/A
Turnout 80835.5+9.7
Registered electors 2,275
Green gain from Conservative

Stonham

Stonham
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Nicholas Hardingham 615 59.5 +26.5
Conservative Suzie Morley*41940.5–3.5
Majority19619.0N/A
Turnout 1,04545.2+5.4
Registered electors 2,313
Green gain from Conservative Swing Increase2.svg15.0

Stow Thorney (Stowmarket)

Stow Thorney (Stowmarket) (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Colin Lay 662 59.3 +14.0
Green James Patchett 525 47.0 N/A
Conservative Steve Runciman35932.2−19.6
Labour Will Howman28025.1−0.9
Turnout 111626.5+4.5
Registered electors 4,209
Green gain from Conservative
Green hold

Stadbroke and Laxfield

Stadbroke & Laxfield
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Anders Linder 441 46.7 −21.5
Green Gemma Whitehouse26327.9N/A
Labour Paul Theaker15516.4N/A
Liberal Democrats James Fawcett828.7−30.1
Majority17818.9−16.0
Turnout 94437.1−1.7
Registered electors 2,546
Conservative hold Swing Decrease2.svg21.5

Thurston

Thurston (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green David Bradbury 1,288 34.7 −10.9
Green Austin Davies* 1,224 33.0 +5.7
Conservative Harry Richardson*71619.3−20.1
Liberal Democrats Oliver Hurdwell1905.1−7.7
Labour Philip Cockell1644.4−4.1
Labour Jean Staff1323.6
Turnout 371440.6+5.1
Registered electors 5,193
Green hold
Green gain from Conservative

Walsham-le-Willows

Walsham-le-Willows
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Richard Winch 775 68.5 +43.7
Conservative Philippa Wilding35631.5−19.3
Majority41937.0
Turnout 114042.7+9.4
Registered electors 2,672
Green gain from Conservative Swing

Changes 2023-2027

Affiliation changes

By-elections

Chilton

Chilton by-election: 2 May 2024
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Lorraine Baker 589 47.2 –24.2
Conservative Steven Runciman37530.0+1.4
Labour William Howman28522.8N/A
Majority21417.2N/A
Turnout 1,25525.0–5.1
Registered electors 5,021
Green hold Swing Decrease2.svg12.8

Thurston

Thurston by-election: 24 September 2024
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Harold Richardson 579 49.2 +18.4
Green Oscar Barrick-Cook51844.0–11.4
Labour Nathan Hope796.7+1.0
Majority615.2N/A
Turnout 1,18221.0–19.6
Registered electors 5,628
Conservative gain from Green Swing Increase2.svg14.9

References

  1. ↑ Middleton, Siobhan (24 April 2023). "Suffolk local elections 2023: The Liberal Democrats set out their stall". Suffolk News. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  2. ↑ "Notice of Election" (PDF). Mid Suffolk District Council . Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  3. ↑ Geater, Paul (12 April 2023). "Is Mid Suffolk about to turn Green in council election?". Ipswich Star. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  4. ↑ Walker, Peter (2023-04-05). "Greens launch local elections campaign with pledge to push for rent controls". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  5. ↑ "Local elections 2023: Greens eye first council win in former Tory heartland". BBC News. 2023-04-18. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  6. ↑ Irwin, Vikki; Cooper, Pete (5 May 2023). "Local elections 2023: Greens secure victory in Mid Suffolk". BBC News. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  7. ↑ Nicholl, Kaia (23 May 2023). "New Mid Suffolk District Council leader Andy Mellen outlines priorities and promises 'a greener and more sustainable direction'". Suffolk News. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  8. ↑ "Mid Suffolk result – Local Elections 2023". BBC News. Retrieved 2023-05-05.
  9. ↑ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED, NOTICE OF POLL & SITUATION OF POLLING STATIONS" (PDF). Mid Suffolk District Council . Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  10. ↑ "Councillors for Mid Suffolk District". Mid Suffolk District Council. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  11. ↑ "Declaration of result of poll". Mid Suffolk District Council. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
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