2023 Swale Borough Council election

Last updated

2023 Swale Borough Council election
FlagOfKent.svg
  2019 4 May 2023 (2023-05-04)2027 

All 47 seats to Swale Borough Council
24 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond partyThird party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderRoger TrueloveAlan HortonMike Baldock
Party Labour Conservative Swale Ind.
Last election11 seats, 23.7%16 seats, 34.1%10 seats, 20.1%
Seats before915 [lower-alpha 1] 8
Seats after151211
Seat changeIncrease2.svg4Decrease2.svg4Increase2.svg1
Percentage24.4%30.6%17.3%

 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderBen MartinTim Valentine
Party Liberal Democrats Green Independent
Last election5 seats, 9.7%2 seats, 5.7%2 seats, 4.6%
Seats before428 [lower-alpha 2]
Seats after531
Seat changeSteady2.svgIncrease2.svg1Decrease2.svg1
Percentage13.1%8.7%4.2%

 Seventh party
  No image wide.svg
Party Reform UK
Last electionN/A
Seats before1
Seats after0
Seat changeN/A
Percentage1.0%

Swale UK ward map 2023.svg
The winner of each seat by party in the 2023 Swale Borough Council Election

Leader before election

Mike Baldock
Swale Independents
No overall control

Leader after election

Tim Gibson
Labour
No overall control

The 2023 Swale Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Swale Borough Council in Kent, England. [3] This was on the same day as other local elections across England.

Contents

The council was under no overall control prior to the election. The Conservatives were the largest party, but the council was being run by a rainbow coalition of all the other main parties, led by Mike Baldock of local party the Swale Independents. The council remained under no overall control after the election, and Labour overtook the Conservatives to become the largest party. [4] A new coalition of Labour, the Swale Independents and Greens formed. [5] The new Labour group leader, Tim Gibson, was appointed leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 17 May 2023, with Mike Baldock becoming deputy leader. [6]

Summary

Election result

2023 Swale Borough Council election
PartyCandidatesSeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Labour 311560Increase2.svg631.92%24.43%13,343Increase2.svg1.03%
  Conservative 441237Decrease2.svg425.53%30.58%16,703Decrease2.svg3.42%
 Swale Independents151131Increase2.svg223.4%17.3%9,449Decrease2.svg2.8%
  Liberal Democrats 22510Increase2.svg110.64%13.05%7,127Increase2.svg3.35%
  Green 13310Increase2.svg16.38%8.65%4,722Increase2.svg2.95%
  Independent 7105Decrease2.svg52.13%4.21%2,301Decrease2.svg0.39%
  Reform UK 4001Decrease2.svg10%1.04%569New
  Heritage 100000%0.44%240New
  Monster Raving Loony 100000%0.3%161Decrease2.svg0.31%

Ward results

The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by Swale Borough Council following the close of nominations on 4 April 2023. [7] The results for each ward were as follows: [8]

Abbey

Abbey
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Hannah Perkin* 918 63.2 +18
Liberal Democrats Chris Williams 807 55.6 +18
Labour Trevor Payne31421.6+4
Conservative Jay Brown27619.0+1
Labour Co-op Frances Rehal26118.0+4
Conservative Melanie Regan-Brown24416.8±0
Turnout 1,452
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold

Bobbing, Iwade and Lower Halstow

Bobbing, Iwade & Lower Halstow (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Swale Ind. Lloyd Chapman 501 39.3 -20
Conservative Rog Clark* 483 37.9 -1
Labour Olufemi Olukoya40131.5+11
Conservative Gareth Randall34326.9-3
Liberal Democrats Marc Wilson26721.0N/A
Green Carol Goatham23618.5N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,274
Swale Ind. hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Borden and Grove Park

Borden & Grove Park (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Swale Ind. Mike Baldock* 1,030 71.5 -8
Swale Ind. Ann Cavanagh 728 50.5 N/A
Conservative Nicholas Hampshire*42429.4-5
Conservative Conor Dobbs26218.2N/A
Labour Martin Singer18412.8-15
Majority
Turnout 1,441
Swale Ind. hold Swing
Swale Ind. gain from Conservative Swing

Boughton and Courtenay

Boughton & Courtenay (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Rich Lehmann 1,123 61.9 +22
Green Alastair Gould* 1,122 61.9 +18
Conservative Piers Baker39221.6-8
Conservative Oliver Lane34619.1-1
Swale Ind. Jeff Tutt27815.3-18
Liberal Democrats Sonia Fox1025.6N/A
Liberal Democrats Ida Linfield774.2N/A
Majority730
Turnout 1,814
Green hold Swing
Green hold Swing

Chalkwell

Chalkwell
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Charlie Miller 298 55.3 -13.0
Conservative Richard Allsep17332.1+0.4
Green Hannah Temple6812.6N/A
Majority
Turnout 539
Labour hold Swing

East Downs

East Downs
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Terry Thompson 423 45.9 +28.7
Conservative David Simmons*38942.2-3.7
Liberal Democrats Stephen Fisher11011.9+3.1
Majority
Turnout 922
Green gain from Conservative Swing

Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Swale Ind. Richard Palmer* 943 58.8 -4
Swale Ind. Chris Palmer 879 54.8 N/A
Conservative Alan Horton*51332.0-4
Conservative Asha Saroy33620.9-12
Labour Margaret Cooper27917.4±0
Majority
Turnout 1,605
Swale Ind. hold Swing
Swale Ind. gain from Conservative Swing

Homewood

Homewood (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Simon Clark* 511 38.2 -26
Labour Shelley Cheesman 483 36.2 -35
Swale Ind. Jason Clinch39529.6N/A
Conservative Danielle Hoynes34325.7±0
Conservative John Wright34025.4-3
Heritage Thomas Lee24018.0N/A
Liberal Democrats Frances Stennings16612.4N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,336
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Kemsley

Kemsley (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Swale Ind. Derek Carnell* 476 47.7 -2
Labour Ashley Wise 357 35.8 +12
Conservative Sue Gent35635.7+6
Conservative Mike Dendor*32232.3-6
Liberal Democrats Tony Clark23623.7+6
Majority
Turnout 997
Swale Ind. hold Swing
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Milton Regis

Milton Regis (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Anthony Winckless* 674 65.4 +13
Labour Angelica Valls 559 54.2 +18
Swale Ind. Stephen Davey*30329.4-7
Conservative David Danaher18618.0-2
Conservative Stuart Williams16616.1+2
Majority
Turnout 1,031
Labour hold Swing
Labour gain from Swale Ind. Swing

Minster Cliffs

Minster Cliffs (3 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Swale Ind. Tom Nundy 656 40.5 -12
Conservative Andy Booth 561 34.6 ±0
Conservative Ken Ingleton* 554 34.2 -2
Conservative Hollie Bolitho46628.7-10
Independent Richard Darby*45728.2-25
Labour Libby Tucker39624.4+7
Green Josie Galvin27617.0-6
Reform UK Will Fotheringham-Bray16310.1N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,621
Swale Ind. gain from Independent Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Murston

Murston (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Swale Ind. James Hall* 593 57.7 +1
Labour Mark Last 397 38.6 +15
Conservative Ann Hampshire*21120.5-4
Conservative Glen Le Grys17116.6N/A
Liberal Democrats Alexander Stennings13913.5+4
Liberal Democrats Mary Zeng12712.4N/A
Green Miriam Layton11911.6N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,028
Swale Ind. hold Swing
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Priory

Priory
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Michael Henderson 394 54.6 +3.8
Conservative Andy Culham17424.1-5.0
Labour Rob Crayford9813.6+1.9
Green Sonia Jackson557.6+0.1
Majority
Turnout 721
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Queenborough and Halfway

Queenborough & Halfway (3 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Ashley Shiel 603 40.6 +7
Conservative Peter Marchington* 586 39.5 -7
Conservative Mike Whiting 522 35.2 -19
Labour Donna Boakes50834.2+4
Conservative Bailey Allison49833.5-11
Labour Jordan Hartley46231.1N/A
Swale Ind. Lorraine St. John29319.7N/A
Liberal Democrats Linda Brinklow22715.3N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,485
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Roman

Roman (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Tim Gibson* 652 58.6 +1
Labour Karen Watson 535 48.1 -5
Conservative Mark Quinton30027.0-14
Conservative Alfred Okotie26623.9-7
Green Debra Blacklock16715.0N/A
Liberal Democrats Rosemary Madgwick13412.0N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,113
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Sheerness

Sheerness (3 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Angela Harrison* 727 52.9 +9
Labour Hayden Brawn 612 44.5 +6
Labour Dolley White 573 41.7 +6
Conservative Patricia Rogers39428.7+6
Independent Lee McCall*38227.8-18
Reform UK Jeffrey Williams20514.9N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,374
Labour gain from Independent Swing
Labour hold Swing
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Sheppey Central

Sheppey Central (3 seas)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Swale Ind. Elliott Jayes* 794 51.7 -10
Conservative Peter Neal* 409 26.6 -1
Conservative Mark Tucker 389 25.3 -5
Labour Ian Edworthy36223.6+3
Conservative Oliver Eakin36023.4+3
Labour Alan Henry33321.7N/A
Independent Peter MacDonald*29819.4-11
Green Sam Banks20013.0-10
Liberal Democrats Edward Currie20013.0N/A
Monster Raving Loony Mad Mike Young16110.5-9
Majority
Turnout 1,537
Swale Ind. hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative gain from Independent Swing

Sheppey East

Sheppey East (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Lee-Anne Moore 347 34.8 +2
Conservative Tara Noe 315 31.6 +3
Labour Matt Wheatcroft22622.7+7
Independent Pat Sandle21521.6N/A
Independent Gaynor Bidgood19119.2N/A
Green David Walton12913.0N/A
Reform UK Mini Nissanga*10810.8-26
Independent Bill Tatton*10310.3-31
Majority
Turnout 996
Conservative gain from Independent Swing
Conservative gain from Reform UK Swing

St Ann's

St Ann's (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Carole Jackson* 846 48.4 +7
Labour Kieran Golding 765 43.7 +7
Liberal Democrats Charles Gibson44825.6-4
Liberal Democrats Josh Rowlands44425.4-1
Conservative Ben Fisher39822.8-11
Conservative Frankie O'Brien36320.8-8
Reform UK Seb Arrowsmith-Brown935.3N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,749
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Teynham and Lynsted

Teynham & Lynsted (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Lloyd Brown* 764 54.1 +12
Conservative Julien Speed 666 47.1 +14
Green Janet Bott50635.8+17
Labour Georgina Jessiman34424.3+7
Liberal Democrats Dorothee Barker1359.6N/A
Liberal Democrats Carol Morris1138.0-1
Majority
Turnout 1,413
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

The Meads

The Meads
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative James Hunt* 395 68.2 +12.0
Liberal Democrats Shaun Wakelen18431.8N/A
Majority
Turnout 579
Conservative hold Swing

Watling

Watling (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Ben Martin* 1,009 51.7 -7
Liberal Democrats Claire Martin 830 42.5 -14
Conservative Jack Goodenough49625.4-5
Conservative Jess Valentine46523.8-3
Labour Robert Newman35017.9+4
Labour James Scott30015.4N/A
Green Oliver Heyen29815.3N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,952
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

West Downs

West Downs
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Monique Bonney* 655 75.3 -11.6
Conservative Margaret Benford15517.8+4.7
Liberal Democrats Kris Barker606.9N/A
Majority
Turnout 870
Independent hold Swing

Woodstock

Woodstock (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Swale Ind. Sarah Stephen* 830 53.8
Swale Ind. Paul Stephen* 750 48.6
Conservative Lee Burgess58437.9
Labour James Beer32821.3
Majority
Turnout 1,542
Swale Ind. hold Swing
Swale Ind. hold Swing

By-elections

Minster Cliffs

Minster Cliffs by-election, 14 September 2023
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Swale Ind. Peter MacDonald 395 35.8
Labour Edward Baldwin33930.7
Conservative Oliver Eakin33130.0
Liberal Democrats Ernest Currie393.5
Majority565.1
Turnout 1,10417.9
Swale Ind. gain from Conservative Swing

The Minster Cliffs by-election was triggered by the death of Conservative councillor Ken Ingleton in July 2023. [9] [10]

Abbey

Abbey by-election: 14 December 2023
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Charles Gibson 435 44.8
Green Carol Goatham17317.8
Labour Rob Crayford17217.7
Conservative Andy Culham15415.9
Reform UK William Fotheringham-Bray363.7
Majority26227.0
Turnout 97024.6
Registered electors 4,105
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

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References

  1. Includes one vacant seat at Queenborough and Halfway ward formerly held by Conservative councillor Cameron Beart until his death in January 2023. [1]
  2. Of the eight independent councillors before the election, four sat together as the "Independent Group" led by Monique Bonney, three formed the "Independents First" group led by Richard Darby and the other (Simon Fowle) did not belong to a group. [2]
  1. Nurden, John (22 January 2023). "Shock death of Sheppey councillor Cameron Beart, 31". Kent Online. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  2. "Your Councillors by Party". Swale Borough Council. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  3. "Notice of election" (PDF). Swale Borough Council. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  4. Harbert, Joe (5 May 2023). "Swale Council election results 2023: Councillors prepare for another rainbow coalition". Kent Online. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  5. Boothroyd, David (19 May 2023). "As a Green councillor walked out one midsummer morning". Local Councils. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  6. "Council minutes, 17 May 2023". Swale Borough Council. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  7. "May 4 2023 Election Notices". Swale Borough Council . Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  8. "May 4 2023 Election Results". Swale Borough Council. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  9. Harbert, Joe (14 September 2023). "By-election for Minster Cliffs ward on Swale Borough Council following Ken Ingleton's death". Kent Online. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  10. "Minster Cliffs by-election results". Swale Borough Council. Retrieved 29 September 2023.