2023 West Suffolk District Council election

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2023 West Suffolk District Council election
County Flag of Suffolk.svg
  2019 4 May 2023 (2023-05-04)2027 

All 64 seats to West Suffolk District Council
33 seats needed for a majority
Turnout30.4%
 First partySecond partyThird party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderJohn Griffiths [1] Diane Hind
Party Conservative Labour Independent
Last election36 seats, 48.2%5 seats, 18.3%15 seats, 19.7%
Seats before37413 [a]
Seats won261710
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 10Increase2.svg 12Decrease2.svg 5
Popular vote23,99716,5235,082
Percentage44.1%30.4%9.3%
SwingDecrease2.svg 4.1%Increase2.svg 12.4%Decrease2.svg 10.4%

 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
Party WSI Green Liberal Democrats
Last election7 seats, 6.1%1 seat, 2.1%0 seats, 3.1%
Seats before610
Seats won911
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 2Steady2.svgIncrease2.svg 1
Popular vote4,3072,2661,649
Percentage7.9%4.2%3.0%
SwingIncrease2.svg 1.4%Increase2.svg 2.1%Decrease2.svg 0.1%

West Suffolk UK ward map 2023.svg
Winner of each seat at the 2023 West Suffolk District Council election

Leader before election

John Griffiths
Conservative

Leader after election

Cliff Waterman
Labour
No overall control

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

Contents

Summary

The council had been under Conservative majority control prior to the election. After the election the Conservatives remained the largest group, but lost their majority. A coalition of Labour, the West Suffolk Independents, Liberal Democrats, Greens and independent councillors formed after the election, with Labour councillor Cliff Waterman being appointed the new leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 23 May 2023. [3] [4]

Election result

2023 West Suffolk District Council election
PartyCandidatesSeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Conservative 5826212Decrease2.svg 1040.644.123,997–4.1
  Labour 4117120Increase2.svg 1226.630.416,523+12.1
  Independent 191038Decrease2.svg 515.69.35,082–10.4
 West Suffolk Independents12931Increase2.svg 214.17.94,307+1.8
  Green 6100Steady2.svg1.64.22,266+2.1
  Liberal Democrats 6110Increase2.svg 11.63.01,649–0.1
  Reform UK 2000Steady2.svg0.00.9470N/A
  Communist 1000Steady2.svg0.00.174N/A

Ward results

The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by West Suffolk District Council following the close of nominations on 5 April 2023. [5] The results for each ward were as follows, with an asterisk (*) indicating an incumbent councillor standing for re-election: [6] [7]

Abbeygate

Abbeygate (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Julia Wakelam* 796 54.7 +9.1
Conservative Jo Rayner* 575 39.5 +1.5
Labour Nicola Iannelli-Popham51535.4+7.5
Labour Anabelle Mackenzie43329.8N/A
Communist Darren Turner745.1N/A
Turnout 1,45540.0+3.0
Registered electors 3,635
Green hold
Conservative hold

Bardwell

Bardwell
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Andrew Smith* Unopposed
Registered electors
Conservative hold

Barningham

Barningham
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Carol Bull* 529 66.7 N/A
Labour Alexander Callum26433.3N/A
Majority26533.4N/A
Turnout 80437.6N/A
Registered electors 2,139
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Barrow

Barrow
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Ian Houlder* 350 47.9 N/A
Labour Theo Williams19226.3N/A
Liberal Democrats Zigurds Kronbergs18925.9N/A
Majority15821.6N/A
Turnout 73636.2N/A
Registered electors 2,036
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Brandon Central

Brandon Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
WSI Jools Savage 290 58.9 +0.6
Conservative Tony Simmons20241.1+22.9
Majority8817.8–22.3
Turnout 49922.6–0.1
Registered electors 2,208
WSI hold Swing Decrease2.svg11.2

Brandon East

Brandon East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
WSI Phil Wittam* 275 48.5 +17.2
Conservative Christine Mason15427.2–3.0
Independent Susan Smith13824.3N/A
Majority12121.3+20.2
Turnout 57026.1–0.3
Registered electors 2,181
WSI hold Swing Increase2.svg10.1

Brandon West

Brandon West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
WSI Victor Lukaniuk* 310 57.2 +10.5
Conservative David Palmer*23242.8+20.4
Majority7814.4–1.4
Turnout 55124.7–1.4
Registered electors 2,227
WSI hold Swing Decrease2.svg5.0

Chedburgh & Chevington

Chedburgh & Chevington
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Mike Chester* Unopposed
Registered electors
Conservative hold

Clare, Hundon & Kedington

Clare, Hundon & Kedington (3 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Nick Clarke 1,381 71.6 N/A
Conservative Karen Richardson* 1,226 63.6 +20.3
Conservative Marion Rushbrook* 1,226 63.6 +15.4
Reform UK Robin Turbefield35418.4N/A
Turnout 1,92831.7–6.7
Registered electors 6,087
Conservative gain from Independent
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Eastgate

Eastgate
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Cliff Waterman* 415 63.8 +30.2
Conservative Zachary Bastiani23536.2+3.0
Majority18027.6+27.2
Turnout 66338.4+0.4
Registered electors 1,729
Labour hold Swing Increase2.svg13.6

Exning

Exning
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Jon London 413 64.9 N/A
Conservative Terry Wood22335.1N/A
Majority19029.8N/A
Turnout 63937.1N/A
Registered electors 1,723
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing N/A

Haverhill Central

Haverhill Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Aaron Luccarini* 229 38.2 –2.1
Labour Mary Martin22136.9+10.1
Conservative Heike Sowa14924.9–8.0
Majority81.3–6.1
Turnout 60325.1–0.8
Registered electors 2,401
Independent hold Swing Decrease2.svg6.1

Haverhill East

Haverhill East (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Pat Hanlon* 303 53.5 +16.1
Labour Lora Miller-Jones 279 49.3 +19.2
Independent John Burns*22239.2–1.5
Conservative Abbey Khawaja16028.3–6.0
Turnout 56619.8–2.3
Registered electors 2,863
Labour hold
Labour gain from Independent

Haverhill North

Haverhill North (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Paul Firman 462 47.8 N/A
Conservative Joe Mason* 422 43.6 +2.4
Labour Quinn Cox41242.6+18.2
Conservative Lisa Mason36237.4–7.2
Turnout 96726.7–2.6
Registered electors 3,621
Independent gain from Conservative
Conservative hold

Haverhill South

Haverhill South (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour David Smith* 383 53.0 +19.3
Labour Liz Smith 353 48.8 +16.0
Independent Jason Crooks*35248.7+10.6
Turnout 72316.9–1.9
Registered electors 4,276
Labour hold
Labour gain from Independent

Haverhill South East

Haverhill South East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Tony Brown* 363 72.0 +16.0
Labour Roger Andre14128.0+11.8
Majority22244.0
Turnout 51728.5
Registered electors 1,815
Independent hold Swing Increase2.svg2.1

Haverhill West

Haverhill West (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Andrew Martin 455 41.6 +4.7
Conservative Margaret Marks* 421 38.5 –6.8
Labour Damian Page41337.8+6.7
Conservative David Roach*35832.8–9.8
Independent Bruce Davidson33530.6N/A
Turnout 1,09325.7
Registered electors 4,249
Labour gain from Conservative
Conservative hold

Horringer

Horringer
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Karen Soons 418 49.8 –19.1
Green Mark Ereira-Guyer 24929.7N/A
Labour Quentin Cornish17220.5–10.6
Majority16920.1
Turnout 84340.7
Registered electors 2,074
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Iceni

Iceni (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
WSI Dawn Dicker* 354 47.5 +0.8
Conservative Andy Drummond 240 32.2 +3.7
Green Simon Morse23131.0+8.6
Labour Keith Holland22730.4+17.4
WSI Lee Anderson20126.9–5.5
Turnout 74619.1
Registered electors 3,917
WSI hold
Conservative gain from WSI

Ixworth

Ixworth
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Griffiths* 242 39.2 N/A
Independent Ben Lord21134.1N/A
Labour Helen Vicat16526.7N/A
Majority315.1N/A
Turnout 62236.4N/A
Registered electors 1,710
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Kentford & Moulton

Kentford & Moulton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
WSI Roger Dicker* 517 57.4 –0.7
Conservative Bobby Bennett21631.1+3.3
Labour Hilary Appleton16711.6–2.5
Majority30126.3
Turnout 90639.9
Registered electors 2,269
WSI hold Swing Decrease2.svg2.0

Lakenheath

Lakenheath (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Gerald Kelly 660 55.5 N/A
Independent Tracy Whitehand 606 50.9 N/A
Conservative Stephen Frost*45338.1–7.7
Conservative Colin Noble 37931.8–5.6
Turnout 1,19029.5
Registered electors 4,034
Independent gain from Conservative
Independent hold

Manor

Manor
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
WSI Dave Taylor 355 50.9 N/A
Conservative Brian Harvey*34249.1N/A
Majority131.8N/A
Turnout 70634.4N/A
Registered electors 2,050
WSI gain from Conservative Swing N/A

Mildenhall Great Heath

Mildenhall Great Heath
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Richard Alecock* 362 68.4 +2.1
Conservative Russell Leaman7931.6–2.1
Majority28336.8
Turnout 44421.8
Registered electors 2,037
Independent hold Swing Decrease2.svg10.6

Mildenhall Kingsway & Market

Mildenhall Kingsway & Market
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Ian Shipp* 382 61.0 –1.3
Conservative Melanie Thielker11430.5+2.5
Labour Patrick Finn968.5–1.2
Majority26830.5
Turnout 59228.1
Registered electors 2,107
Independent hold Swing Decrease2.svg1.9

Mildenhall Queensway

Mildenhall Queensway
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Andy Neal* Unopposed
Registered electors
Independent hold

Minden

Minden (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Donna Higgins 831 49.6 +17.6
Labour Richard O'Driscoll 744 44.4 +14.2
Conservative Robert Everitt*60236.0–4.8
Conservative Chris Turner48228.8–7.0
Liberal Democrats Helen Korfanty32019.1–8.8
Liberal Democrats Robert Pinsker19211.5–14.4
Turnout 1,67440.0
Registered electors 4,188
Labour gain from Conservative
Labour gain from Conservative

Moreton Hall

Moreton Hall (3 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Peter Armitage 810 46.3 +25.0
Labour Rowena Lindberg 797 45.6 N/A
Conservative Birgitte Mager* 781 44.7 +17.2
Labour Umor Haque75743.3N/A
Conservative Peter Thompson*71640.9–0.4
Conservative Derrick Maher71140.7N/A
Turnout 1,74930.5
Registered electors 5,735
Labour gain from Independent
Labour gain from Independent
Conservative hold

Newmarket East

Newmarket East (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Sue Perry 358 35.8 +13.6
Conservative Rachel Hood* 317 30.5 –7.1
Liberal Democrats Jonny Edge30929.8+17.6
Conservative Robert Nobbs*30629.5–6.4
WSI Jonathan Richer29228.1+0.4
Independent Tom Kerby24523.6N/A
Turnout 1,03825.5
Registered electors 4,070
Labour gain from Conservative
Conservative hold

Newmarket North

Newmarket North (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
WSI Michael Anderson* 483 53.4 +7.0
Labour Janne Jarvis 347 38.4 +16.0
Conservative Chris Burton31334.6–3.4
WSI Paula Stainton29032.1–1.1
Turnout 90425.0
Registered electors 3,614
WSI hold
Labour gain from Conservative

Newmarket West

Newmarket West (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Kevin Yarrow 475 48.1 +12.5
Conservative Charlie Lynch 377 38.2 –10.8
Conservative Chloe Pitts36436.8–1.5
Green Caroline Warn34334.7N/A
Reform UK Adrian Whittle11611.7N/A
Turnout 98826.5
Registered electors 3,734
Labour gain from Conservative
Conservative hold

Pakenham & Troston

Pakenham & Troston
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Andrew Speed 310 53.4 N/A
Labour Shirley Stephenson27146.6N/A
Majority396.8N/A
Turnout 59231.6N/A
Registered electors 1,875
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Risby

Risby
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Susan Glossop* 506 64.0 –9.0
Labour Peter Appleton28536.0+9.0
Majority22128.0
Turnout 80535.6
Registered electors 2,264
Conservative hold Swing Decrease2.svg9.0

Rougham

Rougham
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Sara Mildmay-White* 455 66.1 –8.1
Labour Ian Cullen23333.9+8.1
Majority22232.2
Turnout 70538.1
Registered electors 1,850
Conservative hold Swing Decrease2.svg8.1

Southgate

Southgate (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Patrick Chung* 705 55.4 –17.5
Conservative Sarah Stamp 615 48.3 –9.9
Labour Judith Moore38830.5–2.3
Green Chris Dexter-Mills33926.7N/A
Labour Cheryl Godber32925.9N/A
Turnout 1,27241.1
Registered electors 3,095
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Stanton

Stanton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Jim Thorndyke* Unopposed
Registered electors
Independent gain from Conservative

St Olaves

St Olaves (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Luke Halpin 511 51.1 +15.3
Independent Frank Stennett 440 44.0 N/A
Labour Mike Smith41841.8N/A
Conservative Tom Murray21921.9–11.1
Conservative James Cockram16616.6N/A
Turnout 1,00024.0
Registered electors 4,161
Labour hold
Independent hold

The Fornhams & Great Barton

The Fornhams & Great Barton (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Beccy Hopfensperger* 765 53.2 –18.4
Conservative Sarah Broughton* 719 50.0 –17.6
Labour Bruce Martin38326.6–0.1
Green Jonathan King30821.4N/A
Labour Brendan Moore27819.3N/A
Liberal Democrats John Derry22615.7N/A
Turnout 1,43844.5
Registered electors 3,233
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

The Rows

The Rows (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
WSI Mick Bradshaw 470 50.2 N/A
WSI Don Waldron* 470 50.2 N/A
Conservative Lance Stanbury42044.8+15.6
Conservative Jordon Millward37840.3+2.0
Turnout 93724.4
Registered electors 3,836
WSI gain from Independent
WSI gain from Independent

Tollgate

Tollgate (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Diane Hind* 740 65.5 +22.9
Labour Marilyn Sayer 701 62.0 N/A
Conservative Mark Winter35431.3–0.5
Conservative Daniel Sillett35031.0N/A
Turnout 1,13027.1
Registered electors 4,174
Labour hold
Labour gain from Independent

Westgate

Westgate (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Augustine* 751 50.7 –13.6
Conservative Richard Rout* 785 53.0 –5.3
Labour Paul McGoochan67445.5+7.4
Turnout 1,48139.2
Registered electors 3,782
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Whepstead & Wickhambrook

Whepstead & Wickhambrook
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Sarah Pugh 516 67.5 –12.7
Labour Robert Sanderson24832.5+12.7
Majority26835.0
Turnout 77137.1
Registered electors 2,077
Conservative hold Swing Decrease2.svg12.6

Withersfield

Withersfield
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Indy Wijenayaka 339 45.9 N/A
Conservative Peter Stevens*32544.0N/A
Independent Peter Lord7510.1N/A
Majority141.9N/A
Turnout 74440.6N/A
Registered electors 1,833
Labour gain from Conservative Swing N/A

References

  1. Of the 13 independent councillors on the council before the election, 12 formed the "Independent Group", led by Ian Shipp
  1. "Your councillors by party". West Suffolk Council. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  2. "Current vacancies and elections". West Suffolk District Council . Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  3. Green, Tamika (25 May 2023). "Bury St Edmunds councillor Cliff Waterman on 'exciting' new era for West Suffolk Council after being elected coalition leader". Suffolk News. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  4. Sinclair, Andrew (24 May 2023). "West Suffolk: Alliance formed to stop Tories running council". BBC News. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  5. "District Council election notices". West Suffolk District Council . Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  6. "West Suffolk Council election results 4 May 2023". West Suffolk Council. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  7. Middleton, Siobhan (5 May 2023). "Suffolk local elections 2023: live coverage from election counts across the county". Suffolk News. Retrieved 7 January 2024.