2024 Maidstone Borough Council election

Last updated
2024 Maidstone Borough Council election
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←  2023 2 May 2024 (2024-05-02)2028 →
All 49 seats to Maidstone Borough Council
25 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond partyThird party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderDavid BurtonClive EnglishStuart Jeffery
Party Conservative Liberal Democrats Green
Last election24 seats, 32.7%12 seats, 22.9%3 seats, 16.8%
Seats before25123
Seats won131210
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 12Steady2.svgIncrease2.svg 7
Popular vote26,35316,63918,470
Percentage31.9%20.1%22.3%
SwingDecrease2.svg 0.8%Decrease2.svg 2.8%Increase2.svg 5.5%
 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderMaureen Cleator [a] Paul Harper
Party Labour Independent Fant and Oakwood Independents
Last election6 seats, 15.6%10 seats, 11.3%n/a
Seats before492
Seats won662
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 2Decrease2.svg 3Increase2.svg 2
Popular vote10,4155,5822,434
Percentage12.6%6.8%2.9%
SwingDecrease2.svg 3.0%Decrease2.svg 4.5%n/a
Maidstone UK ward map 2024.svg
Winner of each seat at the 2024 Maidstone Borough Council election
Council control before election

David Burton
Conservative
No overall control

Council control after election

Stuart Jeffrey
Green
No overall control

The 2024 Maidstone Borough Council election took place on Thursday 2 May 2024, alongside the other local elections in the United Kingdom being held on the same day. All 49 members of Maidstone Borough Council in Kent were elected following boundary changes. [1]

Contents

The council remained under no overall control. The Conservative minority administration which had been running the council prior to the election was replaced by a coalition of the Liberal Democrats, Greens and some of the independent councillors, led by Green councillor Stuart Jeffery.

Overview

Prior to the election, the council was under no overall control, being run by a Conservative minority administration with informal support from some of the independent councillors. [2] The leader of the council before the election was Conservative councillor David Burton, who had held the post since 2021. He did not stand for re-election. [3]

Following the election the council remained under no overall control. The Conservatives were still the largest party, but with a significantly reduced share of the seats. [4] A coalition of the Liberal Democrats, Greens and four of the independent councillors subsequently formed to run the council, led by Green councillor Stuart Jeffery. He was formally appointed as leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 18 May 2024. [5]

Boundary changes

Maidstone usually elects its councillors in thirds, on a 4-year cycle. However, following boundary changes, all councillors will be elected to the new wards. [6] The change reduces the number of councillors by 6.

Old wards [7] No. of seatsNew wardsNo. of seats
Allington3Allington and Bridge2
Barming1Barming Heath and Teston2
Bearsted3Bearsted and Downswood3
Boughton Monchelsea and Chart Sutton1Boughton Monchelsea and Chart Sutton1
Boxley3Boxley Downs2
Bridge2Coxheath and Farleigh2
Coxheath and Hunton3Fant and Oakwood3
Detling and Thurnham1Grove Green and Vinters Park3
Downswood and Otham1Harrietsham, Lenham and North Downs3
East3Headcorn and Sutton Valence2
Fant3High Street3
Harrietsham and Lenham2Leeds and Langley2
Headcorn2Loose and Linton2
Heath2Marden and Yalding3
High Street3Palace Wood2
Leeds1Park Wood and Mangravet2
Loose1Penenden Heath3
Marden and Yalding3Ringlestone1
North3Senacre1
North Downs1Shepway3
Park Wood2Staplehurst2
Shepway North3Tovil2
Shepway North3
Shepway South2
South3
Staplehurst2
Sutton Valence and Langley1

Previous council composition

After 2023 election Before 2024 election [8] After 2024 election
PartySeatsPartySeatsPartySeats
Conservative 24 Conservative 25 Conservative 13
Liberal Democrats 12 Liberal Democrats 12 Liberal Democrats 12
Labour 6 Labour 4 Labour 6
Green 3 Green 3 Green 10
Fant & Oakwood IndependentsDidn't existFant & Oakwood Independents2Fant & Oakwood Independents2
Independent 10 Independent 9 Independent 6

Changes:

Results

2024 Maidstone Borough Council election
PartyCandidatesSeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Conservative 491300Decrease2.svg 1226.531.926,353–0.8
  Liberal Democrats 291200Steady2.svg24.520.116,639–2.8
  Green 351000Increase2.svg 720.422.318,470+5.5
  Independent 10800Decrease2.svg 316.39.78,016–1.6
  Labour 28600Increase2.svg 215.612.610,415–3.0
  Reform UK 8000Steady2.svg0.02.72,264+2.3
  British Democrats 1000Steady2.svg0.00.5452N/A
  Heritage 1000Steady2.svg0.00.1107–0.2

Ward results

An asterisk denotes an incumbent councillor seeking re-election.

Allington and Bridge

Allington and Bridge (2 seats) [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Stuart Jeffery* 914 60.0
Green Rachel Rodwell 822 54.0
Conservative Mitu Chowdhury38525.3
Conservative Rita Gintautaite26317.3
Liberal Democrats Michelle Englar25716.9
Labour Marianna Poliszczuk20313.3
Liberal Democrats Benjamin Webster-Whiting20213.3
Turnout 1,659
Green win (new seat)
Green win (new seat)

Barming Heath and Teston

Barming Heath and Teston (2 seats) [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Fay Gooch* 765 37.8
Green Allison Sweetman 712 35.2
Liberal Democrats Chris Passmore70734.9
Green Keira Stuart Smith61830.5
Liberal Democrats Bryan Vizzard40920.2
Conservative Reiss Cordrey37618.6
Labour Mary Shaw28013.8
Conservative Arek Zurawinski1829.0
Turnout 2,213
Independent win (new seat)
Green win (new seat)

Bearsted and Downswood

Bearsted and Downswood (3 seats) [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Val Springett* 1,200 48.6
Conservative Denis Spooner* 1,021 41.3
Green Ciaran Oliver 1,013 41.0
Conservative Paul Cooper*98439.8
Green Lee Garrett79632.2
Green Edward Wallace65926.7
Reform UK David Cockerham48119.5
Independent Gordon Newton*40916.6
Liberal Democrats Ian Chittenden39816.1
Labour Theresa Lyons34313.9
Heritage Sean Turner1074.3
Turnout 2,848
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Green win (new seat)

Boughton Monchelsea and Chart Sutton

Boughton Monchelsea and Chart Sutton [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Anne Dawes 599 63.1 +10.3
Conservative George Burr21622.8–5.2
Labour Peter Oliver13414.1+9.7
Turnout 958
Independent hold Swing Increase2.svg7.8

Boxley Downs

Boxley Downs (2 seats) [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Vanessa Jones* 1,026 65.0
Green Stephen Thompson* 810 51.3
Conservative Heidi Bryant*41426.2
Conservative Stephen Banks37924.0
Labour Michael Beckwith27917.7
Reform UK Mike Wardle25015.8
Turnout 1,838
Independent win (new seat)
Green win (new seat)

Coxheath and Farleigh

Coxheath and Farleigh (2 seats) [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Claire Kehily 781 53.2
Conservative Lottie Parfitt-Reid* 666 45.3
Conservative John Wilson58139.6
Green Caroline Richer54737.2
Labour John Randall19213.1
Liberal Democrats Alan Cocks17111.6
Turnout 1,717
Green win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Fant and Oakwood

Fant and Oakwood (3 seats) [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Fant and Oakwood IndependentsPaul Harper* 1,285 59.5
Fant and Oakwood IndependentsPatrick Coates* 1,149 53.2
Green Kimberley Milham 909 42.1
Labour Valerie Jacobs44720.7
Labour Dennis Luchmun41019.0
Liberal Democrats Rojo Kurien38417.8
Labour Margaret Rose*37917.5
Liberal Democrats Lee Blake31614.6
Liberal Democrats Lorraine Humm29013.4
Conservative Will Dinley27812.9
Reform UK Susan Delamere24711.4
Conservative Ramakrishna Peeta2029.3
Conservative Mudiwa Musindo1868.6
Turnout 2,472
Independent win (new seat)
Independent win (new seat)
Green win (new seat)

Patrick Coates and Paul Harper were originally elected as Labour Party candidates, but stood under the descriptions of "Fant and Oakwood Independents" at this election.

Grove Green and Vinters Park

Grove Green and Vinters Park (3 seats) [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Rob Field 939 40.8
Liberal Democrats Mark Naghi 897 39.0
Conservative Ronald Burke 834 36.3
Conservative Michelle Hastie*83036.1
Independent Martin Cox*66629.0
Liberal Democrats Jeeva Sampangi66128.7
Conservative Jaison Musindo65428.4
Green Steven Cheeseman45019.6
Labour Mark Tickner34314.9
Green Susan Parr33114.4
Green Anna Winterbottom29412.8
Turnout 2,618
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Michelle Hastie was originally elected as an Liberal Democrat.

Harrietsham, Lenham and North Downs

Harrietsham, Lenham and North Downs (3 seats) [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Janetta Sams* 1,515 79.8
Independent Tom Sams* 1,455 76.7
Independent Kathy Cox 923 48.6
Conservative Julie-Anne Clancy43522.9
Conservative Emily Hudson39620.9
Labour Ryan Slaughter36419.2
Reform UK Ian Stevens30516.1
Conservative Onyekachukwu Chukwuma30115.9
Turnout 2,251
Independent win (new seat)
Independent win (new seat)
Independent win (new seat)

Headcorn and Sutton Valence

Headcorn and Sutton Valence (2 seats) [21]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Martin Round* 975 50.1
Conservative Ziggy Trzebinski* 903 46.4
Green Derek Eagle*82042.1
Green Thomas Dawber72537.3
Labour Henry Morgan28014.4
Liberal Democrats Martin Richards1899.7
Turnout 2,177
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

High Street

High Street (3 seats) [22]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Clive English* 742 46.8
Liberal Democrats Dinesh Khadka* 654 41.3
Green Donna Greenan 514 32.4
Green Saf Buxy51332.4
Liberal Democrats Ashleigh Kimmance*44428.0
Labour David Collier40125.3
Green Farris Willson35822.6
Independent Denise Joy*34121.5
Conservative Oliver Bradshaw31419.8
Conservative Alan Chell27017.0
Conservative Dylan Jeffrey20212.7
Turnout 1,809
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold
Green gain from Independent

Leeds and Langley

Leeds and Langley (2 seats) [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Gill Fort* 600 55.3
Conservative Gary Cooke* 559 51.5
Labour Joan Langrick31028.6
Green Simon Easton27525.4
Green Matthew White21619.9
Reform UK Maxwell Harrison20919.3
Turnout 1,259
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Loose and Linton

Loose and Linton (2 seats) [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Brian Clark* 1,307 70.0
Liberal Democrats Simon Wales 931 49.9
Conservative Kenneth Amakye42322.7
Conservative James Reid*32617.5
Reform UK Bryan Hillman26514.2
Green Nicola Dawber21511.5
Labour Alan le Grys1498.0
Green Matthew Fraser1196.4
Turnout 2,099
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Marden and Yalding

Marden and Yalding (3 seats) [25]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Claudine Russell* 1,123 47.6
Green Michael Summersgill 1,120 47.5
Green Grace Couch 1,089 46.2
Conservative Annabelle Blackmore*1,04344.2
Conservative Tristan Russell95340.4
Green Kelly Rigden77232.7
Labour Maria Kelly38916.5
Reform UK Teresa Seamer29812.6
Liberal Democrats William Wilby28712.2
Turnout 2,704
Conservative hold
Green gain from Conservative
Green gain from Conservative

Palace Wood

Palace Wood (2 seats) [26]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Stan Forecast* 1,066 50.5
Conservative Tom Cannon* 816 38.6
Liberal Democrats Cynthia Robertson*72434.3
Liberal Democrats Diana Lewins70433.3
Green Ian McDonald40319.1
Green Stephen Muggeridge28613.5
Labour Wendy Hollands22510.7
Turnout 2,313
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)

Park Wood and Mangravet

Park Wood and Mangravet (2 seats) [27]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Hilary Jenkins-Baldock 512 69.0
Labour Daniel Wilkinson* 492 66.3
Conservative Joyce Gadd24132.5
Conservative Lewis McKenna*24032.3
Turnout 841
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)

Penenden Heath

Penenden Heath (3 seats) [28]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Tony Harwood* 1,155 61.5
Liberal Democrats Richard Conyard* 1,086 57.9
Liberal Democrats David Naghi* 1,034 55.1
Conservative Derek Nicholson40221.4
Conservative Jeff Tree39621.1
Conservative Andrew Bradford37019.7
Labour Rachel Slaughter35619.0
Green Phoebe Frewer35318.8
Green Andrew Reilly24613.1
Green Daniel Thompson23312.4
Turnout 2,098
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Ringlestone

Ringlestone [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Mike Thompson* 325 52.0
Conservative Scott Hahnefeld12620.2
Labour Stella Randall11618.6
Green Gareth Henry589.3
Turnout 630
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

Senacre

Senacre [30]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Malcolm McKay 257 51.8
Conservative Patrik Garten*23948.2
Turnout 509
Labour win (new seat)

Shepway

Shepway (3 seats) [31]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Joanna Wilkinson* 747 42.5
Labour Maureen Cleator* 728 41.4
Labour Sarah Barwick 725 41.2
Conservative Christopher Garland66537.8
Conservative Alan Bartlett*64336.6
Conservative Louise Bartlett63736.2
British Democrats Lawrence Rustem45225.7
Liberal Democrats Geoffrey Samme36020.5
Independent Gary Butler31718.0
Turnout 2,031
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)

Staplehurst

Staplehurst (2 seats) [32]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Paddy Riordan* 967 57.3
Conservative John Perry* 764 45.3
Labour Rory Silkin59835.4
Labour Julie Skinner51130.3
Liberal Democrats Thomas Burnham29617.5
Green Stewart Lane23914.2
Turnout 1,848
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Tovil

Tovil (2 seats) [33]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Paul Wilby* 393 43.9
Liberal Democrats Joe Higson 377 42.1
Labour Ian Cleator24527.4
Reform UK Paul Thomas20923.3
Conservative Rebecca Bruneau17719.8
Green Simon Milham13715.3
Conservative Benjamin Reid13014.5
Green Rosemary Riepma12313.7
Turnout 1,041
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)

By-elections

Harrietsham, Lenham & North Downs

Harrietsham, Lenham & North Downs by-election: 2 October 2025 (3 seats) [34]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Reform UK Chris Houlihan 1,228 54.2 +38.1
Reform UK Steve Povey 1,226 54.1 N/A
Reform UK Mariela Nedelcheva 1,153 50.9 N/A
Green Callum Sweetman45920.2N/A
Green James Snyder45219.9N/A
Green Reshmi Kalam43019.0N/A
Conservative Isobelle Horne34215.1–7.8
Conservative Darcy Rotherham28512.6–8.3
Liberal Democrats Jennifer Horwood23610.4N/A
Conservative Onyehachukwu Chukwuma23410.3–5.6
Liberal Democrats Sam Burrows1566.9N/A
Liberal Democrats Andrew Cockersole1235.4N/A
Heritage Sean Turner974.3N/A
Independent Gary Butler743.3N/A
Independent Sam Lawrence-Rose693.0N/A
Turnout 2,267
Reform UK gain from Independent
Reform UK gain from Independent
Reform UK gain from Independent

References

  1. ↑ Of the nine independent councillors prior to the election, three sat in a group with the Greens as the 'Green Independent Alliance' and the other six were unaffiliated.
  1. ↑ "Elections". maidstone.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  2. ↑ Smith, Alan (31 May 2023). "'It's a stitch-up': Tories and Independents accused of 'freezing' out opposition". Kent Online. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  3. ↑ Smith, Alan (26 March 2024). "374 councillors to be elected for Maidstone Borough Council and surrounding parishes". Kent Online. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  4. ↑ Van Klaveren, Tom (3 May 2024). "Maidstone Local Election results 2024 in full as Conservatives narrowly remain largest party". Kent Live. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  5. ↑ Smith, Alan (22 May 2024). "New eight-member cabinet for Maidstone council announced by Green party leader Stuart Jeffery". Kent Online. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  6. ↑ "The Maidstone (Electoral Changes) Order 2023", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2023/652, retrieved 20 March 2024
  7. ↑ "The Borough of Maidstone (Electoral Changes) Order 2001", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2001/3586, retrieved 20 March 2024
  8. ↑ "Your Councillors". Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  9. ↑ Smith, Alan (18 May 2023). "Former Independent defects to Conservatives". Kent Online. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  10. ↑ Smith, Alan (5 July 2023). "Labour councillors quit party after mystery suspension". Kent Online. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  11. ↑ "Fant & Oakwood Independents". The Electoral Commission. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  12. ↑ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Allington & Bridge" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  13. ↑ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Barming Heath & Teston" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  14. ↑ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Bearsted & Downswood" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  15. ↑ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Boughton Monchelsea & Chart Sutton" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  16. ↑ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Boxley Downs" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  17. ↑ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Coxheath & Farleigh" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  18. ↑ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Fant & Oakwood" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  19. ↑ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Grove Green & Vinters Park" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  20. ↑ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Harrietsham, Lenham & North Downs" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  21. ↑ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Headcorn & Sutton Valence" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  22. ↑ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - High Street" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  23. ↑ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Leeds & Langley" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  24. ↑ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Loose & Linton" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  25. ↑ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Marden & Yalding" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  26. ↑ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Palace Wood" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  27. ↑ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Park Wood & Mangravet" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  28. ↑ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Penenden Heath" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  29. ↑ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Ringlestone" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  30. ↑ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Senacre" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  31. ↑ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Shepway" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  32. ↑ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Staplehurst" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  33. ↑ "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED - Tovil" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  34. ↑ "Election results for Harrietsham, Lenham & North Downs". Maidstone Borough Council . Retrieved 3 October 2025.
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