2024 Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council election

Last updated
2024 Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
County Flag of Merseyside.svg
  2023 2 May 2024 (2024-05-02)2026 

22 out of 66 seats to Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
34 seats needed for a majority
Turnout61,801, 28.9%
 First partySecond partyThird party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderMarion Atkinson John Pugh Mike Prendergast
Party Labour Liberal Democrats Conservative
Leader's seatMolyneuxDukesDukes
Last election51 seats, 52.9%9 seats, 16.4%5 seats, 16.3%
Seats before4895
Seats after4994
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 1Steady2.svgDecrease2.svg 1
Popular vote33,38510,3329,098
Percentage54.0%16.7%14.7%
SwingIncrease2.svg 1.1 pp Increase2.svg 0.3 pp Decrease2.svg 1.6 pp

 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderNeil DoolinN/AN/A
Party Green Independent Lydiate and Maghull Community Independents
Leader's seatChurchN/AN/A
Last election0 seat, 6.8%1 seat, 2.3%1 seat, 2.5%
Seats before021
Seats after120
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 1Steady2.svgDecrease2.svg1
Popular vote5,4452721,245
Percentage8.8%0.4%2.0%
SwingIncrease2.svg 2.0 pp Decrease2.svg 1.9 pp Decrease2.svg 0.5 pp

Sefton UK ward map 2024 (2).svg
Winner of each seat at the 2024 Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council election

Leader before election

Marion Atkinson
Labour

Leader after election

Marion Atkinson
Labour

The 2024 Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 2 May 2024 to elect members of Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council in Merseyside, England. [1] This was on the same day as other local elections across England, Liverpool's City Region mayoral election and Merseyside's Police and Crime Commissioner election.

Contents

As is typical for Sefton's local elections, twenty-two seats of the sixty-six total were contested. The Labour party have controlled the council since the 2012 elections, and prior to the election had a comfortable working majority of 13. Shortly before the election, this was reduced from their majority of 18 they had had following the previous year's election; in early March Labour Councillor Trish Hardy resigned from her Litherland ward seat leaving a vacancy, and less than a month before polling day Councillors Natasha Carlin and Sean Halsall left Labour in protest of the party's policy direction and stance on the war in Gaza. [2]

The majority of the seats contested were held by Labour, who defended fifteen of the twenty-two seats. The Liberal Democrats defended three seats, and the Conservatives defended two seats. [3] The then-vacant Litherland seat was also contested alongside two seats held by independent councillors.

Labour and the Conservatives contested all seats up for election, while the Green Party contested every seat except 1 (Linacre). As a result of administrative confusion some of the Green Party candidates had the description “Green Party” and the party's logo (16 candidates) next to their name on the voting ballots while others only had the logo (5 candidates). Additionally the Liberal Democrats contested close to all seats, with candidates representing Reform UK, TUSC, Freedom Alliance, localist groups, also stood a small number of candidates alongside 2 independents.

Labour retained their majority on the council. Amongst other results, the Green party gained their first seat ever on the council, narrowly winning in Church ward by just over a hundred votes. [4]

Council composition

After 2023 election Before 2024 election [5] After 2024 election
PartySeatsPartySeatsPartySeats
Labour 51 Labour 48 Labour 49
Liberal Democrats 9 Liberal Democrats 9 Liberal Democrats 9
Conservative 5 Conservative 5 Conservative 4
Green 0 Green 0 Green 1
Independent 0 Independent 2 Independent 2
Lydiate and Maghull Community Independents1Lydiate and Maghull Community Independents1Lydiate and Maghull Community Independents0
Vacant 0 Vacant 1 Vacant 1

Changes:

Election results

Sefton Council's composition following the 2024 election. Merseyside Sefton Council 2024.svg
Sefton Council's composition following the 2024 election.
2024 Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council election
PartyThis electionFull councilThis election
SeatsNetSeats %OtherTotalTotal %VotesVotes %+/−
  Labour 17Increase2.svg177.3324974.233,38554.0+1.1
  Liberal Democrats 3Steady2.svg13.66913.610,33216.7+0.3
  Conservative 1Decrease2.svg14.5346.19,09814.7-1.6
  Independent 0Steady2.svg0.0223.02720.4-1.9
  Green 1Increase2.svg14.5011.55,4458.8+2.0
 Formby Residents Action Group0Steady2.svg0.0000.01,2922.1+0.6
 Lydiate and Maghull Community Independents0Decrease2.svg10.0000.01,2452.0-0.5
  TUSC 0Steady2.svg0.0000.02320.4±0.0
  Reform UK 0Steady2.svg0.0000.01220.2±0.0
  Freedom Alliance 0Steady2.svg0.0000.01200.2-0.5

Ward Results

The Statements of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, were released by Sefton Council on 8 April 2024 following the close of nominations. [1] Councillors that were standing for re-election are marked with an asterisk (*). The results for each ward were announced the day after the election. [7]

Ainsdale

Ainsdale
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Lynne Thompson* 1,978 51.5 +16.3
Labour Frank Hanley1,19331.0−4.5
Conservative Ryan Abbott52713.7−11.1
Green Laurence Rankin1453.8−0.6
Rejected ballots27
Majority 78521.4+21.1
Turnout 3,84338.2
Registered electors 10,061
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase2.svg10.4

Birkdale

Birkdale
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Sonya Kelly* 1,435 41.6 +3.3
Liberal Democrats Erin Harvey1,35739.3−1.2
Conservative Sam Harris48914.2−0.1
Green Jeff Bee1684.9+1.2
Rejected ballots26
Majority 78
Turnout 3,44934.4−1.0
Registered electors 10,018
Labour hold Swing Increase2.svg 2.3

Blundellsands

Blundellsands
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Diane Roscoe* 2,249 68.3 +1.4
Conservative Katie Burgess54816.7−1.9
Green Kieran Dams2708.2+1.1
Liberal Democrats Brian Dunning2246.8−0.6
Rejected ballots25
Majority 1,70151.6
Turnout 3,29135.9
Registered electors 9,159
Labour hold Swing Increase2.svg 1.7

Cambridge

Cambridge
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Mike Sammon 1,161 36.5 −6.2
Conservative Gary Haran Doyle1,00231.5−2.6
Labour Callum Naylor81625.6+6.5
Green Stephen Hesketh2046.4+2.3
Rejected ballots28
Majority 159
Turnout 3,44132.8−2.7
Registered electors 9,716
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing Decrease2.svg 1.8

Church

Church
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Neil Doolin 1,412 50.6 +10.6
Labour Co-op Paul Cummins*1,30746.5−7.1
Conservative Dorothy Brown913.2−1.0
Rejected ballots18
Majority 105
Turnout 2,81030.9+0.9
Registered electors 9,091
Green gain from Labour Swing Increase2.svg 8.9

Derby

Derby
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Maria Porter 1,580 78.9 −2.0
Reform UK Leighton Sealeaf1226.1New
Green Kate Robinson1145.7−1.6
Conservative Iain Beckett914.5−2.3
TUSC Dean Young552.7−2.3
Liberal Democrats Rowenna Gibson412.0New
Rejected ballots20
Majority 1,458
Turnout 2,00322.3
Registered electors 9,002
Labour hold Swing Decrease2.svg 4.1

Dukes

Dukes
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Mike Prendergast* 1,379 41.7 +7.5
Liberal Democrats Damian Bond96729.3−12.8
Labour Helen Duerden76423.1+4.1
Green David Newman1955.9+1.3
Rejected ballots29
Majority 412
Turnout 3,30531.7
Registered electors 10,442
Conservative hold Swing Increase2.svg 10.2

Ford

Ford
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Paulette Lappin* 1,541 80.9 +0.1
Green Lyndsey Doolin1879.8−0.3
Conservative Michael Shaw1206.3Steady2.svg
Liberal Democrats Adarsh Makdani562.9+0.2
Rejected ballots17
Majority 1,35471.8
Turnout 1,90420.6
Registered electors
Labour hold Swing Increase2.svg 0.2

Harington

Harington
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Karen Cavanagh 1,613 45.7 −7.4
Conservative Joe Riley*97825.7+0.1
Formby Residents Action GroupDave Irving55115.6−10.0
Green Michael Walsh2446.9+2.2
Liberal Democrats Annie Gorski1424.0−2.8
Rejected ballots17
Majority 635
Turnout 3,52836.4
Registered electors 9,689
Labour gain from Conservative Swing Increase2.svg3.8

Kew

Kew
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jen Corcoran* 1,358 43.8 −8.7
Liberal Democrats Daniel Lewis1,11836.1+15.7
Conservative Owen Phillips44014.2−5.3
Green Rob Wesley1845.9−1.6
Rejected ballots33
Majority 240
Turnout 3,10028.9+0.1
Registered electors 10,720
Labour hold Swing Decrease2.svg 12.2

Linacre

Linacre
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Joanne Williams 1,402 85.5 +9.4
Liberal Democrats David Mellalieu1348.2New
Conservative John Campbell1036.3+0.4
Rejected ballots26
Majority 1268
Turnout 1,63918.1
Registered electors 9,073
Labour hold Swing Increase2.svg0.6

Litherland

Litherland
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Paula Murphy 1,526 74.0 −0.7
Independent Ian Smith24912.1−0.5
Green Amber-Page Moss1426.9−0.5
Conservative Colin Appleton994.8−0.5
Liberal Democrats Roy Connell472.3New
Rejected ballots19
Majority 1,277
Turnout 2,06322.8
Registered electors 9,055
Labour hold Swing Decrease2.svg0.1

Manor

Manor
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Dominic McNabb 1,800 62.8 +3.0
Conservative Martyn Barber52018.2+0.4
Green James O’Keeffe31110.9+2.0
Liberal Democrats John Gibson2338.1−0.8
Rejected ballots17
Majority 1,280
Turnout 2,86429.1
Registered electors 9,845
Labour hold Swing Increase2.svg1.3

Meols

Meols
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats John Dodd* 1,452 46.3 +1.6
Labour Steve Jowett86327.5+4.0
Conservative Bob Teesdale61319.5−6.7
Green Pauline Anne Hesketh2086.6+1.0
Rejected ballots21
Majority 589
Turnout 3,13631.3−2.7
Registered electors 10,016
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Decrease2.svg 1.2

Molyneux

Molyneux
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Sam Hinde 2,063 75.0 +1.3
Conservative Marcus Bleasdale2549.2+1.1
Green David Collins2208.0New
Liberal Democrats Paul Young2137.7New
Rejected ballots32
Majority 1,809
Turnout 2,75027.0
Registered electors 10,187
Labour hold Swing Increase2.svg0.1

Netherton and Orrell

Netherton and Orrell
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Tom Spring* 1,637 77.9 +6.8
Green Simon Baron1276.0New
Freedom Alliance Maria Walsh1205.7−0.7
Conservative Adam Marsden1135.4−3.5
Liberal Democrats Vic Foulds552.6New
TUSC Owen Croft502.4New
Rejected ballots12
Majority 1,510
Turnout 2,10221.9
Registered electors 9,616
Labour hold Swing Increase2.svg0.4

Norwood

Norwood
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Dave Neary 1,487 55.3 −4.0
Conservative Margaret Middleton46117.2+1.5
Liberal Democrats Lesley Delves43316.1−2.6
Green David McIntosh30611.4+5.0
Rejected ballots40
Majority 1,026
Turnout 2,68726.3−2.7
Registered electors 10,232
Labour hold Swing Decrease2.svg 2.8

Park

Park
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Chloe Parker 1,621 58.1 +13.7
Lydiate and Maghull Community IndependentsPaul McCord64123.0−17.9
Conservative Craig Titherington2749.8−1.6
Green Roy Greason1806.4+2.5
Liberal Democrats Keith Cawdron762.7Steady2.svg
Rejected ballots14
Majority 980
Turnout 2,79228.9
Registered electors 9,646
Labour hold Swing Increase2.svg15.8

Ravenmeols

Ravenmeols
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Catie Page* 1,759 56.8 +9.3
Formby Residents Action GroupMaria Bennett74123.9−7.5
Conservative Angelica Sadrieva3079.9+0.1
Green Alison Gibbon2016.5+0.7
Liberal Democrats Lisa Nicolson-Smith892.9−2.5
Rejected ballots12
Majority 1,018
Turnout 3,09731.6
Registered electors 9,793
Labour hold Swing Increase2.svg8.4

St. Oswald

St. Oswald
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Joe Johnson 1,270 78.6 −3.5
TUSC Conor O’Neill1277.9−1.2
Green Rupert Shoebridge1197.4New
Conservative Henry Bliss1006.2−2.9
Rejected ballots11
Majority 1,143
Turnout 1,61620.1−0.4
Registered electors 8,028
Labour hold Swing Decrease2.svg 2.3

Sudell

Sudell
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour James Hansen* 1,715 58.9 +6.1
Lydiate and Maghull Community IndependentsJoanne McCall60420.8−15.4
Conservative Daniel Kirk33611.5+2.4
Green Paul Dunbar1284.4New
Liberal Democrats James Tattersall1043.6New
Independent Marie Blease230.8New
Rejected ballots15
Majority 1,111
Turnout 2,91028.0
Registered electors 10,383
Labour hold Swing

Victoria

Victoria
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Michael Roche* 2,386 68.7 +7.3
Liberal Democrats Hannah Gee45213.0−7.2
Green Samantha Cook38010.9+1.0
Conservative Paul Barber2537.3−1.3
Rejected ballots25
Majority 1,93455.7
Turnout 3,47133.0
Registered electors 10,505
Labour hold Swing Increase2.svg 7.25

Changes 2024-2026

Affiliation changes

By-elections

Litherland

Litherland by-election: 21 November 2024
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Julia Garner 495 43.7 –30.3
Green Jack Colbert38534.0+27.1
Reform UK Darcy Iveson-Berkeley14112.4N/A
Conservative Katie Burgess484.2–0.6
Workers Party Ian Smith403.5N/A
TUSC Conor O'Neill252.2N/A
Majority 1109.7–52.2
Turnout 1,13512.4–10.4
Registered electors 9,159
Labour hold Swing Decrease2.svg28.7

Blundellsands

Blundellsands by-election: 19 June 2025
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour David Roscoe 1,190 43.8 –24.5
Green Kieran Dams42015.5+7.3
Reform UK Irene Davidson38614.2N/A
Liberal Democrats Keith Cowdron37013.6+6.8
Conservative Martyn Barber28710.6–6.1
TUSC Conor O'Neill351.3N/A
Independent Ian Smith271.0N/A
Majority 77028.3–23.3
Turnout 2,72030.0–5.9
Registered electors 9,071
Labour hold Swing Decrease2.svg15.9

References

  1. 1 2 "2024 Elections in Sefton". Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Councillors quit Labour Party in leadership protest and stance on war in Gaza". Liverpool Echo. 8 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  3. "CANDIDATES ANNOUNCED FOR 2024 LOCAL ELECTIONS". On the spot news. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  4. Ferguson, Angela; Coleman, Jenny (3 May 2024). "Green Party success but Labour holds Sefton and Knowsley". BBC News . Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  5. "Your Councillors by Party". Sefton.gov. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  6. Jessett, Elliot (7 March 2024). "Sefton Labour councillor quits and leaves politics with immediate effect". Liverpool Echo . Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  7. "Sefton Council Elections - Thursday 2nd May, 2024". Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 3 May 2024.