2024 Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council election

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2024 Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council election
Flag of the West Midlands County.svg
  2023 2 May 2024 2026  

20 of 60 seats on Walsall Council
31 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond partyThird party
  No image wide.svg No image wide.svg No image wide.svg
LeaderMike BirdMatt Ward
Party Conservative Labour Independent
Seats before371211
Seats won1253
Seats after37149
Seat changeSteady2.svgIncrease2.svg 2Decrease2.svg 2
Popular vote21,75020,2407,618
Percentage37.1%34.5%13.0%
SwingDecrease2.svg 9.0%Decrease2.svg 6.4%Increase2.svg 10.4%

Walsall UK ward map 2024.svg
Winner of each seat at the 2024 Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council election

Leader before election

Mike Bird
Conservative

Leader after election

Garry Perry
Conservative

The 2024 Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 2 May 2024 to elect members of Walsall Council in the West Midlands. This was on the same day as other local elections. 20 of the 60 seats were up for election.

Contents

Background

Since its creation in 1974, Walsall has varied between the Conservatives and Labour. Between 1973 and 2004, Walsall had been under Labour control from 1973 to 1976, 1980 to 1982, 1988 to 1992, 1995 to 1996, and 1999 to 2000. [1] It was then under Conservative control between 2004 and 2011, before reverting to no overall control and being retaken by the Conservatives in 2019. [2] In the 2023 elections, the Conservatives retained all 13 seats up for election, receiving 46.1% of the vote, Labour gained 1 seat with 40.9%, and the Liberal Democrats received 4.7%. Despite only standing in 9 of the 20 wards, Reform UK received 3.1%, performing best in Birchills-Leamore, where they received 12.6% of the vote.

The seats up for election this year were last elected in 2021. In that election, the Conservatives gained 5 seats with 54% of the vote, and Labour lost 3 seats with 36%.

Predictions

YouGov released an MRP poll, conducted between 14-29 April 2024. Their findings expected "significant" Labour gains across the country. YouGov expect this to be replicated in Walsall. Their poll has the Conservative Party on 36.1%, Labour on 41.9% and Reform UK on 13.2%. [3]

Previous council composition

After 2023 election Before 2024 election [4] After 2024 election
PartySeatsPartySeatsPartySeats
Conservative 38 Conservative 37 [5] Conservative 37
Labour 20 Labour 12 [6] Labour 14
Independent 2 Independent 10 Independent 9

Changes 2023–2024:

Best Performance by Party

Best Performance by Party 2024 (%)
PartyWardVotes%+/-
Conservative Pelsall1,80167.2+7.7
Labour Willenhall South1,77368.1+5.2
Independent Palfrey2,13448.4+48.4
Reform UK Bloxwich West47417.9+10.8
Liberal Democrats Willenhall North35515.2-2.6
Green St Matthews2967.1-5.3

Summary

The Conservatives retained their majority on the council. [8] Less than a week after the election the Conservative leader of the council, Mike Bird, was suspended from the party. [9] He has subsequently resigned and was replaced as leader by Garry Perry at a council meeting on 3 June 2024. [10]

Election result

2024 Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council election
PartyThis electionFull councilThis election
SeatsNetSeats %OtherTotalTotal %VotesVotes %+/−
  Conservative 12Steady2.svg60.0253761.721,75037.1–9.0
  Labour 5Increase2.svg 225.091423.320,24034.5–6.4
  Independent 3Decrease2.svg 215.06915.07,61813.0+10.4
  Reform UK 0Steady2.svg0.0000.05,1718.8+5.7
  Green 0Steady2.svg0.0000.01,9353.3+0.6
  Liberal Democrats 0Steady2.svg0.0000.01,8873.2–1.5
  TUSC 0Steady2.svg0.0000.01010.2N/A

Ward results

Aldridge Central and South

Aldridge Central and South [11] [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Tim Wilson 2,268 59.9 –1.3
Labour James Harrison92624.5+0.8
Reform UK Irene Henery37810.0+4.1
Green Guan Chan2145.7–2.7
Majority 1,34235.4–2.8
Turnout 3,78635.2+7.0
Registered electors 10,824
Conservative hold Swing Decrease2.svg1.1

Aldridge North and Walsall Wood

Aldridge North and Walsall Wood [11] [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Keith Sears 1,399 51.2 –2.3
Labour Dean Margetts69625.5–5.9
Reform UK Lesley Lynch42815.7+6.0
Green Shaun McKenzie1234.5–0.7
Liberal Democrats Nigel Walker853.1N/A
Majority 70325.7+3.5
Turnout 2,73127.7+3.0
Registered electors 9,913
Conservative hold Swing Increase2.svg1.8

Bentley and Darlaston North

Bentley and Darlaston North [11] [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Lucie Nahal 952 36.4 –22.0
Independent Nahid Ahmed78830.1+8.8
Reform UK Stuart Chapman41415.8N/A
Conservative Kyra Murphy38914.9–3.1
Independent Abul Kalam752.9+0.9
Majority 1646.3–30.8
Turnout 2,61827.3+7.2
Registered electors 9,651
Labour hold Swing Decrease2.svg15.4

Birchills-Leamore

Birchills-Leamore [11] [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Amo Hussain* 1,089 40.6 –6.0
Labour Elliot Pfebve93634.9–5.7
Reform UK Elaine Williams40615.1+2.5
Green Toyin Oshaniwa1656.1N/A
Liberal Democrats Paul Wild893.3N/A
Majority 1535.7–0.3
Turnout 2,68525.1+2.2
Registered electors 10,794
Conservative hold Swing Decrease2.svg0.2

Blakenall

Blakenall [11] [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Peter Smith* 971 42.6 N/A
Labour Ian Robertson80735.4–1.5
Reform UK Peggy Coop23010.1+6.5
Conservative Ana-Maria Zinica2069.0–18.4
Green Andrea Maynard672.9+0.3
Majority 1647.2N/A
Turnout 2,28122.2+2.0
Registered electors 10,361
Independent hold

Bloxwich East

Bloxwich East [11] [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Gary Flint* 843 40.9 –10.0
Labour Stephen Wade81439.5+0.6
Reform UK Sue Spencer33816.4+11.2
Liberal Democrats Angela Hodges663.2N/A
Majority 291.4–10.6
Turnout 2,06123.4+2.3
Registered electors 8,875
Conservative hold Swing Decrease2.svg5.3

Bloxwich West

Bloxwich West [11] [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Michael Coulson 1,065 40.2 +1.2
Conservative Tony Sadla1,04339.4–8.8
Reform UK Nicky Barker47417.9+10.8
Liberal Democrats Stuart Hodges662.5–0.2
Majority 220.8N/A
Turnout 2,64827.2+2.4
Registered electors 9,844
Labour gain from Conservative Swing Increase2.svg5.0

Brownhills

Brownhills [11] [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Kerry Murphy* 1,056 44.0 –8.6
Labour Michael Bruce77932.5–7.6
Reform UK Joshua Dixon40116.7N/A
Independent Karl Andrews1626.8N/A
Majority 27711.5–1.2
Turnout 2,39825.0+3.2
Registered electors 9,649
Conservative hold Swing Decrease2.svg0.5

Darlaston South

Darlaston South [11] [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Chris Bott* 1,612 65.7 –8.9
Reform UK Peter Burton38015.5N/A
Conservative Owen Webster36014.7–10.0
Liberal Democrats Isaac Crosby1034.2N/A
Majority 1,23250.2+0.4
Turnout 2,45523.0+6.3
Registered electors 10,829
Labour hold

Paddock

Paddock [11] [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Nick Gandham* 1,485 37.3 –12.3
Labour Bob Thomas1,08527.3–6.9
Independent Ghulam Papu78919.8N/A
Liberal Democrats Dan Barker2797.0–3.1
Reform UK Peter Faultless1874.7N/A
Green Gordon Shipley1553.9N/A
Majority 40010.0–5.4
Turnout 3,98041.0+2.8
Registered electors 9,832
Conservative hold Swing Decrease2.svg2.7

Palfrey

Palfrey [11] [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Sabina Ditta* 2,134 48.4 N/A
Labour Zulkifi Ahmed1,04423.7–26.8
Conservative Shamim Ahmed69315.7–24.3
Green Sadat Hussain2986.8+1.6
Reform UK Dexter Williams2405.4+1.7
Majority 1,09024.7N/A
Turnout 4,40940.1+8.7
Registered electors 11,086
Independent hold

Pelsall

Pelsall [11] [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Garry Perry* 1,801 67.2 +7.7
Labour Robert Lipke51019.0–2.8
Reform UK Graham Eardley36913.8+4.6
Majority 1,29148.2+10.5
Turnout 2,68031.2+4.4
Registered electors 8,682
Conservative hold Swing Increase2.svg5.3

Pheasey Park Farm

Pheasey Park Farm [11] [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Adrian Andrew* 1,614 61.0 +4.0
Labour Mark Bradley82531.2–3.8
Liberal Democrats Matthew Barker2087.9±0.0
Majority 78928.8+7.0
Turnout 2,64730.9+6.2
Registered electors 8,655
Conservative hold Swing Increase2.svg3.9

Pleck

Pleck [11] [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Naheed Gultasib* 1,459 39.4 N/A
Labour Adam Mohammed1,32335.8–40.8
Conservative Akbar Ali55715.1–7.3
Green Mary Beddows2607.0N/A
TUSC Jonathan Stanley1012.7N/A
Majority 1363.6N/A
Turnout 3,70036.0+13.3
Registered electors 10,430
Independent hold

Rushall-Shelfield

Rushall-Shelfield [11] [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Jade Chapman 1,068 41.8 –11.3
Labour Co-op David Morgan95137.3–9.7
Reform UK Pete Page35113.8N/A
Green Joe Belcher1827.1N/A
Majority 1174.5–1.6
Turnout 2,55227.9+4.1
Registered electors 9,248
Conservative gain from Independent Swing Decrease2.svg0.8

Short Heath

Short Heath [11] [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Josh Whitehouse* 1,093 46.8 +4.2
Labour Lee Jeavons92239.5+0.6
Liberal Democrats Chad Pitt32213.8–4.2
Majority 1717.3+3.6
Turnout 2,33727.2+4.4
Registered electors 8,712
Conservative hold Swing Increase2.svg1.8

St Matthews

St Matthews [11] [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Eileen Russell 1,430 34.5 –16.9
Independent Mushtaq Ahmed1,24029.9N/A
Conservative Vandana Sharma89421.6–7.9
Green Raja Akhtar2967.1–5.3
Reform UK Robin Perry2876.9N/A
Majority 1904.6–17.2
Turnout 4,14737.2+7.8
Registered electors 11,230
Labour gain from Independent

Streetly

Streetly [11] [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Keir Pedley* 2,203 60.5 –1.0
Labour Harjinder Nahal80122.0–3.4
Reform UK Ruby Ki-Kydd2887.9+4.5
Liberal Democrats Kieran Smith1764.8–4.9
Green Alison Walters1754.8N/A
Majority 1,40238.5+2.5
Turnout 3,64335.4+6.0
Registered electors 10,400
Conservative hold Swing Increase2.svg1.2

Willenhall North

Willenhall North [11] [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Stacie Elson* 997 42.6 –3.6
Labour Tal Singh98942.2+6.2
Liberal Democrats Benjamin Hodges35515.2–2.6
Majority 80.4–9.7
Turnout 2,34126.1+2.9
Registered electors 9,177
Conservative hold Swing Decrease2.svg4.9

Willenhall South

Willenhall South [11] [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Klara Margetts 1,773 68.1 +5.2
Conservative Walter Eze69226.6–0.7
Liberal Democrats Leandra Gebrakedan1385.3–4.5
Majority 1,08141.5+6.3
Turnout 2,60322.8+4.2
Registered electors 11,669
Labour hold Swing Increase2.svg3.0

References

  1. "Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council Election Results 1973-2012" (PDF). Elections Centre. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  2. Coussins, Jordan (3 May 2019). "Walsall Council local elections 2019: Conservatives take control". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  3. "Local elections 2024: YouGov MRP predicts significant Conservative losses to Labour | YouGov". yougov.co.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  4. "Your Councillors by Party". 28 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  5. "Senior Walsall councillor suspended amid death club licence probe". 1 April 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  6. "Six Walsall Labour councillors, including group leader, resign over Starmer's Gaza conflict stance". 16 November 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  7. "Six Walsall Labour councillors quit over Keir Starmer's Gaza ceasefire vote". ITV News. 16 November 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  8. Stubbings, David (3 May 2024). "Full Walsall Council election results". Express and Star. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  9. Thomas, Emma (8 May 2024). "Council leader suspended by Tories after disciplinary". BBC News. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  10. Asokan, Shyamantha (4 June 2024). "Council elects new leader after Tory suspension". BBC News. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 "Elections 2024 | Walsall Council". Walsall Council. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 "Declaration of results of poll - 2024 local Walsall election" (PDF). Archived from the original (pdf) on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.