The 2014 Castle Point Borough Council election took place on 22 May 2014 to elect members of Castle Point Borough Council in Essex, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative Party lost overall control of the council to no overall control. [1]
Castle Point is a local government district with borough status in south Essex, 30 miles (48 km) east of central London. The borough comprises the towns and villages of Canvey Island, Hadleigh, South Benfleet, and Thundersley where the council has its headquarters.
Borough status in the United Kingdom is granted by royal charter to local government districts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The status is purely honorary, and does not give any additional powers to the council or inhabitants of the district. In Scotland, similarly chartered communities were known as royal burghs, although the status is no longer granted.
Essex is a county in the south-east of England, north-east of London. One of the home counties, it borders Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent across the estuary of the River Thames to the south, and London to the south-west. The county town is Chelmsford, the only city in the county. For government statistical purposes Essex is placed in the East of England region.
After the election, the composition of the council was
The Conservative Party, officially the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom. Presently led by Theresa May, it has been the governing party since 2010. It presently has 314 Members of Parliament in the House of Commons, 249 members of the House of Lords, and 18 members of the European Parliament. It also has 31 Members of the Scottish Parliament, 12 members of the Welsh Assembly, eight members of the London Assembly and 9,008 local councillors. One of the major parties of UK politics, it has formed the government on 45 occasions, more than any other party.
The Canvey Island Independent Party (CIIP) is a local political party active on Canvey Island, in Essex, England. It was established in 2004 to campaign for a separate district council for Canvey Island.
The UK Independence Party is a hard Eurosceptic, right-wing political party in the United Kingdom. It currently has one representative in the House of Lords and seven Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). It has four Assembly Members (AMs) in the National Assembly for Wales and one member in the London Assembly. The party reached its greatest level of success in the mid-2010s, when it gained two Members of Parliament and was the largest UK party in the European Parliament.
At the last election in 2012 the Conservatives held control of the council with 25 councillors, compared to 15 for the Canvey Island Independent Party and 1 independent. [3] However, since then the UK Independence Party had won 2 Castle Point seats at the 2013 Essex County Council election and planned to stand 8 candidates at the 2014 Borough Council election. [4]
A Councillor is a member of a local government council.
14 of the 41 seats on the council were contested at the 2014 election. [5]
The Conservatives lost their majority on the council after the UK Independence Party gained 5 seats. [6] The UK Independence Party gains came in Appleton, Cedar Hall, St George's, St Peter's and Victoria wards, with 87-year-old UK Independence Party candidate Ron Hurrell defeating the Conservative leader of the council, Pam Challis, in St Peter's ward. [2] [7] Meanwhile, in the European elections that were held at the same time the UK Independence Party won 48% of the vote in Castle Point, almost double that of the Conservatives. [8]
The wards and electoral divisions in the United Kingdom are electoral districts at sub-national level represented by one or more councillors. The ward is the primary unit of English electoral geography for civil parishes and borough and district councils, electoral ward is the unit used by Welsh principal councils, while the electoral division is the unit used by English county councils and some unitary authorities. Each ward/division has an average electorate of about 5,500 people, but ward-population counts can vary substantially. As at the end of 2014 there were 9,456 electoral wards/divisions in the UK.
On Canvey Island the Canvey Island Independent Party regained a seat in Canvey Island South, which they had lost to a defection. [2] The results left the Conservatives as the largest party on the council with 20 seats, while the Canvey Island Independent Party had 16 seats and the UK Independence Party had 5 seats. [2]
Following the election the Conservative group on the council chose Colin Riley as their new leader defeating the former deputy leader of the council Jeffrey Stanley by 2 votes, [9] while Alan Bayley became the leader of the UK Independence Party group. [10] Both the Canvey Island Independent Party and UK Independence Party initially proposed a coalition between all 3 parties to run the council, but following the Conservative leadership election decided against coalition and Colin Riley became the new leader of the council at the head of a Conservative minority administration. [9] [10] [11]
Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canvey Independent | 6 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 42.9 | 23.2 | 5,543 | +2.3% | |
UKIP | 5 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 35.7 | 26.9 | 6,431 | +26.9% | |
Conservative | 3 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 21.4 | 33.9 | 8,098 | -12.9% | |
Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16.0 | 3,822 | -10.9% | |
Independent | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2.4% | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UKIP | Alan Bayley | 856 | 44.0 | +44.0 | |
Conservative | Charles Mumford | 728 | 37.4 | -24.3 | |
Labour | Elliott Adair | 361 | 18.6 | -19.7 | |
Majority | 128 | 6.6 | |||
Turnout | 1,945 | ||||
UKIP gain from Conservative | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Norman Smith | 927 | 46.1 | -28.0 | |
UKIP | Robert Baillie | 823 | 40.9 | +40.9 | |
Labour | Anthony Wright | 261 | 13.0 | -12.9 | |
Majority | 104 | 5.2 | -43.1 | ||
Turnout | 2,011 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canvey Independent | Peter May | 964 | 65.1 | +1.6 | |
Conservative | Raymond Savill | 324 | 21.9 | +1.6 | |
Labour | John Payne | 192 | 13.0 | -3.2 | |
Majority | 640 | 43.2 | +0.0 | ||
Turnout | 1,480 | ||||
Canvey Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canvey Independent | Alan Acott | 1,006 | 66.8 | +18.8 | |
Conservative | Patricia Haunts | 318 | 21.1 | -2.4 | |
Labour | Margaret McArthur-Curtis | 182 | 12.1 | -0.7 | |
Majority | 688 | 45.7 | +21.2 | ||
Turnout | 1,506 | ||||
Canvey Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canvey Independent | Nigel Harvey | 1,067 | 63.7 | -1.0 | |
Conservative | Margaret Belford | 325 | 19.4 | +0.8 | |
Labour | Matthew Reilly | 283 | 16.9 | +0.2 | |
Majority | 742 | 44.3 | -1.8 | ||
Turnout | 1,675 | ||||
Canvey Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canvey Independent | Barry Palmer | 1,035 | 62.3 | +14.5 | |
Conservative | Denise Lambert | 458 | 27.6 | +2.5 | |
Labour | Michael Curham | 168 | 10.1 | -0.6 | |
Majority | 577 | 34.7 | +11.9 | ||
Turnout | 1,661 | ||||
Canvey Independent gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canvey Independent | Jane King | 636 | 50.1 | +7.4 | |
Conservative | Jeanette Blissett | 509 | 40.1 | -9.2 | |
Labour | William Deal | 124 | 9.8 | +1.8 | |
Majority | 127 | 10.0 | |||
Turnout | 1,269 | ||||
Canvey Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canvey Independent | Peter Greig | 835 | 64.3 | +1.8 | |
Conservative | Jeanette Carrington | 283 | 21.8 | +0.9 | |
Labour | Katie Curtis | 181 | 13.9 | -2.7 | |
Majority | 552 | 42.5 | +1.0 | ||
Turnout | 1,299 | ||||
Canvey Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UKIP | Alan Hudson | 897 | 49.4 | +49.4 | |
Conservative | Colin Maclean | 610 | 33.6 | -25.1 | |
Labour | Bernard Thorne | 310 | 17.1 | -24.2 | |
Majority | 287 | 15.8 | |||
Turnout | 1,817 | ||||
UKIP gain from Conservative | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UKIP | Brian Wood | 710 | 43.0 | +43.0 | |
Conservative | Pamela Freeman | 525 | 31.8 | -21.9 | |
Labour | Joseph Cooke | 417 | 25.2 | -21.1 | |
Majority | 185 | 11.2 | |||
Turnout | 1,652 | ||||
UKIP gain from Conservative | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Godfrey Isaacs | 886 | 43.9 | -16.9 | |
UKIP | Michael Dixon | 790 | 39.2 | +39.2 | |
Labour | Dina Mehdi | 340 | 16.9 | -4.3 | |
Majority | 96 | 4.8 | 34.8 | ||
Turnout | 2,016 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Andrew Sheldon | 771 | 40.3 | -11.9 | |
UKIP | Michael Aubrey | 726 | 37.9 | +37.9 | |
Labour | Brian Wilson | 418 | 21.8 | -26.0 | |
Majority | 45 | 2.3 | -2.0 | ||
Turnout | 1,915 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UKIP | Ronald Hurrell | 830 | 45.1 | +45.1 | |
Conservative | Pamela Challis | 680 | 36.9 | -27.1 | |
Labour | William Emberson | 331 | 18.0 | -18.0 | |
Majority | 150 | 8.1 | |||
Turnout | 1,841 | ||||
UKIP gain from Conservative | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UKIP | Paul Varker | 799 | 44.2 | +44.2 | |
Conservative | Neal Warren | 754 | 41.7 | -22.9 | |
Labour | Frederick West | 254 | 14.1 | -5.7 | |
Majority | 45 | 2.5 | |||
Turnout | 1,807 | ||||
UKIP gain from Conservative | Swing | ||||
A by-election was held in Canvey Island East on 30 October 2014 after Canvey Island Independent Party councillor Gail Barton was removed from the council for not attending any council meetings for 8 months. [13] The UK Independence Party did not put up a candidate for the by-election, instead supporting the Canvey Island Independent Party candidate, while the Canvey Island Independents agreed to support the UK Independence Party at the 2015 general election. [14] [15] However the seat was gained by independent candidate Colin Letchford with a majority of 66 votes over the Canvey Island Independent Party. [16]
Meanwhile, following the by-election, councillor Stephen Cole defected from the Canvey Island Independent Party to the Conservatives, with the agreement between the Canvey Island Independent Party and the UK Independence Party being cited as a factor in his decision. [15] This meant following the by-election and defection the Conservatives regained a one-seat majority on the council with 21 seats, compared to 14 for the Canvey Island Independent Party, 5 for the UK Independence Party and 1 independent. [15]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Colin Letchford | 389 | 39.1 | +39.1 | |
Canvey Island Independent Party | John Payne | 323 | 32.4 | -34.4 | |
Conservative | Chas Mumford | 208 | 20.9 | -0.2 | |
Labour | Jackie Reilly | 76 | 7.6 | -4.5 | |
Majority | 66 | 6.6 | |||
Turnout | 996 | 20.9 | |||
Independent gain from Canvey Independent | Swing | ||||
Castle Point is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Rebecca Harris of the Conservative Party.
The 2014 Barking and Dagenham Council election took place on 23 May 2014 to elect members of Barking and Dagenham Council in England. This was on the same day as other local elections.
The 2014 Colchester Borough Council election took place on 22 May 2014 to elect members of Colchester Borough Council in Essex, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.
The 2014 Havant Borough Council election took place on 22 May 2014 to elect members of Havant Borough Council in Hampshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council.
The 2008 Huntingdonshire District Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Huntingdonshire District Council in Cambridgeshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council.
The 2014 Huntingdonshire District Council election took place on 22 May 2014 to elect members of Huntingdonshire District Council in Cambridgeshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council.
The 1999 Castle Point Borough Council election took place on 6 May 1999 to elect members of Castle Point Borough Council in Essex, England. The whole council was up for election and the Labour party stayed in overall control of the council.
The 2004 Castle Point Borough Council election took place on 10 June 2004 to elect members of Castle Point Borough Council in Essex, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council.
The 2006 Castle Point Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2006 to elect members of Castle Point Borough Council in Essex, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council.
The 2007 Castle Point Borough Council election took place on 3 May 2007 to elect members of Castle Point Borough Council in Essex, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council.
The 2008 Castle Point Borough Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Castle Point Borough Council in Essex, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council.
The 2010 Castle Point Borough Council election took place on 6 May 2010 to elect members of Castle Point Borough Council in Essex, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council.
The 2011 Castle Point Borough Council election took place on 5 May 2011 to elect members of Castle Point Borough Council in Essex, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council.
The 2012 Castle Point Borough Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of Castle Point Borough Council in Essex, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council.
The 2014 Harlow District Council election took place on 22 May 2014 to elect members of Harlow District Council in Essex, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Labour party stayed in overall control of the council.
The 2014 St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 22 May 2014 to elect members of St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council in Merseyside, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Labour party stayed in overall control of the council.
The 2011 Swale Borough Council election took place on 5 May 2011 to elect members of Swale Borough Council in Kent, England. The whole council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council.
The 2015 South Kesteven District Council election took place on 7 May 2015 to elect members of South Kesteven District Council in Lincolnshire, England. The whole council was up for election after boundary changes reduced the number of seats by two. The Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council.
The 2015 Christchurch Borough Council election took place on 7 May 2015 to elect members of Christchurch Borough Council in Dorset, England. The whole council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council.