Lancaster City Council elections

Last updated

Lancaster shown within the non-metropolitan county of Lancashire (Unitary authorities excluded) LancashireLancaster.png
Lancaster shown within the non-metropolitan county of Lancashire (Unitary authorities excluded)

Lancaster City Council elections are held every four years. Lancaster City Council is the local authority for the non-metropolitan district of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. Since the last boundary changes in 2023, 61 councillors have been elected from 27 wards. [1]

Contents

Council elections

Election results

Overall control Labour Conservative MB Independent Green Lib Dems Independent
2023NOC24532171
2019NOC211214103-
2015NOC291929-1
2011NOC241688-4
2007NOC1512111255
2003NOC201011784

Results maps

By-elections

1995–1999

Torrisholme By-Election 5 December 1996
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour 53834.7
Conservative 46029.6
Liberal Democrats 34822.4
Morecambe Bay Independents20613.3
Majority 785.1
Turnout 1,55242.8
Labour gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Ellel By-Election 24 July 1997
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour 36638.6+0.8
Independent 32133.9+33.9
Conservative 26127.5−15.0
Majority 454.7
Turnout 94827.6
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
Alexandra By-Election 9 October 1997 [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Peter Robinson38948.4−25.3
Conservative 16120.0+20.0
Morecambe Bay Independent14217.7+17.7
Independent 779.6+9.6
Independent 303.7−22.6
Green 50.6+0.6
Majority 22828.4
Turnout 804
Labour hold Swing
Arkholme By-Election 9 October 1997 [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative James Irey42181.0+15.0
Labour 9919.0+19.0
Majority 32262.0
Turnout 520
Conservative hold Swing
Skerton West By-Election 9 October 1997 [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Harrison42746.9−26.8
Morecambe Bay Independents28531.1+31.3
Conservative 19821.8−4.5
Majority 14215.8
Turnout 910
Labour hold Swing
Hornby By-Election 30 April 1998 [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Clive Lamb45153.6+5.0
Liberal Democrats Henry Humphreys26131.0−0.8
Labour Kevin Dixon809.5−10.0
Independent John Greathead505.9+5.9
Majority 19022.6
Turnout 84254.1
Conservative hold Swing
Parks By-Election 30 April 1998 [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent John Fretwell84565.6+40.7
Conservative David Le Bas27421.3−12.9
Labour Leslie Houghton1068.2−13.4
Liberal Democrats Majorie Buck644.9−14.3
Majority 57144.3
Turnout 1,28936.8
Independent gain from Conservative Swing

1999–2003

John O'Gaunt By-Election 28 September 2000 [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Liz Scott42425.5+5.2
Labour Richard Newman-Thompson39523.8−14.6
Independent Sheila Kavanagh34020.5+12.0
Conservative Chris Reich29117.5+0.4
Green Peter Gordon21212.8−2.9
Majority 291.7
Turnout 1,66227.0
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing

2003–2007

Overton By-Election 7 August 2003 [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Garry Baxter26937.2+9.9
Independent Susan Ayrey19727.2+27.2
Morecambe Bay IndependentsBarbara Williams12016.6−24.7
Labour Darren Clifford699.5+9.5
Conservative John Battersby-Hill557.6−19.6
Liberal Democrats Terence Taylor141.9+1.9
Majority 7210.0
Turnout 72438.0
Independent gain from Independent Swing
Heysham South By-Election 26 February 2004 [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Kenneth Brown49936.1+36.1
Labour Darren Clifford49335.6−0.1
England First Party Paul Bamford19113.8+13.8
Morecambe Bay IndependentsChristopher Greenall14310.3−39.5
Liberal Democrats Terence Taylor372.7+2.7
Green Ashley Toms201.4−13.0
Majority 60.5
Turnout 1,38327.7
Conservative gain from Independent Swing
Carnforth By-Election 11 March 2004 [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Judith Newton35348.5+14.9
Conservative David Wood20728.4+11.4
Independent Robert Roe16823.1−3.2
Majority 14620.1
Turnout 72821.8
Labour hold Swing
John O'Gaunt By-Election 5 May 2005 [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Margaret Chadwick1,28240.7−2.3
Liberal Democrats Philip Dunster1,11535.4+18.0
Conservative Sheila Parkinson75023.8+0.0
Majority 1675.3
Turnout 3,147
Labour hold Swing
John O'Gaunt By-Election 8 December 2005 [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour James Blakely46638.0−2.7
Liberal Democrats Philip Dunster28723.4−12.0
Green Matthew Wootton24720.1+20.1
Conservative William Hill22618.4−5.4
Majority 17914.6
Turnout 1,22623.9
Labour hold Swing
Skerton West By-Election 22 June 2006 [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Robert Smith82659.8+16.8
Conservative Debbie Buck33624.3+4.9
BNP Christopher Hill22015.9+15.9
Majority 49035.5
Turnout 1,38231.2
Labour hold Swing
Skerton West By-Election 14 December 2006 [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Karen Leytham49359.1+16.1
Conservative John Airey17220.6+1.2
BNP Christopher Hill9311.2+11.2
Independent Norman Gardner769.1−8.2
Majority 32138.5
Turnout 83417.4
Labour hold Swing

2007–2011

Castle By-Election 4 June 2009 [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Melanie Forrest1,19153.5−4.9
Conservative Billy Hill44219.9+5.9
Labour Richard Newman-Thompson36916.6+0.2
Liberal Democrats Rebecca Parris22310.0+2.2
Majority 74933.6
Turnout 2,225
Green hold Swing
John O'Gaunt By-Election 1 April 2010 [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Elizabeth Scott60335.2−4.9
Liberal Democrats Harry Arrmistead38922.7+22.7
Green Ian Chamberlain33919.8−17.5
Conservative Billy Hill30117.6−5.1
UKIP Fred McGlade834.8+4.8
Majority 21412.5
Turnout 1,71529.8
Labour hold Swing
Scotforth West By-Election 22 May 2014 [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Abi Mills82336.24
Labour Colin Hartley80235.31
Conservative Janet Walton33922.77
Liberal Democrats Philip Dunster803.52
TUSC Steve Metcalfe492.25
Majority 2112.5
Turnout
Green gain from Labour Swing
University By-Election 22 May 2014 [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Jack Filmore27339.28
Labour James Leyshon23734.10
Conservative Daniel Aldred12818.42
Liberal Democrats Oliver Mountjoy334.75
Independent Stuart Langhorn243.45
Majority 466.62
Turnout 695
Green gain from Labour Swing

2015–2019

Carnforth and Millhead by-election 5 May 2016 [21]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour John Reynolds 70243.18.0
Conservative John Bassinder67141.2−6.8
UKIP Robert Wilson Gillespie1348.2N/A
Liberal Democrats Phil Dunster744.5N/A
Green Cait Sinclair493.0−13.9
Majority 311.9
Turnout 695
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
Westgate by-election 13 October 2016 [21]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Ian Clift 44341.69.1
MB Independent Roger Dennison19318.10.4
UKIP Michelle Ogden18317.2−7.5
Conservative Daniel Gibbins17816.7−8.3
Liberal Democrats Louise Stansfield413.93.9
Green Richard Moriarty262.42.4
Majority 2501.9
Turnout 69523.5
Labour hold Swing
University and Scotforth Rural by-election 8 December 2016
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Nathan Burns9834.9−0.5
Green Xeina Aveyard7928.1−4.4
Conservative Luke Brandon6824.20.5
Liberal Democrats Pippa Hepworth3612.84.4
Majority 196.8
Turnout 2827.1
Labour hold Swing

Labour Cllr Karen Leytham (Skerton West) resigned in July 2017. A by-election was held: [22]

Skerton West by-election, 7 Sep 2017
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Hilda Jean Parr51261
Conservative Andy Kay28835
Liberal Democrats Derek John Kaye334
Turnout 83316
Labour hold

Independent Cllr Paul Woodruff (Halton-with-Aughton) resigned in July 2017. [23] A by-election was held: [24]

Halton-with-Aughton by-election, 28 Sep 2017
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Kevin Frea24727
Green Jan Maskell24527
Conservative Daniel Scott Gibbins23626
Liberal Democrats Catherine Pilling17419
Turnout 90243
Labour gain from Independent

Labour Cllr Roger Sherlock (Skerton West) died in November 2017. [25] A by-election was held: [26]

Skerton West by-election, 17 May 2018
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Peter Rivet58757.8+20.8
Conservative Andy Kay27927.1+1.2
Liberal Democrats Derek John Kaye959.4+9.4
Green Cait Sinclair595.8−3.7
Majority
Turnout 1020
Labour hold

University and Scotforth Rural ward Labour councillors Sam Armstrong (elected Green) and Lucy Atkinson retired in March 2018. [27] A double by-election was held. [26]

University and Scotforth Rural by-election 17 May 2018
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Amara Betts-Patel51825.37
Labour Oliver Robinson42320.72
Green Martin Paley26412.93
Green Jan Maskell23511.51
Conservative Callum Furner1849.01
Conservative Guy F.P Watts1849.01
Liberal Democrats Jade Sullivan1205.88
Liberal Democrats Iain Emberry1145.58
Turnout 103327.01+19.89
Labour gain from Green
Labour hold

2019–2023

Conservative councillor Michael Smith (Overton), who is partially deaf resigned in November 2019 because he was "struggling to hear" in meetings. [28] A by-election was held the next month, on the same day as the 2019 United Kingdom general election.

Overton by-election 12 December 2019 [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Andrew Gardiner 650526
Labour Tom Porter527420
Liberal Democrats Amy Stanning655N/A
Turnout 124267
Conservative hold

In June 2020, Liberal Democrat councillor Michael Mumford (Kellet) died. [30] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no council by-elections will take place in the UK until May 2021 at the earliest. [31]

Kellet by-election 6 May 2021 [32]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Stuart Morris 447516
Liberal Democrats Ross Hunter27131−14
Independent Kathryn Atkins16118N/A
Turnout 879
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats
Bulk by-election 6 May 2021 [32]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Jack Lenox 128354
Labour Anna Lee82435
Conservative Matthew Maxwell-Scott2099
Liberal Democrats Katia Adimora452
Turnout 2361
Green hold

Jack O'Dwyer-Henry, Eco-Socialist Independent (elected Labour) [33] councillor for the University and Scotforth Rural ward, resigned from the council, triggering a by-election in the ward. [34]

University and Scotforth Rural by-election, 11 November 2021 [35] [36] [37] [38]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Fabiha Askari 216 46.1 Increase2.svg 5.0
Green Jamie Payne19341.2Increase2.svg 11.0
Conservative Matthew Maxwell-Scott449.4Decrease2.svg 7.2
Liberal Democrats Zanna Ashton163.4Decrease2.svg 8.8
Majority 234.9
Turnout 46913.4
Labour hold Swing
Carnforth and Millhead by-election, 25 November 2021 [39]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Luke Taylor 538 57.7 +20.4
Conservative Stuart Bateson31533.8+1.5
Green Patrick McMurray545.8−5.1
Liberal Democrats Tony Saville252.7+2.7
Majority 22323.9
Turnout 932
Labour hold Swing
Bare by-election, 2 December 2021 [40]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Gerry Blaikie 428 33.1 +21.9
Green James Sommerville30123.3+16.2
MB Independent June Ashworth24318.8−14.1
Conservative Jane Cottam21516.6−12.1
Labour Valerie Rogerson1078.3−7.9
Majority 1279.8
Turnout 1,294
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Upper Lune Valley by-election, 2 December 2021 [41]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Ross Hunter 390 63.1 +19.1
Conservative Iain Harbison18329.6−16.3
Green Nicky Sharkey243.9+3.9
Labour Faith Kenrick213.4−6.7
Majority 20733.5
Turnout 618
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Ellel by-election, 19 May 2022 [42]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Sally Maddocks 547 39.7 +19.5
Labour Lisa Corkerry41830.4−1.1
Conservative Janet Walton37727.4−14.3
Liberal Democrats Robert Fildes352.5−4.0
Majority 1299.4
Turnout 1,377
Green gain from Conservative Swing
Harbour by-election, 21 July 2022 [43]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Margaret Pattison 555 47.9 +3.8
Liberal Democrats Jake Perkins47941.4+41.4
Conservative Colin Hewitt12410.7−1.6
Majority 766.6
Turnout 1,158
Labour hold Swing
Warton by-election, 8 September 2022 [44]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Sue Tyldesley 452 65.7 +32.8
Conservative Iain Harbison16924.6−22.6
Labour Faith Kenrick446.4+13.4
Liberal Democrats Jane Parsons233.3+3.3
Majority 28341.1
Turnout 688
Green gain from Conservative Swing

2023–2027

Green Party councillor Shelagh McGregor (Castle) resigned in January 2024. [45]

Castle by-election 14 March 2024 [46]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Izzy Metcalf-Riener52465.0
Labour Emily Jones21226.3
Conservative Daniel Kirk435.3
Liberal Democrats Cormac Evans273.3
Majority 31238.7
Turnout 806
Green hold Swing

Labour councillor Paul Gardner (Carnforth and Millhead) died in December 2023. [47]

Carnforth and Millhead by-election 2 May 2024 [48]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Jackson Stubbs64447.3
Conservative Peter Yates45433.4
Green Emily Heath19414.3
Liberal Democrats Lynda Dagdeviren695.1
Majority 19014.0
Turnout 1,361
Labour hold Swing

Labour councillor Erin Hall (University) resigned in May 2024. [49]

University by-election 4 July 2024 [50]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Maria Deery9645.1
Labour Anya Wilkinson-Leishman8339.0
Conservative Matthew Maxwell-Scott2310.8
Liberal Democrats Thomas Willis115.2
Majority 136.1
Turnout 2135.9
Green gain from Labour Swing

Green Party councillor Grace Russell (John O'Gaunt) resigned in March 2025. [51]

John O'Gaunt by-election 1 May 2025 [52]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Green Wilson Colley 52355.2
Labour Dave McGrath Wilkinson27729.2
Liberal Democrats Ethan Weir-Preston13314.0
Reform UK Martyn Sutton151.6
Majority 24625.9
Turnout 948
Green hold Swing

References

  1. 1 2 "The Lancaster (Electoral Changes) Order 2022", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2022/1357, retrieved 13 October 2023
  2. The City of Lancaster (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977
  3. legislation.gov.uk - The Cumbria and Lancashire (County Boundaries) Order 1988. Retrieved on 5 November 2015.
  4. "Local elections". BBC News Online . Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  5. legislation.gov.uk - The City of Lancaster (Electoral Changes) Order 2001. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
  6. "The Lancaster (Electoral Changes) Order 2014", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2014/455, retrieved 23 August 2022
  7. 1 2 3 "As you were! - low turnout is triumph of apathy over responsibility". Lancashire Evening Telegraph . 23 October 1997. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  8. 1 2 "Independent's day!". Lancashire Evening Telegraph . 7 May 1998. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  9. "Widow splits vote". Lancashire Evening Telegraph . 5 October 2000. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  10. "Results of the Overton Ward By-Election held on Thursday 7th August 2003". Lancaster City Council. Archived from the original on 21 October 2003. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  11. "Election results for Heysham South Ward". Lancaster City Council. 26 February 2004. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  12. "Election results for Carnforth Ward". Lancaster City Council. 11 March 2004. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  13. "Election results for John O'Gaunt Ward". Lancaster City Council. 5 May 2005. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  14. "Election results for John O'Gaunt Ward". Lancaster City Council. 8 December 2005. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  15. "Election results for Skerton West Ward". Lancaster City Council. 22 June 2006. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  16. "Election results for Skerton West Ward". Lancaster City Council. 14 December 2006. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  17. "Election results for Castle Ward". Lancaster City Council. 4 June 2009. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  18. "John O'Gaunt by-election results". Lancaster City Council. 2 April 2010. Archived from the original on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  19. "Scotforth West by-election results". Lancaster City Council. 23 May 2014. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  20. "University by-election results". Lancaster City Council. 23 May 2014. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  21. 1 2 "Election Results - Lancaster City Council". Lancaster City Council. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  22. "Election results for Skerton West Ward, 7 September 2017". 7 September 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  23. "Dorset Tories Noc it out of the park | LocalCouncils.co.uk". localcouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  24. "Election results for Halton-with-Aughton Ward, 28 September 2017". 28 September 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  25. "Moon River, wider than a mile | LocalCouncils.co.uk". localcouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  26. 1 2 "Electoral vacancies and notices". Lancaster City Council. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  27. "They break ties in Ockendon | LocalCouncils.co.uk". localcouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  28. "Lancaster councillor resigns admitting 'it's best if they get someone who can actually hear what they're saying'". www.lancasterguardian.co.uk. 5 November 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  29. "Election results for Overton Ward, 12 December 2019". 12 December 2019.
  30. "'Inspiring' Lancaster Liberal Democrat leader and pro-EU campaigner dies, aged 80". www.lancasterguardian.co.uk. 30 June 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  31. "Coronavirus (COVID-19): letter to councils about local authority meetings and postponement of elections". GOV.UK. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  32. 1 2 "Election results". Lancaster City Council. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  33. Lakin, Nick (17 November 2020). "Five Lancaster City Councillors - including deputy leader - resign from Labour Party to form new political group". Lancaster Guardian. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  34. Rouncivell, Gayle (11 October 2021). "By-elections to be held for four Lancaster City Council seats". Lancaster Guardian. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  35. "Dates set for Lancaster City Council by-elections". Lancaster Guardian. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  36. Davies, Mark (15 October 2021). "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll University and Scotforth Rural Ward" (PDF). Lancaster City Council . Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  37. Davies, Mark (11 November 2021). "Declaration of result University and Scotforth Rural Ward" (PDF). Lancaster City Council . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  38. Britain Elects [@BritainElects] (11 November 2021). "University and Scotforth Rural (Lancaster) by-election result" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  39. "Local Elections Archive Project — Carnforth and Millhead Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  40. "Local Elections Archive Project — Bare Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  41. "Local Elections Archive Project — Upper Lune Valley Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  42. "Local Elections Archive Project — Ellel Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  43. "Local Elections Archive Project — Harbour Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  44. "Local Elections Archive Project — Warton Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  45. Rouncivell, Gayle (29 January 2024). "By-election to be held after Lancaster councillor stands down from her role". Lancaster Guardian. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  46. "Local Elections Archive Project — Castle Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  47. Rouncivell, Gayle (19 December 2023). "Labour councillor for Carnforth passes away, aged 70". Lancaster Guardian. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  48. "Local Elections Archive Project — Carnforth and Millhead Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  49. Macdonald, Robert (30 May 2024). "Tearful farewell to student Lancaster councillor as by-election looms". Lancs Live. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  50. "Local Elections Archive Project — University Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  51. Boothroyd, David. "Fabian gets the Exe". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  52. "Local Elections Archive Project — John O'Gaunt Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 17 August 2025.