Somerset Council elections

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Somerset Council elections are held every four years to elect Somerset Council, the local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England. From 1889 until 2023 the council was called Somerset County Council and it was an upper tier county council, with district-level functions being provided by the area's district councils. The districts were all abolished with effect from 1 April 2023, at which point the county council became a unitary authority, taking on the functions of the abolished district councils. The county council changed its name to Somerset Council to coincide with the change in its powers. [1] There are 110 councillors, elected from 54 wards. [2]

Contents

Summary of recent elections

The Conservative Party has been the largest or second-largest party on the council since 1973, and since 1981 has competed with the Liberal Democrats for control; each party has formed several majority administrations in the period since. [3]

In 2009, the Conservative Party UK won 35 seats, [4] a six seat majority, with the Liberal Democrats UK coming second with 21 seats, in 2013 the Conservative Party UK won 29 seats, [5] a one seat majority, with the Liberal Democrats UK coming second with 18 seats and UKIP (a new entrant) coming joint third with Labour Party UK on three seats. In 2017 the Conservative Party UK won back seats and ended up winning 35 seats, [6] gaining them a seven seat majority, in this election, UKIP did not stand and the Liberal Democrats UK continued their loss of seats dropping to 12 (although they remained in second place).

The 2022 local elections in Somerset were fought on new boundaries, with 110 seats available within the new unitary council. [7] In this election the Liberal Democrats UK won 61 seats granting them a five seat majority, the Conservative Party UK came second with 36 seats. [8]

Council elections

County result maps

By-election results

1997–2001

Minehead By-Election 30 July 1998
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative 1,42842.6+7.2
Liberal Democrats 1,12533.6−1.4
Labour 79823.8−5.8
Majority3039.0
Turnout 3,35137.0
Conservative hold Swing
Lydeard By-Election 28 October 1999
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative 94868.2+28.7
Liberal Democrats 44231.8−14.0
Majority50636.4
Turnout 1,39028.0
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

2005–2009

Mendip North East By-Election 1 May 2008 [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Matthew Ellis 1,568 51.2 +6.9
Liberal Democrats Ian Hasell1,49748.8+9.7
Majority712.4
Turnout 3,06543.8
Conservative hold Swing
Shepton Mallett By-Election 29 May 2008 [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Margaret Robinson 950 47.4 +10.0
Liberal Democrats Rachel Witcombe78339.1+5.5
Labour Christopher Inchley27113.5−15.5
Majority1678.3
Turnout 2,00429.0
Conservative hold Swing

2009–2013

Shepton Mallett By-Election 5 May 2011 [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Parham 1,307 41.3 −7.8
Liberal Democrats Garfield Kennedy89228.2−6.2
Labour Chris Inchley71122.5+6.0
Green Ian Forster2568.1+8.1
Majority41513.1
Turnout 3,166
Conservative hold Swing
South Petherton By-Election 4 August 2011 [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Paul Maxwell 1,333 53.6 +13.3
Conservative Paul Thompson94337.9−5.4
Green Ian Greenfield1084.3−2.9
UKIP Godfrey Davey1044.2+4.2
Majority39015.7
Turnout 2,488
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Brent By-Election 1 December 2011 [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Denbee 1,285 58.0 −11.9
Liberal Democrats Helen Groves93242.0+17.3
Majority35315.9
Turnout 2,217
Conservative hold Swing

2013–2017

Frome North By-Election 25 September 2014 [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Linda Oliver 1,163 47.7 +12.0
Liberal Democrats Damon Hooton83634.3−3.0
Labour Catherine Richardson1636.7−4.1
Independent Adrian Dobinson1395.7+5.7
Green Les Spalding1395.7+5.7
Majority32713.4
Turnout 2,440
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Taunton North By-Election 7 May 2015 [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Michael Adkins 1,298 29.9 +12.5
Liberal Democrats Barrie Hall97622.5−8.2
Labour Libby Lisgo92721.4−0.7
UKIP Robert Bainbridge81418.8−5.1
Green Alan Debenham3267.5+1.6
Majority3227.4
Turnout 4,341
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

2017–2022

Comeytrowe & Trull By-Election 7 October 2021 [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Dawn Johnson 1,677 63.2 +15.6
Conservative Ruth Harmon88633.4−6.4
Labour Michael McGuffie923.5−2.4
Majority79129.8
Turnout 2,655
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase2.svg11.0

2022–2027

Castle Cary By-Election 10 August 2023 [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Kevin Messenger 1,247 54.8 +10.4
Conservative David Hall61427.0−15.7
Green Ewan Jones41518.2+5.3
Majority63327.8
Turnout 2,276
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Somerton By-Election 28 March 2024 [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Stephen Page 1,212 50.1 −1.0
Conservative David Hall87836.3−2.2
Labour Gregory Chambers1747.2−0.5
Green Matthew Geen1546.4+6.4
Majority33413.8
Turnout 2,418
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Mendip South By-Election 2 May 2024 [21]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Rob Reed 1,313 47.3 −5.5
Conservative Ken Maddock1,12240.4−6.8
Green Michael Smyth2007.2+7.2
Labour David Oakensen1395.0+5.0
Majority1916.9
Turnout 2,774
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Blackmoor Vale By-Election 21 November 2024 [22]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Hayward Burt 1,120 57.4 +13.1
Liberal Democrats Howard Ellard71436.6−19.1
Green Peter Ebsworth864.4+4.4
Labour Gregory Chambers321.6+1.6
Majority40620.8
Turnout 1,952
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Rowbarton and Staplegrove By-Election 21 November 2024 [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Democrats Nick O'Donnell 817 58.3 +1.7
Conservative Pete Prior-Sankey39628.3−2.3
Green Alan William Debenham1027.3+7.3
Labour Moya Patricia Doherty866.1−6.7
Majority42130.0
Turnout 1,401
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

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References

  1. ↑ "The Somerset (Structural Changes) Order 2022", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2022/329, retrieved 27 March 2024
  2. ↑ "Somerset election results 2022: Lib Dems win control". BBC News. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  3. ↑ Rallings, Colin; Thrasher, Michael. "Somerset County Council Election Results 1973-2009" (PDF). Elections Centre, Plymouth University. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  4. ↑ "BBC NEWS | Election 2009 | Somerset council".
  5. ↑ "Local elections 2013: Somerset Tories retain control". BBC News. May 2013.
  6. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project - 2017 - Somerset".
  7. ↑ "Somerset: 'This is the biggest shake up in 50 years'". 3 April 2023.
  8. ↑ "Election results". 6 May 2022.
  9. ↑ The County of Somerset (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1980
  10. ↑ "Somerset". BBC Online . Retrieved 3 June 2008.
  11. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Mendip North East Division". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  12. ↑ "New Faces Join Mendip District Council". Mendip District Council. 30 May 2008. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
  13. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Shepton Mallet Division". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  14. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — South Petherton Division". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  15. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Brent Division". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  16. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Frome North Division". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  17. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Taunton North Division". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  18. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Comeytrowe and Trull Division". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  19. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Castle Cary Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  20. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Somerton Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  21. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Mendip South Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  22. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Blackmoor Vale Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  23. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Rowbarton and Staplegrove Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
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