Swale Borough Council election, 2008

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Map of the results of the 2008 Swale Borough Council election. Conservatives in blue, Liberal Democrats in yellow, Labour in red and Sheppey First in grey. Wards in dark grey were not contested in 2008. Swale UK local election 2008 map.svg
Map of the results of the 2008 Swale Borough Council election. Conservatives in blue, Liberal Democrats in yellow, Labour in red and Sheppey First in grey. Wards in dark grey were not contested in 2008.

The 2008 Swale Borough Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Swale Borough Council in Kent, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council. [1]

Borough of Swale Non-metropolitan district in England

Swale is a local government district with borough status in Kent, England and is bounded by Medway to the west, Canterbury to the east, Ashford to the south and Maidstone to the south west. Its council is based in Sittingbourne. The district is named after the narrow channel called The Swale, that separates the mainland of Kent from the Isle of Sheppey, and which occupies the central part of the district.

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.

Kent County of England

Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south west. The county also shares borders with Essex along the estuary of the River Thames, and with the French department of Pas-de-Calais through the Channel Tunnel. The county town is Maidstone.

Contents

After the election, the composition of the council was

Conservative Party (UK) Political party in the United Kingdom

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 Labour Party is a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom which has been described as an alliance of social democrats, democratic socialists and trade unionists. The party's platform emphasises greater state intervention, social justice and strengthening workers' rights. Labour is a full member of the Party of European Socialists and Progressive Alliance, and holds observer status in the Socialist International. As of 2017, the party was considered the "largest party in Western Europe" in terms of party membership, with more than half a million members.

Liberal Democrats (UK) Political party in the United Kingdom

The Liberal Democrats are a liberal, centrist political party in the United Kingdom. They presently have 11 Members of Parliament in the House of Commons, 96 members of the House of Lords, and one member of the European Parliament. They also have five Members of the Scottish Parliament and a member each in the Welsh Assembly and London Assembly. The party reached the height of its influence in the early 2010s, forming a junior partner in a coalition government from 2010 to 2015. It is presently led by Vince Cable.

Background

16 of the 47 seats on the council were contested in 2008, [3] with the Conservatives defending 9 seats, the Liberal Democrats 4 seats and Labour 3 seats. [4] A total of 53 people contested the election and as well as candidates from the main political parties, there were also 2 candidates from Sheppey First standing on the Isle of Sheppey and 2 candidates from Faversham First contesting wards in Faversham. [4]

Isle of Sheppey island off the northern coast of Kent, England in the Thames Estuary

The Isle of Sheppey is an island off the northern coast of Kent, England, neighbouring the Thames Estuary, centred 42 miles (68 km) from central London. It has an area of 36 square miles (93 km2). The island forms part of the local government district of Swale. Sheppey is derived from Old English Sceapig, meaning "Sheep Island".

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.

Faversham town in the English county of Kent

Faversham is a market town and civil parish in the Swale district of Kent, England, United Kingdom. The town is 48 miles from London and 10 miles from Canterbury and lies next to the Swale, a strip of sea separating mainland Kent from the Isle of Sheppey in the Thames Estuary. It is close to the A2, which follows an ancient British trackway which was used by the Romans and the Anglo-Saxons, and known as Watling Street. The Faversham name is of Latin via Old English origin, meaning "the metal-worker's village".

Election result

The Conservative majority on the council was increased by one seat after gaining three seats, but also losing two seats. [5] Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats had a net loss of one seat, while Sheppey First gained a seat. [5]

The Conservatives picked up two seats from the Liberal Democrats in Minster Cliffs and St Michaels and one seat from Labour in Queenborough and Halfway. [6] However the Liberal Democrats took one seat from the Conseravtives in Davington Priory, while Sheppey First also gained a seat from the Conservatives in Sheppey Central. [6]

Queenborough town on the Isle of Sheppey in the Swale borough of Kent, England

Queenborough is a small town on the Isle of Sheppey in the Swale borough of Kent in South East England.

Davington Priory

Davington Priory was a priory on the north Kent coast of England. It sits on Davington Hill, now a northern suburb of Faversham but then an isolated rural location.

Swale local election result 2008 [7] [8]
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Conservative 1032+162.545.59,681+4.5%
  Liberal Democrat 312-118.818.03,827+5.1%
  Labour 201-112.523.75,044+0.9%
  Sheppey First 110+16.36.31,341-11.9%
 Faversham First000004.5959+4.5%
  Green 000001.1226+0.0%
  Monster Raving Loony 000000.7156+0.2%
  Independent 000000.357-2.5%

Ward results

Abbey [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Anita Walker51237.3-7.1
Labour Trevor Payne36726.7-4.3
Faversham FirstJenny Gurney31122.7+22.7
Liberal Democrat Martin Bellis18213.3-3.6
Majority14510.6-2.8
Turnout 1,37235.4-1.0
Conservative hold Swing
Boughton and Courtenay [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Andrew Bowles1,11270.7+4.0
Labour Fran Rehal23414.9-1.2
Green Timothy Valentine22614.4-0.3
Majority87855.9+5.3
Turnout 1,57237.4+1.3
Conservative hold Swing
Chalkwell [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Ghlin Whelan57744.9-3.0
Conservative Derek Carnell53841.9+12.6
Liberal Democrat David Spurling17013.2-1.1
Majority393.0-15.6
Turnout 1,28533.9-2.0
Labour hold Swing
Davington Priory [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Liberal Democrat Michael Henderson49558.2+58.2
Conservative John Winlow23527.6-38.1
Labour Brenda Chester12114.2-20.1
Majority26030.6
Turnout 85144.3+7.3
Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative Swing
East Downs [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Colin Prescott68377.6+0.7
Labour Catherine Read19722.4-0.7
Majority48655.2+1.4
Turnout 88041.4-4.9
Conservative hold Swing
Iwade and Lower Halstow [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Ben Stokes61358.5+17.1
Liberal Democrat Dave Manning26625.4-11.8
Labour Ruth Walker-Grice16816.0-5.4
Majority34733.1+28.9
Turnout 1,04734.7-9.8
Conservative hold Swing
Kemsley [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Susan Gent85565.6+3.9
Labour Martin McCusker29622.7-0.2
Liberal Democrat June Hammond15311.7-3.7
Majority55942.9+4.1
Turnout 1,30426.4-1.9
Conservative hold Swing
Milton Regis [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Liberal Democrat Elvie Lowe42837.5+6.3
Labour Tony Winckless37032.4-9.3
Conservative Michael Dendor24021.0+3.1
Independent Andrew Crayford575.0-0.4
Monster Raving Loony Sheikh Mihand464.0+0.1
Majority585.1
Turnout 1,14132.8-1.7
Liberal Democrat hold Swing
Minster Cliffs [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Adrian Crowther82746.4+24.4
Liberal Democrat Mike Brown55931.4+27.4
Labour Libby Tucker28616.0+7.2
Monster Raving Loony 'Mad' Mike Young1106.2+4.0
Majority26815.0
Turnout 1,78231.5-6.3
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat Swing
Murston [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Liberal Democrat Dave Banks55258.0+10.7
Conservative Patricia Martin23024.2+2.3
Labour Ken Rowles16917.8-13.0
Majority32233.9+17.4
Turnout 95124.9-2.1
Liberal Democrat hold Swing
Queenborough and Halfway [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Paul Hayes73740.0+7.0
Labour Jackie Constable61833.5-7.1
Sheppey First Amanda Elliott48926.5+0.1
Majority1196.5
Turnout 1,84433.5-1.2
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Roman [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Mike Haywood63358.2+10.3
Conservative Mike Whiting32429.8-4.3
Liberal Democrat Anne Jenkins13112.0-6.0
Majority30928.4+14.6
Turnout 1,08829.7-5.1
Labour hold Swing
Sheppey Central [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Sheppey First Paul Sturdgess85250.9+5.6
Conservative Andy Booth56833.9+2.1
Labour David Sargent25415.2+0.2
Majority28417.0+3.5
Turnout 1,67427.5-0.3
Sheppey First gain from Conservative Swing
St Ann's [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Mark Baldock58241.0-9.3
Faversham FirstFindlay MacDonald37826.6+26.6
Labour Paul Durkin30621.5+2.6
Liberal Democrat David Evans15410.8-12.2
Majority20414.4-12.9
Turnout 1,42035.6+0.0
Conservative hold Swing
St Michael's [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Derek Conway66545.5+7.2
Liberal Democrat Brenda Hammond56638.8-8.0
Labour Christine Truelove22915.7+0.9
Majority996.8
Turnout 1,46036.7-0.6
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat Swing
Watling [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative David Simmons96059.3-7.4
Faversham FirstTracey Smith27016.7+16.7
Labour Philip Dangerfield21913.5-1.4
Liberal Democrat Paul Hurd17110.6-7.8
Majority69042.6-5.7
Turnout 1,62040.3-2.7
Conservative hold Swing

By-elections between 2008 and 2010

Minster Cliffs

A by-election was held in Minster Cliffs on 25 September 2008 after the resignation of Sheppey First councillor Chris Boden. [9] The seat was gained for the Conservatives by Andy Booth with a majority of 221 votes over Sheppey First candidate Ray Adams. [9]

By-elections, also spelled bye-elections, are used to fill elected offices that have become vacant between general elections.

Minster Cliffs by-election 25 September 2008 [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Andy Booth54948.0+1.6
Sheppey First Ray Adams32828.7+28.7
Labour Libby Tucker20417.8+1.8
Liberal Democrat Dave Manning635.5-25.9
Majority22119.3+4.3
Turnout 1,14419.8-11.7
Conservative gain from Sheppey First Swing

Sheerness East

A by-election was held in Sheerness East on 25 September 2008 after the resignation of Sheppey First councillor Gemma Wray. [9] The seat was gained by Labour candidate David Sargent with a majority of 149 votes over Liberal Democrat Colin Howe. [9]

Sheerness East by-election 25 September 2008 [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour David Sargent32638.5+6.7
Liberal Democrat Colin Howe17720.9+10.0
Conservative Martin Goodhew17320.4-1.8
Sheppey First Mark Rogers17120.2-14.9
Majority14917.6
Turnout 84723.1-3.8
Labour gain from Sheppey First Swing

Teynham and Lynsted

A by-election was held in Teynham and Lynsted on 2 October 2008 after the death of Conservative councillor John Disney. [10] The seat was held by Conservative Trevor Fentiman with a majority of 274 votes over Labour candidate Ken Rowles. [10]

Teynham and Lynsted by-election 2 October 2008 [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Trevor Fentiman46363.4+3.3
Labour Ken Rowles18925.9-1.7
Liberal Democrat Brenda Hammond7810.7-1.6
Majority27437.5+5.0
Turnout 73017.6-16.1
Conservative hold Swing

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References

  1. ↑ "Swale". BBC News Online. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  2. ↑ "National: Full election results". The Guardian . NewsBank. 3 May 2008.
  3. ↑ "Candidates fight for council seats". East Kent Gazette. NewsBank. 9 April 2008. p. 9.
  4. 1 2 Waite, Stephen (16 April 2008). "Race nears its end for council control". East Kent Gazette. NewsBank.
  5. 1 2 3 "Tories gain in local elections in Swale". kentnews.co.uk. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  6. 1 2 Chandler, Danny (7 May 2008). "Tories ride high on a blue wave". East Kent Gazette. NewsBank.
  7. ↑ "Local elections 08 nationwide results". The Times . NewsBank. 3 May 2008. p. 14.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Swale Borough Council: Election results". Kent Online. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "By-election results for two wards". Kent Online. 26 September 2008. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 "Tories strengthen their control of Swale council". kentnews.co.uk. 3 October 2008. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
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