Swindon Borough Council election, 2011

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Map of the results of the 2011 Swindon council election. Conservatives in blue, Labour in red and Liberal Democrats in yellow. Wards in grey were not contested in 2011. Swindon UK local election 2011 map.svg
Map of the results of the 2011 Swindon council election. Conservatives in blue, Labour in red and Liberal Democrats in yellow. Wards in grey were not contested in 2011.

The 2011 Swindon Borough Council election took place on 5 May 2011 to elect members of Swindon Unitary Council in Wiltshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council. [1]

A unitary authority is a type of local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area or performs additional functions which elsewhere in the relevant country are usually performed by national government or a higher level of sub-national government.

Wiltshire County of England

Wiltshire is a county in South West England with an area of 3,485 km2. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. The county town was originally Wilton, after which the county is named, but Wiltshire Council is now based in the county town of Trowbridge.

England Country in north-west Europe, part of the United Kingdom

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to the west and Scotland to the north-northwest. The Irish Sea lies west of England and the Celtic Sea lies to the southwest. England is separated from continental Europe by the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south. The country covers five-eighths of the island of Great Britain, which lies in the North Atlantic, and includes over 100 smaller islands, such as the Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Wight.

Contents

After the election, the composition of the council was

Background

Before the election the Conservatives controlled the council with 40 seats, compared to 15 for Labour and 4 for the Liberal Democrats. [3] 20 of the 59 seats were being contested, with the winners only serving for one year as the 2012 election would see every seat being contested after boundary changes. [3] Since the 2010 election Labour had gained Moredon in a by-election and had the independent, former Conservative, councillor Steve Wakefield of Toothill and Westlea ward join the party, both in November 2010. [4] [5]

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.

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

During the campaign both the national Labour leader Ed Miliband and the Labour Shadow Works and Pensions Secretary Liam Byrne visited Swindon to support the local party. [6] [7]

Ed Miliband British politician

Edward Samuel Miliband is a British politician who was Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition between 2010 and 2015. He became the Member of Parliament (MP) for Doncaster North in 2005, being re-elected in 2010, 2015, and 2017, and served in the Cabinet from 2007–10 under Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Liam Byrne British politician

Liam Dominic Byrne is a British Labour Party politician who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Birmingham Hodge Hill since 2004.

Election result

The results saw the Conservatives stay in control of the council with 38 seats, but lose 2 seats to Labour, who moved to 17 seats. [8] [9] Labour gained the seats of St Philip and Walcot from the Conservatives, while coming close in Eastcott against the Liberal Democrats and in Covingham and Nythe, Dorcan and Freshbrook and Grange Park, which were held by the Conservatives. [8] The Labour victory in Walcot defeated the Conservative cabinet member Peter Mallinson, with the winning candidate Ellen Osa becoming the first female black councillor in Swindon. [9] Overall turnout at the election was 38.26%, [10] ranging from a high of 46.08% in Highworth to a low of 29.62% in Parks. [11]

Covingham village in United Kingdom

Covingham is an urban village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England, now part of the built-up area of the Borough of Swindon. It was developed in the middle 1960s as part of Swindon's eastward expansion towards the A419. The estate is exclusively private housing.

Freshbrook is a suburb in the west of Swindon, England, located close to junction 16 of the M4 motorway. Most houses in the area are found in cul-de-sacs, except for those on the few main roads Freshbrook has. The suburb is served by a "village centre" known colloquially as Freshbrook Shops.

Cabinet (government) group of high ranking officials, usually representing the executive branch of government

A Cabinet is a body of high-ranking state officials, typically consisting of the top leaders of the executive branch. Members of a cabinet are usually called Cabinet ministers or secretaries. The function of a Cabinet varies: in some countries it is a collegiate decision-making body with collective responsibility, while in others it may function either as a purely advisory body or an assisting institution to a decision making head of state or head of government. Cabinets are typically the body responsible for the day-to-day management of the government and response to sudden events, whereas the legislative and judicial branches work in a measured pace, in sessions according to lengthy procedures.

The outgoing leader of the Labour group, Derique Montaut, said the results meant that "For Labour it builds us up to a situation where we are moving up to 2012 and taking control of the council". [8] However the Conservative leader of the council, Ron Bluh, said that while "It obviously wasn't one of the better nights", the seats lost had been the "two most marginal seats" and "so there's no great surprise". [9]

Following the election Jim Grant was elected as the new leader of the Labour group on the council, defeating Mark Dempsey and Bob Wright. [12]

Swindon Local Election Result 2011 [10]
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Conservative 10 0 2 -2 50.0 41.4 23,985 -1.1%
  Labour 9 2 0 +2 45.0 38.8 22,486 +8.3%
  Liberal Democrat 1 0 0 0 5.0 10.1 5,863 -11.7%
  UKIP 0 0 0 0 0 6.0 3,464 +4.0%
  Green 0 0 0 0 0 2.1 1,243 +1.0%
  Independent 0 0 0 0 0 1.4 805 +1.2%
  BNP 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 73 -1.8%
  SDP 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 33 +0.1%

Ward results

Abbey Meads [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Peter Stoddart 2,610 60.4 +5.2
Labour Mark Viner 1,109 25.6 +5.7
Liberal Democrat Aneta Golebiewska 368 8.5 -13.2
UKIP Gary Belben 237 5.5 +2.3
Majority 1,501 34.7 +1.2
Turnout 4,324 31.3
Conservative hold Swing -0.3
Central [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Derique Montaut 1,829 64.9 +12.1
Conservative Paul Gregory 471 16.7 -9.2
Liberal Democrat Gary Porter 213 7.6 -7.5
Green Robert Heritage 155 5.5 +2.5
UKIP Eleanor Pomagalski 95 3.4 +3.4
Independent Karsten Evans 55 2.0 +0.7
Majority 1,358 48.2 +21.3
Turnout 2,818 34.3
Labour hold Swing +10.6
Covingham and Nythe [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Emma Faramarzi 1,354 43.2 -1.3
Labour Peter Watts 1,205 38.4 +7.5
UKIP Corinna Allen 352 11.2 +3.0
Liberal Democrat Christopher Ward 224 7.1 -9.4
Majority 149 4.8 -8.8
Turnout 3,135 44.3
Conservative hold Swing -4.4
Dorcan [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Andrew Albinson 1,366 47.5 +6.1
Labour Gerard Meheran 1,193 41.5 +10.3
Liberal Democrat Clive Hooper 166 5.8 -8.3
Green Simon Smith 152 5.3 +3.5
Majority 173 6.0 -4.3
Turnout 2,877 43.4
Conservative hold Swing -2.1
Eastcott [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Liberal Democrat Nicola Sewell 1,213 39.3 -6.5
Labour Christopher Watts 1,091 35.4 +9.5
Conservative David Gould 501 16.2 -7.0
Green John Hughes 185 6.0 +0.9
UKIP Vincent Pomagalski 94 3.0 +3.0
Majority 122 4.0 -16.0
Turnout 3,084 38.2
Liberal Democrat hold Swing -8.0
Freshbrook and Grange Park [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Michael Dickinson 1,320 45.0 -1.3
Labour Neil Heavens 1,046 35.7 +8.4
Liberal Democrat Heidi Teague 331 11.3 -15.2
UKIP John Lenton 237 8.1 +8.1
Majority 274 9.3 -9.7
Turnout 2,934 39.3
Conservative hold Swing -4.8
Gorse Hill and Pinehurst [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour John Ballman 1,257 59.7 +16.3
Conservative Wendy Welch 474 22.5 -5.6
Liberal Democrat Lynda Barber 179 8.5 -10.7
UKIP Robin Tingey 122 5.8 +5.8
BNP Reginald Bates 73 3.5 -5.8
Majority 783 37.2 +21.9
Turnout 2,105 30.3
Labour hold Swing -10.9
Haydon Wick [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Claire Ellis 1,766 55.5 +5.7
Labour Timothy Page 947 29.8 +3.6
UKIP Edmund Gerrard 259 8.1 +3.2
Liberal Democrat David Pajak 209 6.6 -12.6
Majority 819 25.7 +2.1
Turnout 3,181 40.6
Conservative hold Swing +1.0
Highworth [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Alan Bishop 1,662 54.7 +7.5
Labour Hazel Beaumont 951 31.3 +3.8
Liberal Democrat Jennifer Shorten 249 8.2 -12.4
Green Andrew Day 179 5.9 +1.2
Majority 711 23.4 +3.7
Turnout 3,041 46.1
Conservative hold Swing +1.8
Moredon [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Jennifer Millin 1,142 43.8 +9.0
Conservative Toby Elliott 1,091 41.8 +2.4
UKIP Kathleen Webb 237 9.1 +9.1
Liberal Democrat Tracy Ockley 137 5.3 -13.3
Majority 51 2.0
Turnout 2,607 35.2
Labour hold Swing +3.3
Old Town and Lawn [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Fionuala Foley 2,249 53.1 +3.7
Labour Cindy Matthews 1,040 24.5 +5.6
Liberal Democrat Joan Mortimer 446 10.5 -13.2
Green Denis Harrison 261 6.2 +1.8
UKIP Noel Gardner 243 5.7 +2.1
Majority 1,209 28.5 +2.8
Turnout 4,239 44.4
Conservative hold Swing -0.9
Parks [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Fay Howard 1,115 53.7 +10.6
Conservative Timothy Swinyard 383 18.4 -8.6
UKIP Terence Hayward 193 9.3 +2.7
Independent Graham Cherry 179 8.6 +8.6
Liberal Democrat Catherine Smith 100 4.8 -9.8
Green David Miles 75 3.6 +1.9
SDP Stephen Halden 33 1.6 +1.6
Majority 732 35.2 +19.2
Turnout 2,078 29.6
Labour hold Swing +9.6
Penhill [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Paul Baker 737 52.3 +17.9
Liberal Democrat Trevor Smith 393 27.9 -11.6
Conservative Jaki Fairbrother 217 15.4 -4.1
Independent Caroline Dollery 61 4.3 +4.3
Majority 344 24.4
Turnout 1,408 31.8
Labour hold Swing +14.2
Shaw and Nine Elms [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Garry Perkins 1,424 52.0 -2.2
Labour Michael Heal 769 28.1 +5.9
Liberal Democrat James Farr 344 12.6 -11.0
UKIP Robert Feal-Martinez 200 7.3 +7.3
Majority 655 23.9 -6.7
Turnout 2,737 38.8
Conservative hold Swing -4.0
St Margaret [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Russell Holland 1,609 51.5 +3.9
Labour Nigel Chalk 1,046 33.5 +3.7
UKIP Margaret Thompson-Watt 269 8.6 +8.6
Liberal Democrat Deborah King 199 6.4 -16.2
Majority 563 18.0 +0.1
Turnout 3,123 38.5
Conservative hold Swing +0.1
St Philip [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Joseph Tray 1,540 49.8 +9.5
Conservative Paul Findlow 1,207 39.0 -2.4
UKIP Peter Thompson-Watt 228 7.4 +7.4
Liberal Democrat Ann Richards 119 3.8 -14.5
Majority 333 10.8
Turnout 3,094 42.9
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +5.9
Toothill and Westlea [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Stephen Wakefield 978 42.8 +16.8
Conservative Daniel Bissex 946 41.4 -19.3
Liberal Democrat Christopher Shepherd 140 6.1 -7.1
UKIP Tiffany Pomagalski 122 5.3 +5.3
Green Marilyn Harrison 97 4.2 +4.2
Majority 32 1.4
Turnout 2,283 39.9
Labour hold Swing +18.0
Walcot [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Ellen Osa 1,063 48.9 +10.6
Conservative Peter Mallinson 768 35.3 -10.9
Liberal Democrat Kathleen McCarthy 204 9.4 -6.1
Green Jennifer Miles 139 6.4 +6.4
Majority 295 13.6
Turnout 2,174 38.8
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +10.7
Western [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Des Moffatt 1,692 58.1 +14.7
Conservative John Haines 752 25.8 -5.1
UKIP Gregory Heathcliffe 262 9.0 +9.0
Liberal Democrat Geoffrey King 208 7.1 -10.3
Majority 940 32.3 +19.8
Turnout 2,914 34.6
Labour hold Swing +9.9
Wroughton and Chiseldon [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Wayne Crabbe 1,815 47.8 -4.3
Labour Geraint Day 736 19.4 -5.2
Independent William Hurst 510 13.4 +13.4
Liberal Democrat Victor Godman 421 11.1 -12.2
UKIP Susan Cassell 314 8.3 +8.3
Majority 1,079 28.4 +0.9
Turnout 3,796 45.8
Conservative hold Swing +0.4

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