Wakefield Metropolitan District Council election, 2002

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The 2002 Wakefield Metropolitan District Council election took place on 2 May 2002 to elect members of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council in West Yorkshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Labour party kept overall control of the council. [1]

West Yorkshire County of England

West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in England. It is an inland and in relative terms upland county having eastward-draining valleys while taking in moors of the Pennines and has a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972.

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.

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.

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. The governing party since 2010, it is the largest in the House of Commons, with 313 Members of Parliament, and also has 249 members of the House of Lords, 18 members of the European Parliament, 31 Members of the Scottish Parliament, 12 members of the Welsh Assembly, eight members of the London Assembly and 8,916 local councillors.

Liberal Democrats (UK) Political party in the United Kingdom

The Liberal Democrats are a liberal political party in the United Kingdom. They have 11 Members of Parliament in the House of Commons, 96 members of the House of Lords, one member of the European Parliament, five Members of the Scottish Parliament and one member in the Welsh Assembly and London Assembly. At the height of its influence, the party formed a coalition government with the Conservative Party from 2010 to 2015 with its leader Nick Clegg serving as Deputy Prime Minister. It is currently led by Sir Vince Cable.

Campaign

Before the election the council had 55 Labour, 4 Conservative, 3 Independent and 1 Liberal Democrat members. [3] Each of the Labour and Conservative parties stood candidates in all 21 wards, along with 11 Liberal Democrats and 15 other candidates from various parties. [3] Labour were defending 20 seats in the election, with two seats being contested in Pontefract South due to the resignation of a councillor, [4] while the other 2 seats were held by independents. [3] One of the 2 independents who was defending his seat in Wakefield South was Norman Hazell, a former leader of the Conservatives in Wakefield, who had defected from the party in 2001. [3]

Pontefract market town in West Yorkshire, England

Pontefract is a historic market town in West Yorkshire, England, near the A1 and the M62 motorway. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is one of the five towns in the metropolitan borough of the City of Wakefield and has a population of 28,250, increasing to 30,881 at the 2011 Census. Pontefract's motto is Post mortem patris pro filio, Latin for "After the death of the father, support the son", a reference to the English Civil War Royalist sympathies.

A Councillor is a member of a local government council.

During the campaign an investigation was started by West Yorkshire Police after allegations of fraud in South Kirkby ward. [5] [6] Here over a quarter of the 900 postal vote applications had been found to be invalid. [5] [6]

West Yorkshire Police territorial police force in England

West Yorkshire Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing West Yorkshire in England. It is the fourth largest force in England and Wales by number of officers, with 5,671 officers.

South Kirkby and Moorthorpe is a civil parish in the City of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England which is governed locally by South Kirkby and Moorthorpe Town Council. The parish and town council are made up of the town of South Kirkby and the village of Moorthorpe. As of 2009 the parish had a population of 10,979, increasing to 11,105 at the 2011 Census.

Postal voting voting, election, ballot papers, distributed to electors or returned by post, mail

Postal voting is voting in an election whereby ballot papers are distributed to electors or returned by post, in contrast to electors voting in person at a polling station or electronically via an electronic voting system. Historically, postal votes must be distributed and placed in return mail before the scheduled election day, it is sometimes referred to as a form of early voting. It can also be used as an absentee ballot. However, in recent times the model in the US has morphed, in municipalities that use postal voting exclusively, to be one of ballots being mailed out to voters, but the return method taking on alternatives of return by mail or dropping off the ballot in person via secure drop boxes and/or voting centers.

Election result

The Labour party remained firmly in control of the council and were pleased with only losing 2 seats in the election. [2] The Conservatives gained Wakefield Rural, while the Liberal Democrats took Ossett. [2] Meanwhile, both independents held their seats, with Norman Hazell's defence of Wakefield South as an independent being seen as a surprise result. [2] Overall turnout in the election was 23.5%. [2]

Ossett town in the City of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England

Ossett is a market town in within the metropolitan district of the City of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is halfway between Dewsbury, to the west, and Wakefield, to the east. At the 2011 Census, the population was 21,231.

Voter turnout percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election

Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election. Eligibility varies by country, and the voting-eligible population should not be confused with the total adult population. Age and citizenship status are often among the criteria used to determine eligibility, but some countries further restrict eligibility based on sex, race, or religion.

Wakefield Local Election Result 2002 [4]
PartySeatsGainsLossesNet gain/lossSeats %Votes %Votes+/−
  Labour 18 0 2 -2 81.8 53.5 34,330 +2.3%
  Independent 2 0 0 0 9.1 6.0 3,852 +1.8%
  Conservative 1 1 0 +1 4.5 24.7 15,817 -7.3%
  Liberal Democrat 1 1 0 +1 4.5 11.4 7,337 +0.5%
  Socialist Labour 0 0 0 0 0 2.9 1,831 +1.3%
  Socialist Alternative 0 0 0 0 0 0.6 386 +0.6%
  UKIP 0 0 0 0 0 0.5 313 +0.5%
  Socialist Alliance 0 0 0 0 0 0.4 285 +0.4%

Ward results

Castleford Ferry Fryston [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Stephen Groves 1,404 75.6 +17.2
Conservative Madge Richards 267 14.4 +6.3
Socialist Labour Trevor Holderson 186 10.0 +10.0
Majority 1,137 61.2 +36.4
Turnout 1,857 19.4 -0.2
Labour hold Swing
Castleford Glasshoughton [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Mark Burns-Williamson 1,864 82.1 +5.6
Conservative Charles Scholes 255 11.2 -4.2
Socialist Labour Angela Herbert 152 6.7 -1.5
Majority 1,609 70.9 +9.8
Turnout 2,271 21.2 +3.8
Labour hold Swing
Castleford Whitwood [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Colin Churm 1,812 82.9 +5.6
Conservative Jean Molloy 237 10.8 -4.7
Socialist Labour Mary Appleyard 137 6.3 -0.9
Majority 1,575 72.1 +10.3
Turnout 2,186 22.1 +2.0
Labour hold Swing
Crofton & Ackworth [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Paul Beckett 1,564 51.2 +2.6
Liberal Democrat James McDougall 669 21.9 -1.1
Conservative Catherine Campbell-Reitzik 554 18.1 -10.3
UKIP Howard Burden 194 6.3 +6.3
Socialist Labour David Bruce 76 2.5 +2.5
Majority 895 29.3 +9.1
Turnout 3,057 25.4 +4.4
Labour hold Swing
Featherstone [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Robin Tuffs 1,867 83.0 +28.6
Conservative Elizabeth Hick 383 17.0 +4.0
Majority 1,484 66.0 +44.2
Turnout 2,250 20.4 -2.4
Labour hold Swing
Hemsworth [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Wayne Jenkins 1,629 72.5 -2.3
Conservative Eamonn Mullins 372 16.5 -8.7
Socialist Labour Maurice Kent 247 11.0 +11.0
Majority 1,257 56.0 +6.4
Turnout 2,248 20.8 +2.7
Labour hold Swing
Horbury [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Brian Holmes 1,408 43.2 +10.8
Conservative Caroline Sheen 1,225 37.6 -7.4
Liberal Democrat Mark Goodair 567 17.4 -5.2
Socialist Labour Karen Bruce 60 1.8 +1.8
Majority 183 5.6
Turnout 3,260 27.0 +0.5
Labour hold Swing
Knottingley [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Graham Stokes 1,667 75.9 +4.4
Conservative David Howarth 530 24.1 -4.4
Majority 1,137 51.8 +8.8
Turnout 2,197 20.7 +2.9
Labour hold Swing
Normanton & Sharlston [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Peter Loosemore 1,306 49.8 -11.5
Independent Graeme Milner 665 25.3 +25.3
Conservative Allan Couch 346 13.2 -6.5
Socialist Labour Mick Appleyard 308 11.7 -7.3
Majority 641 24.5 -17.1
Turnout 2,625 20.6 +1.5
Labour hold Swing
Ossett [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Liberal Democrat Peter Walker 2,138 54.9 +18.6
Labour Maureen Cummings 1,235 31.7 -3.5
Conservative Terence Brown 518 13.3 -15.2
Majority 903 23.2 +22.1
Turnout 3,891 31.1 +6.0
Liberal Democrat gain from Labour Swing
Pontefract North [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Jack Kershaw 1,875 68.2 -2.9
Conservative Richard Molloy 638 23.2 -5.7
Socialist Alternative John Gill 134 4.9 +4.9
Socialist Labour Zane Carpenter 103 3.7 +3.7
Majority 1,237 45.0 +2.8
Turnout 2,750 21.0 +4.2
Labour hold Swing
Pontefract South (2) [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Trevor Izon 1,581
Labour Martyn Ward 1,317
Conservative Ian Bloomer 1,250
Conservative Philip Booth 1,243
Socialist Alliance Carol Ives 285
Turnout 5,676 28.4 +4.2
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
South Elmsall [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour John Devine 1,655 68.1 -2.6
Conservative Ian Hall 438 18.0 -11.3
Liberal Democrat Mary Neale 339 13.9 +13.9
Majority 1,217 50.1 +8.7
Turnout 2,432 21.2 +4.9
Labour hold Swing
South Kirkby [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent Harold Mills 1,288 49.9 +49.9
Labour Malcolm Evans 1,167 45.2 -17.9
Conservative Michael Ledgard 128 5.0 -5.9
Majority 121 4.7
Turnout 2,583 24.1 +4.9
Independent hold Swing
Stanley & Altofts [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour David Atkinson 1,670 51.9 +3.3
Conservative Norma Crossley 750 23.3 -4.8
Liberal Democrat Michael Burch 715 22.2 -1.2
Socialist Labour Kathryn Summerscales 83 2.6 +2.6
Majority 920 28.6 +8.1
Turnout 3,218 23.1 +3.0
Labour hold Swing
Stanley & Wrenthorpe [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Rosaline Lund 1,655 46.0 +0.9
Conservative James Dick 1,131 31.4 -5.7
Liberal Democrat Margaret Dodd 813 22.6 +4.8
Majority 524 14.6 +6.6
Turnout 3,599 24.0 +2.6
Labour hold Swing
Wakefield Central [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Antony Richardson 1,758 48.9 +6.7
Conservative Jane Brown 1,396 38.9 -3.5
Liberal Democrat Susan Morgan 376 10.5 -0.4
Socialist Labour Paul Turek 62 1.7 -2.8
Majority 362 10.0
Turnout 3,592 38.5 +14.3
Labour hold Swing
Wakefield East [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Olivia Rowley 1,533 45.4 -8.9
Conservative John Berry 552 16.4 -9.5
Socialist Labour Abdul Aziz 417 12.4 +12.4
Independent Georgina Fenton 324 9.6 +9.6
Liberal Democrat Alan Dale 298 8.8 -3.1
Socialist Alternative Michael Griffiths 252 7.5 +7.5
Majority 981 29.0 +0.6
Turnout 3,376 26.6 +3.9
Labour hold Swing
Wakefield North [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Labour Keith Rhodes 1,562 55.8 +3.4
Conservative Michael Mitchell 674 24.1 -8.8
Liberal Democrat Douglas Dale 442 15.8 +1.1
UKIP Keith Wells 119 4.3 +4.3
Majority 888 31.7 +12.2
Turnout 2,797 24.8 +3.4
Labour hold Swing
Wakefield Rural [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Conservative Paul Harvey 1,566 43.6 -8.1
Labour John Newsome 1,536 42.8 +6.3
Liberal Democrat David Neale 486 13.5 +1.7
Majority 30 0.8 -14.4
Turnout 3,588 27.9 +3.3
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Wakefield South [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Independent Norman Hazell 1,575 33.5 +32.3
Conservative Christian L'Anson 1,364 29.0 -36.2
Labour Hazel Chowcat 1,265 26.9 +3.7
Liberal Democrat Stephen Nuthall 494 10.5 +0.1
Majority 211 4.5
Turnout 4,698 38.0 +5.6
Independent hold Swing

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References

  1. ↑ "Wakefield". BBC News Online . Retrieved 5 December 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Labour loses two seats as Norman survives". Wakefield Express . 3 May 2002. ISSN   0961-2459.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "'Turn out and vote' urge rivals". Wakefield Express . 12 April 2002. ISSN   0961-2459.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 "Summary of Wakefield District Council Elections Results 2002". City of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council. Archived from the original on 8 December 2002. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
  5. 1 2 Nixson, Matt (28 April 2002). "Postal voting 'a threat to secrecy of ballot papers'". The Mail on Sunday. p. 11.
  6. 1 2 "Local elections: Arrests amid claims that postal voting threatens ballot secrecy". Local Government Chronicle . 29 April 2002. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
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