The 2008 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party gained overall control of the council from no overall control. [1]
Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially "shire districts", are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a two-tier arrangement.
Worcestershire is a county in the West Midlands of England. Between 1974 and 1998, it was merged with the neighbouring county of Herefordshire as Hereford and Worcester.
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.
After the election, the composition of the council was
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 Liberal Party is a British political party that was founded in 1989 by members of the original Liberal Party opposed to its merger with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to form the Liberal Democrats. The party holds seven local council seats.
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.
Before the election the Conservatives ran the council as a minority administration with them holding 18 seats, as compared to 10 for Health Concern, 7 Liberals, 3 Labour, 2 Liberal Democrats and 2 independents. [3] 14 seats were contested at the election with the Conservatives defending 6, Liberals 3, independents 2 and Health Concern, Labour and Liberal Democrats 1 each. [3]
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.
The Conservatives needed to gain 4 seats to win a majority, [4] but Health Concern were also hoping to make gains to take over as largest party on the council. [5] Health Concern campaigned on issues including bringing more entertainment facilities to the council area and opposing a new fleet of black taxis, as well as their health policies. [5]
A hackney or hackney carriage is a carriage or car for hire. A hackney of a more expensive or high class was called a remise.
The Conservatives won a majority on the council for the first time since 1979, [6] after gaining 4 more seats to end the election with 22 councillors, while Health Concern stayed second with 10 seats. [7] Among the Conservative gains were Mumshad Ahmed in Broadwaters ward, who became the first Asian councillor in Wyre Forest, and Julian Phillips in Bewdley and Arley, who became a councillor at the age of 23. [7] Both Labour and the Liberals lost one seat to the Conservatives, while the two independent councillors were defeated. [8] [9]
A Councillor is a member of a local government council.
Bewdley is a small riverside town and civil parish in the Wyre Forest District of Worcestershire on the Shropshire border in England, along the Severn Valley a few miles to the west of Kidderminster and 22 miles south west of Birmingham. It lies on the River Severn, at the gateway of the Wyre Forest national nature reserve, and at the time of the 2011 census had a population of 9,470. Bewdley is a popular tourist destination and is known for the Bewdley Bridge designed by Thomas Telford.
The Conservatives described the results as an endorsement of their record, [9] while Labour saw them as being due to anti-government feeling. [8] The results were also reported as being a sign that the Conservatives could gain the parliamentary constituency at the next general election from Health Concern's Richard Taylor. [10]
Wyre Forest is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. The current MP is Mark Garnier of the Conservative Party who was elected at the 2010 general election.
Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | 10 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 71.4 | 41.1 | 10,155 | +5.4% | |
Liberal | 2 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 14.3 | 10.4 | 2,579 | +0.0% | |
Health Concern | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.1 | 24.7 | 6,100 | -6.1% | |
Liberal Democrat | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.1 | 6.3 | 1,565 | +0.3% | |
Labour | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 | 13.8 | 3,418 | -2.0% | |
Independent | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 | 3.6 | 885 | +3.1% | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrat | Helen Dyke | 913 | 50.0 | +10.3 | |
Conservative | Chris Rogers | 516 | 28.3 | -4.4 | |
Health Concern | Ken Henderson | 288 | 15.8 | -5.5 | |
Labour | Adrian Sewell | 109 | 6.0 | -0.4 | |
Majority | 397 | 21.7 | +14.7 | ||
Turnout | 1,826 | 35.0 | -3.1 | ||
Liberal Democrat hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Mike Partridge | 666 | 35.2 | +2.1 | |
Labour | James Shaw | 621 | 32.8 | -0.4 | |
Health Concern | Chris Thomas | 552 | 29.2 | -4.5 | |
Liberal | Iain Price | 54 | 2.9 | +2.9 | |
Majority | 45 | 2.4 | |||
Turnout | 1,893 | 40.9 | -0.3 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Julian Phillips | 917 | 42.1 | -4.3 | |
Independent | Louise Edginton | 518 | 23.8 | +23.8 | |
Health Concern | Derek Killingworth | 435 | 20.0 | -8.3 | |
Labour | Bill Mason | 306 | 14.1 | -4.5 | |
Majority | 399 | 18.3 | +0.2 | ||
Turnout | 2,176 | 41.0 | +2.0 | ||
Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Mumshad Ahmed | 617 | 32.5 | +7.2 | |
Health Concern | Linda Candlin | 471 | 24.8 | -16.9 | |
Liberal | Shazu Miah | 445 | 23.4 | +3.2 | |
Labour | Dan Watson | 184 | 9.7 | -3.1 | |
Majority | 146 | 7.7 | |||
Turnout | 1,901 | 29.9 | -8.2 | ||
Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Jeff Baker | 1,120 | 54.9 | +4.5 | |
Health Concern | Raymond Barber | 541 | 26.5 | -0.3 | |
Labour | Lee Wright | 302 | 14.8 | -3.9 | |
Liberal | Alane Harvey | 77 | 3.8 | -0.4 | |
Majority | 579 | 28.4 | +4.8 | ||
Turnout | 2,040 | 37.8 | -1.9 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Graham Ballinger | 919 | 52.2 | -0.1 | |
Health Concern | Lynne Wainewright | 355 | 20.2 | -5.5 | |
Conservative | Ammar Ahmad | 333 | 18.9 | +3.1 | |
Labour | Peter Nielsen | 154 | 8.7 | +8.7 | |
Majority | 564 | 32.0 | +5.4 | ||
Turnout | 1,761 | 29.5 | -1.6 | ||
Liberal hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Ken Prosser | 827 | 39.6 | +11.1 | |
Labour | Barry McFarland | 550 | 26.4 | -9.2 | |
Health Concern | Nigel Addison | 452 | 21.7 | -9.3 | |
Liberal Democrat | Vicky Dixon | 258 | 12.4 | +12.4 | |
Majority | 277 | 13.2 | |||
Turnout | 2,087 | 40.0 | +0.2 | ||
Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Health Concern | Brian Glass | 924 | 49.6 | -5.5 | |
Conservative | David Little | 743 | 39.9 | +8.1 | |
Labour | Cedric Smith | 196 | 10.5 | -0.1 | |
Majority | 181 | 9.7 | -13.6 | ||
Turnout | 1,863 | 34.0 | -1.5 | ||
Health Concern hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Holden | 916 | 46.2 | +4.0 | |
Health Concern | Jim Parish | 765 | 38.6 | -4.0 | |
Labour | Gary Watson | 227 | 11.5 | +0.9 | |
Liberal Democrat | Mike Dixon | 73 | 3.7 | -0.9 | |
Majority | 151 | 7.6 | |||
Turnout | 1,981 | 34.0 | -0.7 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Frances Oborski | 1,027 | 51.9 | +7.6 | |
Conservative | Gillian Onslow | 545 | 27.5 | -6.3 | |
Health Concern | Gill Smith | 241 | 12.2 | -2.1 | |
Labour | Matthew Nicholls | 166 | 8.4 | +0.8 | |
Majority | 482 | 24.4 | +13.9 | ||
Turnout | 1,979 | 37.0 | -0.8 | ||
Liberal hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Nathan Desmond | 510 | 50.4 | +11.9 | |
Health Concern | Peter Young | 210 | 20.8 | -2.2 | |
Liberal Democrat | Samantha Walker | 152 | 15.0 | -6.8 | |
Labour | Paul Mills | 139 | 13.7 | -2.9 | |
Majority | 300 | 29.6 | +14.1 | ||
Turnout | 1,011 | 27.9 | -3.2 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Douglas Godwin | 606 | 62.3 | +16.0 | |
Independent | John Simmonds | 367 | 37.7 | -16.0 | |
Majority | 239 | 24.6 | |||
Turnout | 973 | 48.0 | +1.8 | ||
Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Marcus Hart | 1,118 | 59.6 | +12.3 | |
Health Concern | John Griffiths | 414 | 22.1 | -4.5 | |
Labour | David Prain | 175 | 9.3 | -1.5 | |
Liberal Democrat | Adrian Beavis | 169 | 9.0 | -6.3 | |
Majority | 704 | 37.5 | +16.8 | ||
Turnout | 1,876 | 34.0 | -1.2 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Arthur Buckley | 721 | 47.5 | -4.2 | |
Health Concern | Liz Davies | 452 | 29.8 | +0.8 | |
Labour | Paul Gittins | 289 | 19.0 | -0.3 | |
Liberal | Alexander Harvey | 57 | 3.8 | +3.8 | |
Majority | 269 | 17.7 | -5.0 | ||
Turnout | 1,519 | 39.2 | +0.7 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
A by-election was held in Lickhill on 10 September 2009 after the death of Health Concern councillor Jill Fairbrother-Millis. [12] The seat was held for Health Concern by Jim Parish with a majority of 131 votes over Conservative Chris Rogers. [12]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Health Concern | Jim Parish | 643 | 48.1 | -1.5 | |
Conservative | Chris Rogers | 512 | 38.3 | -1.6 | |
Labour | Jenny Knowles | 140 | 10.5 | +0.0 | |
Liberal Democrat | Clare Cassidy | 41 | 3.1 | +3.1 | |
Majority | 131 | 9.8 | +0.1 | ||
Turnout | 1,336 | 24.4 | -9.6 | ||
Health Concern hold | Swing | ||||
A by-election was held in Areley Kings on 10 December 2009 after the death of Conservative councillor Mike Partridge. [13] [14] The seat was gained for Labour by James Shaw with a majority of 123 votes over Health Concern candidate Gary Talbot. [14] [15]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | James Shaw | 544 | 38.3 | +5.5 | |
Health Concern | Gary Talbot | 421 | 29.6 | +0.4 | |
Conservative | Kenneth Henderson | 394 | 27.7 | -7.5 | |
UKIP | Anthony Baker | 63 | 4.4 | +4.4 | |
Majority | 123 | 8.6 | |||
Turnout | 1,422 | 31.0 | -9.9 | ||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | ||||
Independent Community and Health Concern, previously Independent Kidderminster Hospital and Health Concern is a political party based in Kidderminster, United Kingdom. It grew out of the campaign to restore the casualty unit at Kidderminster Hospital, and the National Health Service is still its primary focus, but the party has since diversified. Since 2015 it has also been known as the Wyre Forest Independent Party and has successfully contested local elections within the Wyre Forest local government area, which includes Kidderminster.
Wyre Forest is a local government district in Worcestershire, England, covering the towns of Kidderminster, Stourport-on-Severn and Bewdley, and several civil parishes and their villages. Its council was previously based in Stourport-on-Severn, but moved to new purpose built offices on the outskirts of Kidderminster in 2012.
The 2008 Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council in the West Midlands, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party gained overall control of the council from no overall control.
The 1998 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 7 May 1998 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Labour party stayed in overall control of the council.
The 1999 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 6 May 1999 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Labour party lost overall control of the council to no overall control.
The 2000 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 4 May 2000 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.
The 2002 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 2 May 2002 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Independent Kidderminster Hospital and Health Concern party gained overall control of the council from no overall control.
The 2003 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 1 May 2003 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.
The 2004 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 10 June 2004 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. The whole council was up for election with boundary changes since the last election in 2003. The council stayed under no overall control, but with the Conservatives taking over as the largest party on the council from the Health Concern party.
The 2006 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 4 May 2006 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.
The 2007 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 3 May 2007 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.
The 2003 Worcester City Council election took place on 1 May 2003 to elect members of Worcester District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party gained overall control of the council from no overall control.
The 2007 Worcester City Council election took place on 3 May 2007 to elect members of Worcester District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council.
The 2008 Worcester City Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Worcester District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.
The 2003 Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 1 May 2003 to elect members of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council in the West Midlands, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council.
The 2006 Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2006 to elect members of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council in the West Midlands, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council.
The 2011 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 5 May 2011 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council.
The 2012 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party lost overall control of the council to no overall control.
The 2014 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 22 May 2014 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.
The 2015 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 7 May 2015 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. The whole council was up for election after boundary changes reduced the number of seats by nine. The Conservative party gained overall control of the council from no overall control.