1996 Reading Borough Council election

The 1996 Reading Borough Council election was held on 2 May 1996, at the same time as other local elections across England. Sixteen of the 45 seats on Reading Borough Council were up for election, being the usual third of the council (15 seats) plus a by-election in Redlands ward, where Labour councillor Tony Jones had resigned.[1]

1996 Reading Borough Council election
2 May 1996 (1996-05-02)
16 seats of 45 on council
23 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Lab
LD
Con
Leader David Sutton Jim Day Tony Markham
Party Labour Liberal Democrats Conservative
Seats before 32 5 8
Seats after 35 6 4
Seat change Increase3 Increase1 Decrease4
Popular vote 18,282 6,865 7,541
Percentage 55.3 20.8 22.8
Swing Decrease1.3 Increase2.9 Decrease1.6

Labour increased its majority on the council, and David Sutton remained leader of the Labour group and leader of the council. The Liberal Democrats became the second largest group on the council, overtaking the Conservatives, who were left with just four seats. The leader of the Conservative group ahead of the election was Tony Markham, but he lost his seat at the election. Ed Young was appointed leader of the Conservative group shortly afterwards. The Liberal Democrats also replaced their leader after the election, with outgoing leader Jim Day being appointed mayor of Reading, and Ian Fenwick appointed the new leader of the Liberal Democrat group in his place.[2]

Results
Reading Borough Council Election, 1996
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour 13 3 0 +3 81.3% 55.3% 18,282 -1.3
  Conservative 1 0 4 -4 6.3% 22.8% 7,541 -1.6
  Liberal Democrats 2 1 0 +1 12.5% 20.8% 6,865 +2.9
  Green 0 0% 1.1% 380 0.0

Ward results

The results in each ward were as follows (candidates with an asterisk* were the previous incumbent standing for re-election):[3][4]

Abbey Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jane Griffiths* 1,317 72.4 +0.3
Conservative Richard Willis 288 15.8 +1.3
Liberal Democrats Julian Fertray 214 11.8 -1.6
Turnout 1,819
Labour hold Swing -0.5
Battle Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Andrew Tattersall* 1,170 74.9 -4.0
Conservative Heather Jones 254 16.3 +1.5
Liberal Democrats Adam Canning 139 8.9 +2.4
Turnout 1,563
Labour hold Swing -0.45
Caversham Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Susan Stainthorp 1,511 54.8 +2.5
Conservative Mark Anderson 962 34.9 -4.2
Liberal Democrats Robin Bentham 284 10.3 +1.7
Turnout 2,757
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +3.35
Church Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Maureen Lockey* 1,012 67.7 -3.6
Conservative Mark Graves 287 19.2 +2.8
Liberal Democrats Susan Orchard-Doughty 131 8.8 -3.5
Green Richard Bradbury 65 4.3 n/a
Turnout 1,495
Labour hold Swing -3.2
Katesgrove Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Sutton* 959 65.9 -6.7
Conservative Shirley Mills 275 18.9 -0.1
Liberal Democrats Andrew Coleman 159 10.9 n/a
Green Philip Unsworth 62 4.3 -4.1
Turnout 1,455
Labour hold Swing -3.3
Kentwood Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Sandy Scaife 1,200 48.1 -1.7
Liberal Democrats Richard Duveen 711 28.5 +4.8
Conservative John Oliver* 586 23.5 -3.1
Turnout 2,497
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +0.7
Minster Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Leighton Yeo 1,414 56.7 -8.1
Conservative Tony Markham* 805 32.3 -2.9
Liberal Democrats Roger Hayes 275 11.0 n/a
Turnout 2,494
Labour gain from Conservative Swing -2.6
Norcot Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Helen Hathaway 1,355 72.4 +2.9
Liberal Democrats Martin Scott 236 12.6 -3.2
Conservative Vanessa Jones 226 12.1 +0.5
Green Joseph Loudon 54 2.9 -0.2
Turnout 1,871
Labour hold Swing +3.05
Park Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jonathan Hartley 1,607 79.1 +3.2
Liberal Democrats George Preston 424 20.9 +10.0
Turnout 2,031
Labour hold Swing -3.4
Peppard Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Christopher Bolt 1,496 51.2 +1.9
Conservative Mary Irwin* 981 33.5 -0.3
Labour Adam Wood 447 15.3 -1.6
Turnout 2,924
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +1.1
Redlands Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jonathan Morris* 1,258 57.3 -4.2
Conservative James Wilson 407 18.6 +0.3
Liberal Democrats Jeffrey Hannan 376 17.1 +3.6
Green Mary Westly 153 7.0 +0.3
Turnout 2,194
Labour hold Swing -2.25
Redlands Ward (by-election)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Elizabeth Winfield-Chislett 1,359 65.5
Liberal Democrats Paul Fitchett 715 34.5
Turnout 2,074
Labour hold Swing
Southcote Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Askar Sheibani 1,345 65.3 +12.1
Conservative Susan White 455 22.1 -0.5
Liberal Democrats Deon Pheiffer 261 12.7 n/a
Turnout 2,061
Labour hold Swing -5.8
Thames Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jeanette Skeats 1,435 46.2 -1.6
Liberal Democrats Martin Reilly 1,014 32.7 +5.4
Labour Betty Tickner 654 21.1 -3.7
Turnout 3,103
Conservative hold Swing -3.5
Tilehurst Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Jim Day* 1,444 62.8 +4.4
Labour John Ennis 489 21.3 -3.6
Conservative David Jones 322 14.0 +0.3
Green Judith Green 46 2.0 -1.1
Turnout 2,301
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +4.0
Whitley Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Hanley 1,185 82.1 -5.0
Conservative Lloyd Henry 258 17.9 +5.0
Turnout 1,443
Labour hold Swing -5.0

References
  1. "By-election shock 'Wot… no Tory?'". Evening Post. Reading. 19 April 1996. p. 65. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  2. "Parties' new faces". Evening Post. Reading. 14 May 1996. p. 3. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  3. "Who will get your vote?". Evening Post. Reading. 11 April 1996. p. 24. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  4. "Ward by ward guide to how you voted". Evening Post. Reading. 3 May 1996. p. 21. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
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