2007 Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council election

The 2007 Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2007 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 lost overall control of the council to no overall control.[1]

Map of the results of the 2007 Solihull election. Conservatives in blue, Liberal Democrats in yellow and the Labour in red.

Campaign

Before the election there were 25 Conservative, 15 Liberal Democrat, 7 Labour, 1 British National Party and 2 independent councillors.[2] 1 seat was vacant after Conservative councillor of Knowle ward, Les Kyles, died in January 2007.[2] Five councillors stood down at the election, Liberal Democrats Olive Hogg, Barbara Harber and Susan Reeve and Conservatives Theresa Tedd and David Elsmore.[2][3] In total 72 candidates stood in the election for 17 seats, including candidates from the 3 leading parties and 5 candidates from the British National Party, after the British National Party won a seat at the 2006 election for the first time.[4][5] The Green Party stood in all 17 wards and there were 3 candidates from the United Kingdom Independence Party and 2 independents.[2]

The Conservatives pledged to build on their record on recycling which had gone up 26% from 7% over 3 years.[6] They also were confident of their record on education and wanted to get a fairer financial settlement from the national government.[6] The Liberal Democrats said improving transport links in Solihull was a priority, along with better services for the elderly and improving recycling.[7] Meanwhile, Labour wanted to ensure the regeneration programme for the north of Solihull worked and to deliver cost effective services.[8] All 3 parties pledged to address anti-social behaviour as a priority.[6][7][8]

Before the campaign began, as in 2006, the leaders of the Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Labour parties on the council signed a charter to promote good race relations.[9]

Election result

The results saw the Conservative party lose 2 seats to the Liberal Democrats, meaning that no party had a majority on the council, but the Conservatives remained the largest party with 24 seats.[10] The Liberal Democrats gained Shirley South and Silhill wards from the Conservatives to hold 17 seats, with the winner in Silhill, Tim Hodgson, becoming the youngest councillor in Solihull at the age of 21.[10] Labour held onto the seats they were defending, including Chelmsley Wood where they defeated the British National Party by 192 votes in a ward the British National Party had won in 2006.[11] This meant Labour remained on 7 seats, compared to 1 for the British National Party and 2 independents.[11] Overall turnout was 36.5%, down from 38.4% in 2006.[11]

Following the election the leader of the council for the past 8 years, Ted Richards, resigned as leader of the council and Conservative group, after what he described as "disappointing" election results.[12] However the Conservatives continued to run the council as a minority administration.[13]

Solihull Local Election Result 2007[14][15]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Liberal Democrats 8 2 0 +2 47.1 33.6 19,494 -0.5%
  Conservative 6 0 2 -2 35.3 45.3 26,266 -1.0%
  Labour 3 0 0 0 17.6 9.8 5,688 -1.2%
  Green 0 0 0 0 0 5.1 2,976 +2.2%
  BNP 0 0 0 0 0 4.3 2,473 +0.6%
  UKIP 0 0 0 0 0 1.1 638 +1.1%
  Independent 0 0 0 0 0 0.8 473 -1.2%

This result had the following consequences for the total number of seats on the council after the elections :[15]

Party Previous council New council
Conservatives 26 24
Liberal Democrat 15 17
Labour 7 7
Independent 2 2
BNP 1 1
Total 51 51
Working majority  1   -3 

Ward results
Bickenhill[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Bob Sleigh 1,967 65.7 +1.2
Labour Ian McDonald 479 16.0 -3.3
Liberal Democrats Steve Green 306 10.2 -5.0
Green Alexander Hawkeswood 242 8.1 +8.1
Majority 1,488 49.7 +4.5
Turnout 2,994 33.8 -0.3
Conservative hold Swing +2.2
Blythe[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Len Cresswell 1,832 50.1 +7.9
Conservative Martin McCarthy 1,522 41.7 -4.8
Labour Margaret Brittin 158 4.3 -0.8
Green Pauline Smith 142 3.9 -2.4
Majority 310 8.5 +4.2
Turnout 3,654 38.9 +0.1
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +6.3
Castle Bromwich[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ian Hillas 2,000 63.2 -4.9
Liberal Democrats Andrew Bull 908 28.7 +8.2
Green Kirsten Henly 259 8.2 +8.2
Majority 1,092 34.5 -13.2
Turnout 3,167 35.3 -1.9
Conservative hold Swing -6.5
Chelmsley Wood[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mick Corser 913 38.9 +6.8
BNP Andrew Terry 721 30.7 -2.3
Conservative Sheila Courts 410 17.4 -3.7
Liberal Democrats Bernard Wright 174 7.4 -6.4
Green Ronnie Cashmore 132 5.6 +5.6
Majority 192 8.2 +7.3
Turnout 2,350 27.4 +1.2
Labour hold Swing +4.5
Dorridge and Hockley Heath[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andy Mackiewicz 2,629 70.6 +6.8
Liberal Democrats Brenda Davies 587 15.8 -8.1
Green Pam Archer 345 9.3 +1.7
Labour Irma Shaw 165 4.4 -0.2
Majority 2,042 54.8 +14.9
Turnout 3,726 44.3 -1.1
Conservative hold Swing +7.4
Elmdon[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Jean Hamilton 1,960 48.3 +6.2
Conservative Shay Parekh 1,375 33.9 -15.4
BNP Neil Munnerley 331 8.2 +8.2
Labour Lorraine Essex 290 7.1 -1.5
Green Elaine Williams 105 2.6 +2.6
Majority 585 14.4 +7.3
Turnout 4,061 43.5 +0.0
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +10.8
Kingshurst and Fordbridge[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Frederick Nash 732 32.3 -5.3
Conservative Pauline Hislop 675 29.8 -9.6
BNP Graham Pringle 654 28.8 +28.8
Liberal Democrats Jennifer Wright 132 5.8 -17.2
Green Clair Garbett 75 3.3 +3.3
Majority 57 2.5 +0.7
Turnout 2,268 25.2 +0.3
Labour hold Swing +2.1
Knowle[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Alan Rebeiro 2,487 69.5 +11.2
Liberal Democrats Geoffrey Berry 688 19.2 -13.0
Green Jane Holt 280 7.8 +1.8
Labour Catherine Connan 122 3.4 -0.2
Majority 1,799 50.3 +24.2
Turnout 3,577 44.1 -3.3
Conservative hold Swing +12.1
Lyndon[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Ken Rushen 1,889 53.2 -6.1
Conservative Greg Goldingay 949 26.7 +5.3
Labour Raj Singh 262 7.4 -3.1
UKIP Raymond Mabbott 236 6.7 +6.7
Green Frances Grice 212 6.0 -2.8
Majority 940 26.5 -11.3
Turnout 3,548 36.2 +0.1
Liberal Democrats hold Swing -5.7
Meriden[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Bell 2,472 70.4 +2.6
Liberal Democrats Alan Berry 437 12.5 -7.3
Labour Jonathan Maltman 389 11.1 -1.3
Green Roger King 212 6.0 +6.0
Majority 2,035 58.0 +10.1
Turnout 3,510 38.6 -0.6
Conservative hold Swing +4.9
Olton[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Norman Davies 2,346 60.2 +8.0
Conservative Richard Williams 1,206 31.0 -5.6
Labour Alan Jacques 181 4.6 -0.6
Green Nilesh Chauhan 161 4.1 -1.9
Majority 1,140 29.3 +13.7
Turnout 3,894 41.3 -1.9
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +6.8
Shirley East[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats John Reeve 1,588 46.8 +8.0
Conservative Sally Bell 1,086 32.0 +1.0
Independent Neil Watts 403 11.9 -12.5
Labour Kevin Raven 200 5.9 +0.2
Green Sara Stevens 118 3.5 +3.5
Majority 502 14.8 +7.0
Turnout 3,395 40.3 -2.7
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +3.5
Shirley South[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Tim Hodgson 1,926 47.1 +8.9
Conservative Peter Groom 1,364 33.3 +2.3
BNP Charles Shipman 376 9.2 -7.2
Labour Shirley Young 212 5.2 -2.0
UKIP Lydia Simpson 72 1.8 +1.8
Green Claire Henly 71 1.7 +1.7
Independent Rosemary Worsley 70 1.7 -5.5
Majority 562 13.7 +6.5
Turnout 4,091 43.3 +0.8
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +3.3
Shirley West[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Brynn Tudor 1,679 50.0 +7.9
Conservative Mark Parker 979 29.2 +5.0
UKIP Nikki Sinclaire 330 9.8 +9.8
Labour Arthur Harper 212 6.3 -0.5
Green Trevor Barker 157 4.7 -1.1
Majority 700 20.9 +3.0
Turnout 3,357 37.2 -3.8
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +1.4
Silhill[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Leela Widger 1,828 43.4 +10.3
Conservative Peter Hogarth 1,713 40.7 -17.1
BNP Alan Ashmore 391 9.3 +9.3
Labour Janet Marsh 223 5.3 -3.8
Green Olga Farooqui 56 1.3 +1.3
Majority 115 2.7 +22.0
Turnout 4,211 47.7 +6.0
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing +13.7
Smith's Wood[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Graham Craig 924 48.0 +1.2
Conservative Jim Williams 613 31.9 -2.6
Liberal Democrats Tony Ludlow 220 11.4 -7.3
Green Michael Sheridan 166 8.6 +8.6
Majority 311 16.2 +4.0
Turnout 1,923 21.9 +0.0
Labour hold Swing +1.9
St. Alphege[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Joe Tildesley 2,819 65.8 +10.4
Liberal Democrats Mamdooh Jalil 994 23.2 -13.3
Green James Hepton 243 5.7 +1.8
Labour Paul Tuxworth 226 5.3 +1.2
Majority 1,825 42.6 +23.7
Turnout 4,282 43.1 -2.4
Conservative hold Swing +11.8

References
  1. "Solihull". BBC News Online. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
  2. Jeys, Anna (13 April 2007). "No majority as the polls open; May 3 elections: Veteran's death leaves hung council up for grabs". Birmingham Mail. p. 6.
  3. "Women vote to step down; Council". Birmingham Mail. 2 April 2007. p. 17.
  4. Morris, Nigel (13 April 2007). "BNP goes bourgeois as party aims to take its message to rural seats". The Independent. p. 1.
  5. Jeys, Anna (16 April 2007). "Solihull News: BNP stepping up votes campaign; Solihull: Increase in Far Right candidates standing at elections". Birmingham Mail. p. 17.
  6. "Recycling is top of the Tory agenda". Birmingham Mail. 2 May 2007. p. 24.
  7. "Transport a Lib Dem priority". Birmingham Mail. 2 May 2007. p. 24.
  8. "Yobs are one target for Labour". Birmingham Mail. 2 May 2007. p. 24.
  9. "United front on race relations". Birmingham Mail. 11 April 2007. p. 19.
  10. Connor, Neil (5 May 2007). "Lib Dems waiting in the wings; Solihull local elections". Birmingham Post. p. 2.
  11. Reynolds, Leda (5 May 2007). "Tory misery as Lib Dems gain; Election results round-up Solihull: Loss of two seats results in hung council". Birmingham Mail. p. 16.
  12. Reynolds, Leda (9 May 2007). "Veteran leader: I'm quitting job; Local politics: Group chief steps down after 'disappointing' results". Birmingham Mail. p. 7.
  13. "Solihull has us to thank for its quality of life, says Tory leader". Birmingham Post. 19 April 2008. p. 4.
  14. "Borough Council election" (PDF). Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
  15. "Results". The Times. 5 May 2007. p. 83.
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