2011 Wealden District Council election
The 2011 Wealden District Council election took place on 5 May 2011 to elect members of Wealden District Council in East Sussex, England. The whole council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.[1]
![](../I/Wealden_UK_local_election_2011_map.svg.png.webp)
Background
At the 2007 election the Conservatives retained control of Wealden council with 34 seats, compared to 12 for the Liberal Democrats, 7 independents and 2 Green party councillors.[2] However at a by-election in September 2008 the Liberal Democrats gained a seat from the Conservatives in Alfriston,[3] meaning that by 2011 there were 33 Conservatives and 13 Liberal Democrats, while the independents were split into 3 Independent Democrats and 4 Independents.[4]
The Conservatives were the only party with candidates for all 55 seats being contested in 35 wards[5] and they were guaranteed gains in Forest Row after the Green Party did not defend the seats they had won in 2007 and no other party stood in the ward.[4] The Liberal Democrats only put up 24 candidates, down from 35 in 2007, with the party not defending 2 seats in Crowborough, where Liberal Democrats councillors Jane Clark and Martin Prestage stood down at the election.[4] Meanwhile, Labour had 27 candidates, a substantial increase from only 3 in 2007.[4]
Election result
The Conservatives increased their majority on the council after gaining 14 seats, to have 47 of the 55 councillors.[6] This included winning all of the seats in Uckfield, where the party gained 4 seats from the Liberal Democrats.[7] The Conservative leader of the council, Bob Standley, described the results as a "ringing endorsement" of the policies of the Conservative council.[8] Overall turnout at the election was 49.5%, up from 38.51% in 2007.[9]
The Liberal Democrats lost 10 seats to only have 3 of the 13 councillors the party had held before the election.[8] Meanwhile, neither Labour, nor any other party, managed to win any seats,[6] with a spokesperson for Labour saying that Wealden was now "virtually a one party state".[8]
Independents won five seats, down two,[6] with four of those five being taken by members of the Shing family in Polegate and Willingdon,[10] and the final seat being won by a former mayor of Crowborough, Stephen Isted, in Crowborough Jarvis Brook.[8] This led to the Conservatives being criticised by anti-racism groups over comments on the party website saying that the Liberal Democrats had seen "the humiliation of the 'Shing' dynasty becoming the official opposition".[10]
Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | 47 | 14 | 0 | +14 | 85.5 | 61.3 | 51,007 | +6.7% | |
Independent | 5 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 9.1 | 11.6 | 9,668 | -3.4% | |
Liberal Democrats | 3 | 0 | 10 | -10 | 5.5 | 13.5 | 11,249 | -9.9% | |
Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10.3 | 8,606 | +9.7% | |
UKIP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.7 | 1,447 | +1.6% | |
Green | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 | 1.4 | 1,190 | -4.6% | |
English Democrat | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 73 | -0.2% | |
Motorists Equity & Unity Party | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 5 | 0.0% | |
4 Conservative candidates were unopposed at the election.[11]
Ward results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Steve Harris | 606 | 51.2 | -20.6 | |
Liberal Democrats | Andy Watkins | 577 | 48.8 | +20.6 | |
Majority | 29 | 2.5 | -41.2 | ||
Turnout | 1,183 | 60.1 | +11.6 | ||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Norman Buck | 1,485 | |||
Conservative | Ken Ogden | 1,295 | |||
UKIP | Dan Docker | 437 | |||
Labour | David Neeves | 394 | |||
Turnout | 3,611 | 51.5 | +12.5 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Barby Dashwood-Hall | 865 | 67.7 | +1.5 | |
Liberal Democrats | Barbara Holbrook | 229 | 17.9 | -15.9 | |
Labour | Jonathan Banatvala | 184 | 14.4 | N/A | |
Majority | 638 | 49.8 | +17.5 | ||
Turnout | 1,278 | 51.9 | +9.6 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Jonica Fox | unopposed | |||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Carol Reynolds | 1,026 | |||
Conservative | David Larkin | 950 | |||
Labour | Christopher Harris | 549 | |||
Turnout | 2,525 | 40.3 | +6.8 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Stephen Isted | 330 | 41.8 | N/A | |
Conservative | Matthew Eade | 261 | 33.1 | -10.5 | |
Green | Colin Stocks | 100 | 12.7 | +1.3 | |
Labour | Roger McCarthy | 98 | 12.4 | +12.4 | |
Majority | 69 | 8.7 | |||
Turnout | 789 | 40.2 | +14.9 | ||
Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Neil Waller | 1,464 | |||
Conservative | Mark Weaver | 1,218 | |||
Labour | Sonja Le Vay | 526 | |||
Turnout | 3,208 | 45.6 | +7.7 | ||
Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Jim Hollins | 871 | 82.3 | +22.9 | |
Labour | Nicholas Levine | 187 | 17.7 | +11.7 | |
Majority | 684 | 64.7 | +29.3 | ||
Turnout | 1,058 | 53.9 | +13.5 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Diane Phillips | 1,387 | |||
Conservative | Antony Quin | 1,225 | |||
Labour | Brendan Clegg | 517 | |||
Turnout | 3,129 | 48.9 | +14.0 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Roy Galley | 1,593 | |||
Conservative | Peter Roundell | 1,284 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Martha Whittle | 979 | |||
Labour | Kirsten Morris | 304 | |||
Turnout | 4,160 | 53.7 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Charles Peck | 868 | 74.8 | -6.8 | |
Liberal Democrats | John Edrich | 293 | 25.2 | +6.8 | |
Majority | 575 | 49.5 | -13.7 | ||
Turnout | 1,161 | 61.7 | +10.9 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Peter Holloway | unopposed | |||
Conservative | Rowena Moore | unopposed | |||
Conservative gain from Green | Swing | ||||
Conservative gain from Green | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Ann Newton | 873 | 75.9 | +3.3 | |
Liberal Democrats | Linda Graham | 146 | 12.7 | -8.8 | |
Labour | Elisabeth Rumbold | 131 | 11.4 | N/A | |
Majority | 727 | 63.2 | +12.2 | ||
Turnout | 1,150 | 52.5 | +7.2 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Johanna Howell | 1,391 | |||
Conservative | John Padfield | 1,210 | |||
Green | Keith Obbard | 708 | |||
Labour | Nicholas Le Prevost | 415 | |||
Turnout | 3,724 | 56.4 | +16.9 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Nicholas Collinson | 957 | |||
Conservative | Barry Marlowe | 861 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Paul Holbrook | 625 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Marc Benier | 528 | |||
Labour | Martin Corfe | 345 | |||
Turnout | 3,316 | 42.3 | +6.2 | ||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Stuart Towner | 282 | 45.4 | +0.1 | |
Liberal Democrats | Brian Cock | 145 | 23.3 | -31.4 | |
Labour | Anthony Bailey | 121 | 19.5 | N/A | |
English Democrat | Kevin Moore | 73 | 11.8 | N/A | |
Majority | 137 | 22.1 | |||
Turnout | 621 | 31.5 | +1.3 | ||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Jo Bentley | 1,252 | |||
Conservative | Nigel Coltman | 1,115 | |||
Conservative | Chriss Triandafyllou | 842 | |||
Independent | Geoff Rowe | 753 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Ann Murrey | 628 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Eddy Powell | 617 | |||
Labour | Michelle Moore | 486 | |||
Turnout | 5,693 | 38.0 | +8.9 | ||
Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Chris Hardy | 822 | 76.7 | +16.1 | |
Liberal Democrats | Valerie Banks | 250 | 23.3 | -3.7 | |
Majority | 572 | 53.4 | +19.7 | ||
Turnout | 1,072 | 50.0 | -2.5 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Nigel McKeeman | 705 | 70.2 | ||
Independent | Bob Bowdler | 299 | 29.8 | ||
Majority | 406 | 40.4 | |||
Turnout | 1,004 | 51.3 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Dick Angel | 1,763 | |||
Conservative | Peter Newnham | 1,660 | |||
Conservative | Jan Dunk | 1,646 | |||
Labour | Gill Roles | 741 | |||
Turnout | 5,810 | 43.6 | +10.4 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | David White | 961 | |||
Liberal Democrats | John Blake | 954 | |||
Conservative | Kevin Balsdon | 739 | |||
Conservative | Peter Bucklitsch | 647 | |||
Labour | Louise Orbell | 268 | |||
Turnout | 3,569 | 43.8 | +4.1 | ||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | ||||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Andy Long | 612 | 61.0 | -8.0 | |
Independent | Laurence Keeley | 391 | 39.0 | +8.0 | |
Majority | 221 | 22.0 | -16.0 | ||
Turnout | 1,003 | 46.3 | +8.7 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Susan Stedman | unopposed | |||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Brian Redman | 867 | 76.5 | +4.2 | |
Labour | Patricia Robson | 267 | 23.5 | N/A | |
Majority | 600 | 52.9 | -5.5 | ||
Turnout | 1,134 | 54.3 | +10.6 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Pam Doodes | 764 | 81.6 | -1.5 | |
Labour | Ben Sturgess | 172 | 18.4 | N/A | |
Majority | 592 | 63.2 | -2.9 | ||
Turnout | 936 | 48.6 | +9.4 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Dianne Dear | 1,788 | |||
Conservative | Bill Tooley | 1,660 | |||
Conservative | Lin McKeever | 1,618 | |||
UKIP | Mike Pursglove | 954 | |||
Labour | Bob Milton | 697 | |||
Labour | Robert Slater | 665 | |||
Turnout | 7,382 | 42.3 | +10.6 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Oi Shing | 1,017 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Roy Martin | 680 | |||
Conservative | Edward Board | 544 | |||
Independent | John Harmer | 526 | |||
Conservative | Simon Popek | 402 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Hazel Thorn | 336 | |||
Labour | Alex Mthobi | 148 | |||
Turnout | 3,653 | 49.8 | +7.0 | ||
Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Daniel Shing | 493 | 49.4 | +12.6 | |
Liberal Democrats | Chris Berry | 181 | 18.2 | -18.7 | |
Conservative | Wendy Alexander | 152 | 15.2 | -11.2 | |
Independent | Timothy Voyce | 110 | 11.0 | N/A | |
UKIP | Bernie Goodwin | 56 | 5.6 | N/A | |
Motorists Equity & Unity Party | Pete Sayers | 5 | 0.5 | N/A | |
Majority | 312 | 31.2 | |||
Turnout | 997 | 49.7 | +8.0 | ||
Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Huw Merriman | 829 | 79.6 | +1.9 | |
Labour | Abbie Churton | 213 | 20.4 | N/A | |
Majority | 616 | 59.1 | +3.7 | ||
Turnout | 1,042 | 53.6 | +10.9 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Claire Dowling | 749 | 61.3 | +3.3 | |
Liberal Democrats | Paul Sparks | 319 | 26.1 | -15.9 | |
Labour | Jason Scott-Taggart | 154 | 12.6 | +12.6 | |
Majority | 430 | 35.2 | +19.1 | ||
Turnout | 1,222 | 51.3 | +11.0 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Helen Firth | 452 | 48.4 | +11.8 | |
Liberal Democrats | Sarah Hall | 273 | 29.2 | -34.2 | |
Labour | David Sudbery | 209 | 22.4 | N/A | |
Majority | 179 | 19.2 | -7.5 | ||
Turnout | 934 | 44.8 | +13.4 | ||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Louise Eastwood | 877 | |||
Conservative | Michael Lunn | 683 | |||
Liberal Democrats | John Collins | 498 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Alan Whittaker | 493 | |||
Labour | Bruce Meredeen | 268 | |||
Turnout | 2,819 | 38.8 | +8.8 | ||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | ||||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Carvey | 705 | 61.7 | +13.3 | |
Liberal Democrats | Dorothy Sparks | 269 | 23.6 | -28.0 | |
Labour | Vanessa Setford-Smith | 168 | 14.7 | +14.7 | |
Majority | 436 | 38.1 | |||
Turnout | 1,142 | 48.1 | +7.2 | ||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Bob Standley | 1,277 | |||
Conservative | Graham Wells | 1,229 | |||
Green | Beth Martin | 382 | |||
Independent | Serena Gadd | 307 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Michael Cooper | 206 | |||
Labour | Felicity Harvest | 204 | |||
Labour | Christopher Morris | 175 | |||
Independent | Melissa Gates | 146 | |||
Turnout | 3,926 | 52.4 | +14.0 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Stephen Shing | 2,338 | |||
Independent | Raymond Shing | 2,151 | |||
Conservative | Ronald Cussons | 1,006 | |||
Conservative | Douglas Murray | 840 | |||
Independent | Ray Ingram | 807 | |||
Conservative | Susan Hunt | 790 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Bonnie Beck | 387 | |||
Liberal Democrats | David Hancock | 375 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Lauren Holt | 300 | |||
Turnout | 8,994 | 56.6 | -0.5 | ||
Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
By-elections between 2011 and 2015
Polegate North
A by-election was held in Polegate North on 2 August 2012 following the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Roy Martin.[13] The seat was held for the Liberal Democrats by Don Broadbent with a majority of 227 votes over an independent candidate.[13]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Don Broadbent | 494 | 37.7 | +14.3 | |
Independent | Joseph O'Riordan | 267 | 20.4 | -14.5 | |
Conservative | Edward Broad | 263 | 20.0 | +1.4 | |
UKIP | Bernard Goodwin | 212 | 16.2 | +16.2 | |
Labour | Alexius Mthobi | 76 | 5.8 | +5.8 | |
Majority | 227 | 17.3 | |||
Turnout | 1,312 | 30.7 | -19.1 | ||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | ||||
Heathfield North and Central
A by-election was held in Heathfield North and Central on 29 November 2012 after the death of Conservative councillor Peter Newnham.[14] The seat was held for the Conservatives by Raymond Cade with a majority of 384 votes over the UK Independence Party.[14]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Raymond Cade | 685 | 49.1 | -21.3 | |
UKIP | Bob Bowdler | 301 | 21.6 | +21.6 | |
Labour | Craig Austen-White | 225 | 16.1 | -13.5 | |
Liberal Democrats | Jim Benson | 184 | 13.2 | +13.2 | |
Majority | 384 | 27.5 | |||
Turnout | 1,395 | 22.8 | -20.8 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Crowborough West
A by-election was held in Crowborough West on 22 January 2015 after the death of Conservative councillor Antony Quin.[15][16] The seat was held for the Conservatives by Simon Staveley with a majority of 138 votes over the UK Independence Party.[17]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Jeannette Towey | 465 | 58.7 | -14.1 | |
UKIP | Simon Staveley | 327 | 41.3 | +41.3 | |
Majority | 138 | 17.4 | |||
Turnout | 792 | 20.5 | -28.4 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
References
- "England council elections". BBC News Online. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- "Wealden". BBC News Online. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
- "LibDems win by-election". Sussex Express. 26 September 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
- Cromie, Claire (22 April 2011). "Tories aim for total control of Wealden: Labour field more, Lib Dems fewer candidates". Kent and Sussex Courier. p. 2.
- "Wealden District polls". Eastbourne Herald. 27 April 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
- "Wealden District Council election - Conservatives face down Lib Dems". Sussex Express. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
- "Tory clean sweep in Uckfield area". Uckfield News. 6 May 2011. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
- Cromie, Claire (13 May 2011). "Tories dominate as Lib Dems suffer". Kent and Sussex Courier. p. 2.
- "District election results - May 2007". Wealden District Council. Archived from the original on 5 October 2007. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
- Cromie, Claire (13 May 2011). "Tories in trouble for 'racist' web post: Groups furious at Chinese slightTories are lambasted for racist caricature". Kent and Sussex Courier. p. 1.
- "District Council election". Wealden District Council. Archived from the original on 14 November 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- "Local authority elections: England". The Guardian. 7 May 2011. p. 30.
- "Lib Dems hold onto Polegate North - By Election". Sussex Express. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
- "Heathfield's new district councillor named as Raymond Cade". Kent and Sussex Courier. 23 November 2012. Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
- "Wealden member for Crowborough dies". Sussex Express. 12 November 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
- "Forthcoming Elections". Wealden District Council. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
- "Election Results". Wealden District Council. Retrieved 29 January 2015.