2015 Rother District Council election

The 2015 Rother District Council election took place on 7 May 2015 to elect members of Rother 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]

Map of the results of the 2015 Rother District Council election. Conservatives in blue, independents in light grey, Liberal Democrats in yellow and Labour in red.

Background

At the last election in 2011 the Conservatives remained in control of the council with 27 councillors, while the Liberal Democrats took 5 seats, independents 4 seats and the Labour Party won 2 seats.[2] By the time of the 2015 election three of the Conservative councillors for Bexhill had resigned from the Conservatives to sit as independents.[3][4] Deirdre Williams and Paul Lendon left the party in July 2012 and then in May 2014 Joanne Gadd also became an independent councillor.[3][4]

Election result

The Conservatives increased their majority on the council after winning 31 seats, up from 24 before the election.[5] This came at the expense of the independents who were reduced in number from seven to four.[5] The Liberal Democrats also dropped three seats to have two councillors, with the group leader Kevin Dixon defeated by 65 votes in Battle.[5] The Labour group leader Sam Souster was also defeated in Rye, leaving the party with only one councillor.[5]

Rother local election result 2015[6]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 31 7 0 +7 81.6 48.8 39,720 -4.4%
  Independent 4 0 3 -3 10.5 12.2 9,910 +3.8%
  Liberal Democrats 2 0 3 -3 5.3 13.2 10,720 -7.8%
  Labour 1 0 1 -1 2.6 15.2 12,340 -0.6%
  UKIP 0 0 0 0 0 8.7 7,105 +8.7%
  Green 0 0 0 0 0 1.9 1,556 +0.3%

Ward results
Battle Town (2 seats)[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Kathryn Field 1,481
Conservative Martin Noakes 1,199
Liberal Democrats Kevin Dixon 1,134
Labour Andrew Shepherd 469
Turnout 4,283 69.9 +21.9
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Bexhill Central (2 seats)[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Joy Hughes 824
Conservative Abul Azad 735
Labour Paul Courtel 709
Labour Ruairi McCourt 603
UKIP Michael Phillips 558
Independent Paul Plim 355
Independent Mark Plews 347
Liberal Democrats John Tunbridge 226
Independent Andrew Crotty 79
Turnout 4,436 63.2 +25.5
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Bexhill Collington (2 seats)[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Tony Mansi 1,309
Independent Doug Oliver 1,220
Conservative Michael Ensor 973
Conservative Colin Darker 847
UKIP Alison Phillips 417
Green John Gray 282
Labour Kate Bird 280
Turnout 5,328 78.1 +20.6
Independent hold Swing
Independent hold Swing
Bexhill Kewhurst (2 seats)[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Brian Kentfield 1,675
Conservative Martin Kenward 1,281
UKIP Lynne Hehir 957
Labour Yvonne Cleland 663
Turnout 4,576 71.1 +19.4
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Bexhill Old Town (2 seats)[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gillian Johnson 618
Conservative Jacqueline Potts 611
UKIP James Taylor 510
Liberal Democrats Vivienne Bond 383
Labour Roger McCarthy 367
Liberal Democrats Diane Smith 262
Green Linda Hills 229
Independent Saleh Uddin 222
Independent Sandy Melvin 219
Turnout 3,421 65.6 +22.9
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Bexhill Sackville (2 seats)[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ian Hollidge 742
Conservative Patrick Douart 709
Independent Deirdre Williams 680
Independent Yolanda Laybourne 626
UKIP Sheila Allen-Rodgers 563
Labour Paul Theaker 543
Turnout 3,863 64.6 +18.7
Conservative gain from Independent Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Bexhill Sidley (2 seats)[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Maurice Watson 702
Conservative Jimmy Carroll 694
Conservative Becky Bowley 644
Labour Alan Bearne 619
UKIP Barry Last 573
Independent Helen Bridger 304
Independent Keith Bridger 261
Turnout 3,797 57.1 +18.1
Labour hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Bexhill St. Marks (2 seats)[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Stuart Earl 1,312
Conservative Thomas Graham 1,148
Independent Joanne Gadd 808
Conservative Brett Mclean 671
UKIP Andrew Ellis 608
Labour Timothy Fox 318
Turnout 4,865 74.0 +19.3
Independent hold Swing
Conservative gain from Independent Swing
Bexhill St. Michaels (2 seats)[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Charles Clark 1,134
Conservative Simon Elford 789
UKIP Richard Corner 613
Independent Laura Fermor 499
Labour Conor Hill 410
Turnout 3,445 63.3 +20.8
Independent hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Bexhill St. Stephens (2 seats)[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Carroll 914
Conservative Bridget George 884
UKIP Pat Lee 754
Labour Richard Sage 563
Independent Paul Lendon 535
Liberal Democrats Graham Martin-Royle 379
Turnout 4,029 66.9 +25.7
Conservative gain from Independent Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Brede Valley (2 seats)[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Carl Maynard 1,818
Conservative Jonathan Johnson 1,685
Labour Elaine Lee 455
Labour Cheryl Creaser 443
Liberal Democrats Ian Stone 428
Liberal Democrats Robert Wakeford 228
Turnout 5,057 74.2 +25.3
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Crowhurst[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gary Curtis 771 49.2 -2.5
Liberal Democrats Tracy Dixon 307 19.6 -17.5
Labour Brian Basham 260 16.6 +5.4
UKIP Tony Smith 228 14.6 +14.6
Majority 464 29.6 +15.0
Turnout 1,566 75.3 +22.7
Conservative hold Swing
Darwell (2 seats)[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Emily Rowlinson 1,419
Conservative Eleanor Kirby-Green 1,213
UKIP Eddie Smith 574
Liberal Democrats Mary Varrall 564
Green Andrew Wedmore 510
Labour Christopher Husbands 347
Turnout 4,627 68.7 +20.0
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Eastern Rother (2 seats)[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sally-Ann Hart 1,441
Conservative Paul Osborne 1,392
Labour Nick Warren 705
Labour Paul Carey 694
Liberal Democrats Rachel Hills 332
Turnout 4,564 71.4 +21.6
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Ewhurst and Sedlescombe[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tony Ganly 1,131 75.7 -1.9
Liberal Democrats Angus Gilloughley 363 24.3 +1.9
Majority 768 51.4 -3.8
Turnout 1,494 72.5 +20.9
Conservative hold Swing
Marsham (2 seats)[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Roger Bird 1,421
Conservative Christopher Saint 1,271
Labour Bob Ball 718
Labour Johnathan Lee 679
Liberal Democrats Derek Greenup 308
Liberal Democrats Gill Stone 204
Turnout 4,601 77.5 +23.5
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Rother Levels (2 seats)[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Martin Mooney 1,566
Conservative Ian Jenkins 1,372
Liberal Democrats Susan Schlesinger 792
UKIP Ian Slora 750
Turnout 4,480 74.2 +22.8
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Rye (2 seats)[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Ampthill 1,108
Conservative Gennette Stevens 1,019
Labour Sam Souster 886
Labour Ray Prewer 656
Liberal Democrats Sonia Holmes 377
Turnout 4,046 68.0 +17.8
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Salehurst (2 seats)[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Sue Prochak 1,318
Conservative Graham Browne 1,184
Liberal Democrats Stephen Hardy 1,063
Conservative Gaynor Gough 850
Labour Bob Collins 251
Turnout 4,666 72.9 +21.9
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Ticehurst and Etchingham (2 seats)[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Elliston 1,560
Conservative Mary Barnes 1,541
Liberal Democrats George Hearn 571
Green Don Nicholls 535
Turnout 4,207 73.5 +23.3
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

By-elections between 2015 and 2019

Battle Town by-election

A by-election was held in Battle Town on 16 July 2015 after the resignation of Conservative councillor Martin Noakes due to ill health.[7][8] The seat was gained for the Liberal Democrats by Kevin Dixon with a 409-vote majority over Conservative Hazel Sharman.[8]

Battle Town by-election 16 July 2015[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Kevin Dixon 751 57.8 +10.8
Conservative Hazel Sharman 342 26.3 -11.8
UKIP Tony Smith 107 8.2 +8.2
Labour Timothy MacPherson 100 7.7 -7.2
Majority 409 31.5
Turnout 1,300 32.4 -37.5
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing

Collington by-election

A by-election was held in Collington on 27 October 2016 after the resignation of independent councillor Tony Mansi for health reasons.[10] The seat was won by independent candidate Deirdre Earl-Williams.

Collington by-election 27 October 2016[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Deirdre Earl-Williams 818 60.0 +60.0
Conservative Andrew Burton 393 28.8 -1.0
Labour Sara Watson 87 6.4 -2.2
UKIP Michael Phillips 66 4.8 -8.0
Majority 425 31.2
Turnout 1,364
Independent hold Swing

Darwell by-election

A by-election was held in Darwell on 27 October 2016 after the resignation of Conservative councillor Emily Rowlinson.[12] The seat was won by Conservative candidate John Barnes.

Darwell by-election 27 October 2016[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Barnes 359 43.5 +1.9
Liberal Democrats Mary Varrall 259 31.4 +14.9
Labour Antonia Berelson 79 9.6 -0.6
Green Andrew Wedmore 69 8.4 -6.5
UKIP Edward Smith 60 7.3 -9.5
Majority 100 12.1
Turnout 826
Conservative hold Swing

St Marks by-election

A by-election was held in St Marks on 10 January 2019 after the death of independent councillor Stuart Earl.[14] The seat was won by independent candidate Kathy Harmer.

St Marks by-election 10 January 2019[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Kathy Harmer 1,000 60.7 +60.7
Conservative Gino Forte 521 31.6 -2.3
Labour John Walker 79 4.8 -4.6
UKIP John Zipser 48 2.9 -15.1
Majority 479 29.1
Turnout 1,648
Independent hold Swing

References
  1. "Local election results 2015 in full". The Guardian. 15 May 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  2. "England council elections". BBC News Online. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  3. "Second councillor quits Tory ranks". Bexhill-on-Sea Observer. 13 July 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  4. "cllr was at odds with the "lack of democracy"". Bexhill-on-Sea Observer. 24 May 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  5. "Local election - Blue is the colour for Rother". Rye & Battle Observer. 9 May 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  6. "District Election". Rother District Council. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  7. "RDC councillor quits weeks after election". Rye & Battle Observer. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  8. "Kevin Dixon wins Battle town by-election". Rye & Battle Observer. 17 July 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  9. "Declaration of result of poll". Rother District Council. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  10. "Bexhill councillor resigns for health reasons". Sussex Express. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  11. "Local Elections Archive Project — Collington Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  12. "Meet the Darwell ward by-election candidates". Sussex Express. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  13. "Local Elections Archive Project — Darwell Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  14. "Funeral arrangements for much-loved Bexhill councillor, Stuart Earl". Sussex Express. 30 October 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  15. "Local Elections Archive Project — St Marks Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
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