2023 Swale Borough Council election

The 2023 Swale Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Swale Borough Council in Kent, England.[3] This was on the same day as other local elections across England.

2023 Swale Borough Council election
4 May 2023 (2023-05-04)
All 47 seats to Swale Borough Council
24 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
  Blank Blank Blank
Leader Roger Truelove Alan Horton Mike Baldock
Party Labour Conservative Swale Ind.
Last election 11 seats, 23.7% 16 seats, 34.1% 10 seats, 20.1%
Seats before 9 15[lower-alpha 1] 8
Seats after 15 12 11
Seat change Increase4 Decrease4 Increase1
Percentage 24.4% 30.6% 17.3%
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
  Blank Blank Blank
Leader Ben Martin Tim Valentine
Party Liberal Democrats Green Independent
Last election 5 seats, 9.7% 2 seats, 5.7% 2 seats, 4.6%
Seats before 4 2 8[lower-alpha 2]
Seats after 5 3 1
Seat change Steady Increase1 Decrease1
Percentage 13.1% 8.7% 4.2%
  Seventh party
  Blank
Party Reform UK
Last election N/A
Seats before 1
Seats after 0
Seat change N/A
Percentage 1.0%
The winner of each seat by party in the 2023 Swale Borough Council Election
Leader before election

Mike Baldock
Swale Independents
No overall control

 Leader after election

Tim Gibson
Labour
No overall control

The council was under no overall control prior to the election. The Conservatives were the largest party, but the council was being run by a rainbow coalition of all the other main parties, led by Mike Baldock of local party the Swale Independents. The council remained under no overall control after the election, and Labour overtook the Conservatives to become the largest party.[4] A new coalition of Labour, the Swale Independents and Greens formed.[5] The new Labour group leader, Tim Gibson, was appointed leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 17 May 2023, with Mike Baldock becoming deputy leader.[6]

Summary

Election result
2023 Swale Borough Council election
Party Candidates Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour 31 15 6 0 Increase6 31.92% 24.43% 13,343 Increase1.03%
  Conservative 44 12 3 7 Decrease4 25.53% 30.58% 16,703 Decrease3.42%
  Swale Independents 15 11 3 1 Increase2 23.4% 17.3% 9,449 Decrease2.8%
  Liberal Democrats 22 5 1 0 Increase1 10.64% 13.05% 7,127 Increase3.35%
  Green 13 3 1 0 Increase1 6.38% 8.65% 4,722 Increase2.95%
  Independent 7 1 0 5 Decrease5 2.13% 4.21% 2,301 Decrease0.39%
  Reform UK 4 0 0 1 Decrease1 0% 1.04% 569 New
  Heritage 1 0 0 0 0 0% 0.44% 240 New
  Monster Raving Loony 1 0 0 0 0 0% 0.3% 161 Decrease0.31%

Ward results

The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by Swale Borough Council following the close of nominations on 4 April 2023.[7] The results for each ward were as follows:[8]

Abbey
Abbey
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Hannah Perkin* 918 63.2 +18
Liberal Democrats Chris Williams 807 55.6 +18
Labour Trevor Payne 314 21.6 +4
Conservative Jay Brown 276 19.0 +1
Labour Co-op Frances Rehal 261 18.0 +4
Conservative Melanie Regan-Brown 244 16.8 ±0
Turnout 1,452
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold

Bobbing, Iwade and Lower Halstow
Bobbing, Iwade & Lower Halstow (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Swale Ind. Lloyd Chapman 501 39.3 -20
Conservative Rog Clark* 483 37.9 -1
Labour Olufemi Olukoya 401 31.5 +11
Conservative Gareth Randall 343 26.9 -3
Liberal Democrats Marc Wilson 267 21.0 N/A
Green Carol Goatham 236 18.5 N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,274
Swale Ind. hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Borden and Grove Park
Borden & Grove Park (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Swale Ind. Mike Baldock* 1,030 71.5 -8
Swale Ind. Ann Cavanagh 728 50.5 N/A
Conservative Nicholas Hampshire* 424 29.4 -5
Conservative Conor Dobbs 262 18.2 N/A
Labour Martin Singer 184 12.8 -15
Majority
Turnout 1,441
Swale Ind. hold Swing
Swale Ind. gain from Conservative Swing

Boughton and Courtenay
Boughton & Courtenay (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Rich Lehmann 1,123 61.9 +22
Green Alastair Gould* 1,122 61.9 +18
Conservative Piers Baker 392 21.6 -8
Conservative Oliver Lane 346 19.1 -1
Swale Ind. Jeff Tutt 278 15.3 -18
Liberal Democrats Sonia Fox 102 5.6 N/A
Liberal Democrats Ida Linfield 77 4.2 N/A
Majority 730
Turnout 1,814
Green hold Swing
Green hold Swing

Chalkwell
Chalkwell
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charlie Miller 298 55.3 -13.0
Conservative Richard Allsep 173 32.1 +0.4
Green Hannah Temple 68 12.6 N/A
Majority
Turnout 539
Labour hold Swing

East Downs
East Downs
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Terry Thompson 423 45.9 +28.7
Conservative David Simmons* 389 42.2 -3.7
Liberal Democrats Stephen Fisher 110 11.9 +3.1
Majority
Turnout 922
Green gain from Conservative Swing

Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch
Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Swale Ind. Richard Palmer* 943 58.8 -4
Swale Ind. Chris Palmer 879 54.8 N/A
Conservative Alan Horton* 513 32.0 -4
Conservative Asha Saroy 336 20.9 -12
Labour Margaret Cooper 279 17.4 ±0
Majority
Turnout 1,605
Swale Ind. hold Swing
Swale Ind. gain from Conservative Swing

Homewood
Homewood (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Simon Clark* 511 38.2 -26
Labour Shelley Cheesman 483 36.2 -35
Swale Ind. Jason Clinch 395 29.6 N/A
Conservative Danielle Hoynes 343 25.7 ±0
Conservative John Wright 340 25.4 -3
Heritage Thomas Lee 240 18.0 N/A
Liberal Democrats Frances Stennings 166 12.4 N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,336
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Kemsley
Kemsley (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Swale Ind. Derek Carnell* 476 47.7 -2
Labour Ashley Wise 357 35.8 +12
Conservative Sue Gent 356 35.7 +6
Conservative Mike Dendor* 322 32.3 -6
Liberal Democrats Tony Clark 236 23.7 +6
Majority
Turnout 997
Swale Ind. hold Swing
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Milton Regis
Milton Regis (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Anthony Winckless* 674 65.4 +13
Labour Angelica Valls 559 54.2 +18
Swale Ind. Stephen Davey* 303 29.4 -7
Conservative David Danaher 186 18.0 -2
Conservative Stuart Williams 166 16.1 +2
Majority
Turnout 1,031
Labour hold Swing
Labour gain from Swale Ind. Swing

Minster Cliffs
Minster Cliffs (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Swale Ind. Tom Nundy 656 40.5 -12
Conservative Andy Booth 561 34.6 ±0
Conservative Ken Ingleton* 554 34.2 -2
Conservative Hollie Bolitho 466 28.7 -10
Independent Richard Darby* 457 28.2 -25
Labour Libby Tucker 396 24.4 +7
Green Josie Galvin 276 17.0 -6
Reform UK Will Fotheringham-Bray 163 10.1 N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,621
Swale Ind. gain from Independent Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Murston
Murston (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Swale Ind. James Hall* 593 57.7 +1
Labour Mark Last 397 38.6 +15
Conservative Ann Hampshire* 211 20.5 -4
Conservative Glen Le Grys 171 16.6 N/A
Liberal Democrats Alexander Stennings 139 13.5 +4
Liberal Democrats Mary Zeng 127 12.4 N/A
Green Miriam Layton 119 11.6 N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,028
Swale Ind. hold Swing
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Priory
Priory
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Michael Henderson 394 54.6 +3.8
Conservative Andy Culham 174 24.1 -5.0
Labour Rob Crayford 98 13.6 +1.9
Green Sonia Jackson 55 7.6 +0.1
Majority
Turnout 721
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Queenborough and Halfway
Queenborough & Halfway (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ashley Shiel 603 40.6 +7
Conservative Peter Marchington* 586 39.5 -7
Conservative Mike Whiting 522 35.2 -19
Labour Donna Boakes 508 34.2 +4
Conservative Bailey Allison 498 33.5 -11
Labour Jordan Hartley 462 31.1 N/A
Swale Ind. Lorraine St. John 293 19.7 N/A
Liberal Democrats Linda Brinklow 227 15.3 N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,485
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Roman
Roman (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tim Gibson* 652 58.6 +1
Labour Karen Watson 535 48.1 -5
Conservative Mark Quinton 300 27.0 -14
Conservative Alfred Okotie 266 23.9 -7
Green Debra Blacklock 167 15.0 N/A
Liberal Democrats Rosemary Madgwick 134 12.0 N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,113
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Sheerness
Sheerness (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Angela Harrison* 727 52.9 +9
Labour Hayden Brawn 612 44.5 +6
Labour Dolley White 573 41.7 +6
Conservative Patricia Rogers 394 28.7 +6
Independent Lee McCall* 382 27.8 -18
Reform UK Jeffrey Williams 205 14.9 N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,374
Labour gain from Independent Swing
Labour hold Swing
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Sheppey Central
Sheppey Central (3 seas)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Swale Ind. Elliott Jayes* 794 51.7 -10
Conservative Peter Neal* 409 26.6 -1
Conservative Mark Tucker 389 25.3 -5
Labour Ian Edworthy 362 23.6 +3
Conservative Oliver Eakin 360 23.4 +3
Labour Alan Henry 333 21.7 N/A
Independent Peter MacDonald* 298 19.4 -11
Green Sam Banks 200 13.0 -10
Liberal Democrats Edward Currie 200 13.0 N/A
Monster Raving Loony Mad Mike Young 161 10.5 -9
Majority
Turnout 1,537
Swale Ind. hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative gain from Independent Swing

Sheppey East
Sheppey East (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lee-Anne Moore 347 34.8 +2
Conservative Tara Noe 315 31.6 +3
Labour Matt Wheatcroft 226 22.7 +7
Independent Pat Sandle 215 21.6 N/A
Independent Gaynor Bidgood 191 19.2 N/A
Green David Walton 129 13.0 N/A
Reform UK Mini Nissanga* 108 10.8 -26
Independent Bill Tatton* 103 10.3 -31
Majority
Turnout 996
Conservative gain from Independent Swing
Conservative gain from Reform UK Swing

St Ann's
St Ann's (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Carole Jackson* 846 48.4 +7
Labour Kieran Golding 765 43.7 +7
Liberal Democrats Charles Gibson 448 25.6 -4
Liberal Democrats Josh Rowlands 444 25.4 -1
Conservative Ben Fisher 398 22.8 -11
Conservative Frankie O'Brien 363 20.8 -8
Reform UK Seb Arrowsmith-Brown 93 5.3 N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,749
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Teynham and Lynsted
Teynham & Lynsted (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lloyd Brown* 764 54.1 +12
Conservative Julien Speed 666 47.1 +14
Green Janet Bott 506 35.8 +17
Labour Georgina Jessiman 344 24.3 +7
Liberal Democrats Dorothee Barker 135 9.6 N/A
Liberal Democrats Carol Morris 113 8.0 -1
Majority
Turnout 1,413
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

The Meads
The Meads
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Hunt* 395 68.2 +12.0
Liberal Democrats Shaun Wakelen 184 31.8 N/A
Majority
Turnout 579
Conservative hold Swing

Watling
Watling (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Ben Martin* 1,009 51.7 -7
Liberal Democrats Claire Martin 830 42.5 -14
Conservative Jack Goodenough 496 25.4 -5
Conservative Jess Valentine 465 23.8 -3
Labour Robert Newman 350 17.9 +4
Labour James Scott 300 15.4 N/A
Green Oliver Heyen 298 15.3 N/A
Majority
Turnout 1,952
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

West Downs
West Downs
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Monique Bonney* 655 75.3 -11.6
Conservative Margaret Benford 155 17.8 +4.7
Liberal Democrats Kris Barker 60 6.9 N/A
Majority
Turnout 870
Independent hold Swing

Woodstock
Woodstock (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Swale Ind. Sarah Stephen* 830 53.8
Swale Ind. Paul Stephen* 750 48.6
Conservative Lee Burgess 584 37.9
Labour James Beer 328 21.3
Majority
Turnout 1,542
Swale Ind. hold Swing
Swale Ind. hold Swing

Changes 2023–2027
Minster Cliffs by-election, 14 September 2023
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Swale Ind. Peter MacDonald 395 35.8%
Labour Edward Baldwin 339 30.7%
Conservative Oliver Eakin 331 30%
Liberal Democrats Ernest Currie 39 3.5%
Majority
Turnout 1,104
Swale Ind. gain from Conservative Swing

The Minster Cliffs by-election was triggered by the death of Conservative councillor Ken Ingleton in July 2023.[9][10]

References
  1. Includes one vacant seat at Queenborough and Halfway ward formerly held by Conservative councillor Cameron Beart until his death in January 2023.[1]
  2. Of the eight independent councillors before the election, four sat together as the "Independent Group" led by Monique Bonney, three formed the "Independents First" group led by Richard Darby and the other (Simon Fowle) did not belong to a group.[2]
  1. Nurden, John (22 January 2023). "Shock death of Sheppey councillor Cameron Beart, 31". Kent Online. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  2. "Your Councillors by Party". Swale Borough Council. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  3. "Notice of election" (PDF). Swale Borough Council. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  4. Harbert, Joe (5 May 2023). "Swale Council election results 2023: Councillors prepare for another rainbow coalition". Kent Online. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  5. Boothroyd, David (19 May 2023). "As a Green councillor walked out one midsummer morning". Local Councils. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  6. "Council minutes, 17 May 2023". Swale Borough Council. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  7. "May 4 2023 Election Notices". Swale Borough Council. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  8. "May 4 2023 Election Results". Swale Borough Council. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  9. Harbert, Joe (14 September 2023). "By-election for Minster Cliffs ward on Swale Borough Council following Ken Ingleton's death". Kent Online. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  10. "Minster Cliffs by-election results". Swale Borough Council. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
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