![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Wealden_UK_local_election_2007_map.svg/300px-Wealden_UK_local_election_2007_map.svg.png)
The 2007 Wealden District Council election took place on 3 May 2007 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]
Background
[edit]At the 2003 election the Conservatives held control of the council with 34 seats, compared to 15 for the Liberal Democrats and 6 independents.[2] However, in September 2006 Liberal Democrat councillor Stephen Shing was expelled from the Liberal Democrats and continued on the council as an independent.[3]
The Conservatives took 4 seats without any opposition and were also guaranteed seats in other wards where there were not enough candidates from other parties for the number of seats being contested.[4] The returning officer for Wealden, Charlie Lant, formed a band called The Council Tax Band with other council officers and performed a song called Vote! in an effort to boost turnout at the election.[5][6]
An important issue at the election was a legal loophole, which was allowing developers to build increased numbers of houses in the area.[4]
Election result
[edit]The Conservatives held control of the council staying on 34 seats, but both the Conservative leader of the council Nigel Coltman and the Liberal Democrat group leader Laura Murphy were defeated.[7] The Liberal Democrats lost 2 seats, dropping to 12 councillors, while independents remained on 7 seats and the Green party won its first councillors on the council after gaining 2 seats.[8][9][10] Overall turnout at the election was 38.51%,[11] up from 35% in 2003.[12]
The Conservative leader Nigel Coltman was defeated by Liberal Democrat Brian Cook in Hailsham East by a 55-vote majority, with the Conservatives also losing 2 seats to the Greens in Forest Row.[7] However the Conservatives did not suffer a net loss of seats as they also made gains including defeating the Liberal Democrat group leader Laura Murphy in Hailsham Central and North.[7] The Liberal Democrats did gain a seat in Polegate South from an independent by 1 vote, but Stephen Shing was re-elected as an independent in Willingdon, while Shing's son Daniel also gained a seat in the same ward and Shing's wife Oi Lin gained one in Polegate North.[7]
Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | 34 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 61.8 | 54.6 | 36,928 | +5.2% | |
Liberal Democrats | 12 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 21.8 | 23.4 | 15,820 | -11.6% | |
Independent | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 12.7 | 15.0 | 10,153 | +5.5% | |
Green | 2 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3.6 | 6.0 | 4,082 | +4.1% | |
Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.6 | 424 | -3.3% | |
English Democrat | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 | 190 | +0.3% | |
UKIP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 57 | -0.1% |
Ward results
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Keith Whitehead | 707 | 71.8 | +4.5 | |
Liberal Democrats | Christine Page | 277 | 28.2 | −4.5 | |
Majority | 430 | 43.7 | +9.1 | ||
Turnout | 984 | 48.5 | −1.0 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Norman Buck | 1,203 | |||
Conservative | Ken Ogden | 1,115 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Michael Cooper | 394 | |||
Turnout | 2,712 | 39.0 | +2.8 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Barby Dashwood-Hall | 628 | 66.2 | ||
Liberal Democrats | Barbara Holbrook | 321 | 33.8 | ||
Majority | 307 | 32.4 | |||
Turnout | 949 | 42.3 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Jonica Fox | unopposed | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Sylvia Tidy | 581 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Jane Clark | 579 | |||
Conservative | Pat Kennedy | 565 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Ian Mein | 510 | |||
Green | Sarah Hale | 185 | |||
Green | Scott Mason | 133 | |||
Turnout | 2,553 | 33.5 | +6.0 | ||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | ||||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Martin Prestage | 222 | 45.0 | +6.2 | |
Conservative | John Stevens | 215 | 43.6 | +21.5 | |
Green | Colin Stocks | 56 | 11.4 | +11.4 | |
Majority | 7 | 1.4 | |||
Turnout | 493 | 25.3 | −3.5 | ||
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Chantal Wilson | 1,108 | |||
Conservative | David Larkin | 739 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Adrian Morris | 530 | |||
Turnout | 2,377 | 37.9 | +2.1 | ||
Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Jim Hollins | 469 | 59.4 | −15.9 | |
English Democrat | Paul Adams | 190 | 24.1 | +24.1 | |
Labour | Jean McCarthy | 47 | 6.0 | −1.7 | |
Liberal Democrats | Valerie Banks | 43 | 5.4 | −11.5 | |
Green | Gabrielle Symonds | 40 | 5.1 | +5.1 | |
Majority | 279 | 35.4 | −23.0 | ||
Turnout | 789 | 40.4 | +8.4 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Diane Phillips | 992 | |||
Conservative | Antony Quin | 954 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Edward Willis | 336 | |||
Labour | Brendan Clegg | 192 | |||
Turnout | 2,474 | 34.9 | +2.7 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Roy Galley | unopposed | |||
Conservative | Sylvia Martin | unopposed | |||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Charles Peck | 793 | 81.6 | +13.8 | |
Liberal Democrats | Howard Coote | 179 | 18.4 | −13.8 | |
Majority | 614 | 63.2 | +27.5 | ||
Turnout | 972 | 50.8 | +3.9 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Green | David Jonas | 938 | |||
Green | Vania Phitidis | 877 | |||
Conservative | Rowena Moore | 839 | |||
Conservative | Peter Davey | 826 | |||
Turnout | 3,480 | 46.9 | +13.4 | ||
Green gain from Conservative | Swing | ||||
Green gain from Conservative | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Ann Newton | 704 | 72.6 | +7.7 | |
Liberal Democrats | Steve Hey | 209 | 21.5 | +2.1 | |
UKIP | Keith Riddle | 57 | 5.9 | −9.9 | |
Majority | 495 | 51.0 | +5.5 | ||
Turnout | 970 | 45.3 | +3.1 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Johanna Howell | 1,072 | |||
Conservative | John Padfield | 955 | |||
Green | Keith Obbard | 566 | |||
Turnout | 2,593 | 39.5 | +0.9 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Paul Holbrook | 687 | |||
Conservative | Jo Bentley | 644 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Laura Murphy | 641 | |||
Conservative | Angela Geall | 577 | |||
Independent | John Glover | 291 | |||
Independent | Robin Kempe | 242 | |||
Turnout | 3,082 | 36.1 | +4.0 | ||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Brian Cock | 323 | 54.7 | +29.4 | |
Conservative | Nigel Coltman | 268 | 45.3 | +11.6 | |
Majority | 55 | 9.4 | |||
Turnout | 591 | 30.2 | +3.6 | ||
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Nick Ellwood | 742 | |||
Independent | Ian Haffenden | 690 | |||
Independent | Geoff Rowe | 675 | |||
Conservative | Lynn Bowman | 628 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Anne Blake-Coggins | 606 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Ann Murrey | 599 | |||
Conservative | Arthur Kay | 508 | |||
Conservative | Ginny Heard | 497 | |||
Turnout | 4,945 | 29.1 | +0.4 | ||
Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Independent hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Michael Hoy | 661 | 60.6 | ||
Liberal Democrats | Mike Burbridge | 294 | 27.0 | ||
Green | Heidi Ruse | 135 | 12.4 | ||
Majority | 367 | 33.6 | |||
Turnout | 1,090 | 52.5 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Jan Dunk | unopposed | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Dick Angel | 1,423 | |||
Conservative | Margaret Kirkpatrick | 1,337 | |||
Conservative | Niki Oakes | 1,303 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Jim Benson | 561 | |||
Turnout | 4,624 | 33.2 | +5.0 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | John Blake | 943 | |||
Liberal Democrats | David White | 929 | |||
Conservative | Keith Byatt | 727 | |||
Conservative | James Kennedy | 653 | |||
Turnout | 3,252 | 39.7 | +2.8 | ||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | ||||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Andy Long | 559 | 69.0 | +5.9 | |
Independent | Laurence Keeley | 251 | 31.0 | +31.0 | |
Majority | 308 | 38.0 | +11.8 | ||
Turnout | 810 | 37.6 | +1.1 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Susan Stedman | 570 | 75.1 | +18.2 | |
Liberal Democrats | Lois Norton | 189 | 24.9 | −18.2 | |
Majority | 381 | 50.2 | +36.5 | ||
Turnout | 759 | 36.6 | +3.4 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Brian Redman | 647 | 72.3 | +18.0 | |
Liberal Democrats | Sharon Cottingham | 124 | 13.9 | −31.8 | |
Green | Derek Forman | 124 | 13.9 | +13.9 | |
Majority | 523 | 58.4 | +49.9 | ||
Turnout | 895 | 43.7 | +2.0 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Pam Doodes | 633 | 83.1 | ||
Liberal Democrats | Edward Thompson | 129 | 16.9 | ||
Majority | 504 | 66.2 | |||
Turnout | 762 | 39.2 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Kevin Balsdon | 1,439 | |||
Conservative | Dianne Dear | 1,417 | |||
Conservative | Lin McKeever | 1,312 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Christine Thomas | 893 | |||
Turnout | 5,061 | 31.7 | +2.0 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Oi Shing | 764 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Roy Martin | 683 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Chris Berry | 554 | |||
Independent | John Harmer | 394 | |||
Independent | Gerald Carter | 333 | |||
Conservative | Derrick Wilkins | 271 | |||
Green | Peter Wright | 108 | |||
Turnout | 3,107 | 42.8 | +5.1 | ||
Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | ||||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Don Broadbent | 302 | 36.9 | +5.3 | |
Independent | Ivy Scarborough | 301 | 36.8 | −8.9 | |
Conservative | Anne McIlvenny | 216 | 26.4 | +3.7 | |
Majority | 1 | 0.1 | |||
Turnout | 819 | 41.7 | +3.0 | ||
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Huw Merriman | 620 | 77.7 | +30.3 | |
Liberal Democrats | Graham Morgan | 178 | 22.3 | −23.4 | |
Majority | 442 | 55.4 | +53.6 | ||
Turnout | 798 | 42.7 | +1.0 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Claire Dowling | 542 | 58.0 | +5.3 | |
Liberal Democrats | Dorothy Sparks | 392 | 42.0 | +3.8 | |
Majority | 150 | 16.1 | +1.6 | ||
Turnout | 934 | 40.3 | +5.2 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Julia Hey | 410 | 63.4 | +9.2 | |
Conservative | Terence Clark | 237 | 36.6 | +13.8 | |
Majority | 173 | 26.7 | −4.5 | ||
Turnout | 647 | 31.4 | +0.4 | ||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Paul Sparks | 693 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Alan Whittaker | 532 | |||
Conservative | Michael Lunn | 453 | |||
Conservative | Anne Sabine | 373 | |||
Green | Sam Bryant | 250 | |||
Turnout | 2,301 | 30.0 | +2.2 | ||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | ||||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Robert Sweetland | 469 | 51.6 | −5.6 | |
Conservative | Kim Clark | 440 | 48.4 | +11.7 | |
Majority | 29 | 3.2 | −17.3 | ||
Turnout | 909 | 40.9 | +1.8 | ||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Bob Standley | 1,069 | |||
Conservative | Graham Wells | 1,052 | |||
Green | Beth Martin | 390 | |||
Labour | Bruce Meredeen | 185 | |||
Turnout | 2,696 | 38.4 | +6.4 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Stephen Shing | 2,275 | |||
Independent | Daniel Shing | 2,087 | |||
Conservative | Ron Cussons | 890 | |||
Conservative | Dick Broady | 812 | |||
Conservative | Douglas Murray | 793 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Andy Watkins | 614 | |||
Liberal Democrats | Kay Dewick | 475 | |||
Green | Izzy Riach | 280 | |||
Turnout | 8,226 | 57.1 | +8.4 | ||
Independent hold | Swing | ||||
Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | ||||
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing |
By-elections between 2007 and 2011
[edit]Uckfield New Town
[edit]A by-election was held in Uckfield New Town on 17 July 2008 after Liberal Democrat councillor Julia Hey resigned from the council.[15]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Carol Sweetland | 311 | 47.4 | −16.0 | |
Conservative | John Carvey | 289 | 44.1 | +7.5 | |
UKIP | Michael Pursglove | 56 | 8.5 | +8.5 | |
Majority | 22 | 3.3 | −23.4 | ||
Turnout | 656 | 31.8 | +0.4 | ||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing |
Alfriston
[edit]A by-election was held in Alfriston on 25 September 2008 after Conservative Keith Whitehead stood down from the council.[17] The seat was gained from the Conservatives by Liberal Democrat Andy Watkins with a 30-vote majority, defeating the former Conservative leader of Wealden council, Nigel Coltman who had been trying to return to the council.[17]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Andrew Watkins | 495 | 51.6 | +23.4 | |
Conservative | Nigel Coltman | 465 | 48.4 | −23.4 | |
Majority | 30 | 3.2 | |||
Turnout | 960 | 48.0 | −0.5 | ||
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing |
Heathfield North and Central
[edit]A by-election was held in Heathfield North and Central on 23 September 2010 after the death of Conservative councillor Niki Oakes in June 2010.[18]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Peter Newnham | 802 | 69.2 | −2.5 | |
Liberal Democrats | Jim Benson | 357 | 30.8 | +2.5 | |
Majority | 445 | 38.4 | |||
Turnout | 1,159 | 19.4 | −13.8 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing |
References
[edit]- ^ "Wealden". BBC News Online. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
- ^ "Wealden District Council: Con hold". The Argus. 2 May 2003. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ Harrity, Lisa-Marie (15 September 2006). "Liberal ousted after 30 years". The Argus. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ a b Marzouk, Lawrence (30 April 2007). "Liberal Democrats hope to make gains in Wealden". The Argus. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ "'Rock-and-poll' band boosts vote". BBC News Online. 3 May 2007. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ Gurner, Richard (24 April 2007). "Officials get in the groove for elections". The Argus. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Local elections results across Sussex". The Argus. 5 May 2007. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ Morris, Nigel (5 May 2007). "BNP fails to break into new areas". The Independent. p. 1.
- ^ Woodward, Will; Muir, Hugh (5 May 2007). "Elections 2007: Up close". The Guardian. p. 7.
- ^ "Tories retain control of Wealden". BBC News Online. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ "District election results - May 2007". Wealden District Council. Archived from the original on 5 October 2007. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
- ^ "Tories keep control". Sussex Express. 8 May 2003. Archived from the original on 1 June 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj "District Council election". Wealden District Council. Archived from the original on 14 November 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
- ^ "Results". The Times. 5 May 2007. p. 83.
- ^ "Three fight in by-election". Sussex Express. 26 June 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ a b c "Election Results". Wealden District Council. Archived from the original on 14 November 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ a b c "LibDems win by-election". Sussex Express. 26 September 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ "Niki's legacy set to live on through gong". this is Sussex. 12 November 2010. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2012.