2008 Colchester Borough Council election
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20 out of 60 seats to Colchester Borough Council 31 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Turnout | 34.5% (![]() | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Colchester_UK_local_election_2008_map.svg/300px-Colchester_UK_local_election_2008_map.svg.png)
The 2008 Colchester Borough Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Colchester Borough Council in Essex, 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]
After the election, the composition of the council was
- Conservative 27
- Liberal Democrats 23
- Labour 7
- Independent 3[2]
Background
[edit]After the last election in 2007 the Conservatives held half of the seats on the council with 30 councillors, while the Liberal Democrats had 21 seats, Labour 6 seats and there were 3 independents.[3] However, in July 2007, 2 Liberal Democrat councilors, Craig and Terry Sutton, defected to the Conservatives after falling out with the local Liberal Democrat Member of parliament Bob Russell over a new community stadium.[4] This gave the Conservatives a majority on the council with 32 of the 60 seats.[5]
20 seats were contested at the election, with the Conservatives defending 12 of the seats.[6] A total of 82 candidates stood at the election, including full slates from the Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Labour and Green parties, along with one candidate from the British National Party.[5]
Election result
[edit]The Conservatives lost their majority on the council after losing 5 seats, 4 to the Liberal Democrats and 1 to Labour.[7] Among those who lost seats were 2 members of the Conservative council cabinet, while Craig Sutton in Berechurch lost his seat to Labour after having defected to the Conservatives from the Liberal Democrats in 2007.[7] Conservative defeats were attributed to high levels of housebuilding in the area, with the Conservatives dropping to 27 seats, while the Liberal Democrats rose to 23 seats and Labour went up to 7 seats.[7] Meanwhile, the British National Party came fourth in High Woods ward with 131 votes after putting up the party's first candidate for Colchester council.[8] Overall turnout at the election was 34.5%.[9]
Following the election the Liberal Democrat, Labour and independent groups made a deal to take control over the council from the Conservatives, with Liberal Democrat Anne Turrell becoming the new leader of the council.[10]
2008 Colchester Borough Council election[1][11] | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | This election | Full council | This election | |||||||
Seats | Net | Seats % | Other | Total | Total % | Votes | Votes % | +/− | ||
Conservative | 7 | ![]() |
35.0 | 20 | 27 | 45.0 | 13,142 | 37.3 | –4.5 | |
Liberal Democrats | 9 | ![]() |
45.0 | 14 | 23 | 38.3 | 13,111 | 37.2 | +7.9 | |
Labour | 3 | ![]() |
15.0 | 4 | 7 | 11.7 | 4,593 | 13.0 | –3.3 | |
Independent | 1 | ![]() |
5.0 | 2 | 3 | 5.0 | 1,247 | 3.5 | +0.4 | |
Green | 0 | ![]() |
0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 3,012 | 8.5 | –1.0 |
Ward results
[edit]Berechurch
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Kim Naish | 735 | 37.0 | −12.7 | |
Liberal Democrats | John Stevens | 682 | 34.3 | +8.5 | |
Conservative | Craig Sutton* | 435 | 21.9 | +3.1 | |
Green | Philippa Lane | 136 | 6.8 | +1.0 | |
Majority | 53 | 2.7 | −21.2 | ||
Turnout | 1,988 | 33.5 | +0.8 | ||
Registered electors | 5,939 | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | ![]() |
Castle
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | William Spyvee* | 1,111 | 45.2 | +4.2 | |
Green | Peter Lynn | 779 | 31.7 | −0.6 | |
Conservative | Darius Laws | 434 | 17.6 | −2.9 | |
Labour | John Cooke | 136 | 5.5 | −0.7 | |
Majority | 332 | 13.5 | +4.8 | ||
Turnout | 2,460 | 38.1 | +0.7 | ||
Registered electors | 6,460 | ||||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | ![]() |
Dedham & Langham
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Garnett* | 895 | 82.8 | +3.8 | |
Liberal Democrats | Carolyn Catney | 102 | 9.4 | −4.9 | |
Labour | Andrew Maxwell | 46 | 4.3 | −2.4 | |
Green | Sandra Moog | 38 | 3.5 | +3.5 | |
Majority | 793 | 73.4 | +8.8 | ||
Turnout | 1,081 | 45.6 | −8.1 | ||
Registered electors | 2,372 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ![]() |
East Donyland
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Michael Lilley | 351 | 42.8 | −1.1 | |
Conservative | Peter Hare | 344 | 42.0 | +11.7 | |
Liberal Democrats | Barry Woodward | 67 | 8.2 | −1.3 | |
Green | Tracy Lee-Newman | 58 | 7.1 | N/A | |
Majority | 7 | 0.9 | −12.6 | ||
Turnout | 820 | 41.2 | −7.7 | ||
Registered electors | 1,992 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing | ![]() |
No Independent candidate as previous (16.3%).
Harbour
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Justin Knight* | 727 | 59.3 | −4.5 | |
Conservative | Barry McConnell | 271 | 22.1 | +4.0 | |
Labour | Michael Gilheany | 141 | 11.5 | −0.1 | |
Green | Stephen Ford | 88 | 7.2 | +0.8 | |
Majority | 456 | 37.2 | −8.5 | ||
Turnout | 1,227 | 27.7 | −2.0 | ||
Registered electors | 4,440 | ||||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | ![]() |
Highwoods
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Beverley Oxford* | 1,247 | 59.5 | +6.9 | |
Conservative | Anne Allan | 320 | 15.3 | −6.1 | |
Liberal Democrats | John Baker | 237 | 11.3 | −4.0 | |
BNP | Patrick Sullivan | 131 | 6.3 | N/A | |
Labour | Jordan Newell | 97 | 4.6 | −1.8 | |
Green | Robert Spence | 63 | 3.0 | −1.4 | |
Majority | 927 | 44.2 | +12.9 | ||
Turnout | 2,095 | 31.4 | +0.5 | ||
Registered electors | 6,681 | ||||
Independent hold | Swing | ![]() |
Lexden
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Michael Hardy | 1,079 | 62.3 | −3.5 | |
Liberal Democrats | John Loxley | 477 | 27.6 | +7.8 | |
Green | Clare Palmer | 104 | 6.0 | +0.6 | |
Labour | Adam Fox | 71 | 4.1 | −1.2 | |
Majority | 602 | 34.8 | −11.2 | ||
Turnout | 1,731 | 41.2 | −5.9 | ||
Registered electors | 4,217 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ![]() |
Marks Tey
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Elizabeth Blundell | 450 | 63.7 | +2.2 | |
Labour | John Wood | 123 | 17.4 | +4.8 | |
Liberal Democrats | Josephine Hayes | 88 | 12.5 | −3.5 | |
Green | Roger Bamforth | 45 | 6.4 | +6.4 | |
Majority | 327 | 46.3 | +0.7 | ||
Turnout | 706 | 34.5 | −6.5 | ||
Registered electors | 2,054 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ![]() |
Mile End
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Martin Goss | 1,500 | 61.1 | +14.0 | |
Conservative | Brian Jarvis* | 790 | 32.2 | −11.2 | |
Green | Mary Bryan | 84 | 3.4 | −0.9 | |
Labour | Rossanna Trudgian | 83 | 3.4 | −1.7 | |
Majority | 710 | 28.9 | +25.1 | ||
Turnout | 2,457 | 39.0 | −0.5 | ||
Registered electors | 6,321 | ||||
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | ![]() |
New Town
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Peter Higgins | 1,046 | 62.6 | +7.0 | |
Conservative | Glenn Bath | 277 | 16.6 | −0.7 | |
Green | Linda Wonnacott | 198 | 11.8 | −4.3 | |
Labour | Luke Dopson | 150 | 9.0 | −2.0 | |
Majority | 769 | 46.0 | +7.7 | ||
Turnout | 1,671 | 27.5 | +0.5 | ||
Registered electors | 6,090 | ||||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | ![]() |
Prettygate
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Beverley Davies | 1,197 | 45.5 | −8.7 | |
Liberal Democrats | Paul Ost | 1,167 | 44.3 | +10.5 | |
Labour | Michael Dale | 142 | 5.4 | −1.6 | |
Green | Peter Appleton | 127 | 4.8 | −0.2 | |
Majority | 30 | 1.1 | −19.3 | ||
Turnout | 2,633 | 44.2 | +0.5 | ||
Registered electors | 5,969 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ![]() |
St. Andrew's
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Tina Dopson* | 837 | 51.2 | −10.4 | |
Liberal Democrats | Mark Warner | 496 | 30.3 | +11.3 | |
Conservative | Alexander Wilson | 240 | 14.7 | −0.4 | |
Green | Andrew Senter | 63 | 3.9 | −0.4 | |
Majority | 341 | 20.8 | −21.8 | ||
Turnout | 1,636 | 24.9 | +0.1 | ||
Registered electors | 6,581 | ||||
Labour hold | Swing | ![]() |
St. Anne's
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Helen Chuah* | 1,049 | 56.5 | +7.2 | |
Conservative | Stephen Levy | 393 | 21.2 | +3.0 | |
Labour | Robert Fisher | 272 | 14.7 | −12.3 | |
Green | Mervyn Carter | 141 | 7.6 | +2.1 | |
Majority | 656 | 35.4 | +13.1 | ||
Turnout | 1,855 | 28.7 | −3.5 | ||
Registered electors | 6,482 | ||||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | ![]() |
St. John's
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Paul Smith* | 1,244 | 71.6 | +9.8 | |
Conservative | Glenn Granger | 389 | 22.4 | −6.8 | |
Labour | Scott Harris | 59 | 3.4 | −1.2 | |
Green | Tobie Glenny | 45 | 2.6 | −1.8 | |
Majority | 855 | 49.2 | +16.7 | ||
Turnout | 1,737 | 42.0 | −1.4 | ||
Registered electors | 4,139 | ||||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | ![]() |
Shrub End
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | David Offen | 822 | 42.9 | +8.4 | |
Conservative | Roger Buston* | 811 | 42.3 | +3.8 | |
Labour | Bruce Tuxford | 196 | 10.2 | −11.5 | |
Green | Walter Schwarz | 89 | 4.6 | −0.8 | |
Majority | 11 | 0.6 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,918 | 30.0 | −1.2 | ||
Registered electors | 6,399 | ||||
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | ![]() |
Stanway
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Laura Sykes | 1,118 | 45.6 | −6.6 | |
Conservative | Andrew Ellis* | 1,063 | 43.3 | +4.7 | |
Labour | Carole Spademan | 176 | 7.2 | +1.1 | |
Green | Pamela Nelson | 96 | 3.9 | +0.7 | |
Majority | 55 | 2.2 | −11.4 | ||
Turnout | 2,453 | 38.8 | +1.1 | ||
Registered electors | 6,339 | ||||
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | ![]() |
Tiptree
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Richard Martin* | 1,116 | 60.5 | −4.9 | |
Liberal Democrats | Jonathan Longman | 345 | 18.7 | +10.4 | |
Labour | Audrey Spencer | 242 | 13.1 | −5.1 | |
Green | Katherine Bamforth | 142 | 7.7 | −0.4 | |
Majority | 771 | 41.8 | −5.4 | ||
Turnout | 1,845 | 30.4 | +0.2 | ||
Registered electors | 6,092 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ![]() |
West Mersea
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Bouckley* | 1,583 | 77.7 | +3.6 | |
Liberal Democrats | Jennifer Stevens | 195 | 9.6 | −0.3 | |
Labour | Barbara Nichols | 139 | 6.8 | −1.9 | |
Green | Beverley Maltby | 120 | 5.9 | −1.4 | |
Majority | 1,388 | 68.1 | +3.8 | ||
Turnout | 2,037 | 34.5 | −0.5 | ||
Registered electors | 5,925 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ![]() |
Wivenhoe Cross
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Jonathan Manning | 506 | 48.4 | +5.9 | |
Conservative | Eugene Kraft* | 377 | 36.1 | −3.8 | |
Green | Maria Iacovou | 83 | 7.9 | −1.0 | |
Labour | Janet Smith | 79 | 7.6 | −1.0 | |
Majority | 129 | 12.3 | +9.7 | ||
Turnout | 1,045 | 29.7 | +2.4 | ||
Registered electors | 3,525 | ||||
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | ![]() |
Wivenhoe Quay
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Ann Quarrie* | 678 | 36.8 | +1.1 | |
Labour | Josephine Richardson | 518 | 28.1 | −7.8 | |
Green | Christopher Fox | 513 | 27.9 | +7.4 | |
Liberal Democrats | Claire Rodgers | 132 | 7.2 | −0.9 | |
Majority | 160 | 8.7 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,841 | 43.8 | −0.6 | ||
Registered electors | 4,219 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | ![]() |
By-elections
[edit]Birch and Winstree
[edit]A by-election took place in Birch and Winstree ward on 4 December 2008 after the death of the Conservative councillor Peter Crowe.[12] Andrew Ellis retained the seat for the Conservatives by a majority of 322 votes.[12]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Andrew Ellis | 745 | 58.1 | −12.1 | |
Liberal Democrats | Jonathan Longman | 423 | 33.0 | +14.1 | |
Labour | James Spencer | 83 | 6.5 | +0.4 | |
Green | Katherine Bamforth | 32 | 2.5 | −2.5 | |
Majority | 322 | 25.1 | |||
Turnout | 1,283 | 29.3 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Colchester". BBC News Online. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ^ "National: Full election results". The Guardian. NewsBank. 3 May 2008.
- ^ "Colchester". BBC News Online. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ^ Wilkin, Chris (11 July 2007). "Colchester: Lib Dems furious at pair's defection to the Tories". The Echo. Archived from the original on 30 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ^ a b "Colchester: BNP candidate stands for election". Daily Gazette. 7 April 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ^ Parkes, Tom (1 May 2008). "Colchester : Town goes to the polls". The Gazette. NewsBank.
- ^ a b c Parkes, Tom (2 May 2008). "Colchester: Tories lose control of council". Daily Gazette. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ^ "North Essex: BNP pledges more candidates". The Gazette. NewsBank. 6 May 2008.
- ^ Hore, James (2 May 2008). "Colchester election results in full". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ^ Orrell, Helen (12 May 2008). "Colchester : names of council cabinet unveiled". The Gazette. NewsBank.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Declaration of result of poll". Colchester Borough Council. Archived from the original on 9 September 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ^ a b c "Colchester: Andrew Ellis wins Birch and Winstree by-election". Daily Gazette. 5 December 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ^ "Local Authority Byelection Results". Archived from the original on 29 March 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2014.