2008 Wyre Forest District Council election

The 2008 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party gained overall control of the council from no overall control.[1]

Map of the results of the 2008 Wyre Forest District Council election. Conservatives in blue, Liberal in orange, Health Concern in pink and Liberal Democrats in yellow. Wards in grey were not contested in 2008.

After the election, the composition of the council was

Campaign

Before the election the Conservatives ran the council as a minority administration with them holding 18 seats, as compared to 10 for Health Concern, 7 Liberals, 3 Labour, 2 Liberal Democrats and 2 independents.[3] 14 seats were contested at the election with the Conservatives defending 6, Liberals 3, independents 2 and Health Concern, Labour and Liberal Democrats 1 each.[3]

The Conservatives needed to gain 4 seats to win a majority,[4] but Health Concern were also hoping to make gains to take over as largest party on the council.[5] Health Concern campaigned on issues including bringing more entertainment facilities to the council area and opposing a new fleet of black taxis, as well as their health policies.[5]

Election result

The Conservatives won a majority on the council for the first time since 1979,[6] after gaining 4 more seats to end the election with 22 councillors, while Health Concern stayed second with 10 seats.[7] Among the Conservative gains were Mumshad Ahmed in Broadwaters ward, who became the first Asian councillor in Wyre Forest, and Julian Phillips in Bewdley and Arley, who became a councillor at the age of 23.[7] Both Labour and the Liberals lost one seat to the Conservatives, while the two independent councillors were defeated.[8][9]

The Conservatives described the results as an endorsement of their record,[9] while Labour saw them as being due to anti-government feeling.[8] The results were also reported as being a sign that the Conservatives could gain the parliamentary constituency at the next general election from Health Concern's Richard Taylor.[10]

Wyre Forest local election result 2008[11]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 10 4 0 +4 71.4 41.1 10,155 +5.4%
  Liberal 2 0 1 -1 14.3 10.4 2,579 +0.0%
  Health Concern 1 0 0 0 7.1 24.7 6,100 -6.1%
  Liberal Democrats 1 0 0 0 7.1 6.3 1,565 +0.3%
  Labour 0 0 1 -1 0 13.8 3,418 -2.0%
  Independent 0 0 2 -2 0 3.6 885 +3.1%

Ward results
Aggborough and Spennells[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Helen Dyke 913 50.0 +10.3
Conservative Chris Rogers 516 28.3 -4.4
Health Concern Ken Henderson 288 15.8 -5.5
Labour Adrian Sewell 109 6.0 -0.4
Majority 397 21.7 +14.7
Turnout 1,826 35.0 -3.1
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Areley Kings[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mike Partridge 666 35.2 +2.1
Labour James Shaw 621 32.8 -0.4
Health Concern Chris Thomas 552 29.2 -4.5
Liberal Iain Price 54 2.9 +2.9
Majority 45 2.4
Turnout 1,893 40.9 -0.3
Conservative hold Swing
Bewdley and Arley[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Julian Phillips 917 42.1 -4.3
Independent Louise Edginton 518 23.8 +23.8
Health Concern Derek Killingworth 435 20.0 -8.3
Labour Bill Mason 306 14.1 -4.5
Majority 399 18.3 +0.2
Turnout 2,176 41.0 +2.0
Conservative gain from Independent Swing
Broadwaters[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mumshad Ahmed 617 32.5 +7.2
Health Concern Linda Candlin 471 24.8 -16.9
Liberal Shazu Miah 445 23.4 +3.2
Labour Dan Watson 184 9.7 -3.1
Majority 146 7.7
Turnout 1,901 29.9 -8.2
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing
Franche[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jeff Baker 1,120 54.9 +4.5
Health Concern Raymond Barber 541 26.5 -0.3
Labour Lee Wright 302 14.8 -3.9
Liberal Alane Harvey 77 3.8 -0.4
Majority 579 28.4 +4.8
Turnout 2,040 37.8 -1.9
Conservative hold Swing
Greenhill[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Graham Ballinger 919 52.2 -0.1
Health Concern Lynne Wainewright 355 20.2 -5.5
Conservative Ammar Ahmad 333 18.9 +3.1
Labour Peter Nielsen 154 8.7 +8.7
Majority 564 32.0 +5.4
Turnout 1,761 29.5 -1.6
Liberal hold Swing
Habberley and Blakebrook[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ken Prosser 827 39.6 +11.1
Labour Barry McFarland 550 26.4 -9.2
Health Concern Nigel Addison 452 21.7 -9.3
Liberal Democrats Vicky Dixon 258 12.4 +12.4
Majority 277 13.2
Turnout 2,087 40.0 +0.2
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Lickhill[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Health Concern Brian Glass 924 49.6 -5.5
Conservative David Little 743 39.9 +8.1
Labour Cedric Smith 196 10.5 -0.1
Majority 181 9.7 -13.6
Turnout 1,863 34.0 -1.5
Health Concern hold Swing
Mitton[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Holden 916 46.2 +4.0
Health Concern Jim Parish 765 38.6 -4.0
Labour Gary Watson 227 11.5 +0.9
Liberal Democrats Mike Dixon 73 3.7 -0.9
Majority 151 7.6
Turnout 1,981 34.0 -0.7
Conservative hold Swing
Offmore and Comberton[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Frances Oborski 1,027 51.9 +7.6
Conservative Gillian Onslow 545 27.5 -6.3
Health Concern Gill Smith 241 12.2 -2.1
Labour Matthew Nicholls 166 8.4 +0.8
Majority 482 24.4 +13.9
Turnout 1,979 37.0 -0.8
Liberal hold Swing
Oldington and Foley Park[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nathan Desmond 510 50.4 +11.9
Health Concern Peter Young 210 20.8 -2.2
Liberal Democrats Samantha Walker 152 15.0 -6.8
Labour Paul Mills 139 13.7 -2.9
Majority 300 29.6 +14.1
Turnout 1,011 27.9 -3.2
Conservative hold Swing
Rock[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Douglas Godwin 606 62.3 +16.0
Independent John Simmonds 367 37.7 -16.0
Majority 239 24.6
Turnout 973 48.0 +1.8
Conservative gain from Independent Swing
Sutton Park[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Marcus Hart 1,118 59.6 +12.3
Health Concern John Griffiths 414 22.1 -4.5
Labour David Prain 175 9.3 -1.5
Liberal Democrats Adrian Beavis 169 9.0 -6.3
Majority 704 37.5 +16.8
Turnout 1,876 34.0 -1.2
Conservative hold Swing
Wribbenhall[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Arthur Buckley 721 47.5 -4.2
Health Concern Liz Davies 452 29.8 +0.8
Labour Paul Gittins 289 19.0 -0.3
Liberal Alexander Harvey 57 3.8 +3.8
Majority 269 17.7 -5.0
Turnout 1,519 39.2 +0.7
Conservative hold Swing

By-elections between 2008 and 2010

Lickhill

A by-election was held in Lickhill on 10 September 2009 after the death of Health Concern councillor Jill Fairbrother-Millis.[12] The seat was held for Health Concern by Jim Parish with a majority of 131 votes over Conservative Chris Rogers.[12]

Lickhill by-election 10 September 2009[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Health Concern Jim Parish 643 48.1 -1.5
Conservative Chris Rogers 512 38.3 -1.6
Labour Jenny Knowles 140 10.5 +0.0
Liberal Democrats Clare Cassidy 41 3.1 +3.1
Majority 131 9.8 +0.1
Turnout 1,336 24.4 -9.6
Health Concern hold Swing

Areley Kings

A by-election was held in Areley Kings on 10 December 2009 after the death of Conservative councillor Mike Partridge.[13][14] The seat was gained for Labour by James Shaw with a majority of 123 votes over Health Concern candidate Gary Talbot.[14][15]

Areley Kings by-election 10 December 2009[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Shaw 544 38.3 +5.5
Health Concern Gary Talbot 421 29.6 +0.4
Conservative Kenneth Henderson 394 27.7 -7.5
UKIP Anthony Baker 63 4.4 +4.4
Majority 123 8.6
Turnout 1,422 31.0 -9.9
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

References
  1. "Wyre Forest". BBC News Online. 19 April 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  2. "Local elections: Results: Voters in the cities and the shires have their say in the ballot box". The Guardian. 2 May 2008. p. 7.
  3. "Council candidates: full list". Malvern Gazette. 8 April 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  4. "Key battles for local councils". BBC News Online. 25 April 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  5. Bradley, Paul (16 April 2008). "Tory rule is so bad for Health". Birmingham Mail. p. 14.
  6. Kirkup, James (2 May 2008). "Cameron's Tories predicting more than 200 gains". The Daily Telegraph. p. 4.
  7. "Local elections: Blue tide sweeps 23-year-old into council seat". Birmingham Post. 3 May 2008. p. 3.
  8. "Tories gain 'weathervane' council". BBC News Online. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  9. "Tories take overall control of Wyre Forest". Malvern Gazette. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  10. Walker, Jonathan (3 May 2008). "Local elections: Conservatives hammer Labour". Birmingham Post. p. 4.
  11. "District Council Election Results 2008". Wyre Forest District Council. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  12. "ICHC candidate wins Lickhill by-election". The Shuttle. NewsBank. 11 September 2009.
  13. "Town's shock at sudden death of popular former mayor". Worcester News. NewsBank. 22 October 2009.
  14. Land, Jon (11 December 2009). "Huge boost for Labour in latest council by-elections". 24dash.com. Archived from the original on 16 December 2009. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  15. "Declaration of result of poll" (PDF). Wyre Forest District Council. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
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