2011 Swindon Borough Council election

The 2011 Swindon Borough Council election took place on 5 May 2011 to elect members of Swindon Unitary Council in Wiltshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council.[1]

Map of the results of the 2011 Swindon council election. Conservatives in blue, Labour in red and Liberal Democrats in yellow. Wards in grey were not contested in 2011.

After the election, the composition of the council was

Background

Before the election the Conservatives controlled the council with 40 seats, compared to 15 for Labour and 4 for the Liberal Democrats.[2] 20 of the 59 seats were being contested, with the winners only serving for one year as the 2012 election would see every seat being contested after boundary changes.[2] Since the 2010 election Labour had gained Moredon in a by-election and had the independent, former Conservative, councillor Steve Wakefield of Toothill and Westlea ward join the party, both in November 2010.[3][4]

During the campaign both the national Labour leader Ed Miliband and the Labour Shadow Works and Pensions Secretary Liam Byrne visited Swindon to support the local party.[5][6]

Election result

The results saw the Conservatives stay in control of the council with 38 seats, but lose 2 seats to Labour, who moved to 17 seats.[7][8] Labour gained the seats of St Philip and Walcot from the Conservatives, while coming close in Eastcott against the Liberal Democrats and in Covingham and Nythe, Dorcan and Freshbrook and Grange Park, which were held by the Conservatives.[7] The Labour victory in Walcot defeated the Conservative cabinet member Peter Mallinson, with the winning candidate Ellen Osa becoming the first female black councillor in Swindon.[8] Overall turnout at the election was 38.26%,[9] ranging from a high of 46.08% in Highworth to a low of 29.62% in Parks.[10]

The outgoing leader of the Labour group, Derique Montaut, said the results meant that "For Labour it builds us up to a situation where we are moving up to 2012 and taking control of the council".[7] However the Conservative leader of the council, Ron Bluh, said that while "It obviously wasn't one of the better nights", the seats lost had been the "two most marginal seats" and "so there's no great surprise".[8]

Following the election Jim Grant was elected as the new leader of the Labour group on the council, defeating Mark Dempsey and Bob Wright.[11]

Swindon Local Election Result 2011[9]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 10 0 2 -2 50.0 41.4 23,985 -1.1%
  Labour 9 2 0 +2 45.0 38.8 22,486 +8.3%
  Liberal Democrats 1 0 0 0 5.0 10.1 5,863 -11.7%
  UKIP 0 0 0 0 0 6.0 3,464 +4.0%
  Green 0 0 0 0 0 2.1 1,243 +1.0%
  Independent 0 0 0 0 0 1.4 805 +1.2%
  BNP 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 73 -1.8%
  SDP 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 33 +0.1%

Ward results
Abbey Meads[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Peter Stoddart 2,610 60.4 +5.2
Labour Mark Viner 1,109 25.6 +5.7
Liberal Democrats Aneta Golebiewska 368 8.5 -13.2
UKIP Gary Belben 237 5.5 +2.3
Majority 1,501 34.7 +1.2
Turnout 4,324 31.3
Conservative hold Swing -0.3
Central[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Derique Montaut 1,829 64.9 +12.1
Conservative Paul Gregory 471 16.7 -9.2
Liberal Democrats Gary Porter 213 7.6 -7.5
Green Robert Heritage 155 5.5 +2.5
UKIP Eleanor Pomagalski 95 3.4 +3.4
Independent Karsten Evans 55 2.0 +0.7
Majority 1,358 48.2 +21.3
Turnout 2,818 34.3
Labour hold Swing +10.6
Covingham and Nythe[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Emma Faramarzi 1,354 43.2 -1.3
Labour Peter Watts 1,205 38.4 +7.5
UKIP Corinna Allen 352 11.2 +3.0
Liberal Democrats Christopher Ward 224 7.1 -9.4
Majority 149 4.8 -8.8
Turnout 3,135 44.3
Conservative hold Swing -4.4
Dorcan[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Andrew Albinson 1,366 47.5 +6.1
Labour Gerard Meheran 1,193 41.5 +10.3
Liberal Democrats Clive Hooper 166 5.8 -8.3
Green Simon Smith 152 5.3 +3.5
Majority 173 6.0 -4.3
Turnout 2,877 43.4
Conservative hold Swing -2.1
Eastcott[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Democrats Nicola Sewell 1,213 39.3 -6.5
Labour Christopher Watts 1,091 35.4 +9.5
Conservative David Gould 501 16.2 -7.0
Green John Hughes 185 6.0 +0.9
UKIP Vincent Pomagalski 94 3.0 +3.0
Majority 122 4.0 -16.0
Turnout 3,084 38.2
Liberal Democrats hold Swing -8.0
Freshbrook and Grange Park[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Michael Dickinson 1,320 45.0 -1.3
Labour Neil Heavens 1,046 35.7 +8.4
Liberal Democrats Heidi Teague 331 11.3 -15.2
UKIP John Lenton 237 8.1 +8.1
Majority 274 9.3 -9.7
Turnout 2,934 39.3
Conservative hold Swing -4.8
Gorse Hill and Pinehurst[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour John Ballman 1,257 59.7 +16.3
Conservative Wendy Welch 474 22.5 -5.6
Liberal Democrats Lynda Barber 179 8.5 -10.7
UKIP Robin Tingey 122 5.8 +5.8
BNP Reginald Bates 73 3.5 -5.8
Majority 783 37.2 +21.9
Turnout 2,105 30.3
Labour hold Swing -10.9
Haydon Wick[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Claire Ellis 1,766 55.5 +5.7
Labour Timothy Page 947 29.8 +3.6
UKIP Edmund Gerrard 259 8.1 +3.2
Liberal Democrats David Pajak 209 6.6 -12.6
Majority 819 25.7 +2.1
Turnout 3,181 40.6
Conservative hold Swing +1.0
Highworth[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Alan Bishop 1,662 54.7 +7.5
Labour Hazel Beaumont 951 31.3 +3.8
Liberal Democrats Jennifer Shorten 249 8.2 -12.4
Green Andrew Day 179 5.9 +1.2
Majority 711 23.4 +3.7
Turnout 3,041 46.1
Conservative hold Swing +1.8
Moredon[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Jennifer Millin 1,142 43.8 +9.0
Conservative Toby Elliott 1,091 41.8 +2.4
UKIP Kathleen Webb 237 9.1 +9.1
Liberal Democrats Tracy Ockley 137 5.3 -13.3
Majority 51 2.0
Turnout 2,607 35.2
Labour hold Swing +3.3
Old Town and Lawn[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Fionuala Foley 2,249 53.1 +3.7
Labour Cindy Matthews 1,040 24.5 +5.6
Liberal Democrats Joan Mortimer 446 10.5 -13.2
Green Denis Harrison 261 6.2 +1.8
UKIP Noel Gardner 243 5.7 +2.1
Majority 1,209 28.5 +2.8
Turnout 4,239 44.4
Conservative hold Swing -0.9
Parks[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Fay Howard 1,115 53.7 +10.6
Conservative Timothy Swinyard 383 18.4 -8.6
UKIP Terence Hayward 193 9.3 +2.7
Independent Graham Cherry 179 8.6 +8.6
Liberal Democrats Catherine Smith 100 4.8 -9.8
Green David Miles 75 3.6 +1.9
SDP Stephen Halden 33 1.6 +1.6
Majority 732 35.2 +19.2
Turnout 2,078 29.6
Labour hold Swing +9.6
Penhill[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Paul Baker 737 52.3 +17.9
Liberal Democrats Trevor Smith 393 27.9 -11.6
Conservative Jaki Fairbrother 217 15.4 -4.1
Independent Caroline Dollery 61 4.3 +4.3
Majority 344 24.4
Turnout 1,408 31.8
Labour hold Swing +14.2
Shaw and Nine Elms[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Garry Perkins 1,424 52.0 -2.2
Labour Michael Heal 769 28.1 +5.9
Liberal Democrats James Farr 344 12.6 -11.0
UKIP Robert Feal-Martinez 200 7.3 +7.3
Majority 655 23.9 -6.7
Turnout 2,737 38.8
Conservative hold Swing -4.0
St Margaret[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Russell Holland 1,609 51.5 +3.9
Labour Nigel Chalk 1,046 33.5 +3.7
UKIP Margaret Thompson-Watt 269 8.6 +8.6
Liberal Democrats Deborah King 199 6.4 -16.2
Majority 563 18.0 +0.1
Turnout 3,123 38.5
Conservative hold Swing +0.1
St Philip[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Joseph Tray 1,540 49.8 +9.5
Conservative Paul Findlow 1,207 39.0 -2.4
UKIP Peter Thompson-Watt 228 7.4 +7.4
Liberal Democrats Ann Richards 119 3.8 -14.5
Majority 333 10.8
Turnout 3,094 42.9
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +5.9
Toothill and Westlea[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Stephen Wakefield 978 42.8 +16.8
Conservative Daniel Bissex 946 41.4 -19.3
Liberal Democrats Christopher Shepherd 140 6.1 -7.1
UKIP Tiffany Pomagalski 122 5.3 +5.3
Green Marilyn Harrison 97 4.2 +4.2
Majority 32 1.4
Turnout 2,283 39.9
Labour hold Swing +18.0
Walcot[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Ellen Osa 1,063 48.9 +10.6
Conservative Peter Mallinson 768 35.3 -10.9
Liberal Democrats Kathleen McCarthy 204 9.4 -6.1
Green Jennifer Miles 139 6.4 +6.4
Majority 295 13.6
Turnout 2,174 38.8
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +10.7
Western[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Des Moffatt 1,692 58.1 +14.7
Conservative John Haines 752 25.8 -5.1
UKIP Gregory Heathcliffe 262 9.0 +9.0
Liberal Democrats Geoffrey King 208 7.1 -10.3
Majority 940 32.3 +19.8
Turnout 2,914 34.6
Labour hold Swing +9.9
Wroughton and Chiseldon[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Wayne Crabbe 1,815 47.8 -4.3
Labour Geraint Day 736 19.4 -5.2
Independent William Hurst 510 13.4 +13.4
Liberal Democrats Victor Godman 421 11.1 -12.2
UKIP Susan Cassell 314 8.3 +8.3
Majority 1,079 28.4 +0.9
Turnout 3,796 45.8
Conservative hold Swing +0.4
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References
  1. "England council elections". BBC News Online. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  2. "Swindon elections: Town stands by for a voting Bonanza". Swindon Advertiser. 13 April 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  3. "Labour gains in latest by-elections". The Independent. 5 November 2010. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  4. Ogle, Roger (15 November 2010). "Toothill councillor joins Swindon Labour Party". Link Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  5. Edwards, Matthew (27 April 2011). "Labour big hitter on the campaign trail in Toothill". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  6. "Ed Miliband aims to win back Swindon". Swindon Advertiser. 10 April 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  7. Kula, Adam (6 May 2011). "Local election: Labour enjoys double success". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  8. "Swindon Borough Council remains under Tory control". BBC News Online. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  9. "Election of Borough Councillors for the Electoral Divisions of Swindon Borough Council: Summary of Results" (PDF). Swindon Borough Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  10. Kula, Adam (6 May 2011). "Local Elections: Apathy is the winner in election". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  11. Kula, Adam (9 May 2011). "Councillor Jim Grant to take over from Derique Montaut". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
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