2021 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election

The 2021 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election is due to take place during 2021 to elect members of Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council in England.[9] This election will be held on the same day as other local elections. The election was originally due to take place in May 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10]

Main article: 2021 United Kingdom local elections

2021 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election

6 May 2021
22 of 66 seats (One Third) to Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council 34 seats needed for a majority
Leader Janette Williamson[1] Ian Lewis[2] Party Labour Conservative Leader since 29 June 2020 (2020-06-29)[3] 8 May 2017 (2017-05-08)[4] Leader's seat Liscard Wallasey Last election 10 seats, 35.8% 8 seats, 32.1% Current seats 32 22 Seats needed 2 12   Leader Pat Cleary[5] Phil Gilchrist[6] Party Green Liberal Democrats Leader since 22 May 2014 (2014-05-22)[7] 16 May 2013 (2013-05-16)[8] Leader's seat Birkenhead and Tranmere Eastham Last election 2 seats, 16.7% 2 seats, 11.6% Current seats 2 6 Seats needed 32[n 1] 28[n 1]
Map of wards of 2021 election
Incumbent Leader of the Council Pat Hackett (Labour) No Overall Control

Parties and candidates

Contesting political parties

Party		Leader	Leader since	Leader's ward	Up for re-election?	Last election		This election
						% of votes	Wards	Defending	Prior Composition[11]
	Labour	Janette Williamson	29 June 2020	Liscard	N	35.8%	10	11	32 / 66
	Conservative	Ian Lewis	8 May 2017	Wallasey	Y	32.1%	8	7	22 / 66
	Liberal Democrats	Phil Gilchrist	16 May 2013	Eastham	Y	11.6%	2	2	6 / 66
	Green	Pat Cleary	22 May 2014	Birkenhead and Tranmere	N	16.7%	2	0	2 / 66
	Independent	Moira McLaughlin	22 February 2019[12]	Rock Ferry	N	1.4%	0	2	4 / 66

2020 Candidate selection

In August 2019, incumbent Labour councillor for Prenton Tony Norbury was not approved for candidacy by the Local campaign forum thus was unable to seek re-selection.[13] Former Prenton councillor Angie Davies, who lost her seat in May to the Green's Chris Cooke, was selected as the new Labour candidate in October.[14] The Greens are fielding Harry Gorman who was selected in June.[15]

Tom Usher, the youngest member of council and cabinet member for Children and Families, lost a selection contest in his Liscard Labour branch in October to Dave Brennan by 21 votes to 30.[16] This was criticised by Independent group leader, and former Labour councillor, Moira McLaughlin who perceived Usher as having been “booted out by the hard-left”. Liscard labour chair Edwina Doyle dismissed this notion putting the result down to Usher being “a bit younger and less experienced [than Brennan]”. In January 2020, he was selected to contest the neighboring, Conservative held, ward of Wallasey.[17]

Conservative councillor Chris Blakeley died of cancer on 15 January.[18] A casual vacancy was announced on 6 February with the seat to be filled at the upcoming election when Blakeley's term was due to end.[19] Simon Mountney, who had served alongside Blakeley as a fellow ward councillor from 2004 to 2014, was selected as the Conservative candidate in March.[20][21]

On 6 February, Labour councillor for Bromborough Jo Bird was suspended from the party over alleged anti-Semitism.[22] This means Bird, who is Jewish, would have been unable to seek re-election as a Labour candidate.[23] Bird's suspension was lifted on 14 February.[24]

The Conservatives posted an appeal for candidates on Twitter on 17 February for wards in the Wallasey and Birkenhead constituencies.[25]

2020 Campaign

On 24 February, Leader of the Council Pat Hackett announced he was standing down as both leader and councilor for New Brighton later in the year.[26] This was, however, to be in July after the election was scheduled.[27] Hackett was succeeded as Leader of the Labour Group by his deputy Jeannette Williamson on 29 June 2020.[3]

A leaked internal Labour report released on 3 March 2020 predicted severe loses for the party at the upcoming local elections across the country.[28] Wirral, however, was one of only two authorities (the other being Burnley) seen as a possible gain for Labour with Wirral being the only positive prediction under all models used within the report.[29]

On 13 March it was announced that all elections due to be held in May would be suspended until the following year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10]

2021 Candidate selection

Chase Newton was selected as the Lib Dem candidate for Bromborough on 23 July 2020 succeeding Vicky Downie who stood down due to personal reasons.[30] Downie had been the parties candidate in the ward for the previous three elections.[31]

2021 Campaign

An e-newsletter created by the Oxton Labour Party revealed that it and the rest of the Birkenhead constituency party where not delivering leaflets due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[32]

Retiring councillors

Ward	Departing Councillor	Party		Ref.
Birkenhead and Tranmere	Jean Stapleton [33]		Labour	[34]
Moreton West and Saughall Massie	Chris Blakeley [35]		Conservative (died on 15 January 2020)	[18]
Prenton	Tony Norbury [36]		Labour (deselected)	[13][14]

Candidates

Candidates so far declared[n 2]:

Bebington

Bebington

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Conservative	Geoff Jones[37]
	Labour	Christina Muspratt[38]
	Green	Jason Walsh[39]

Bidston and St James

Bidston and St James

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±

Birkenhead and Tranmere

Birkenhead and Tranmere

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Green	Emily Gleaves[40]
	Labour	Sue Mahoney[34]

Bromborough

Bromborough

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Labour	Jo Bird[41]
	Liberal Democrats	Chase Newton[30]

Clatterbridge

Clatterbridge

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Labour	Kieran Morgan[42]
	Conservative	Cherry Povall[43]

Claughton

Claughton

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±

Eastham

Eastham

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±

Greasby, Frankby and Irby

Greasby, Frankby and Irby

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±

Heswall

Heswall

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±

Hoylake and Meols

Hoylake and Meols

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±

Leasowe and Moreton East

Leasowe and Moreton East

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Conservative	Debbie Caplin[44]
	Labour	Anita Leech[45]

Liscard

Liscard

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Labour	Dave Brennan[16]

Moreton West and Saughall Massie

Moreton West and Saughall Massie

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Conservative	Simon Mountney[21]
	Labour	Stan Webster[46]

New Brighton

New Brighton

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Conservative	Darren May[47]

Oxton

Oxton

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Labour	Paul Jobson[48]

Pensby and Thingwall

Pensby and Thingwall

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Conservative	Ivan Camphor[49]
	Labour	Tim Watson[50]

Prenton

Prenton

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Labour	Angie Davies[14]
	Green	Harry Gorman[15]

Rock Ferry

Rock Ferry

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Labour	Clare O'Hagan[51]

Seacombe

Seacombe

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Labour	Paul Stuart[52]

Upton

Upton

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Conservative	Emma Sellman[53]

Wallasey

Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Conservative	Ian Lewis[54]
	Labour	Tom Usher[17] [n 3]

West Kirby and Thurstaston

West Kirby and Thurstaston

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±

Notes

• italics denote the sitting councillor

1. Only 22 (or one third) of seats are scheduled for election thus party is unable to gain a majority.
2. The postponement of the election may change candidate selection.[10]
3. Incumbent councillor for Liscard ward.

References

1. "Councillor Janette Williamson". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
2. "Councillor Ian Lewis". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
3. Cllr Jan Williamson #listentoexperts (29 June 2020). "Cllr Jan Williamson #listentoexperts on Twitter". Twitter. @J__Williamson. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
4. Marles, Leigh (8 May 2017). "Wirral Council Conservative group has a new leader – Jeff Green ousted after 15-year reign". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
5. "Councillor Pat Cleary". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
6. "Councillor Phil Gilchrist". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
7. Murphy, Liam (23 May 2014). "Green party enjoy shock Birkenhead success in Wirral elections". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
8. Cureton, Stephanie (16 May 2013). "New leader for Wirral Liberal Democrats". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
9. "Elections". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
10. "Local elections postponed for a year over coronavirus". BBC News. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
11. "Councillors". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
12. Houghton, Tom (22 February 2019). "The UK's newest Independent Group has been created by fed-up politicians – right here on Merseyside". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
13. Justice, Julian (9 August 2019). "It's a 'No' to Norbury". Wirral Leaks. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
14. Wirral Young Labour (19 October 2019). "Wirral Young Labour on Twitter". Twitter. @WirralYoungLab. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
15. Gorman, Harry (12 June 2019). "Harry Ross Gorman on Twitter". Twitter. @HarryRossGorman. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
16. Morgan, George (11 October 2019). "Senior council cabinet member deselected in shock move". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
17. "Council Monday, 2nd March 2020 at 6:00pm". Wirral Council Webcasting. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
18. Morgan, George (16 January 2020). "Heartfelt tributes follow the death of Wirral councillor Chris Blakeley". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
19. Satoor, Paul. "NOTICE OF CASUAL VACANCY IN THE OFFICE OF COUNCILLOR FOR THE MORETON WEST AND SAUGHALL MASSIE WARD" (PDF). Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
20. "Councillor Simon Mountney". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
21. "Simon Mountney". Wallasey Conservative Association. March 2020. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
22. Tom, Rayner (7 February 2020). "Labour suspends two candidates in governing body election". Sky News. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
23. Thorp, Liam (7 February 2020). "Wirral councillor is suspended by Labour for second time in a year". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
24. SKWAWKBOX (SW) (15 February 2020). "BIRD REINSTATED TO NEC BY-ELECTION". The Skwawkbox. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
25. Wirral's Conservative Councillors (17 February 2020). "Wirral's Conservative Councillors on Twitter". Twitter. @torycouncillors. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
26. Manning, Craig (24 February 2020). "Wirral Council leader Pat Hackett stepping down from politics this year". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
27. "Council - Monday, 2nd March 2020 at 6:00pm". Wirral Council Webcasting. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
28. Watson, Iain (3 March 2020). "Labour: Party 'braced for losses' in May's council elections". BBC News. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
29. Christian (3 March 2020). "Labour local elections leak". Scribd. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
30. Carubia, Chris (3 August 2020). "Meet Our Candidate For Bromborough 2021". Liberal Democrats Wirral. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
31. Teale, Andrew. "Bromborough Ward — Wirral". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
32. Oxton Labour Party (29 July 2020). "Oxton Rose July 2020: Campaigning Going Forward". Facebook. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
33. "Councillor Jean Stapleton". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
34. Norbury, Tony (2 November 2019). "Cllr Tony Norbury on Twitter". Twitter. @TonyNorbury2. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
35. "Councillor Chris Blakeley". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
36. "Councillor Tony Norbury". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
37. Wirral's Conservative Councillors (21 September 2019). "Wirral's Conservative Councillors on Twitter". Twitter. @torycouncillors. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
38. Bebington Labour Action Team (12 February 2020). "Bebington Labour Action Team on Twitter". Twitter. @BebingtonLabour. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
39. Walsh, Jason (14 August 2019). "Jason Walsh on Twitter". Twitter. @WirralWalsh. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
40. Wirral Green Party (October 2019), Green View #78 Birkenhead and Tranmere, Leaflet Frog
41. New Ferry & Bromborough Labour Party (27 February 2020). "New Ferry & Bromborough Labour Party on Twitter". Twitter. @LabourBromNF. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
42. Wirral Young Labour (10 July 2019). "Wirral Young Labour on Twitter". Twitter. @WirralYoung. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
43. Wirral's Conservative Councillors (17 August 2019). "Wirral's Conservative Councillors on Twitter". Twitter. @torycouncillors. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
44. Lewis, Ian (27 July 2019). "Ian Lewis on Twitter". Twitter. @ianlewis675. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
45. Wirral Young Labour (10 August 2019). "Wirral Young Labour on Twitter". Twitter. @WirralYoung. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
46. Collinge, Elizabeth (3 October 2019). "Elizabeth Collinge on Twitter". Twitter. @kizzymay58. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
47. "Darren May". Wallasey Conservative Association. March 2020. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
48. "Oxton Labour Party's post". Facebook. Oxton Labour Party. 26 January 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
49. Camphor, Ivan (24 August 2019). "Ivan Camphor on Twitter". Twitter. @IvanCamphor. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
50. "Pensby and Thingwall Labour Party's post". Facebook. Pensby and Thingwall Labour Party. 20 October 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
51. Rock Ferry Labour (14 February 2020). "Rock Ferry Labour on Twitter". Twitter. @LabourRock. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
52. Eagle, Angela (7 March 2020). "Angela Eagle on Twitter". Twitter. @angelaeagle. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
53. "Emma Sellman". Wirral West and Wirral South Conservatives. Archived from the original on 9 February 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
54. Wirral's Conservative Councillors (12 August 2019). "Wirral's Conservative Councillors on Twitter". Twitter. @torycouncillors. Retrieved 12 August 2019.