Houston, we’ve had a defection

Posted by David Boothroyd
View David's blog
14 years ago / April 1, 2011

The latest information about local council electoral matters is as follows:

East Midlands

  • Amber Valley borough council: Double vacancy election on 5 May in Heage and Ambergate ward after the resignation of Juliette Blake (Conservative); the terms end in 2015 and 2012. There is also a byelection in Shipley Park, Horsley and Horsley Woodhouse ward on 5 May after the resignation of Nigel Mills, now MP for Amber Valley; term ends 2012.
  • Derby city council: Two wards will be holding double vacancy elections in May. In Abbey ward the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor David Batey means two seats with terms ending in 2015 and 2012 will be filled. In Normanton ward the resignation of Labour councillor Chris Williamson, now MP for Derby North, means that two seats with terms ending in 2015 and 2014 will be filled.
  • Gedling borough council: The Mayor of Gedling, Pat Blandamer (Burton Joyce and Stoke Bardolph ward), has left the Conservative Party to sit and stand for re-election as an Independent, following her deselection.
  • Leicester city council: Nigel Porter, who was elected for the Conservatives in Aylestone ward but left the party in January after being deselected, has joined the Liberal Democrats.
  • Newark and Sherwood district council: Vacancy in Southwell East ward after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Pauline Jenkins. The seat will be vacant until full council elections in May.
  • North West Leicestershire district council: Two seats are vacant. Hugglescote ward has a vacant seat after the resignation of Graham Partner who had been elected as a British National Party councillor, and Measham ward has a vacant seat after Conservative councillor Jason Summerfield was disqualified for failing to attend any meetings in six months. Both will be vacant until full council elections in May.
  • Rutland county council: Vacancy in Cottesmore ward after the resignation of Conservative councillor Susie Iannantuoni. The seat will be vacant until full council elections in May.
  • South Holland district council: Vacancy in Spalding St Paul’s ward, after the disqualification of Conservative councillor Jane Jones for failing to attend any meeting of the council for six months. The seat will be vacant until full council elections in May.

East of England

  • Basildon borough council: There is a double vacancy election on 5 May in Fryerns ward after the resignation of Labour councillor Paul Kirkman. The terms end in 2015 and 2012.
  • Bedford borough council: Vacancy in Harpur ward after the death of veteran Conservative councillor Brian Dillingham. His seat will remain vacant until full council elections in May.
  • Brentwood borough council: There is a double vacancy election in Ingatestone, Mountnessing and Fryerning ward on 5 May after the resignation of Conservative councillor Richard Harrison. Terms end 2015 and 2014.
  • Cambridge city council: There is a double vacancy election in Cherry Hinton ward in May, after the resignation of Labour councillor Stuart Newbold. The terms end in 2015 and 2014.
  • Cambridgeshire county council: Byelection on 5 May in Arbury division after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Rupert Moss-Eccardt. Term ends 2013.
  • Chelmsford borough council: Vacancy in Great Baddow West after the death of former Mayor and Liberal Democrat councillor Margaret Hutchon. Her seat will remain vacant until full council elections in May.
  • East Hertfordshire district council: There are two seats vacant after the deaths of Conservative councillors. They are Duncan Peek of Bishops Stortford Silverleys ward and John Hedley of Hertford Sele ward. Both seats will remain vacant until the full council elections.
  • Essex county council: Byelection on 5 May in Harlow West division after the disqualification of Lee Dangerfield (Conservative) who did not attend any meeting in six months. There is also a vacancy in Chelmsford Central division after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Margaret Hutchon. Both terms end in 2013.
  • Fenland district council: Vacancy in March North ward after the death of former Mayor of March John West, who was a Conservative councillor. His seat will remain vacant until the full council election in May.
  • Harlow borough council: There are two vacancies, in Staple Tye and in Sumners and Kingsmoor ward, due to the resignations of husband and wife Conservative councillors Lee and Sarah Dangerfield respectively. Their seats will remain vacant until the end of their term in May.
  • Hertfordshire county council: Byelection on 5 May in Bishops Stortford West division after the death of Conservative councillor Duncan Peek. Term ends 2013.
  • Huntingdonshire district council: Double vacancy election on 5 May in St Neots Eaton Socon ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Mandy Thomas for personal reasons. The terms end in 2015 and 2012. There will also be a byelection in The Hemingfords ward (which was not due to have elections in May) after the resignation of Conservative councillor Chris Stephens. Term ends 2014.
  • King’s Lynn and West Norfolk borough council: Vacancy in Hunstanton ward after the death of Conservative councillor Richard Searle. His seat will be left vacant until the full council election in May.
  • Norfolk county council: Byelection on 5 May in Lothingland division after the resignation of Conservative councillor Gerald Cook due to ill health. Term ends 2013.
  • North Norfolk district council: Vacancy in The Raynhams ward after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Dawn Wakefield due to ill health. Her seat will remain vacant until the full council election in May.
  • St Albans district council: There is a double vacancy election in St Peter’s ward after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Martin Morris. The terms end 2015 and 2012.
  • South Norfolk district council: Vacancy in Rustens ward due to the resignation of Conservative councillor Daniel Cox who has moved to India. His seat will remain vacant until full council elections in May.
  • Suffolk county council: Byelection on 5 May in Wilford division after the death of Conservative councillor and former portfolio holder for culture, Rosie Clarke. Term ends 2013.
  • Three Rivers district council: Phil Redshaw (Hayling ward) was wrongly reported as having left the Labour Party group last week. He remains a Labour councillor.
  • Waveney district council: There are two vacancies. Oulton Broad ward is vacant after the resignation of Sandy Keller, and Southwold and Reydon is vacant after the resignation of Simon Tobin due to pressure of business. Both were Conservatives. Waveney has decided to change to all-out elections so both seats will remain vacant until May.
  • Welwyn Hatfield borough council: There is a double vacancy election in May in Howlands ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Hannah Ball (née Berry). The terms end in 2015 and 2012.

London

  • Corporation of London: There are two byelections on this non-partisan council. Lime Street ward will hold a wardmote on 9 May and polling on 10 May to fill a seat vacated by the resignation of Deputy Christine Cohen; Farringdon Without ward will be holding a wardmote on 10 May and polling on 11 May to fill a seat vacated by the death of Michael Farrow. Both terms end 2013.
  • Southwark borough council: Byelection on 5 May in The Lane ward after the resignation of Keadean Rhoden who was elected for the Labour Party but had been sitting as an Independent. Term ends 2014.

North East

  • Hartlepool borough council: Vacancy in Owton ward after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Bob Flintoff. His seat will remain vacant until the end of his term in May.
  • Newcastle-upon-Tyne city council: Double vacancy election on 5 May in Elswick ward due to the death of Labour councillor Doreen James. Terms end 2015 and 2012.
  • South Tyneside borough council: While Conservative councillor David Potts (Cleadon and East Boldon ward) did announce his immediate resignation in January, he has yet to formally submit it and remains a member of the council (without party affiliation).
  • Stockton-on-Tees borough council: There are three vacancies. First, Billingham East ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Alex Cunningham, now MP for Stockton North. Second, Ingleby Barwick East ward, caused by the resignation of Ingleby Barwick Independent Society member Andrew Larkin. Third, Mandale and Victoria ward, after the death of councillor Allison Trainer, who was a member of the Thornaby Independent Association. All three seats will remain vacant until full council elections in May.
  • Sunderland city council: Double vacancy election on 5 May in Sandhill ward after the resignation of Labour councillor Jim Scott. Terms end 2015 and 2012.

North West

  • Blackpool council: There are two vacancies, both resulting from the deaths of councillors: Conservative councillor Jean Kenrick of Stanley ward and Liberal Democrat councillor Doreen Holt of Bloomfield ward. Both seats will remain vacant until the full council election.
  • Burnley borough council: There are two seats vacant. Bank Hall ward has a vacant seat after Labour councillor Imtiaz Hussain was disqualified for failing to attend any meetings of the council in six months. Rosehill with Burnley Wood has a vacant seat after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Frank Ashworth. Both seats will remain vacant until the end of the term in May.
  • Cheshire West and Chester borough council: Richard Lowe, who was elected as a Conservative in City ward, has joined the UK Independence Party.
  • Cumbria county council: Byelection on 5 May in Keswick and Derwent division after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Elizabeth Barraclough. Term ends 2013.
  • Manchester city council: Double vacancy election on 5 May in Burnage ward after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor John Cameron, who is moving out of the city. The terms will end in 2015 and 2012.
  • Ribble Valley borough council: Vacancy in Salthill ward after the disqualification of Conservative councillor Simon Farnsworth, who has not attended any meeting of the council for six months. His seat will remain vacant until the full council election in May.
  • South Lakeland district council: Alongside the regular elections to one third of the council on 5 May, there are two byelections in wards which would not otherwise have elections. The first is Ambleside and Grasmere ward, after the resignation of David Vatcher. The second is Levens ward, after the death of Brenda Woof. Both were Liberal Democrats. The Ambleside and Grasmere term ends in 2014 while Levens ends in 2012.
  • South Ribble borough council: Vacancy in Earnshaw Bridge ward after the resignation of Conservative councillor Irvine Edwards. The seat will remain vacant until the full council election in May.
  • Stockport borough council: There will be a double vacancy election in Reddish North ward in May, after the resignation of Labour councillor Peter Scott. The terms end in 2015 and 2014.
  • Trafford borough council: There will be a double vacancy election in Altrincham ward in May, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Susan Williams. Terms end in 2015 and 2012.
  • Warrington council: Byelection on 5 May in Westbrook ward, which was not due to have elections in the normal cycle, after the resignation of Labour councillor Natalie Douglas. Term ends 2014.
  • West Lancashire borough council: Alongside the regular election of one third of the council on 5 May there is a byelection in Rufford ward after the death of Conservative councillor Joan Colling. Term ends 2012. There is also a vacancy in Derby ward after the death of Conservative councillor David Swiffen; it will remain vacant until the end of his term in May.
  • Wirral borough council: There will be a double vacancy election in Greasby, Frankby and Irby ward in May after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor and cabinet member Gill Gardiner. Terms end 2015 and 2012.

South East

  • Arun district council: Vacancy in Barnham ward after the resignation of Independent councillor Melissa Briggs who has moved out of the district. The seat will remain vacant until the full council elections in May.
  • Ashford borough council: Vacancy in Kennington ward after the death of Conservative councillor Major John Kemp. The seat will be vacant until the full council elections in May.
  • Basingstoke and Deane borough council: Byelection in Popley East ward on 5 May after the resignation of Labour councillor Mary Brian who needs to care for her husband. Term ends 2012.
  • Brighton and Hove city council: Vacancy in Hangleton and Knoll ward after the death of Conservative councillor David Smart. The seat will be vacant until full council elections in May.
  • Dartford borough council: Vacancy in Stone ward after the resignation of Labour councillor Derek Lawson. His seat will remain vacant until full council elections in May.
  • East Hampshire district council: Vacancy in Whitehill Pinewood ward after the resignation of Conservative councillor Ian Dowdle. The seat will not be filled until the full council elections in May.
  • Hampshire county council: Byelection on 5 May in Lee division after the resignation of Conservative councillor Margaret Snaith-Tempia. Term ends 2013.
  • Maidstone borough council: Two wards will have double vacancy elections on 5 May. They are Bearsted ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Heather Langley (where the terms end in 2015 and 2014), and East ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Patrick Sellar (where the terms end in 2015 and 2012).
  • Mid Sussex district council: Vacancy in Haywards Heath Bentswood ward after the death of Labour councillor Paddy Henry. His seat will be vacant until full council elections in May.
  • New Forest district council: Vacancy in Marchwood ward after the death of Conservative councillor Alan Shotter. His seat will remain vacant until the full council election in May.
  • Reading borough council: Vacancy in Whitley ward after the sudden death of Labour councillor Jim Hanley. His seat will remain vacant until the end of his term in May.
  • Sevenoaks district council: Vacancy in Swanley St Marys ward after the resignation of Paul Golding of the British National Party. His seat will remain vacant until the full council elections in May.
  • Shepway district council: Vacancy in Romney Marsh ward after Conservative councillor Toby Clifton-Holt was disqualified for failing to attend any meetings of the council in six months. His seat will be vacant until the full council elections in May.
  • Slough council: Vacancy in Foxborough ward after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Sonja Jenkins. Her seat will remain vacant until the end of the term in May.
  • South Oxfordshire district council: There are two vacancies, in Didcot Northbourne ward due to the resignation of Lyndon Elias, and in Sandford ward due to the resignation of Pamela Tomlinson. Both were Conservatives; both seats will remain vacant until the full council elections in May.
  • Surrey county council: There are two byelections on 5 May. Cranleigh and Ewhurst division has a byelection after the resignation of Jonathan Lord, now MP for Woking, and Shalford division has a byelection after the resignation of Tony Rooth. There is also a vacancy in St Johns and Brookwood division after the resignation of Elizabeth Compton. All were Conservative councillors and all terms end in 2013.
  • Thanet district council: Vacancy in Bradstowe ward after the disqualification of Ewen Cameron who was elected as a Conservative but was last sitting as an Independent after resigning the whip. His seat will be vacant until full council elections in May.
  • Tunbridge Wells borough council: Alongside the regular election of one third of the council on 5 May, there is a byelection in Brenchley and Horsmonden ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Marcella Callow. Term ends 2012.
  • Wealden district council: There are two vacancies. Hailsham South and West ward has a vacant seat after the resignation of Independent councillor Nick Ellwood in advance of a Standards Board hearing. Uckfield Ridgewood also has a vacant seat after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Robert Sweetland. Both seats will remain vacant until the full council elections in May.
  • West Berkshire council: Vacancy in Mortimer ward after the death of veteran Liberal Democrat councillor Keith Lock. His seat will remain vacant until full council elections in May.
  • Woking borough council: There will be a double vacancy election in Goldsworth East ward in May, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Rosie Sharpley. The terms end in 2015 and 2012.

South West

  • Bath and North East Somerset council: Vacancy in Lambridge ward after the death of Conservative Councillor Richard Maybury, who was Deputy Mayor of Bath. His seat will remain vacant until full council elections in May.
  • Plymouth city council: There is a double vacancy election in St Peter and the Waterfront ward in May, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Sally Stephens. The terms end in 2015 and 2012. There is also a vacancy in Plymstock Dunstone ward after the death of Conservative councillor and former Lord Mayor David Viney. His seat will remain vacant until the end of his term in May.
  • South Gloucestershire council: Vacancy in Emersons Green ward after the death of Conservative councillor Ian Morris. The seat will remain vacant until the full council elections in May.
  • Stroud district council: There is a double vacancy election in May after the resignation of Green Party councillor Fi MacMillan. Terms end in 2015 and 2012. There is also a vacancy in Uplands ward after the death of Independent councillor Linda Townley; her seat will remain vacant until the end of her term in May.
  • Torbay council: There are two vacant seats. Roundham with Hyde ward is vacant after the death of Kevin Carroll, and Shiphay with the Willows ward has a vacancy after the death of Roger Kerslake. Both were Conservatives and both seats will remain vacant until the full council elections in May.

West Midlands

Yorkshire and the Humber

  • Bradford city council: There will be a double vacancy election in Idle and Thackley ward in May, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Ed Hall. The terms end in 2015 and 2012.
  • Kingston upon Hull city council: Vacancy in Marfleet ward after the death of Labour councillor and former Mayor Brenda Petch. The seat will remain vacant until the full council elections in May.
  • Selby district council: Vacancy in Selby West ward after the death of Conservative councillor David Fagan. His seat will remain vacant until the full council elections in May.

Wales

Scotland

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