2007 Swindon Borough Council election

The 2007 Swindon Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2007 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 2007 Swindon council election. Conservatives in blue, Labour in red and Liberal Democrat in yellow. Wards in grey were not contested in 2007.

After the election, the composition of the council was

Campaign

92 candidates were contesting 21 seats with 2 seats available in Haydon Wick wards.[3][4] Both Conservative and Labour parties contested every seat, while the Liberal Democrats had 20 candidates.[3] Other political parties contesting the election included the Green Party with 16 candidates, United Kingdom Independence Party with 7 and the British National Party with 3.[3]

Issues in the election included regeneration of the town, affordable housing, crime[5] and preserving green space.[6] The Conservative council's plans to move to fortnightly rubbish collection were also criticised by the Labour party.[7]

For the election voters were able to cast their vote at any polling station or library instead of just their polling station, as well as internet and text voting being available.[3][8] The vote count was also done electronically, however problems at a few polling stations meant some votes had to be checked manually.[9] This meant the election count was 2 hours later than expected,[10] with overall turnout in the election being 33.8%.[11]

Election result

The results saw the Conservatives stay in control of the council with 43 seats, compared to 13 for Labour and 3 Liberal Democrats.[10] Both the Conservative and Labour parties made 2 gains, with each party taking 1 seat from the other.[12] The Conservatives gained Moredon from Labour, while Labour took a seat back in Central ward.[12] Both parties also gained a seat from an independent, with the Conservatives taking Freshbrook and Grange Park, while Labour took Penhill.[12] Elsewhere Conservative candidates held on by small majorities of 36 and 45 over Labour in St Philip and Walcot wards respectively.[12]

Swindon Local Election Result 2007[2][11]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 15 2 1 +1 71.4 46.8 23,429 -0.8%
  Labour 5 2 1 +1 23.8 28.9 14,458 -1.3%
  Liberal Democrats 1 0 0 0 4.8 13.2 6,635 -0.9%
  Green 0 0 0 0 0 5.9 2,946 +0.1%
  UKIP 0 0 0 0 0 3.7 1,875 +3.7%
  BNP 0 0 0 0 0 1.2 597 +0.5%
  Independent 0 0 2 -2 0 0.3 165 -0.7%

Ward results
Abbey Meads[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Stoddart 1,639 69.3 -1.1
Labour Ian Carroll 375 15.9 +2.1
Liberal Democrats Richard Law 204 8.6 +0.2
Green Richard Uzzell 146 6.2 -1.2
Majority 1,264 53.5 -3.1
Turnout 2,364 26.8
Conservative hold Swing -1.6%
Central[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Derique Montaut 1,092 47.1 +0.6
Conservative Karen Leakey 663 28.6 -1.1
Liberal Democrats Steven Pipe 301 13.0 -1.7
Green Karsten Evans 156 6.7 +0.3
Independent David Cox 105 4.5 +1.9
Majority 429 18.5 +1.7
Turnout 2,317 30.9
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +0.8%
Covingham and Nythe[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Glenn Smith 1,497 54.2 -3.3
Labour Maureen Dilley 743 26.9 -15.6
UKIP Cynthia Desmond 323 11.7 +11.7
Liberal Democrats David Pajak 199 7.2 +7.2
Majority 754 27.3 +12.2
Turnout 2,762 40.8
Conservative hold Swing +6.1%
Dorcan[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andy Albinson 1,384 57.6 +8.5
Labour Sally Lee 718 29.9 -0.5
Green Daniel Fraser 301 12.5 +4.0
Majority 666 27.7 +9.1
Turnout 2,403 35.5
Conservative hold Swing +4.5%
Eastcott[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Martin Wiltshire 879 39.6 -9.3
Conservative Paul Gregory 551 24.9 +5.2
Labour Sarah Bush 526 23.7 +3.0
Green Bill Hughes 261 11.8 +1.1
Majority 328 14.8 -13.4
Turnout 2,217 29.6
Liberal Democrats hold Swing -7.2%
Freshbrook and Grange Park[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Dickinson 1,152 49.0 +3.8
Liberal Democrats Judith Peppitt 669 28.5 -5.0
Labour Carol Heavens 393 16.7 +2.1
Green Jim Santaniello 136 5.8 -0.9
Majority 483 20.6 +8.9
Turnout 2,350 31.2
Conservative gain from Independent Swing +4.4%
Gorse Hill and Pinehurst[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Ballman 850 44.8 +3.5
Conservative Louise Gallavin 485 25.6 +4.5
BNP Reg Bates 212 11.2 -4.8
Liberal Democrats Les Wood 154 8.1 -0.4
UKIP Robin Tingey 104 5.5 +5.5
Green Neil Gutteridge 91 4.8 +4.8
Majority 365 19.3 -0.9
Turnout 1,896 27.8
Labour hold Swing -1.0%
Haydon Wick (2)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ian Dobie 1,320
Conservative Rex Barnett 1,299
Labour John Keepin 651
Labour Mark Dempsey 614
Green Emma Bushell 298
UKIP Michael Stuckey 270
Liberal Democrats Ann Morgan 252
Liberal Democrats Andrew Sharp 227
Turnout 4,931 34.8
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Highworth[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Melanie Duff 1,492 56.8 +2.0
Labour Gerald Edwards 696 26.5 -0.1
Green Andy Day 257 9.8 -1.1
Liberal Democrats Hannah Pajak 184 7.0 -0.8
Majority 796 30.3 +2.1
Turnout 2,629 40.5
Conservative hold Swing +1.0%
Moredon[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stephanie Exell 1,187 47.7 +2.7
Labour Maureen Caton 885 35.6 -7.8
UKIP Kathleen Webb 218 8.8 +8.8
Liberal Democrats Heidi Teague 197 7.9 -3.7
Majority 302 12.1 +10.5
Turnout 2,487 33.7
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +5.2%
Old Town and Lawn[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Fionuala Foley 2,044 58.7 +0.1
Liberal Democrats Mark Wheaver 543 15.6 -1.4
Labour Cindy Matthews 468 13.4 -0.9
Green Christine Smith 245 7.0 -3.1
UKIP Terrence Hayward 180 5.2 +5.2
Majority 1,501 43.1 +1.5
Turnout 3,480 43.8
Conservative hold Swing +0.8%
Parks[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Fay Howard 775 40.9 -1.7
Conservative Graham Cherry 603 31.8 -3.8
BNP Chris Southgate 223 11.8 +11.8
Liberal Democrats Helen Thompson 213 11.2 +11.2
Green David Miles 81 4.3 -17.5
Majority 172 9.1 +2.1
Turnout 1,895 27.7
Labour hold Swing +1.0%
Penhill[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Paul Baker 519 41.7 -3.5
Liberal Democrats Tel Hudson 314 25.2 -5.7
Conservative Halina Tomlinson 249 20.0 -3.9
BNP Ken Waters 162 13.0 +13.0
Majority 205 16.5 +2.2
Turnout 1,244 27.8
Labour gain from Independent Swing +1.1%
Shaw and Nine Elms[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Garry Perkins 1,244 56.1 -4.1
Liberal Democrats James Farr 392 17.7 +4.8
Labour Mary Gladman 375 16.9 -1.2
Green Jennifer Miles 207 9.3 +0.5
Majority 852 38.4 -3.7
Turnout 2,218 31.7
Conservative hold Swing -4.4%
St Margaret[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Russell Holland 1,325 51.8 -11.6
Labour Michael Spry 728 28.5 -8.1
Liberal Democrats Peter Wood 264 10.3 +10.3
UKIP Robert Feal-Martinez 239 9.4 +9.4
Majority 597 23.4 -3.5
Turnout 2,556 32.3
Conservative hold Swing -1.7%
St Philip[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Findlow 1,254 41.9 +0.1
Labour Teresa Page 1,218 40.7 -0.3
UKIP Peter Thompson-Watt 212 7.1 +7.1
Liberal Democrats Ann Richards 186 6.2 -2.4
Green Raymond Smith 125 4.2 -4.4
Majority 36 1.2 +0.3
Turnout 2,995 41.7
Conservative hold Swing +0.2%
Toothill & Westlea[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Steve Wakefield 979 52.3 +4.1
Labour Junab Ali 411 21.9 -3.5
Liberal Democrats Christopher Shepherd 297 15.9 +1.0
Green Marilyn Harrison 186 9.9 -1.6
Majority 568 30.3 +7.5
Turnout 1,873 32.3
Conservative hold Swing +3.8%
Walcot[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Mallinson 756 39.0 +5.3
Labour Neil Heavens 711 36.7 -5.1
Liberal Democrats Kathy McCarthy 249 12.9 -4.3
UKIP Stephen Halden 141 7.3 +7.3
Green Ray Burcham 80 4.1 -3.1
Majority 45 2.3
Turnout 1,937 34.7
Conservative hold Swing +5.2%
Western[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Des Moffatt 1,268 49.4 +3.1
Conservative Jon Watton 656 25.5 -7.4
Liberal Democrats Mark Cousens 243 9.5 -6.2
UKIP Greg Heathcliffe 188 7.3 +7.3
Green Deborah Schofield 153 6.0 +6.0
Independent Michael Morton 60 2.3 +2.3
Majority 612 23.8 +10.4
Turnout 2,568 31.6
Labour hold Swing +5.2%
Wroughton and Chiseldon[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Bill Morton 1,650 55.3 +0.2
Liberal Democrats Victor Godman 668 22.4 +7.6
Labour Ruairi Tobin 442 14.8 +0.3
Green Bob Heritage 223 7.5 +0.4
Majority 982 32.9 -7.4
Turnout 2,983 37.6
Conservative hold Swing -3.7%

References
  1. "Swindon". BBC News Online. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  2. "Results". The Times. 5 May 2007. p. 83.
  3. "Countdown has started". Swindon Advertiser. 8 April 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
  4. "Could apathy win the local elections?". This is Wiltshire.co.uk. 23 April 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
  5. "Crime reduction is high on election agenda". This is Wiltshire.co.uk. 27 April 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
  6. "Town's regeneration takes centre stage". Swindon Advertiser. 25 April 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
  7. "Fortnightly refuse collection plan is rubbished". Swindon Advertiser. 23 April 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
  8. "Swindon's enthusiasm for e-voting". BBC News Online. 2 May 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
  9. "Election counts delayed by technology glitches". 4 May 2007. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  10. "Voting shambles blamed on rush". This is Wiltshire.co.uk. 6 May 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
  11. "Election Results". Swindon Borough Council. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  12. "Tories maintain tight grip on council". This is Wiltshire.co.uk. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
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