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All 45 seats to Wealden District Council 23 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() Winner of each seat at the 2023 Wealden District Council election | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2023 Wealden District Council election was held on 4 May 2023 to elect all 45 members of Wealden District Council. [1] [2] [3] [4] This was on the same day as other local elections across England.
At the first meeting of the Council on 24 May 2023, the first ever non-Conservative administration was elected in the Council's 50-year history. The Liberal Democrat Leader James Partridge was elected as Leader of the Council and the Greens' Leader Rachel Millward was elected as Deputy Leader of the Council, with leadership to rotate annually. The new leadership appointed 4 Liberal Democrats and 3 Greens to the Cabinet. [5]
The Conservatives lost the council to no overall control for the first time in 25 years. [6] [7] This is also the first time that the Labour Party has been elected to the Council, with two members being elected in Uckfield.
2023 Wealden District Council election | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidates | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
Liberal Democrats | 22 | 13 | 9 | 0 | ![]() |
28.9 | 18.5 | 9,839 | +4.8 | |
Green | 14 | 11 | 9 | 0 | ![]() |
24.4 | 21.6 | 11,476 | +2.4 | |
Independent | 22 | 10 | 5 | 0 | ![]() |
22.2 | 15.4 | 8,193 | +3.8 | |
Conservative | 44 | 9 | 0 | 25 | ![]() |
20.0 | 35.0 | 18,601 | –10.2 | |
Labour | 11 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
4.4 | 8.6 | 4,570 | –0.3 | |
UKIP | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
0.0 | 0.7 | 346 | –0.7 | |
Reform UK | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
0.0 | 0.2 | 121 | N/A | |
SDP | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
0.0 | 0.1 | 34 | N/A |
Wealden District Council results. [8]
Sitting councillors are marked with an asterisk (*).
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Green | Alison Wilson | 668 | 54.6 | +24.5 | |
Conservative | Russell Watts | 446 | 36.5 | -12.3 | |
Liberal Democrats | Catherine Hall | 109 | 8.9 | -12.2 | |
Majority | 222 | 18.1 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,223 | 49.96 | +8.02 | ||
Registered electors | 2,418 | ||||
Green gain from Conservative | Swing | 18.4 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Green | Graham Shaw | 671 | 60.2 | +27.5 | |
Conservative | Laura Stevens-Smith | 444 | 39.8 | -19.5 | |
Majority | 227 | 20.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,115 | 39.01 | +0.67 | ||
Registered electors | 2,858 | ||||
Green gain from Conservative | Swing | 23.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Geoffrey Draper* | 578 | 61.2 | +6.2 | |
Labour | Tony Fielding | 367 | 38.8 | +28.0 | |
Majority | 211 | 22.4 | -12.1 | ||
Turnout | 945 | 34.92 | -6.42 | ||
Registered electors | 2,706 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | -10.9 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Carolyn Clark | 576 | 54.8 | New | |
Conservative | Ronald Reed* | 410 | 39.0 | -12.0 | |
Independent | Peter Bucklitsch | 65 | 6.2 | -21.9 | |
Majority | 166 | 15.8 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,051 | 34.68 | +5.93 | ||
Registered electors | 3,031 | ||||
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Gareth Owen-Williams* | 648 | 75.3 | +37.6 | |
Conservative | Craig Edwards | 212 | 24.7 | -0.2 | |
Majority | 436 | 50.6 | +37.8 | ||
Turnout | 860 | 28.61 | -2.00 | ||
Registered electors | 3,006 | ||||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 18.9 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Walter Partridge | 605 | 54.4 | New | |
Independent | Kay Moss* | 265 | 23.8 | New | |
Conservative | James Turgoose | 243 | 21.8 | -30.1 | |
Majority | 340 | 30.6 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,113 | 39.85 | +6.22 | ||
Registered electors | 2,793 | ||||
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Andrew Wilson | 732 | 73.9 | +35.8 | |
Conservative | Philip Lunn* | 258 | 26.1 | -20.3 | |
Majority | 474 | 47.8 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 990 | 31.61 | -0.39 | ||
Registered electors | 3,122 | ||||
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 28.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Alison Arthur | 454 | 58.5 | +35.5 | |
Conservative | Neil Waller* | 322 | 41.5 | -10.0 | |
Majority | 132 | 17.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 776 | 31.38 | +4.60 | ||
Registered electors | 2,482 | ||||
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 22.7 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Green | Martyn Everitt | 572 | 49.5 | +12.9 | |
Conservative | Richard Hallett* | 501 | 43.4 | -20.0 | |
Labour | Sarah Bammann | 82 | 7.1 | New | |
Majority | 71 | 6.1 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,155 | 42.33 | +5.79 | ||
Registered electors | 2,733 | ||||
Green gain from Conservative | Swing | 16.4 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Green | Christina Coleman | 1,107 | 64.2 | +23.1 | |
Conservative | Roy Galley* | 545 | 31.6 | -27.3 | |
Independent | Wes Constantinou | 73 | 4.2 | New | |
Majority | 562 | 32.6 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,725 | 53.08 | +13.04 | ||
Registered electors | 3,250 | ||||
Green gain from Conservative | Swing | 25.2 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Green | Diana Patterson-Vanegas* | 937 | 78.0 | -1.1 | |
Independent | Rowena Moore | 265 | 22.0 | New | |
Majority | 672 | 56.0 | -2.2 | ||
Turnout | 1,202 | 42.58 | -10.68 | ||
Registered electors | 2,823 | ||||
Green hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Ann Newton* | 571 | 57.5 | -0.7 | |
Labour | Peter Ullmann | 422 | 42.5 | +34.5 | |
Majority | 149 | 15.0 | -17.9 | ||
Turnout | 993 | 37.37 | -1.60 | ||
Registered electors | 2,657 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | 17.6 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Green | Sarah Glynn-Ives | 882 | 46.4 | N/A | |
Conservative | Johanna Howell | 865 | 45.5 | N/A | |
Conservative | Gill Weavers | 766 | 40.3 | N/A | |
Independent | Serena Gadd | 655 | 34.4 | N/A | |
Labour | James Walker | 635 | 33.4 | N/A | |
Majority | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
Turnout | 2,137 | 39.09 | +2.52 | ||
Registered electors | 5,467 | ||||
Green gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |||
Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Michael Lunn* | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 2,657 | ||||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Neil Cleaver | 432 | 66.0 | +33.8 | |
Conservative | Doina Rusu | 222 | 34.0 | -6.3 | |
Majority | 210 | 32.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 654 | 26.14 | -4.05 | ||
Registered electors | 2,502 | ||||
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 20.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Gavin Blake-Coggins* | 520 | 71.1 | +12.1 | |
Conservative | James Cottenham | 211 | 28.9 | -12.1 | |
Majority | 309 | 42.2 | +24.2 | ||
Turnout | 731 | 21.75 | -8.44 | ||
Registered electors | 3,361 | ||||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 12.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Paul Holbrook* | 583 | 74.6 | +46.6 | |
Conservative | James Hayes | 199 | 25.4 | -7.9 | |
Majority | 384 | 49.2 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 782 | 30.35 | +0.90 | ||
Registered electors | 2,577 | ||||
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 27.2 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Glynn White | 412 | 52.4 | -1.7 | |
Conservative | Steven Keogh | 375 | 47.6 | +1.7 | |
Majority | 37 | 4.8 | -3.4 | ||
Turnout | 787 | 29.25 | -0.75 | ||
Registered electors | 2,691 | ||||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | -1.7 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Anne Blake-Coggins* | 381 | 47.0 | +18.2 | |
Conservative | Stephen Coltman | 309 | 38.1 | -8.5 | |
Reform UK | Rob Stevens | 121 | 14.9 | New | |
Majority | 72 | 8.9 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 811 | 28.37 | +2.55 | ||
Registered electors | 2 859 | ||||
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 13.3 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Richard Grocock* | 293 | 36.9 | -8.7 | |
Liberal Democrats | Alexa Clarke | 255 | 32.2 | -4.1 | |
Independent | David Radtke | 211 | 26.6 | New | |
SDP | Stephen Gander | 34 | 4.3 | New | |
Majority | 38 | 4.7 | -4.6 | ||
Turnout | 793 | 27.00 | -1.56 | ||
Registered electors | 2,937 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | -2.3 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Green | Rachel Millward* | 774 | 62.9 | +19.8 | |
Conservative | Janie Robinson | 456 | 37.1 | -19.8 | |
Majority | 318 | 25.8 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,230 | 43.23 | +7.35 | ||
Registered electors | 2,937 | ||||
Green gain from Conservative | Swing | 19.8 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Mike Gadd | 523 | 46.8 | New | |
Conservative | Ray Cade* | 376 | 33.7 | -26.2 | |
Labour | David Newman | 204 | 18.3 | +3.4 | |
Independent | Naz Mian | 14 | 1.3 | New | |
Majority | 147 | 13.1 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,117 | 33.27 | +2.51 | ||
Registered electors | 3,351 | ||||
Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Kevin Benton | 716 | 66.0 | New | |
Conservative | Tom Guyton-Day* | 369 | 34.0 | -34.4 | |
Majority | 347 | 32.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,085 | 36.11 | +6.92 | ||
Registered electors | 3,005 | ||||
Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | David White* | 690 | 64.0 | +1.1 | |
Conservative | Chris Bryant | 311 | 23.8 | -2.1 | |
Independent | David Younge | 77 | 7.1 | New | |
Majority | 379 | 40.2 | +3.2 | ||
Turnout | 1,078 | 25.29 | -6.29 | ||
Registered electors | 4,263 | ||||
Independent hold | Swing | 1.6 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Paul Coleshill | 1,012 | 52.1 | +28.3 | |
Liberal Democrats | Mark Fairweather | 1,000 | 51.4 | N/A | |
Conservative | Pam Doodes* | 737 | 37.9 | -1.1 | |
Conservative | Nuala Geary | 720 | 37.0 | +4.9 | |
UKIP | Laurence Keeley | 183 | 9.4 | -10.8 | |
UKIP | Mike Pursglove | 163 | 8.4 | N/A | |
Majority | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,954 | 34.86 | -4.17 | ||
Registered electors | 5,605 | ||||
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |||
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Green | Cornelie Usborne | 1,720 | 64.8 | +31.2 | |
Green | Greg Collins | 1,697 | 63.9 | N/A | |
Conservative | Bob Bowdler* | 933 | 35.2 | -12.3 | |
Conservative | Susan Steadman* | 812 | 30.6 | -13.3 | |
Majority | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
Turnout | 2 678 | 44.63 | +6.53 | ||
Registered electors | 6,000 | ||||
Green gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |||
Green gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Stephen Shing* | 602 | 54.7 | -14.5 | |
Conservative | Douglas Murray | 342 | 31.1 | +10.8 | |
Liberal Democrats | Sarah Whitehead | 156 | 14.2 | +3.7 | |
Majority | 260 | 23.6 | -25.3 | ||
Turnout | 1,100 | 42.90 | -1.32 | ||
Registered electors | 2,564 | ||||
Independent hold | Swing | 12.6 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Green | Ian Tysh* | 950 | 69.1 | -38.2 | |
Conservative | Margaret Galley | 424 | 30.9 | -31.1 | |
Majority | 526 | 38.2 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,374 | 45.36 | +8.05 | ||
Registered electors | 3,039 | ||||
Green gain from Conservative | Swing | 34.6 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Brian Redman | 716 | 55.4 | -2.2 | |
Green | Simon Darlington-Cramond | 344 | 26.6 | -6.7 | |
Labour | Jason Scott-Taggart | 233 | 18.0 | +9.0 | |
Majority | 372 | 28.8 | +4.5 | ||
Turnout | 1,293 | 47.99 | +12.30 | ||
Registered electors | 2,694 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | 2.2 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Daniel Brookbank | 524 | 64.9 | +42.3 | |
Conservative | Di Dear | 283 | 35.1 | +4.6 | |
Majority | 241 | 29.8 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 807 | 31.85 | -9.18 | ||
Registered electors | 2,533 | ||||
Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | 18.8 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Chris Primett | 394 | 37.8 | N/A | |
Liberal Democrats | Andy O'Kane | 260 | 25.0 | New | |
Independent | Malcolm Cunningham | 197 | 18.9 | New | |
Labour | Paul Hunt | 190 | 18.3 | New | |
Majority | 134 | 12.8 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,041 | 29.12 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 3,575 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Lin Shing* | 351 | 34.4 | -15.4 | |
Conservative | James Heward | 310 | 30.4 | +13.2 | |
Independent | Nathan Dunbar | 241 | 23.7 | New | |
Liberal Democrats | Kate Edmonds | 117 | 11.5 | +0.1 | |
Majority | 41 | 4.00 | -28.7 | ||
Turnout | 1,019 | 32.08 | -0.10 | ||
Registered electors | 3,176 | ||||
Independent hold | Swing | -14.3 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Daniel Shing* | 554 | 54.1 | -18.5 | |
Conservative | Cherie Berry | 311 | 30.4 | +14.0 | |
Liberal Democrats | Andy Watkins | 159 | 15.5 | New | |
Majority | 243 | 23.7 | -32.5 | ||
Turnout | 1,024 | 36.09 | +0.31 | ||
Registered electors | 2,837 | ||||
Independent hold | Swing | -16.2 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | David Greaves | 660 | 47.9 | +3.1 | |
Liberal Democrats | Katrina Best | 555 | 40.3 | +2.4 | |
Green | Tom Harrison | 163 | 11.8 | -5.4 | |
Majority | 105 | 7.6 | +0.7 | ||
Turnout | 1,378 | 52.48 | +5.85 | ||
Registered electors | 2,626 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | 0.3 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Daniel Upton | 335 | 46.5 | -5.7 | |
Liberal Democrats | Caroline Adcock | 244 | 33.9 | New | |
Green | Nick Mawdsley | 141 | 19.6 | -28.2 | |
Majority | 91 | 12.6 | +8.2 | ||
Turnout | 720 | 23.46 | -0.73 | ||
Registered electors | 3,069 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Kelvin Williams | 429 | 46.6 | +9.5 | |
Independent | Duncan Bennett | 298 | 32.4 | New | |
Conservative | Petrina Voelcker | 193 | 21.0 | -7.5 | |
Majority | 131 | 14.2 | -13.4 | ||
Turnout | 920 | 35.49 | +0.16 | ||
Registered electors | 2,592 | ||||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Ben Cox | 1,078 | 53.2 | +18.0 | |
Independent | Spike Mayhew | 727 | 35.9 | N/A | |
Labour | Keith Wilson | 706 | 34.8 | N/A | |
Conservative | Helen Firth* | 634 | 31.3 | -4.9 | |
Conservative | Ginny Heard | 471 | 23.2 | -14.4 | |
Majority | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
Turnout | 2,036 | 41.21 | +1.41 | ||
Registered electors | 4,941 | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |||
Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Daniel Manvell | 444 | 51.6 | +33.6 | |
Independent | Jackie Love | 223 | 25.9 | New | |
Conservative | Peter Waldock* | 194 | 22.5 | -17.8 | |
Majority | 221 | 25.7 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 861 | 35.62 | +6.58 | ||
Registered electors | 2,417 | ||||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Ben Reed | 306 | 41.3 | New | |
Conservative | Adrian Marshall | 226 | 30.5 | -13.5 | |
Labour | Christopher Field | 209 | 28.2 | +17.3 | |
Majority | 80 | 10.8 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 741 | 34.15 | -2.51 | ||
Registered electors | 2,170 | ||||
Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Raymond Shing* | 616 | 55.3 | -0.9 | |
Conservative | Robert Findon | 299 | 26.8 | -5.2 | |
Liberal Democrats | Dionne Daniel | 200 | 17.9 | +6.1 | |
Majority | 317 | 28.5 | +4.3 | ||
Turnout | 1,115 | 36.25 | -5.62 | ||
Registered electors | 3,076 | ||||
Independent hold | Swing | 2.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Green | Jessika Hulbert | 850 | 72.3 | +19.6 | |
Conservative | Stephen Banham | 325 | 27.7 | -19.6 | |
Majority | 525 | 44.6 | +39.2 | ||
Turnout | 1,175 | 47.49 | +8.06 | ||
Registered electors | 2,474 | ||||
Green hold | Swing | 19.6 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Donna Rachel French | 582 | 36.9 | New | |
Labour | George Robert Keith Wilson | 578 | 36.7 | +1.9 | |
Conservative | Helen Firth | 413 | 26.2 | -5.1 | |
Turnout | 1,577 | 30.99 | -10.22 | ||
Registered electors | 5,088 | ||||
Independent hold |
By-election triggered by disqualification of independent councillor Spike Mayhew for non-attendance. [10]
On 15th May 2024 Liberal Democrat councillor for Hailsham Central Ward, Cllr Neil Cleaver, resigned from his party and the 'Alliance for Wealden' (the coalition agreement between the Liberal Democrats and Green Party), therefore becoming an independent. [11] On May 22nd 2024, it was announced Cllr Cleaver had joined the Conservative Party, who now have 10 councillors. [12]
On 24th May 2024, another Liberal Democrat councillor resigned from his party. Crowborough South East's Cllr Andrew Wilson. He has not yet indicated if he will join another political group. This means the LibDem/Green 'Alliance for Wealden' is now one short of a majority. [13]