2023 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council election explained

Election Name:2023 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council election
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Country:Dorset
Previous Election:2019 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council election
Previous Year:2019
Next Election:2027 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council electionjud
Next Year:2027
Seats For Election:All 76 seats on Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
Majority Seats:39
Election Date:4 May 2023
Leader1:Vikki Slade
Party1:Liberal Democrats (UK)
Last Election1:15 seats, 19.7%
Seats1:28
Seat Change1: 13
Popular Vote1:62,537
Percentage1:31.4%
Swing1: 9.0%
Leader2:Phil Broadhead
Party2:Conservative Party (UK)
Last Election2:36 seats, 32.1%
Seats2:12
Seat Change2: 24
Popular Vote2:51,323
Percentage2:25.8%
Swing2: 6.3%
Leader3:George Farquhar
Party3:Labour Party (UK)
Last Election3:3 seats, 14.2%
Seats3:11
Seat Change3: 8
Popular Vote3:30,417
Percentage3:15.3%
Swing3: 1.1%
Leader4:Paul Hillard
Party4:Christchurch Independents
Last Election4:N/A
Seats4:8
Seat Change4: 8
Popular Vote4:15,231
Percentage4:7.7%
Swing4:N/A
Leader5:Chris Rigby
Party5:Green Party of England and Wales
Last Election5:2 seats, 7.5%
Seats5:5
Seat Change5: 3
Popular Vote5:16,915
Percentage5:8.5%
Swing5: 1.0%
Party6:Independent politician
Last Election6:11 seats, 14.2%
Seats6:5
Seat Change6: 6
Popular Vote6:9,050
Percentage6:4.5%
Swing6: 9.7%
Leader7:Mark Howell
Party7:Poole People Party
Last Election7:7 seats, 5.4%
Seats7:5
Seat Change7: 2
Popular Vote7:5,995
Percentage7:3.0%
Swing7: 2.4%
Leader8:Judes Butt
Party8:Poole Engage Party
Last Election8:0 seats, 0.3%
Seats8:2
Seat Change8: 2
Popular Vote8:6,966
Percentage8:3.5%
Swing8: 3.2%
Map Size:300px
Leader
Posttitle:Leader after election
Before Election:Philip Broadhead
Conservative
Before Party:No overall control
After Election:Vikki Slade
Liberal Democrats
After Party:No overall control

The 2023 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council election took place on 4 May, 2023, to elect all 76 members of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council in Dorset, England.[1]

The council stayed with no overall control but the Liberal Democrats became the largest single party.[2] [3] As no one party controlled a majority of the council the Liberal Democrats, Christchurch Independents, Poole People Party and The Bournemouth Independent Group subsequently formed a coalition administration known as the "Three Towns Alliance."[4] [5]

Background

Prior to the election the council was under no overall control, being led by a minority Conservative administration. Eight registered political parties were represented on the council, in addition to eight independent councillors who did not belong to a party. Some of the parties and independents formed political groups:

The other parties each formed their own groups, and the remaining five independent councillors were not aligned to any group.[6] [7]

Councillors standing down

CouncillorWardFirst electedPartyDate announced
Norman DecentKinson2019Conservative10 May 2022[8]
Mike BrookeBroadstone1999Liberal Democrats3 November 2022[9]
Drew MellorTalbot and Branksome Woods2019Conservative13 February 2023[10]
Mike GreeneBournemouth Central2009Conservative25 February 2023[11]
Nicola GreeneWestbourne and West Cliff2007Conservative25 February 2023[12]
Ann StribleyParkstone1977Conservative30 March 2023[13]
Lewis AllisonBoscombe West2019Labour6 April 2023
Peter HallChristchurch Town2015Conservative
Diana ButlerCreekmoor2019UKIP
Mark RobsonNewtown and Heatherlands2019Liberal Democrats
L-J EvansPoole Town2019Poole People Party
Susan PhillipsWallisdown and Winton West2011Conservative
Lisa LewisWest Southbourne2019Labour

Parties

On 5 April 2023, the full list of candidates was published:[14]

In addition, 33 Independent candidates, and 1 candidate without a description, sought election.

Results

Following the results, the council remained in no overall control but the Liberal Democrats became the largest party with 13 gains.[15] The Conservatives fell sharply from 34 to 12 seats.[16] The Labour Party nearly quadrupled their seat total from 3 to 11.[17] The Green Party went from 2 seats to 5.[18]

|-

UKIP and ALL both lost one seat, but are not shown in the table above as no candidates contested on behalf of those parties.

Ward results

Incumbent councillors are indicated with '‡'.

By-elections

East Cliff and Springbourne

Five days after the election, newly elected Labour councillor Martin Bedford for East Cliff and Springbourne resigned due to ill health.[19]

Canford Cliffs

[20]

References

Notes
Citations

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Election timetable in England . 2022-06-28 . GOV.UK . en.
  2. News: Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole result - Local Elections 2023 . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-05-08.
  3. Web site: BCP Council elections 2023: results at a glance by ward . 2023-05-08 . Bournemouth Echo . 6 May 2023 . en.
  4. Web site: New Leader of BCP Council elected. 23 May 2023. 18 May 2024. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.
  5. Web site: BCP council to be run by coalition led by Lib Dem Vikki Slade. 24 May 2023. 18 May 2024. Indy. Almroth-Wright. BBC News.
  6. Web site: Your councillors . Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council . 4 May 2023.
  7. News: White . Marcus . Hudson . Emily . Local Elections 2023: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole . 4 May 2023 . BBC News . 29 April 2023.
  8. Web site: Bournemouth councillor will continue role after Manchester election failure . 2023-04-03 . Bournemouth Echo . 10 May 2022 . en.
  9. Web site: Poole councillor calling time after more than 20 years representing Broadstone . 2022-11-03 . Bournemouth Echo . 3 November 2022 . en.
  10. Web site: IN FULL: Statement from Drew Mellor on decision to resign as BCP Council leader . 2023-02-13 . uk.news.yahoo.com . 13 February 2023 . en-GB.
  11. Web site: Two Conservative BCP Council members not standing for re-election. 2023-02-25. bournemouthecho.co.uk/ . 25 February 2023 . en-GB.
  12. Web site: Two Conservative BCP Council members not standing for re-election. 2023-02-25. bournemouthecho.co.uk/ . 25 February 2023 . en-GB.
  13. Web site: Parkstone councillor Ann Stribley calls time on 46 years in role. 2023-04-02. bournemouthecho.co.uk/ . 30 March 2023 . en-GB.
  14. Web site: LISTED: Who is standing to be a councillor in next month's BCP Council elections . 2023-04-06 . Bournemouth Echo . en.
  15. Web site: 'Blown away': Liberal Democrats storm into largest BCP Council party after election . 2023-05-11 . Bournemouth Echo . 6 May 2023 . en.
  16. Web site: Conservative leader says election focused on national issues as council seats plummet . 2023-05-11 . Bournemouth Echo . 6 May 2023 . en.
  17. Web site: Labour vows to 'punch well above our weight' after BCP Council election gains . 2023-05-11 . Bournemouth Echo . 6 May 2023 . en.
  18. Web site: 'Big change in Bournemouth': Green Party celebrating BCP Council gains . 2023-05-11 . Bournemouth Echo . 8 May 2023 . en.
  19. Web site: Labour councillor resigns five days after election success in Bournemouth ward . 2023-05-11 . Bournemouth Echo . 10 May 2023 . en.
  20. Web site: Canford Cliffs by-election results (2 May 2024). 3 May 2024. BCP Council . 3 May 2024 . en.