2023 East Devon District Council election explained

Election Name:2023 East Devon District Council election
Country:Devon
Type:parliamentary
Previous Election:2019 East Devon District Council election
Previous Year:2019
Next Election:2027 East Devon District Council election
Next Year:2027
Seats For Election:All 60 seats to East Devon District Council
Majority Seats:31
Party1:Independent politician
Last Election1:19 seats, 23.6%
Seats Before1:16
Seats After1:19
Popular Vote1:20,854
Percentage1:25.6%
Swing1: 2.1%
Party2:Liberal Democrats (UK)
Last Election2:8 seats, 15.3%
Seats Before2:7
Seats After2:18
Seat Change2: 10
Popular Vote2:23,378
Percentage2:28.7%
Swing2: 13.5%
Leader3:Philip Skinner (defeated)
Party3:Conservative Party (UK)
Last Election3:20 seats, 36.2%
Seats Before3:21
Seats After3:17
Seat Change3: 3
Popular Vote3:27,980
Percentage3:34.4%
Swing3: 1.8%
Party4:Labour Party (UK)
Last Election4:0 seats, 6.3%
Seats Before4:2
Seats After4:3
Seat Change4: 3
Popular Vote4:4,698
Percentage4:5.8%
Swing4: 0.6%
Party5:Green Party of England and Wales
Last Election5:2 seats, 3.4%
Seats Before5:2
Seats After5:2
Popular Vote5:3,898
Percentage5:4.8%
Swing5: 1.4%
Party6:Liberal Party (UK, 1989)
Last Election6:0 seats, 0.0%
Seats Before6:0
Seats After6:1
Seat Change6:1
Popular Vote6:534
Percentage6:0.7%
Swing6:N/A
Leader7:Paul Arnott
Party7:East Devon Alliance
Last Election7:11 seats, 14.0%
Seats Before7:12
Seats After7:0
Seat Change7:11
Popular Vote7:0
Percentage7:0.0%
Swing7: 14.0%
Leader
Posttitle:Leader after election
Before Election:Paul Arnott
East Devon Alliance
Before Party:No overall control
After Election:Paul Arnott
Liberal Democrat
After Party:No overall control

The 2023 East Devon District Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect all 60 members of East Devon District Council in Devon, England. This was on the same day as other local elections across England.

The council remained under no overall control, being led by an alliance of the Liberal Democrats, Greens, Labour and some of the independent councillors.

Overview

Prior to the election the council was under no overall control, being led by the "Democratic Alliance Group" of 23 councillors, comprising the East Devon Alliance, Liberal Democrats, Greens, and two of the independent councillors. The group was led by Paul Arnott of the East Devon Alliance. They were supported by some of the other independent groups and Labour. The 16 independent councillors who did not represent a registered political party were divided into five different groupings:

There was also one vacant seat on the council.[1] [2]

The local party of the East Devon Alliance did not contest the 2023 election. Of the 12 councillors it had prior to the election, four stood as Liberal Democrats, five stood as independent candidates and three did not stand for re-election. The East Devon Alliance leader Paul Arnott, who was also leader of the council, was one of those who stood as a Liberal Democrat, having already joined the party at a national level in 2022.[3] [4]

The election saw the council remain under no overall control. The Conservative group leader, Philip Skinner, lost his seat. A Democratic Alliance Group formed again after the election, this time comprising the Liberal Democrats, Greens and nine of the independent councillors. Of the other independent councillors, nine formed the "Independent Group" and one sat with the single Liberal councillor as the "Independent Councillor Group". Paul Arnott was re-appointed leader of the council after the election, this time as a Liberal Democrat.[5]

Results

Following the results, the council remained under no overall control.[6] |-

Ward Results

The ward results were as follow, with an asterisk(*) indicating a sitting councillor standing for re-election.

Dunkeswell & Otterhead

The number of votes for Ian Morgan was in fact 682 (41.8%). However, his result was declared in error as 109 votes by the returning officer.[7] Under UK election law this result stands, as it can only be changed through a petition to a court. This is unlikely to take place given the elected candidates were not affected by this error.

Yarty

Changes 2023–2027

By-election triggered by resignation of Conservative councillor Fred Caygill.[9] [10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Your councillors by political grouping . East Devon District Council . 22 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230208025313/https://democracy.eastdevon.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=GROUPING&VW=LIST&PIC=0 . 8 February 2023.
  2. News: Kershaw . Rob . East Devon Conservative quits group as he 'can't defend the indefensible' . 22 June 2023 . Devon Live . 24 February 2023.
  3. News: Kershaw . Rob . East Devon Independents to stand as Liberal Democrats in elections . 22 June 2023 . Devon Live . 23 March 2023.
  4. News: Arnott . Paul . East Devon District Council leader joins national Lib Dems ahead of by-election . 22 June 2023 . Sidmouth Herald . 7 June 2022.
  5. Web site: Council meeting, 24 May 2023 . East Devon District Council . 22 June 2023.
  6. Web site: Local elections 2023: Lib Dems make gains as East Devon stays hung . 2023-05-07 . BBC News . en-GB.
  7. News: 8. Declaration of results for East Devon District Council Dunkeswell & Otterhead Ward 4 May 2023 . en-GB . East Devon District Council . 2023-05-22.
  8. News: Boothroyd . David . Lib Dems losing in the Highlands . 9 May 2024 . Local Councils . Thorncliffe . 12 April 2024.
  9. News: Boothroyd . David . Butcher chosen for Bakewell delicacy . 9 May 2024 . Local Councils . Thorncliffe . 23 February 2024.
  10. News: Manning . Adam . Tories' Aurora Bailey wins Exmouth Brixington by-election . 9 May 2024 . Exmouth Journal . 3 May 2024.
  11. News: Boothroyd . David . Kingstanding Still . 1 July 2024 . Local Councils . Thorncliffe . 31 May 2024.
  12. Web site: Councillor Del Haggerty . East Devon District Council . 1 July 2024.