2023 Horsham District Council election explained

Election Name:2023 Horsham District Council election
Country:West Sussex
Type:parliamentary
Previous Election:2019 Horsham District Council election
Previous Year:2019
Next Election:2027 Horsham District Council election
Next Year:2027
Seats For Election:All 48 seats to Horsham District Council
Majority Seats:25
Leader1:Martin Boffey
Party1:Liberal Democrats (UK)
Last Election1:13 seats, 28.3%
Seats1:28
Seat Change1: 15
Popular Vote1:32,756
Percentage1:35.5%
Swing1: 7.2 pp
Leader2:Claire Vickers
Party2:Conservative Party (UK)
Last Election2:32 seats, 48.5%
Seats2:11
Seat Change2: 21
Popular Vote2:31,217
Percentage2:33.8%
Swing2: 14.7 pp
Party4:Green Party of England and Wales
Last Election4:2 seats, 3.6%
Seats4:8
Seat Change4: 6
Popular Vote4:18,506
Percentage4:20.0%
Swing4: 16.4 pp
Party5:Independent politician
Last Election5:1 seat, 1.4%
Seats5:1
Popular Vote5:622
Percentage5:0.7%
Swing5: 0.7 pp
Leader
Posttitle:Leader after election
Before Election:Claire Vickers
Before Party:Conservative Party (UK)
After Election:Martin Boffey
After Party:Liberal Democrats (UK)

The 2023 Horsham District Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Horsham District Council in West Sussex, England.[1] [2] It was held on the same day as other local elections in England.

The Liberal Democrats gained control of the council from the Conservatives with an 8 seat majority. It was the first time since the 1995 election that the Liberal Democrats had taken control of the council. It was also the worst performance in terms of seats for the Conservative Party in any previous election to the council. The Conservative leader of the council prior to the election, Claire Vickers, lost her seat.[3] Liberal Democrat group leader Martin Boffey was formally appointed the new leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 24 May 2023.[4]

Council Composition

Prior to the election, the composition of the council was:

291333
ConLDemGrnInd

After the election, the composition of the council was:

281181
LDemConGrnInd

Results summary

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Ward results

Billingshurst

Bramber, Upper Beeding & Woodmancote

Colgate & Rusper

Denne

Holbrook East

Holbrook West

Itchingfield, Slinfold & Warnham

Pulborough, Coldwaltham & Amberley

Roffey North

Roffey South

Southwater North

Southwater South & Shipley

Storrington & Washington

Trafalgar

West Chiltington, Thakeham & Ashington

Notes and References

  1. Web site: District & Parish Elections - 4 May 2023. Horsham District Council. 30 March 2023.
  2. Web site: Local Elections 2023: More than 400 Sussex seats up for election. The Argus (Brighton). 10 April 2023.
  3. News: Luck . Flaminia . Sussex election results 2023: Tories lose Wealden for first time in 25 years . 28 January 2024 . BBC News . 5 May 2023.
  4. News: Dunn . Karen . Horsham council's new Lib Dem leader . 28 January 2024 . Sussex World . 25 May 2023.
  5. Web site: 2023-04-06 . Councillor details - Councillor Nigel Jupp . 2023-04-06 . westsussex.moderngov.co.uk . en.
  6. Web site: Home . 2023-04-06 . MidSussex, Crawley and Horsham Green Party . en-GB.
  7. Web site: 2023-04-06 . Councillor details - Councillor John Milne . 2023-04-06 . westsussex.moderngov.co.uk . en.
  8. Web site: 2023-04-06 . Councillor details - Councillor Christian Mitchell . 2023-04-06 . westsussex.moderngov.co.uk . en.
  9. Web site: Horsham council leader steps down . 2023-04-06 . The Argus . en.
  10. Web site: Sudden resignation of Horsham District Council leader . 12 November 2021 .
  11. Web site: Conservative councillor defects to Lib Dems . 7 March 2019.
  12. Web site: Horsham councillor defects to Conservatives after not being re-selected by Lib Dems . 17 January 2023.
  13. Web site: 2023-04-06 . Councillor details - Councillor Katie Nagel . 2023-04-06 . westsussex.moderngov.co.uk . en.
  14. Web site: 2023-04-06 . Councillor details - Councillor Gary Markwell . 2023-04-06 . westsussex.moderngov.co.uk . en.
  15. Web site: Council . Arun District . Statements of persons nominated for Arun District Council elections May 2023 . 2023-04-06 . Arun District Council . en.
  16. Web site: 2023-04-06 . Councillor details - Councillor Joy Dennis . 2023-04-06 . westsussex.moderngov.co.uk . en.