2008 UK local government election
The 2008 Southend-on-Sea Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Southend-on-Sea Unitary Council in Essex, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council.[1]
After the election, the composition of the council was
- Conservative 27
- Liberal Democrat 11
- Independent 7
- Labour 6[2]
Campaign
Before the election the Conservatives ran the council with 29 seats, compared to 10 for the Liberal Democrats, 7 Labour and 5 independents.[3] The election was seen as being the closest for years with the other parties needing to gain 4 seats from the Conservatives to deprive them of a majority.[3]
There was a record number of candidates in the election, with St Luke's ward having 7 candidates and the British National Party putting up candidates in every ward for the first time.[4]
Election result
Overall turnout in the election was 34%.[2]
Southend-on-Sea Local Election Result 2008[2] Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 9 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 52.9 | 40.8 | 16,880 | -0.1% |
| Independent | 4 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 23.5 | 15.3 | 6,313 | +4.4% |
| Liberal Democrats | 3 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 17.6 | 19.2 | 7,940 | -2.9% |
| Labour | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 5.9 | 12.3 | 5,104 | -3.4% |
| BNP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10.7 | 4,444 | +4.7% |
| UKIP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.3 | 523 | -0.4% |
| Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 190 | -1.9% |
Ward results
Belfairs[2][5] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Stephen Aylen | 1,219 | 43.9 | -3.6 |
| Independent | Maria Jeffery | 753 | 27.1 | -4.4 |
| BNP | Garry Curtis-Wiggins | 326 | 11.7 | +11.7 |
| Liberal Democrats | Michael Woolcott | 301 | 10.8 | -3.0 |
| Labour | Teresa Merrison | 176 | 6.3 | -0.9 |
Majority | 466 | 16.8 | +0.8 |
Turnout | 2,775 | 38.1 | +2.5 |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Blenheim Park[2][5] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Graham Longley | 966 | 40.2 | -0.2 |
| Conservative | Ray Davy | 950 | 39.5 | +8.8 |
| BNP | Barry Harvey | 269 | 11.2 | -0.5 |
| Labour | Simon Morley | 220 | 9.1 | -1.5 |
Majority | 16 | 0.7 | -9.1 |
Turnout | 2,405 | 32.1 | +0.3 |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Chalkwell[2][5] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Ian Robertson | 1,257 | 56.8 | +2.4 |
| Liberal Democrats | Christopher Mallam | 363 | 16.4 | -0.1 |
| Labour | Lars Davidsson | 306 | 13.8 | +2.1 |
| UKIP | Toni Thornes | 154 | 7.0 | -3.0 |
| BNP | James Haggar | 132 | 6.0 | +6.0 |
Majority | 894 | 40.4 | +2.5 |
Turnout | 2,212 | 32.1 | +2.5 |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Eastwood Park[2][5] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Christopher Walker | 1,458 | 57.5 | -5.9 |
| Liberal Democrats | Paul Collins | 582 | 22.9 | -0.3 |
| BNP | Helen Darcy | 332 | 13.1 | +13.1 |
| Labour | Raoul Meade | 165 | 6.5 | -7.0 |
Majority | 876 | 34.5 | -5.7 |
Turnout | 2,537 | 33.7 | +3.7 |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Kursaal[2][5] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Blaine Robin | 747 | 38.4 | +8.4 |
| Labour | Denis Garne | 741 | 38.1 | -1.8 |
| BNP | Roger Gander | 246 | 12.7 | -2.7 |
| Liberal Democrats | Howard Gibeon | 210 | 10.8 | -4.0 |
Majority | 6 | 0.3 | |
Turnout | 1,944 | 27.8 | +2.9 |
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
Leigh[2][5] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Alan Crystall | 1,239 | 53.2 | -10.5 |
| Conservative | Victoria Salter | 770 | 33.1 | +3.9 |
| BNP | Geoffrey Stringer | 160 | 6.9 | +6.9 |
| Labour | Helen Symons | 160 | 6.9 | -0.2 |
Majority | 469 | 20.1 | -14.3 |
Turnout | 2,329 | 33.0 | +2.0 |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Milton[2][5] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Nigel Folkard | 928 | 47.9 | +3.6 |
| Labour | Tony Borton | 502 | 25.9 | -2.1 |
| Liberal Democrats | Justine Farenden | 321 | 16.6 | +6.7 |
| BNP | Derek King | 185 | 9.6 | +9.6 |
Majority | 426 | 22.0 | +5.6 |
Turnout | 1,936 | 28.1 | +1.6 |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Prittlewell[2][5] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Mary Betson | 1,032 | 38.4 | -3.2 |
| Conservative | Melvyn Day | 960 | 35.7 | -2.1 |
| UKIP | John Croft | 293 | 10.9 | -0.5 |
| Labour | Llynus Pigrem | 214 | 8.0 | -1.2 |
| BNP | David Armstrong | 191 | 7.1 | +7.1 |
Majority | 72 | 2.7 | -1.1 |
Turnout | 2,690 | 36.6 | +2.6 |
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
St Laurence[2][5] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Mark Flewitt | 1,072 | 42.5 | +4.4 |
| Liberal Democrats | Jill Stone | 960 | 38.1 | -5.8 |
| BNP | Keith Barrett | 284 | 11.3 | +11.3 |
| Labour | Jane Norman | 204 | 8.1 | -4.0 |
Majority | 112 | 4.4 | |
Turnout | 2,520 | 33.8 | +2.1 |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
St Lukes[2][5] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Peter Ashley | 861 | 31.3 | -1.9 |
| Independent | Paul Van Looy | 675 | 24.6 | +24.6 |
| Labour | Anne Chalk | 535 | 19.5 | -12.9 |
| BNP | Fenton Bowley | 415 | 15.1 | -3.6 |
| Liberal Democrats | Robert Howes | 145 | 5.3 | -4.1 |
| UKIP | Lawrence Davies | 76 | 2.8 | +2.8 |
| Green | Cristian Ramis | 40 | 1.5 | -4.8 |
Majority | 186 | 6.8 | +6.1 |
Turnout | 2,747 | 34.7 | +5.2 |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Shoeburyness[2][5] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | Mike Assenheim | 1,009 | 45.8 | +17.8 |
| Conservative | Graham Hill | 659 | 29.9 | -3.6 |
| Labour | Chris Gasper | 250 | 11.3 | -9.2 |
| BNP | John Moss | 211 | 9.6 | -3.8 |
| Liberal Democrats | Jane Dresner | 75 | 3.4 | -1.2 |
Majority | 350 | 15.9 | |
Turnout | 2,204 | 29.3 | -1.0 |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Southchurch[2][5] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | Tony Delaney | 1,058 | 40.4 | +40.4 |
| Conservative | David Garston | 971 | 37.1 | -17.2 |
| BNP | Raymond Weaver | 273 | 10.4 | -5.2 |
| Labour | Joyce Mapp | 195 | 7.4 | -5.4 |
| Liberal Democrats | Linda Smith | 121 | 4.6 | -6.5 |
Majority | 87 | 3.3 | |
Turnout | 2,618 | 37.4 | +4.3 |
| Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Thorpe[2][5] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | Mike Stafford | 1,918 | 57.8 | +4.0 |
| Conservative | Sally Carr | 1,036 | 31.2 | +1.0 |
| BNP | David Webster | 150 | 4.5 | +4.5 |
| Liberal Democrats | Colin Davis | 110 | 3.3 | -7.6 |
| Labour | Bernard Chalk | 105 | 3.2 | -1.9 |
Majority | 882 | 26.6 | +2.9 |
Turnout | 3,319 | 46.1 | -0.2 |
| Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Victoria[2][5] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Ian Gilbert | 719 | 37.8 | -5.6 |
| Conservative | David Manclark | 478 | 25.1 | -0.7 |
| BNP | Alisdair Lewis | 351 | 18.4 | +2.2 |
| Liberal Democrats | Ronella Streeter | 206 | 10.8 | -3.9 |
| Green | Stephen Jordan | 150 | 7.9 | +7.9 |
Majority | 241 | 12.7 | -4.9 |
Turnout | 1,904 | 26.9 | +2.6 |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
West Leigh[2][5] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | John Lamb | 1,673 | 58.1 | -1.6 |
| Liberal Democrats | Margery Jones | 821 | 28.5 | +0.8 |
| BNP | Antony Winchester | 232 | 8.1 | +8.1 |
| Labour | Louise Norman | 153 | 5.3 | -0.2 |
Majority | 852 | 29.6 | -2.4 |
Turnout | 2,879 | 41.9 | +3.6 |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
West Shoebury[2][5] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Liz Day | 1,340 | 56.4 | +2.0 |
| BNP | Terence Jellis | 447 | 18.8 | +2.6 |
| Liberal Democrats | James Allen | 319 | 13.4 | +2.5 |
| Labour | Joan Richards | 270 | 11.4 | -2.0 |
Majority | 893 | 37.6 | -0.6 |
Turnout | 2,376 | 32.8 | +1.8 |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Westborough[2][5] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | Vel Velmurugan | 812 | 40.6 | -4.5 |
| Conservative | Susan Luty | 501 | 25.1 | +3.3 |
| BNP | James Burns | 240 | 12.0 | +12.0 |
| Labour | Chas Willis | 189 | 9.5 | -8.6 |
| Liberal Democrats | Michael O'Connor | 169 | 8.5 | -6.4 |
| Independent | Deri Laycock | 88 | 4.4 | +4.4 |
Majority | 311 | 15.6 | -7.7 |
Turnout | 1,999 | 28.9 | +5.6 |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
References
- ^ "Southend-On-Sea". BBC News Online. 19 April 2008. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Local Election Results 2008". Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. Archived from the original on 9 June 2008. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
- ^ a b "Southend: Parties' election predictions". Echo. 25 April 2008. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
- ^ "Southend Council election candidates". Echo. 7 July 2008. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Declaration of result of poll" (PDF). Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. Retrieved 8 April 2010. [dead link]