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2014 Colchester Borough Council election

The 2014 Colchester Borough Council election took place on 22 May 2014 to elect members of Colchester Borough Council in Essex, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.[1]

2014 Colchester Borough Council election
← 2012 22 May 2014 (2014-05-22) 2015 →
20 out of 60 seats to Colchester Borough Council
31 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
  Blank Blank
Party Liberal Democrats Conservative
Last election 26 seats, 32.6% 23 seats, 28.9%
Seats before 26 23
Seats won 9 8
Seats after 25 23
Seat change Decrease 1 Steady
Popular vote 8,988 13,144
Percentage 23.0% 33.6%
Swing Decrease 9.6% Increase 4.7%
  Third party Fourth party
  Blank Blank
Party Labour Independent
Last election 8 seats, 24.0% 3 seats, 4.5%
Seats before 7 3
Seats won 2 1
Seats after 8 3
Seat change Increase 1 Steady
Popular vote 6,334 1,127
Percentage 15.8% 2.9%
Swing Decrease 7.8% Decrease 1.6%
Leader of the council before election

Anne Turrell
Liberal Democrats

Leader of the council after election

Martin Hunt
Liberal Democrats

Background

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Before the election a coalition between the 26 Liberal Democrats, 7 Labour and 3 independents ran the council, while the 23 Conservatives were in opposition.[2] There were also one seat vacant after the death of the Labour councillor for Wivenhoe Quay Steve Ford.[3]

20 seats were being contested, with the candidates including a full slate from the Green party and 13 from the UK Independence Party, more than the party had put forward at any previous local election in Colchester.[2] 6 sitting councillors stood down at the election including the then mayor, Colin Sykes.[4]

Election result

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Only one seat changed hands at the election, with Labour's Chris Pearson gaining Berechurch from the Liberal Democrats.[5] The Liberal Democrats held the other 9 seats they had been defending, holding Castle by 46 votes over the Conservatives and Old Heath (formerly Harbour ward[6]) by 69 votes from Labour.[5] The Conservatives gained an increased share of the vote at the election, but did not gain any more seats.[5]

Meanwhile, the UK Independence Party picked up 16% of the vote, coming second in 9 wards, but failed to take any seats.[7] This was despite the party topping the polls in Colchester with 35% at the European parliamentary election that was held at the same time as the council election,[8] and coming closest to taking a seat in Tiptree where the Conservatives held the seat by 85 votes.[5]

Following the election, councillor Laura Sykes left the Liberal Democrats and joined the Highwoods Independent group on the council (renamed to Highwoods & Stanway Independents), after a long-standing dispute with another Liberal Democrat councillor.[9] The coalition between the Liberal Democrats, Labour and independents continued to run the council.[10]

2014 Colchester Borough Council election[11]
Party This election Full council This election
Seats Net Seats % Other Total Total % Votes Votes % +/−
  Liberal Democrats 9   1 45.0 16 25 41.7 8,988 23.0 –9.6
  Conservative 8   40.0 15 23 38.3 13,144 33.6 +4.7
  Labour 2   1 10.0 7 9 15.0 6,334 16.2 –7.8
  Independent 1   5.0 2 3 5.0 1,127 2.9 –1.6
  UKIP 0   0.0 0 0 0.0 6,179 15.8 +13.1
  Green 0   0.0 0 0 0.0 3,385 8.6 +1.3

Ward results

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Berechurch

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Berechurch[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Chris Pearson 852 40.0 −18.2
UKIP Paul Mulvey 479 22.5 +10.3
Liberal Democrats Susan Hislop 417 19.6 +3.6
Conservative Michael Brown 305 14.3 +3.6
Green Stuart Welham 77 3.6 +0.7
Majority 373 17.5 −24.8
Turnout 2,130 32 +4
Labour gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

Birch & Winstree

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Birch & Winstree[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Kevin Bentley 963 54.6 −14.1
UKIP John Pitts 478 27.1 New
Labour John Spademan 136 7.7 −5.8
Green Maria Iacovou 102 5.8 −0.7
Liberal Democrats Debby Bloomfield 86 4.9 −6.3
Majority 485 27.5 −27.6
Turnout 1,765 41 −6
Conservative hold Swing

Castle

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Castle[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Bill Frame 693 25.8 −14.6
Conservative Darius Laws 647 24.1 +6.2
Labour Ben Howard 478 17.8 +4.4
Green Peter Lynn 462 17.2 −1.4
UKIP Ron Levy 403 15.0 +5.3
Majority 46 1.7 −20.2
Turnout 2,683 38 +8
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Christ Church

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Christ Church[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Nick Cope 467 32.5 −10.5
Conservative Annesley Hardy 413 28.7 −4.4
Labour Elisa Vasquez-Walters 239 16.6 +5.2
Green Clare Palmer 212 14.8 +2.4
UKIP Alexei Kunpffer 106 7.4 New
Majority 54 3.8 −6.1
Turnout 1,437 44 −9
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Fordham & Stour

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Fordham & Stour[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Christopher Arnold 1,046 65.5 −1.8
Green Sue Bailey 219 13.7 +6.0
Labour Ian Yates 201 12.6 −2.9
Liberal Democrats Barry Woodward 132 8.3 −1.3
Majority 827 51.8 −0.1
Turnout 1,598 38 −7
Conservative hold Swing

Highwoods

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Highwoods[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Gerard Oxford 1,117 52.1 −15.7
UKIP Tony Terry 286 13.3 +8.8
Conservative Christopher Hayter 266 12.4 +3.0
Labour Bob Fisher 208 9.7 +1.6
Liberal Democrats Ann Oakes-Odger 176 8.2 +2.0
Green Robbie Spence 91 4.2 +0.2
Majority 831 38.8 −19.7
Turnout 2,144 33 +7
Independent hold Swing

Lexden

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Lexden[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Roger Buston 985 55.5 +1.3
Liberal Democrats Robin James 370 20.8 −5.2
Green Steve Ford 230 13.0 +4.5
Labour John Wood 190 10.7 −0.6
Majority 615 34.6 +6.4
Turnout 1,775 41 +5
Conservative hold Swing

Mile End

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Mile End[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Dominic Graham 1,124 40.7 −23.7
Conservative Ben Locker 857 31.0 +7.5
UKIP Simon Collins 410 14.8 New
Labour Kevin Stannard 210 7.6 −0.5
Green Mary Bryan 160 5.8 +1.8
Majority 267 9.7 −31.2
Turnout 2,761 36 +5
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

New Town

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New Town[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Theresa Higgins 766 41.6 −11.2
UKIP Tony Hardy 334 18.1 +9.9
Labour Lillie Dopson 273 14.8 −3.9
Green Mark Goacher 247 13.4 +2.0
Conservative Matthew Neall 222 12.1 +3.1
Majority 432 23.5 −10.6
Turnout 1,842 29 +6
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Old Heath

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Prior to the election, Old Heath was known as Harbour ward.

Old Heath[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Justin Knight 463 31.5 −23.2
Labour Lee Scordis 394 26.8 +2.2
UKIP Stephen Galvin 334 22.7 +15.2
Conservative Samuel Nolan 177 12.0 +5.1
Green Bob Brannan 104 7.1 +0.8
Majority 69 4.7 −25.4
Turnout 1,472 34 +6
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Prettygate

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Prettygate[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sue Lissimore 1,489 57.9 +10.7
Liberal Democrats John Loxley 545 21.2 −8.7
Labour Mike Dale 304 11.8 −3.1
Green Luke O'Loughlin 233 9.1 +1.1
Majority 944 36.7 +19.5
Turnout 2,571 44 +7
Conservative hold Swing

Pyefleet

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Pyefleet[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Davidson 587 64.2 +20.4
Green Tim Glover 131 14.3 +10.0
Labour Alison Inman 124 13.6 +4.4
Liberal Democrats Owen Bartholomew 73 8.0 −34.7
Majority 456 49.8 +48.7
Turnout 915 45 −30
Conservative hold Swing

St. Andrew's

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St. Andrew's[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Julie Young 925 61.6 +0.3
Conservative Christopher Hill 237 15.8 +8.7
Liberal Democrats Wayne Boughton 179 11.9 +0.3
Green Leonie Greene 160 10.7 New
Majority 688 45.8 −2.7
Turnout 1,501 27 +2
Labour hold Swing

St. Anne's

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St. Anne's[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Mike Hogg 783 39.7 −15.5
UKIP William Faram 500 25.4 New
Conservative Alexandra Hutchinson 299 15.2 −0.5
Labour Amanda Stannard 265 13.4 −7.0
Green Callum Fauser 125 6.3 −2.4
Majority 283 14.4 −20.4
Turnout 1,972 31 +8
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

St. John's

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St. John's[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Ray Gamble 841 48.6 −15.8
UKIP Edwin Gretton 355 20.5 New
Conservative Charles McKay 352 20.4 −1.2
Labour Jennie Fisher 106 6.1 −2.7
Green David Trayner 75 4.3 −0.9
Majority 486 28.1 −14.7
Turnout 1,729 43 +5
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Shrub End

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Shrub End[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Lyn Barton 778 33.4 −10.4
UKIP Sarah Hardy 510 21.9 New
Conservative Mike Hardy 480 20.6 −9.7
Labour Bruce Tuxford 458 19.7 +0.0
Green Walter Schwarz 92 4.0 −2.2
Independent Christina Perdicou 10 0.4 New
Majority 268 11.5 −2.1
Turnout 2,328 32 +7
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Stanway

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Stanway[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Jessica Scott-Boutell 786 33.7 −21.3
Conservative Janice Perren 704 30.2 +5.0
UKIP Christopher Treloar 486 20.8 New
Labour David Hough 237 10.2 −4.2
Green Pam Nelson 120 5.1 −0.3
Majority 82 3.5 −26.3
Turnout 2,333 36 +3
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Tiptree

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Tiptree[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Elliott 940 41.3 −6.8
UKIP Harry Royle 855 37.5 New
Labour Robert Spademan 283 12.4 −23.7
Green Kathy Bamforth 120 5.3 −4.4
Liberal Democrats Gill Collings 79 3.5 −2.5
Majority 85 3.7 −8.3
Turnout 2,277 39 +12
Conservative hold Swing

West Bergholt & Eight Ash Green

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West Bergholt & Eight Ash Green[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dennis Willetts 984 61.8 +7.0
Green Roger Bamforth 274 17.2 +11.7
Labour Barbara Nichols 201 12.6 +3.0
Liberal Democrats Sue Waite 134 8.4 +2.0
Majority 710 44.6 +13.5
Turnout 1,593 43 −7
Conservative hold Swing

West Mersea

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West Mersea[11][12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Jowers 1,191 51.1 −18.0
UKIP David Broise 643 27.6 New
Labour Bernard Ready 250 10.7 −4.7
Green Steve McGough 151 6.5 −1.5
Liberal Democrats Jenny Stevens 96 4.1 −3.4
Majority 548 23.5 −30.2
Turnout 2,331 40 +11
Conservative hold Swing

By-elections

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Wivenhoe Quay

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A by-election was held in Wivenhoe Quay on 3 July 2014 following the death of Labour councillor Steve Ford.[3][13] The seat was held for Labour by Rosalind Scott with a majority of 228 votes over the Conservatives.[10]

Wivenhoe Quay: 3 July 2014[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rosalind Scott 857 46.7 −5.4
Conservative Peter Hill 629 34.3 +2.4
UKIP John Pitts 129 7.0 N/A
Liberal Democrats Shaun Boughton 127 6.9 −0.1
Green Tim Glover 90 4.9 −4.2
Patriotic Socialist Dave Osborn 2 0.1 N/A
Majority 228 12.4 −7.9
Turnout 1,834 43.0 +1.0
Labour hold Swing  3.9

References

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  1. ^ "Colchester". BBC News Online. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Colchester gets ready to go to the polls - see our local election preview". The Gazette. NewsBank. 20 May 2014.
  3. ^ a b Bunn, Matt (6 April 2014). "Wivenhoe/Colchester: Tributes paid to former Wvenhoe mayor and borough councillor Steve Ford". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  4. ^ Lodge, Will (24 April 2014). "Colchester: Greens to challenge every seat at council elections". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  5. ^ a b c d "Colchester Council: Big three breathe sigh of relief after halting rise of Ukip". The Gazette. NewsBank. 23 May 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  6. ^ "Councillors agree to ward change in spite of low response to survey". Essex County Standard. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  7. ^ Lodge, Will (23 May 2014). "Colchester: UKIP fails to take any seats at borough council elections". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  8. ^ Calnan, James (27 May 2014). "Colchester Lib Dem councillor defects". Daily Gazette. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  9. ^ a b c Lodge, Will (4 July 2014). "Essex: No change in councils' make-up after by-elections". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Results - Borough Election - 22 May 2014". Colchester Borough Council. Archived from the original on 30 May 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Lodge, Will (23 May 2014). "Colchester: Ward-by-ward results for the 2014 Colchester Borough Council election". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  12. ^ "Wivenhoe By-Election - 3rd July 2014". Colchester Borough Council. Archived from the original on 3 July 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
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