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2022 Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council election

The 2022 Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 5 May 2022. One third of councillors—24 out of 72—on Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council were elected, with 1 ward (Halesowen South) electing 2 councillors. The election took place alongside other local elections across the United Kingdom.

2022 Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council election
← 2021 5 May 2022 (2022-05-05) 2023 →
25 out of 72 seats to Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
37 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
  Blank Blank
Leader Patrick Harley Qadar Zada
Party Conservative Labour
Last election 46 seats, 56.9% 24 seats, 33.5%
Seats before 45 23
Seats won 13 12
Seats after 46 26
Seat change Steady Increase 2
Popular vote 36,015 31,452
Percentage 48.6% 42.4%
Swing Decrease 8.3% Increase 8.9%
Winner of each seat at the 2022 Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council election
Council control before election


Conservative

Council control after election


Conservative

In the previous council election in 2021, the Conservatives gained a majority on the council, holding 46 seats after the election with Labour holding 24 of the others, with two independent councillors.

Background

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History

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Result of the council election when these seats were last contested in 2018
 
Result of the most recent council election in 2021

The Local Government Act 1972 created a two-tier system of metropolitan counties and districts covering Greater Manchester, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, the West Midlands, and West Yorkshire starting in 1974. Dudley was a district of the West Midlands metropolitan county.[1] The Local Government Act 1985 abolished the metropolitan counties, with metropolitan districts taking on most of their powers as metropolitan boroughs. The West Midlands Combined Authority was created in 2016 and began electing the mayor of the West Midlands from 2017, which was given strategic powers covering a region coterminous with the former West Midlands metropolitan county.[2]

Dudley Council has variously been under Labour control, Conservative control and no overall control since it was established. The Conservatives controlled the council from the 2004 election until Labour gained control in the 2012 election. Labour lost overall control in the 2016 election but continued to lead the council until 2017, when the Conservatives led the council, still without a majority. In the most recent election in 2021, the Conservatives gained twelve seats at the expense of Labour and the UK Independence Party to hold an overall majority of seats, with 46 of the 72 total. Labour held 24 of the remaining seats, and there were two independents.[3]

Positions up for election in 2022 were last elected in 2018. In that election the Conservatives won 14 seats and Labour won 10.[4]

Council term

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The Labour Party suspended the councillor Zahir Islam in March 2022.[5] The Labour Against Antisemitism campaign had submitted a complaint against him in September 2021 over social media posts.[6]

Electoral process

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The council elects its councillors in thirds, with a third being up for election every year for three years, with no election in the fourth year.[7][8] The election will take place by first-past-the-post voting, with wards generally being represented by three councillors, with one elected in each election year to serve a four-year term.

All registered electors (British, Irish, Commonwealth and European Union citizens) living in Dudley aged 18 or over will be entitled to vote in the election. People who live at two addresses in different councils, such as university students with different term-time and holiday addresses, are entitled to be registered for and vote in elections in both local authorities. Voting in-person at polling stations will take place from 07:00 to 22:00 on election day, and voters will be able to apply for postal votes or proxy votes in advance of the election.

Campaign

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Peter Walker, the political correspondent for The Guardian, wrote that Labour would want to "show progress" in the council.[9] The Conservative council leader Patrick Harley said he was confident that his party would gain seats in the election.[10]

Previous council composition

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After 2021 election Before 2022 election After 2022 election
Party Seats Party Seats Party Seats
Conservative 46 Conservative 45 Conservative 46
Labour 24 Labour 23 Labour 26
Independent 2 Independent 3 Independent 0

Changes:

  • February 2022: David Vickers (Conservative) dies; seat left vacant until 2022 election[11]
  • March 2022: Zafar Islam suspended from Labour[12]

Results

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2022 Dudley Borough Council election
Party This election Full council This election
Seats Net Seats % Other Total Total % Votes Votes % +/−
  Conservative 13   52.0 33 46 63.9 36,015 48.6 -8.3
  Labour 12   2 48.0 14 26 36.1 31,452 42.4 +8.9
  Liberal Democrats 0   0 0 0 0 4,360 5.9 +1.7
  Green 0   0 0 0 0 965 1.3 -1.3
  Libertarian 0   0 0 0 0 729 1.0 +0.5
  TUSC 0   0 0 0 0 224 0.3 +0.2
  Independent 0   2 0 0 0 0 204 0.3 +0.1
  Reform UK 0   0 0 0 0 89 0.1 -0.1
  Freedom Alliance 0   0 0 0 0 88 0.1 +0.1

Seat change includes Halesowen South, which was last elected in 2021.

Results by ward

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An asterisk indicates an incumbent councillor.

Amblecote

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Amblecote[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Bradley* 1,644 56.7 −1.3
Labour Rhianna Parsons 982 33.9 +2.9
Liberal Democrats Ian Flynn 164 5.7 +2.2
Green Adrian Mabe 111 3.8 +0.1
Majority 662 22.8
Turnout 2,901 29.0
Conservative hold Swing

Belle Vale

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Belle Vale[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Dobb* 1,516 47.5 −2.3
Labour Savannah Southorn 1,305 40.9 +6.4
Green John Payne 190 6.0 −2.1
Liberal Democrats Sarah Furhuraire 179 5.6 +1.9
Majority 211 6.6
Turnout 3,190 31.74
Conservative hold Swing

Brierley Hill

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Brierley Hill[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Martin 1,132 47.0 +12.2
Conservative Ben Corfield 960 39.9 −18.4
Libertarian Wayne Lewis 226 9.4 N/A
Reform UK Austin Ward 89 3.7 +0.4
Majority 172 7.1
Turnout 2,407 24.0
Labour hold Swing

The incumbent councillor, Zafar Islam, was elected for the Labour Party but suspended in March 2022.[15]

Brockmoor and Pensnett

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Brockmoor and Pensnett[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Judy Foster* 1,527 64.9 +30.6
Conservative Mark Webb 826 35.1 −9.9
Majority 701 29.8
Turnout 2,353 23.88
Labour hold Swing

Castle and Priory

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Castle and Priory[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Keiran Casey 1,700 63.9 +15.6
Conservative Mick Wolohan 962 36.1 −10.9
Majority 738 27.7
Turnout 2,662 23.85
Labour hold Swing

Coseley East

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Coseley East[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Marian Howard 1,333 63.5 +10.6
Conservative Matt Cook 765 36.5 −6.0
Majority 568 27.1
Turnout 2,098 22.82
Labour hold Swing

Cradley and Wollescote

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Cradley and Wollescote[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tim Crumpton* 1,153 38.8 ±0.0
Liberal Democrats Ryan Priest 915 30.8 +19.9
Conservative Jason Thorne 905 30.4 −13.6
Majority 238 8.0
Turnout 2,973 31.46
Labour hold Swing

Gornal

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Gornal[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Bryn Challenor* 1,882 65.9 −2.5
Labour Karl Denning 972 34.1 +8.7
Majority 910 31.8
Turnout 2,854 28.48
Conservative hold Swing

Halesowen North

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Halesowen North[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Hilary Bills 1,850 57.1 +14.4
Conservative Mitch Bolton 1,231 38.0 −16.3
Liberal Democrats Mollie Priest 157 4.8 +1.8
Majority 619 19.1
Turnout 3,238 33.77
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Halesowen South

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Halesowen South[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jonathan Elliott 1,806 52.7 −10.9
Conservative Thomas Russon 1,696 49.5 −14.1
Labour Mahdi Mutahar 904 26.4 +3.4
Labour Donella Russell 874 25.5 +2.5
Green James Windridge 437 12.7 +6.9
Liberal Democrats Tracey Gregg 330 9.6 +5.6
Independent Tim Weller 204 5.9 N/A
Majority 792 23.1
Turnout 3,429 36.28
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative gain from Independent Swing

|} Ray Burston, the outgoing incumbent, was elected as a Conservative but had the whip withdrawn in December 2020.[16]

Hayley Green and Cradley South

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Hayley Green and Cradley South[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrea Goddard* 1,686 57.7 −8.4
Labour Tony Barnsley 1,056 36.1 +10.4
Liberal Democrats Ethan Stafford 180 6.2 +0.4
Majority 630 21.6
Turnout 2,922 32.57
Conservative hold Swing

Kingswinford North and Wall Heath

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Kingswinford North and Wall Heath[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Lawrence* 2,244 62.9 +5.0
Labour Sarah Daniel 1,107 31.0 +3.2
Liberal Democrats Jonathan Bramall 219 6.1 −0.8
Majority 1,137 31.8
Turnout 3,570 37.08
Conservative hold Swing

Kingswinford South

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Kingswinford South[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Patrick Harley* 1,933 59.0 +0.6
Labour Simon Daniel 979 29.9 +3.3
Liberal Democrats Elizabeth Geeves 363 11.1 −3.9
Majority 954 29.1
Turnout 3,275 32.93
Conservative hold Swing

Lye and Stourbridge North

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Lye and Stourbridge North[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Pete Lowe* 1,334 45.2 +10.5
Conservative Lisa Clinton 1,066 36.1 −8.3
Libertarian Gary Farmer 280 9.5 +1.0
Liberal Democrats Abdul Qadus 274 9.3 +1.9
Majority 268 9.1
Turnout 2,954 32.38
Labour hold Swing

Netherton, Woodside and St Andrew's

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Netherton, Woodside and St Andrew's[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Elaine Taylor* 1,556 61.6 +18.7
Conservative Lynette Corfield 971 38.4 −10.0
Majority 585 23.1
Turnout 2,527 25.23
Labour hold Swing

Norton

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Norton[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tony Creed 1,953 53.5 −9.1
Labour Ellen Cobb 1,157 31.7 +12.2
Liberal Democrats David Sheppard 312 8.6 +1.7
Green Andi Mohr 227 6.2 −2.7
Majority 796 21.8
Turnout 3,649 38.74
Conservative gain from Independent Swing

The incumbent councillor, Colin Elcock, was elected for the Conservative Party but was expelled in November 2020.[17]

Pedmore and Stourbridge East

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Pedmore and Stourbridge East[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Angus Lees* 1,953 54.9 −7.9
Labour Jason Griffin 1,132 31.8 +7.4
Liberal Democrats Simon Hanson 386 10.9 +6.6
Libertarian Glen Wilson 86 2.4 −0.7
Majority 821 23.1
Turnout 3,557 37.36
Conservative hold Swing

Quarry Bank and Dudley Wood

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Quarry Bank and Dudley Wood[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Chris Barnett* 1,165 51.8 +16.9
Conservative Claire Sullivan 892 39.7 −18.8
Liberal Democrats Richard Priest 190 8.5 +5.6
Majority 273 12.1
Turnout 2,247 22.52
Labour hold Swing

Sedgley

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Sedgley[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Shaun Keasey* 1,979 65.0 −8.5
Labour Freya Ashworth 967 31.8 +9.2
Libertarian Martin Day 98 3.2 −0.6
Majority 1,012 33.2
Turnout 3,044 32.58
Conservative hold Swing

St James's

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St James's[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sara Bothul 1,218 46.4 −7.4
Labour Khurshid Ahmed* 1,211 46.1 +6.5
Liberal Democrats Allie Miller 196 7.5 +1.0
Majority 7 0.3
Turnout 2,625 26.36
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

St Thomas's

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St Thomas's[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Maz Qari 1,637 49.6 −1.7
Conservative Sajid Hanif 1,441 43.6 +2.4
TUSC Nicola Fisher 224 6.8 +3.5
Majority 196 5.9
Turnout 3,302 31.95
Labour hold Swing

Upper Gornal and Woodsetton

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Upper Gornal and Woodsetton[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Adrian Hughes 1,368 52.2 +6.7
Conservative Chris Neale* 1,254 47.8 −0.7
Majority 114 4.3
Turnout 2,622 26.94
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Wollaston and Stourbridge Town

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Wollaston and Stourbridge Town[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Cat Eccles 1,983 49.1 +11.4
Conservative Nicolas Barlow* 1,654 40.9 −7.9
Liberal Democrats Chris Bramall 276 6.8 +3.1
Freedom Alliance Ken Moore 88 2.2 N/A
Libertarian Max Lowe 39 1.0 −3.5
Majority 329 8.1
Turnout 4,040 40.24
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Wordsley

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Wordsley[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Donna Harley* 1,578 55.1 −17.4
Labour Keith Archer 1,068 37.3 +20.3
Liberal Democrats Elaine Sheppard 219 7.6 +2.4
Majority 510 17.8
Turnout 2,865 29.71
Conservative hold Swing

References

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  1. ^ Local Government in England and Wales: A Guide to the New System. London: HMSO. 1974. p. 7. ISBN 0-11-750847-0.
  2. ^ "CONSTITUTION OF THE WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY" (PDF). Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  3. ^ Farrington, Dayna. "Full election results from Dudley Council as Conservatives gain power". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Local Elections 2018". www.dudley.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  5. ^ O'Brien, Lisa. "Labour suspends Dudley councillor for six months after disciplinary investigation". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  6. ^ Storer, Rhi (9 February 2022). "Dudley councillor yet to be suspended by Labour over alleged antisemitism". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Local government structure and elections". GOV.UK. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  8. ^ "Election Timetable in England" (PDF).
  9. ^ Walker, Peter (30 March 2022). "UK local elections: what is up for grabs, and what might we learn?". The Guardian.
  10. ^ "Tory leaders confident of gains in May local elections". The Guardian. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  11. ^ Holder, Bev (7 February 2022). "Sadness as Dudley Council's deputy leader dies, aged 73". Dudley News.
  12. ^ Storer, Rhi (30 March 2022). "Dudley Labour councillor suspended over anti-Semitic tweets". Dudley News. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED". Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Madeley, Peter (6 May 2022). "Dudley Council election results in full as seats swap hands and one is decided by seven votes". Express and Star. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  15. ^ O'Brien, Lisa (24 March 2022). "Labour suspends Dudley councillor for six months after disciplinary investigation". Express and Star. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  16. ^ Attwood, Helen (31 December 2020). "Leader takes action against Halesowen councillor who called for people to ignore Covid rules". Halesowen News. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  17. ^ "Dudley councillor Colin Elcock breached conduct code with Islam tweets". BBC News. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
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