2023 Herefordshire Council election

The 2023 Herefordshire Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Herefordshire Council in Herefordshire, England.[1] This was on the same day as other local elections in the UK.

2023 Herefordshire Council election

← 2019 4 May 2023 (2023-05-04) 2027 →

All 53 seats to Herefordshire Council
27 seats needed for a majority
Turnout37.3%
  First party Second party Third party
  Blank Blank Blank
Leader Jonathan Lester Terry James Ellie Chowns
Party Conservative Liberal Democrats Green
Last election 13 seats, 34.2% 7 seats, 9.9% 7 seats, 13.1%
Seats before 14 6 7
Seats won 21 12 9
Seat change Increase8 Increase5 Increase2
Popular vote 18,940 13,257 7,299
Percentage 34.6% 24.2% 13.3%
Swing Increase0.4% Increase14.3% Increase0.2%

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
  Blank Blank Blank
Party Independent It's Our County Labour
Last election 18 seats, 28.5% 8 seats, 8.7% 0 seats, 3.5%
Seats before 25[a] [b] 1
Seats won 8 2 1
Seat change Decrease10 Decrease6 Increase1
Popular vote 11,834 896 2,235
Percentage 21.6% 1.6% 4.1%
Swing Decrease6.9% Decrease7.1% Increase0.6%

Winner of each seat at the 2023 Herefordshire Council election

Leader before election

David Hitchiner
Independents for Herefordshire
No overall control

Leader after election

Jonathan Lester
Conservative
No overall control

Prior to the election the council was under no overall control, being led by David Hitchiner of the Independents for Herefordshire group.[2] After the election the council remained under no overall control, but the Conservatives gained seats and managed to form a minority administration led by Jonathan Lester.[3]

Summary

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Election result

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2023 Herefordshire Council election
Party Candidates Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 53 21 11 3  8 39.6 34.6 18,940  0.4
  Liberal Democrats 53 12 6 1  5 22.6 24.2 13,257  14.3
  Independent 45 8 3 13  10 15.1 21.6 11,834  6.9
  Green 19 9 3 1  2 17.0 13.3 7,299  0.2
  Labour 14 1 1 0  1 1.9 4.1 2,235  0.6
  It's Our County 3 2 0 6  6 3.8 1.6 896  7.1
  Reform UK 6 0 0 0   0.0 0.6 317 New

Candidates

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The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by Herefordshire Council following the close of nominations on 4 April 2023.[4] The results were:[5][6]

Arrow

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Arrow
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Roger Phillips* 950 72.8  7.0
Liberal Democrats Dan Ciolte 181 13.9 N/A
Green John Whitelegg 174 13.3 N/A
Majority 769 58.9  0.7
Turnout 1305 44.4
Conservative hold

Aylestone Hill

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Aylestone Hill
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Adam Spencer 379 37.9 N/A
Independent Ange Tyler* 256 25.6  48.6
Liberal Democrats Anna Davey 177 17.7 N/A
Conservative Alexander Walsh 160 16.0  9.8
Reform UK Fiona Stokes 28 2.8 N/A
Majority 123 12.3  36.1
Turnout 1007 40.3
Labour gain from Independent

Backbury

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Backbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Graham Biggs 394 35.2  5.7
Liberal Democrats James Vidler 385 34.4 N/A
Independent John Hardwick* 341 30.4  40.1
Majority 9 0.8  40.2
Turnout 1120 43.4
Conservative gain from Independent

Belmont Rural

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Belmont Rural
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Mark Dykes 315 35.8 N/A
Conservative Andy Cooper 207 23.4  3.0
Independent Alan Jones 199 22.6 N/A
Independent Rachael Percival 93 10.6 N/A
Reform UK Nigel Ely 67 7.6 N/A
Majority 108 12.4  46.8
Turnout 883 31.1
Liberal Democrats gain from It's Our County

Birch

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Birch
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Toni Fagan* 562 45.1  19.4
Conservative Michael Agyeman 533 42.8  7.3
Liberal Democrats Alex Griffiths 151 12.1 N/A
Majority 29 2.3  26.7
Turnout 1246 48.3
Green hold

Bircher

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Bircher
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dan Hurcomb 754 49.2  43.5
Independent Sebastian Bowen* 516 33.7  60.6
Green Tessa Smith-Winnard 137 8.9 N/A
Liberal Democrats Angharad Pope 126 8.2 N/A
Majority 258 15.5  73.1
Turnout 1535 47.3
Conservative gain from Independent

Bishops Frome and Cradley

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Bishops Frome and Cradley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Ellie Chowns* 801 68.9  9.7
Conservative Mark Franklin 316 27.2  5.8
Liberal Democrats Robert Turner 45 3.9 N/A
Majority 515 41.7  15.5
Turnout 1166 43.72
Green hold

Bobblestock

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Bobblestock
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Rob Owens 244 29.4 N/A
Conservative Clive Butler 241 29.0  2.0
Independent Tim Price* 202 24.3  24.9
Labour Anna Coda 143 17.3 N/A
Majority 3 0.4 −21.8
Turnout 836 31.93
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent

Bromyard Bringsty

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Bromyard Bringsty
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Stoddart 562 47.4  5.6
Green Karen Rock 370 31.2 N/A
Independent Roger Page 139 11.7  35.3
Liberal Democrats Clare Hobbs 115 9.7 N/A
Majority 198 16.2  10.2
Turnout 1191 27.35
Conservative hold

Bromyard West

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Bromyard West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Clare Davies* 412 62.2 N/A
Conservative Paul Harper 116 17.5  22.4
Labour Liam Holman 86 13.0 N/A
Liberal Democrats Clare West 48 7.3 N/A
Majority 296 44.7  24.5
Turnout 664 27.35
Independent gain from It's Our County

Castle

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Castle
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Highfield 346 28.6  8.8
Independent Alan Watkins 345 28.5 N/A
Independent Rob Rimmer 316 26.1 N/A
Liberal Democrats Scott Shaw 203 16.8 N/A
Majority 1 0.1  25.1
Turnout 1117 43.34
Conservative gain from Independent

Central

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Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Catherine Gennard 413 46.4  7.5
Liberal Democrats Mal Williams 268 30.0  8.0
Conservative Michael Gray 210 23.6  9.8
Majority 145 16.4 15.5
Turnout 900 35.3
Green hold

College

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College
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Ben Proctor 230 29.5 N/A
Labour Kath Hey* 222 28.5 N/A
Conservative Rachel Taylor 209 26.8  9.9
Independent Ian Skyrme 73 9.4 N/A
Independent Amanda Yilmaz 46 5.8 N/A
Majority 8 1.0  8.5
Turnout 785 28.6
Liberal Democrats gain from It's Our County

Credenhill

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Credenhill
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Bob Matthews* 351 38.3  42.6
Conservative Gareth Johnston 308 33.6  14.5
Liberal Democrats Paula Chambers 137 15.0 N/A
Independent Charlie Taylor 120 13.1 N/A
Majority 43 4.7 −57.1
Turnout 917 36.0
Independent hold

Dinedor Hill

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Dinedor Hill
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Davies 401 38.9  9.3
Liberal Democrats Cat Hornsey 370 35.9 N/A
It's Our County David Summers* 260 25.2  26.6
Majority 31 3.0  0.6
Turnout 1042 36.8
Conservative gain from It's Our County

Eign Hill

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Eign Hill
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Elizabeth Foxton* 440 38.4 N/A
Liberal Democrats Sam Potts 261 22.8  6.9
Labour Steven Woolley 238 20.8 N/A
Conservative Anthony Thompson 207 18.0  0.5
Majority 179 15.6  33.5
Turnout 1151 41.5
Independent gain from It's Our County

Golden Valley North

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Golden Valley North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Philip Price 584 46.6  9.9
Independent Jennie Hewitt* 492 39.2  13.5
Liberal Democrats Brett Jenkins 178 14.2 N/A
Majority 92 7.4  8.6
Turnout 1261 50.4
Conservative gain from Independent

Golden Valley South

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Golden Valley South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Peter Jinman* 594 52.3  21.1
Conservative Dave Greenow 400 35.2  21.6
Liberal Democrats Duncan Starling 142 12.5 N/A
Majority 194 17.1  42.7
Turnout 1147 43.2
Independent hold

Greyfriars

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Greyfriars
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Diana Toynbee* 398 41.3  11.6
Liberal Democrats Matt Lane 261 27.0  18.4
Conservative Keith Farmer 214 22.2  10,6
Independent Neil Clark 92 9.5 N/A
Majority 137 11.7  11.7
Turnout 1147 43.2
Green hold

Hagley

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Hagley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Ivan Powell 407 33.0 N/A
Conservative Josh Smith 381 30.8  14.6
Liberal Democrats Stephen Williams 224 18.1 N/A
Independent Paul Andrews* 223 18.1  36.5
Majority 26 2.2  7.0
Turnout 1245 38.2
Independent gain from Independent

Hampton

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Hampton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Bruce Baker 545 44.2  0.8
Independent John Harrington* 420 34.1 N/A
Liberal Democrats William Motley 268 21.7 N/A
Majority 125 10.1  3.1
Turnout 1238 42.7
Conservative gain from It's Our County

Hinton & Hunderton

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Hinton & Hunderton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Kevin Tillett* 417 66.9  32.7
Conservative Jeremy Chapman 126 20.2  11.6
Independent Amanda Martin 80 12.8 N/A
Majority 191 46.7  38.7
Turnout 625 20.8
Liberal Democrats hold

Holmer

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Holmer
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frank Cornthwaite 366 33.4  3.1
Liberal Democrats Paul Stevens 315 28.7 N/A
Independent Stephen Tannatt Nash 205 18.7  11.9
Independent John Phipps 159 14.5  18.3
Independent Mark Weaden 51 4.7 N/A
Majority 41 4.7  1.0
Turnout 1104 32.8
Conservative hold

Hope End

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Hope End
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Helen Heathfield 856 59.5 N/A
Conservative Keith Pieri 461 32.0  26.1
Liberal Democrats Kim James 122 8.5 N/A
Majority 395 27.5  15.9
Turnout 1447 48.8
Green gain from Conservative Swing

Kerne Bridge

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Kerne Bridge
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Simeon Cole 442 39.9  6.6
Liberal Democrats Sarah Freer 300 27.1 N/A
Independent Katie Fowler 280 25.3 N/A
Independent Andrew Terry 85 7.7 N/A
Majority 142 12.8  5.8
Turnout 1124 43.1
Conservative gain from Independent

Kings Acre

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Kings Acre
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Williams 270 32.2  2.7
Independent Graham Andrews* 240 28.6  41.5
Liberal Democrats Debbie Hobbs 236 28.1 N/A
Independent James Murphy 93 11.1 N/A
Majority 30 3.6  37.4
Turnout 847 32
Conservative gain from Independent

Kington

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Kington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Terry James* 487 48.5  32.7
Green Helen Hamilton 304 30.2 N/A
Independent Fred Hawkins 115 11.5 N/A
Conservative Natasha Saunders 98 9.8  9.0
Majority 83 18.3  44.1
Turnout 1005 39.1
Liberal Democrats hold

Ledbury North

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Ledbury North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
It's Our County Liz Harvey* 424 44.0  10.5
Independent Ewan Sinclair 231 24.0 N/A
Liberal Democrats Gem Murray 172 17.9 N/A
Conservative Cole Fellows 136 14.1  31.4
Majority 293 20  11.0
Turnout 969 36.8
It's Our County hold

Ledbury South

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Ledbury South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Stef Simmons 424 38.6 N/A
Conservative Helen l'Anson* 352 32.0  6.6
Liberal Democrats Matthew Eakin 241 21.9  11.3
Labour Will Hopkins 82 7.5  12.8
Majority 72 6.6  1.2
Turnout 1101 38.3
Green gain from Conservative

Ledbury West

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Ledbury West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Justine Peberdy 431 46.1 N/A
Conservative Rachel F. Finch 218 23.3  0.3
Liberal Democrats Phillip Howells* 194 20.8  8.7
Labour Jonathan Browning 91 9.8 N/A
Majority 213 15.2  29.4
Turnout 936 34.5
Green gain from Liberal Democrats

Leominster East

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Leominster East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Jenny Bartlett* 452 50.0  22.3
Conservative Simon Donegan 315 34.8  7.1
Liberal Democrats Marcus Murray 137 15.2 N/A
Majority 137 15.2  29.4
Turnout 908 30.5
Green hold

Leominster North and Rural

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Leominster North and Rural
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Stone* 524 49.0  14.7
Green Bryony John 456 42.7  6.4
Liberal Democrats Mary Springer 89 8.3 N/A
Majority 68 6.3  21.1
Turnout 1075 34.8
Conservative hold

Leominster South

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Leominster South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Mark Woodall 379 45.0  27.7
Conservative Angeline Logan 262 31.1  3.8
Liberal Democrats Lorraine Chatwin 104 12.3 N/A
Labour Co-op Nick Comley 98 11.6 N/A
Majority 117 13.9  31.5
Turnout 851 32.0
Green hold

Leominster West

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Leominster West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Allan Williams 371 49.7  35.0
Green Jill Hanna 267 35.7  36.9
Liberal Democrats Clive Thomas 109 14.6  1.9
Majority 104 14.0  43.9
Turnout 754 34.9
Conservative gain from Green

Llangarron

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Llangarron
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Elissa Swinglehurst* 652 54.2  
Liberal Democrats Michelle Stetchfield 551 45.8 N/A
Majority 101 8.4  
Turnout 1217 56.4
Conservative hold

Mortimer

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Mortimer
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Carole Gandy* 562 54.8  1.2
Liberal Democrats Susan Roberts 246 24.0  2.2
Green Callum Coomber 217 21.2 N/A
Majority 316 30.8 1.8
Turnout 1036 38.8
Conservative hold

Newton Farm

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Newton Farm
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Jacqui Carwardine 277 44.7  18.2
Labour Joe Emmett 201 32.4  14.2
Conservative John Jones 142 22.9  15.1
Majority 76 12.3  7.9
Turnout 19.9 622
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent

Old Gore

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Old Gore
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Barry Durkin* 524 44.4  13.9
Independent Gemma Davies 372 31.5 N/A
Liberal Democrats Linden Delves 285 24.1 N/A
Majority 152 13.2  3.4
Turnout 1188 47.2
Conservative hold

Penyard

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Penyard
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harry Bramer 738 57.4  13.8
Liberal Democrats John Winder 547 42.6 N/A
Majority 191 14.8  10.7
Turnout 1297 41.9
Conservative gain from Independent

Queenswood

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Queenswood
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Pauline Crockett* 346 31.2  49.6
Conservative Nicholas Entwisle 290 26.1  6.9
Independent Colin Williams 277 25.0 N/A
Liberal Democrats Tim Fry 196 17.7 N/A
Majority 56 5.1  56.5
Turnout 1113 40.1
Independent hold

Red Hill

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Red Hill
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Dan Powell 539 64.1  27.4
Conservative Steve Williams 302 35.9  3.9
Majority 247 28.2  8.0
Turnout 844 28.8
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative

Ross East

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Ross East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Ed O'Driscoll 417 36.5  9.5
Conservative Becky Walsh 293 25.6  1.5
Independent Milly Boylan 258 22.6 N/A
Labour Nick Richmond 152 13.3  5.4
Independent Adam Fielding 24 2.1 N/A
Majority 124 10.9  8.0
Turnout 1148 38.7
Liberal Democrats hold

Ross North

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Ross North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Chris Bartrum* 350 37.7  37.4
Independent Daniel Lister 313 33.8 N/A
Conservative Valerie Coker 153 16.5  2.2
Labour Melvin Hodges 111 12.0  5.2
Majority 37 3.9  52.5
Turnout 933 30.8
Liberal Democrats hold

Ross West

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Ross West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Louis Stark* 423 43.3  4.0
Conservative Nigel Gibbs 240 24.6  6.5
Independent Rob Taylor 207 21.2  0.5
Labour Edward Philpott 106 10.9 N/A
Majority 183 18.7  2.6
Turnout 982 36.4
Liberal Democrats hold

Saxon Gate

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Saxon Gate
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Aubrey Oliver 363 54.1  25.9
Conservative William Norman 135 20.1  1.3
Independent John Jones 123 18.3 N/A
Reform UK Daniel Coughlin 50 7.5 N/A
Majority 228 34.0  9.2
Turnout 675 23.4
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent

Stoney Street

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Stoney Street
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent David Hitchiner 406 35.3  20.2
Conservative Phillip Cutter 374 32.5  6.3
Liberal Democrats David Howerski 371 32.2  13.9
Majority 32 2.8  26.5
Turnout 1155 40.0
Independent hold

Sutton Walls

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Sutton Walls
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Hamblin 483 45.8  4.9
Green Taylor Whitchurch 197 18.7 N/A
Liberal Democrats Scott Richardson 192 18.2 N/A
Independent Steve Williams 183 17.3  32.0
Majority 186 27.1  25.7
Turnout 1060 40.3
Conservative hold

Three Crosses

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Three Crosses
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jonathan Lester* 763 55.6  6.0
Green Rebecca Tully 461 33.7  4.7
Liberal Democrats Duncan Cooper 142 10.4 N/A
Majority 302 21.9  1.3
Turnout 1372 47.0
Conservative hold

Tupsley

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Tupsley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Jim Kenyon* 556 48.0  31.9
Independent Liz Board 335 28.9 N/A
Liberal Democrats Hugh Brooks 142 12.3 N/A
Conservative Patrick Pytka 125 10.8  9.3
Majority 221 19.1  31.7
Turnout 1159 46.7
Independent hold

Weobley

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Weobley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nicholas Mason 450 38.9  6.0
Independent Mike Jones* 404 34.9  8.8
Liberal Democrats Barry Ashton 304 26.3 N/A
Majority 46 4.0  6.8
Turnout 1171 39.3
Conservative gain from Independent

Whitecross

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Whitecross
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
It's Our County Dave Boulter 212 29.8  17.9
Liberal Democrats Emma Mayes 185 26.0  8.4
Conservative Marsha Barnsley 143 20.1  5.6
Labour Billie Kupeli 122 17.1 N/A
Reform UK Richard Smith 50 7.0 N/A
Majority 27 3.8  23.8
Turnout 714 27.5
It's Our County hold


Widemarsh

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Widemarsh
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Polly Andrews* 233 38.9  0.6
Labour Neil Barrington 204 34.1 N/A
Conservative Kathy Handby 113 18.9  8.0
Reform UK Mick Gunner 49 8.2 N/A
Majority 19 4.8  4.9
Turnout 604 25.4
Liberal Democrats hold

Wormside

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Wormside
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Thomas 481 41.5  9.6
Independent Simon Davies 362 31.3 N/A
Liberal Democrats Edward Hickie 242 20.9 N/A
Reform UK Robert Cribb 73 6.3 N/A
Majority 119 10.2  1.6
Turnout 1168 39.0
Conservative hold

References

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  1. ^ Of the 25 councillors prior to the election who did not belong to a registered political party, 18 formed the "Independents for Herefordshire" group led by David Hitchiner, 6 formed the "True Independents" group led by Bob Matthews, and 1 (Jim Kenyon) did not belong to any group.
  2. ^ There were six councillors prior to the election who had been elected as It's Our County candidates, but all sat in the "Independents for Herefordshire" group. Of those six, three stood again for It's Our County in 2023 (Dave Boulter, Liz Harvey and David Summers), two stood as independent candidates (Elizabeth Foxton and John Harrington), and one did not stand for re-election (Tracy Bowes).
  1. ^ "Local Government Elections". Herefordshire Council. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  2. ^ McEwan, Gavin (3 May 2023). "Herefordshire election: what is the current state of the parties?". Ledbury Reporter. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  3. ^ Pearson, James; Jones, Megan (19 May 2023). "Minority council elects Conservative leader". BBC News. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  4. ^ "District elections and candidates". Herefordshire Council. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  5. ^ McEwan, Gavin (12 May 2023). "Herefordshire elections: the full results". Hereford Times. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  6. ^ "District (ward) election results". Herefordshire Council. Retrieved 22 May 2023.