Southend-on-Sea Borough Council election, 2008
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
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 Democrat |
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 Democrat |
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 Democrat |
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 Democrat hold |
Swing |
|
|
Chalkwell[2][5] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Conservative |
Ian Robertson |
1,257 |
56.8 |
+2.4 |
|
Liberal Democrat |
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 Democrat |
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 |
|
|
Leigh[2][5] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Liberal Democrat |
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 Democrat 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 Democrat |
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 Democrat |
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 Democrat gain from Conservative |
Swing |
|
|
St Laurence[2][5] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Conservative |
Mark Flewitt |
1,072 |
42.5 |
+4.4 |
|
Liberal Democrat |
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 Democrat |
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 Democrat |
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 Democrat |
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 Democrat |
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 Democrat |
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 Democrat |
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 Democrat |
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 Democrat |
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