Swindon Borough Council election, 2008
![](../I/m/Swindon_UK_local_election_2008_map.svg.png)
Map of the results of the 2008 Swindon council election.
Conservatives in blue,
Labour in red and Liberal Democrats in yellow. Wards in grey were not contested in 2008.
The 2008 Swindon Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2008 to elect members of Swindon Unitary Council in Wiltshire, 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
Several unusual events attracted attention during the campaign with one of the Labour candidates, James Grant, having to withdraw a campaign leaflet after it was sent out with his name spelt wrongly as Jim Gant.[3] In another incident a yorkshire terrier was reported as having received a polling card for the election,[4] with his owner being faced with being charged with supplying false electoral information and as a result had to write a letter of apology.[5] Meanwhile Swindon council got a look-alike of Captain Jack Sparrow to hand out balloons and leaflets on the election in an attempt to increasse interest in the election.[6]
Election result
The results saw each party end with the same number of seats as before the election with the Conservatives remaining in control with 43 seats.[2] The Conservatives gained one seat from Labour in Park ward but Labour also took a seat back from the Conservatives in Central ward.[7] In total 15 councillors were re-elected with Labour staying on 12 seats, the Liberal Democrats 3 and 1 independent.[2]
Swindon Local Election Result 2008[8][9] |
Party |
Seats |
Gains |
Losses |
Net gain/loss |
Seats % |
Votes % |
Votes |
+/− |
|
Conservative |
17 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
77.3 |
54.8 |
25,109 |
+8.0% |
|
Labour |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
18.2 |
25.3 |
11,567 |
-3.6% |
|
Liberal Democrat |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4.5 |
14.5 |
6,644 |
+1.3% |
|
UKIP |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5.0 |
2,301 |
+1.3% |
|
Independent |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.4 |
181 |
+0.1% |
Ward results
![](../I/m/Swindon_2008_election_map.png)
Map of the results of the 2008 Swindon council election with ward names. Coloured by party which finished top in each ward.
Abbey Meads[8] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Conservative |
Vera Tomlinson |
1,836 |
75.9 |
+6.6 |
|
Labour |
Gerald Lawson |
266 |
11.0 |
-4.9 |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Richard Law |
226 |
9.3 |
+0.7 |
|
UKIP |
Robin Tingey |
90 |
3.7 |
+3.7 |
Majority |
1,570 |
64.9 |
+11.4 |
Turnout |
2,418 |
|
|
|
Conservative hold |
Swing |
|
|
Central[8] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Labour |
Junab Ali |
902 |
44.1 |
-3.0 |
|
Conservative |
Kevin Leakey |
664 |
32.5 |
+3.9 |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Hannah Pajak |
224 |
11.0 |
-2.0 |
|
UKIP |
Eric Bagwell |
130 |
6.4 |
+6.4 |
|
Independent |
David Cox |
125 |
6.1 |
+1.6 |
Majority |
238 |
11.6 |
-6.9 |
Turnout |
2,045 |
|
|
|
Labour gain from Conservative |
Swing |
|
|
Covingham and Nythe[8] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Conservative |
Dale Heenan |
1,362 |
57.6 |
+3.4 |
|
Labour |
Joanne Dilley |
586 |
24.8 |
-2.1 |
|
UKIP |
Cynthia Desmond |
264 |
11.2 |
-0.5 |
|
Liberal Democrat |
David Pajak |
152 |
6.4 |
-0.8 |
Majority |
776 |
32.8 |
+5.5 |
Turnout |
2,364 |
|
|
|
Conservative hold |
Swing |
|
|
Eastcott[8] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Stanley Pajak |
1,237 |
58.6 |
+19.0 |
|
Conservative |
Paul Gregory |
496 |
23.5 |
-1.4 |
|
Labour |
Sarah Bush |
378 |
17.9 |
-5.8 |
Majority |
741 |
35.1 |
+20.3 |
Turnout |
2,111 |
|
|
|
Liberal Democrat hold |
Swing |
|
|
Freshbrook and Grange Park[8] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Conservative |
Peter Greenhalgh |
1,184 |
60.4 |
+11.4 |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Judith Peppitt |
535 |
27.3 |
-1.2 |
|
Labour |
Jamal Miah |
240 |
12.3 |
-4.4 |
Majority |
649 |
33.1 |
+12.5 |
Turnout |
1,959 |
|
|
|
Conservative hold |
Swing |
|
|
Gorse Hill and Pinehurst[8] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Labour |
Ericqua Ballman |
736 |
44.6 |
-0.2 |
|
Conservative |
Louise Gallavin |
687 |
41.6 |
+16.0 |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Leslie Wood |
229 |
13.9 |
+5.8 |
Majority |
49 |
3.0 |
-16.3 |
Turnout |
1,652 |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Haydon Wick[8] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Conservative |
Rex Barnett |
1,363 |
61.0 |
|
|
Labour |
John Keepin |
440 |
19.7 |
|
|
UKIP |
Michael Stuckey |
246 |
11.0 |
|
|
Liberal Democrat |
Tel Hudson |
186 |
8.3 |
|
Majority |
923 |
41.3 |
|
Turnout |
2,235 |
|
|
|
Conservative hold |
Swing |
|
|
Highworth[8] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Conservative |
Anthony Peake |
1,345 |
62.3 |
+5.5 |
|
Labour |
Phillip Beaumont |
492 |
22.8 |
-3.7 |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Jennifer Shorten |
321 |
14.9 |
+7.9 |
Majority |
853 |
39.5 |
+9.2 |
Turnout |
2,158 |
|
|
|
Conservative hold |
Swing |
|
|
Moredon[8] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Conservative |
Colin Lovell |
1,110 |
54.4 |
+6.7 |
|
Labour |
James d'Avila |
590 |
28.9 |
-6.7 |
|
UKIP |
Kathleen Webb |
229 |
11.2 |
+2.4 |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Heidi Teague |
111 |
5.4 |
-2.5 |
Majority |
520 |
25.5 |
+13.4 |
Turnout |
2,040 |
|
|
|
Conservative hold |
Swing |
|
|
Old Town and Lawn[8] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Conservative |
Michael Bawden |
2,015 |
64.2 |
+5.5 |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Mark Wheaver |
538 |
17.1 |
+1.5 |
|
Labour |
Walid Meah |
409 |
13.0 |
-0.4 |
|
UKIP |
Noel Gardner |
177 |
5.6 |
+0.4 |
Majority |
1,477 |
47.1 |
+4.0 |
Turnout |
3,139 |
|
|
|
Conservative hold |
Swing |
|
|
Shaw and Nine Elms[8] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Conservative |
Nicholas Martin |
1,291 |
70.5 |
+14.4 |
|
Liberal Democrat |
James Farr |
333 |
18.2 |
+0.5 |
|
Labour |
Mohammad Talukdar |
208 |
11.4 |
-5.5 |
Majority |
958 |
52.3 |
+13.9 |
Turnout |
1,832 |
|
|
|
Conservative hold |
Swing |
|
|
St Margaret[8] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Conservative |
Raymond Fisher |
1,337 |
59.2 |
+7.4 |
|
Labour |
Michael Spry |
517 |
22.9 |
-5.6 |
|
UKIP |
Robert Feal-Martinez |
217 |
9.6 |
+0.2 |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Ann Morgan |
187 |
8.3 |
-2.0 |
Majority |
820 |
36.3 |
+12.9 |
Turnout |
2,258 |
|
|
|
Conservative hold |
Swing |
|
|
St Philip[8] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Conservative |
Maire Darker |
1,300 |
52.7 |
+10.8 |
|
Labour |
Joseph Tray |
771 |
31.3 |
-9.4 |
|
UKIP |
Peter Thompson-Watt |
232 |
9.4 |
+2.3 |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Ann Richards |
163 |
6.6 |
+0.4 |
Majority |
529 |
21.5 |
+20.3 |
Turnout |
2,466 |
|
|
|
Conservative hold |
Swing |
|
|
Toothill & Westlea[8] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Conservative |
Dwynwen Martin |
961 |
60.7 |
+8.4 |
|
Labour |
Abdul Amin |
412 |
26.0 |
+4.1 |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Christopher Shepherd |
209 |
13.2 |
-2.7 |
Majority |
549 |
34.7 |
+4.4 |
Turnout |
1,582 |
|
|
|
Conservative hold |
Swing |
|
|
Western[8] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Labour |
James Grant |
1,161 |
45.6 |
-3.8 |
|
Conservative |
Peter Heaton-Jones |
990 |
38.9 |
+13.4 |
|
UKIP |
Gregory Heathcliffe |
174 |
6.8 |
-0.5 |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Clive Hooper |
166 |
6.5 |
-3.0 |
|
Independent |
Michael Morton |
56 |
2.2 |
-0.1 |
Majority |
171 |
6.7 |
-17.1 |
Turnout |
2,547 |
|
|
|
Labour hold |
Swing |
|
|
Wroughton and Chiseldon[8] |
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
±% |
|
Conservative |
Brian Ford |
1,741 |
63.3 |
+8.0 |
|
Liberal Democrat |
Victor Godman |
649 |
23.6 |
+1.2 |
|
Labour |
Sandra Parsons |
360 |
13.1 |
-1.7 |
Majority |
1,092 |
39.7 |
+6.8 |
Turnout |
2,750 |
|
|
|
Conservative hold |
Swing |
|
|
References