Winchester City Council election, 2006

Map of the results of the 2006 Winchester council election. Conservatives in blue, Liberal Democrats in yellow, Labour in red, independent in white. Wards in grey were not contested in 2006.

The 2006 Winchester Council election took place on 4 May 2006 to elect members of Winchester District Council in Hampshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party gained overall control of the council from no overall control.[1]

After the election, the composition of the council was

Campaign

Before the election the Liberal Democrats had 26 seats, the Conservatives 22, independents 5 and Labour 4.[3] 19 seats were being contested with 4 Liberal Democrat and 1 independent councillors standing down at the election, while the council leader Sheila Campbell and 2 other cabinet members were defending seats.[3]

Issues in the election included anti-social behaviour, council tax, rural transportation and planning policy.[4]

Election result

The count was disrupted delaying the last result after some of the ballot papers were set on fire meaning water had to be poured into the ballot box.[5][6] The results saw the Conservatives take control of the council for the first time since the early 1990s.[7] They gained 7 seats included 5 from the Liberal Democrats and 1 each from Labour and the independents.[5][6] Conservatives defeated both the Liberal Democrat council leader Sheila Campbell and the Labour leader Patrick Davies.[7]

The widespread press coverage earlier in the year about the local Liberal Democrat MP Mark Oaten having had sex with male prostitutes was seen as having damaged the Liberal Democrats and benefited the Conservatives.[8][9][10] Oaten took no part in the campaign and the former leader of the council, Sheila Campbell, agreed that his troubles had hurt the Liberal Democrats.[5] In the July after the election Oaten announced that he would be standing down from parliament at the next general election.[11]

Following the election George Beckett became the new Conservative leader of the council.[12]

Winchester Local Election Result 2006[13][14]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 13 7 0 +7 68.4 53.8 17,604 +12.1%
  Liberal Democrat 4 0 5 -5 21.1 33.8 11,047 -8.3%
  Labour 1 0 1 -1 5.3 6.4 2,100 -1.0%
  Independent 1 0 1 -1 5.3 5.8 1,898 -0.1%
  UKIP 0 0 0 0 0 0.2 64 -2.6%

Ward results

Bishop's Waltham[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Georgina Busher 985 45.8 +0.6
Conservative Roger Hockin 928 43.2 +16.9
Labour Stephen Haines 120 5.6 +1.3
Independent Ruby Forrest 117 5.4 +5.4
Majority 57 2.6 -16.3
Turnout 2,150 42
Independent hold Swing
Cheriton & Bishops Sutton[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harry Verney 565 62.6 +10.1
Liberal Democrat Christopher Day 338 37.4 -7.5
Majority 227 25.2 +17.6
Turnout 903 53
Conservative hold Swing
Colden Common and Twyford[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrat Richard Izard 971 51.3 -10.1
Conservative Theresa Marshall 850 44.9 +12.3
Labour Tessa Valentine 73 3.9 -2.2
Majority 121 6.4 -22.4
Turnout 1,894 47
Liberal Democrat hold Swing
Denmead[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frederick Allgood 1,742 81.4 +9.6
Liberal Democrat Thomas Houghton 320 15.0 -9.3
Labour David Picton-Jones 78 3.6 -0.4
Majority 1,422 66.4 +18.9
Turnout 2,140 41
Conservative hold Swing
Droxford, Soberton and Hambldon[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Antony Coates 740 78.5 +10.0
Liberal Democrat Margaret Scriven 203 21.5 -8.2
Majority 537 57.0 +18.2
Turnout 943 59
Conservative hold Swing
Kings Worthy[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stanley Howell 799 51.0 +9.6
Liberal Democrat Hilary Jones 697 44.5 -0.6
Labour Elaine Fullaway 70 4.5 -0.6
Majority 102 6.5
Turnout 1,566 49
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat Swing
Olivers Battery & Badger Farm[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrat Brian Colin 837 48.7 -9.2
Conservative Susan Evershed 829 48.2 +11.1
Labour David Smith 53 3.1 -1.9
Majority 8 0.5 -20.3
Turnout 1,719 54
Liberal Democrat hold Swing
Owslebury & Curdridge[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Laurence Ruffell 881 60.2 +15.9
Liberal Democrat Roy Stainton 539 36.8 -16.0
Labour Brian Fullaway 44 3.0 +0.1
Majority 342 23.4
Turnout 1,464 49
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat Swing
Shedfield[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Roger Huxstep 649 44.5 +0.7
Independent Andrew Archard 554 38.0 -11.9
Independent Stuart Jones 173 11.9 +11.9
Labour Patricia Hayward 82 5.6 -0.7
Majority 95 6.5
Turnout 1,458 47
Conservative gain from Independent Swing
Sparsholt[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Keith Wood 484 62.0 +13.3
Liberal Democrat Richard Coleman 297 38.0 -13.3
Majority 187 24.0
Turnout 781 52
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat Swing
St. Barnabas[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Worrall 1,350 52.7 +3.7
Liberal Democrat Allan Mitchell 1,099 42.9 -1.4
Labour Adrian Field 111 4.3 -2.4
Majority 251 9.8 +5.1
Turnout 2,560 55
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat Swing
St. Bartholomew[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrat Dominic Hiscock 978 49.4 +2.8
Conservative Patrick Cunningham 869 43.9 +8.9
Labour Timothy Curran 133 6.7 -3.4
Majority 109 5.5 -6.1
Turnout 1,980 43
Liberal Democrat hold Swing
St. John and All Saints[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Chris Pines 507 32.7 +3.4
Conservative Michael Lovegrove 498 32.1 +6.8
Liberal Democrat Adrian Hicks 478 30.8 -1.8
Independent Harold Robbins 69 4.4 +4.4
Majority 9 0.6
Turnout 1,552 35
Labour hold Swing
St. Luke[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Stephens 614 43.1 +5.9
Liberal Democrat Simon Hobson 458 32.1 -10.4
Labour Patrick Davies 354 24.8 +4.5
Majority 156 11.0
Turnout 1,426 35
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
St. Michael[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ian Tait 1,240 58.7 +18.0
Liberal Democrat Susan Chester 702 33.2 -10.7
Labour Albert Edwards 107 5.1 +1.2
UKIP Judith Napier-Clark 64 3.0 -4.0
Majority 538 25.5
Turnout 2,113 47
Conservative hold Swing
St. Paul[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrat Raymond Pearce 845 50.4 -6.0
Conservative Gillian Allen 725 43.2 +9.5
Labour Debra Grech 108 6.4 -3.5
Majority 120 7.2 -15.5
Turnout 1,678 39
Liberal Democrat hold Swing
Swanmore and Newtown[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Victoria Weston 1,101 56.2 +0.9
Liberal Democrat Sheila Campbell 805 41.1 -0.8
Labour Dennis May 52 2.7 -0.1
Majority 296 15.1 +1.7
Turnout 1,958 60
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat Swing
The Alresfords[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Hollingbery 1,469 59.3 +18.3
Liberal Democrat Jacqueline Porter 876 35.4 -7.4
Labour Robin Atkins 131 5.3 -1.5
Majority 593 23.9
Turnout 2,476 51
Conservative hold Swing
Wonston and Micheldever[13][14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stephen Godfrey 1,271 65.1 +7.4
Liberal Democrat Peter McLoughlin 604 30.9 -6.9
Labour Nigel Lickley 77 3.9 -0.5
Majority 667 34.2 +14.3
Turnout 1,952 48
Conservative hold Swing

References

  1. ↑ "Local elections: Winchester". BBC News Online. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
  2. ↑ "Local elections". The Times. 2006-05-06. p. 64.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Candidates line up for local elections". Southern Daily Echo. 2006-04-06. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
  4. ↑ "The battle to control Winchester". BBC News Online. 2006-04-26. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Tories take Winchester after Lib Dem sex scandal". Daily Mail. 2006-05-05. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Sex scandal blamed for Tory win". BBC News Online. 2006-05-05. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Jubilant Tories win city control for the first time since early 90s". Southern Daily Echo. 2006-05-05. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
  8. ↑ Summers, Deborah (2006-05-06). "Tories celebrate council gains as voters give Labour a bloody nose Cameron: hard work starts now as party gains 309 seats". The Herald. p. 4.
  9. ↑ Morris, Nigel (2006-05-06). "Campbell: Lib Dem results 'mixed'". The Independent. p. 9.
  10. ↑ "We pass poll test say Libs". Daily Express. 2006-05-06.
  11. ↑ "Lib Dem Oaten to stand down as MP". BBC News Online. 2006-07-25. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
  12. ↑ "Tories pledge to give everyone a fair say". Southern Daily Echo. 2006-05-25. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 13.8 13.9 13.10 13.11 13.12 13.13 13.14 13.15 13.16 13.17 13.18 13.19 "District Council Election Results May 2006". Winchester City Council. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 14.8 14.9 14.10 14.11 14.12 14.13 14.14 14.15 14.16 14.17 14.18 14.19 "Tories win control of city". Southern Daily Echo. 2006-05-05. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
Preceded by
Winchester Council election, 2004		 Winchester local elections Succeeded by
Winchester Council election, 2007