West Lancashire Borough Council election, 2010

The 2010 West Lancashire Borough Council election took place on 6 May 2010 to elect members of West Lancashire Borough Council in Lancashire, 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

• Conservative 31
• Labour 21
• Independent 1
• Vacant 1^[2]

Background

Since the council was created in 1973 West Lancashire has alternated between the Conservative and Labour parties.^[3] The Conservatives gained control of the council in the 2002 election and since then had increased their majority.^[3] This meant that before the 2010 election the Conservatives held 33 of the 54 seats on the council as compared to 16 for Labour, 2 independents and a number of vacancies.^[3] The third party nationally, the Liberal Democrats, had no councillors in West Lancashire and did not stand any candidates in the election.^[3]

Campaign

19 seats were being contested in the 2010 election, including the normal 18 seats and one by-election.^[3] The by-election in Scott ward came after the resignation of Conservative Geoff Hammond in March,^[4] meaning that 2 councillors would be elected from the ward in 2010.^[3] As well as the Conservative and Labour parties, there were also several Green party candidates and one English Democrat who was standing in Ashurst ward.^[3]

The Conservatives' strong majority before the election meant it was seen as being almost certain that they would remain in control of the council.^[3] They were defending 14 of the 19 seats being contested, but were still hoping to make some gains.^[3] The Conservatives pointed to their record in freezing Council Tax, while making improvements in services and local parks.^[3]

Meanwhile Labour pointed to their candidates and the increased turnout due to the election taking place at the same time as the general election, as factors leading them to hope they would make gains.^[3] They targeted the wards of Burscough East, Burscough West and Scott, while also hoping to make progress elsewhere in the north of the council.^[3]

Election result

The results saw the Conservatives stay in control of the council despite losing 3 council seats to reduce their majority to 8 seats.^[5] Labour gained the 3 seats from the Conservatives in Burscough West and both seats in Scott ward, with Labour's 41 vote majority in Burscough West being the most marginal of the election.^[4] Labour also regained a seat in Up Holland, where the former councillor, David Phythian, had served as an independent after having been suspended from Labour in 2007 due to racist comments.^[4] However the Conservative group leader, Ian Grant, was among those who held their seats with the Conservatives remaining safely in control of the council.^[4]

Ward results

References

Council elections in Lancashire County Council 1973 1977 1981 1985 1989 1993 1997 2001 2005 2009 2013 Blackburn with Darwen 1973 1976 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1997 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 Blackpool 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1997 2000 2003 2007 2011 2015 Burnley 1973 1976 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 Chorley 1973 1976 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 Fylde 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 Hyndburn 1973 1976 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 Lancaster 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 Pendle 1973 1976 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 Preston 1945 1946 1947 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1973 1975 1976 1978 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 Ribble Valley 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 Rossendale 1973 1976 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 South Ribble 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 West Lancashire 1973 1976 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 Wyre 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 See also: Wards Boundary changes

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