2004 Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council election explained

The 2004 Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 10 June 2004 to elect members of Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council in the West Midlands, England. The whole council was up for election with boundary changes since the last election in 2003.[1] The Conservative Party gained overall control of the council from no overall control.[2]

Background

Before the election the council was run by a coalition between the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties, with Labour holding 27 seats, the Conservatives 24, Liberal Democrats 7 and UK Independence Party 2.[3] 60 seats were contested with the candidates including 7 from the British National Party.[3]

Election result

The results saw the Conservatives win a majority on the council with 35 of the 60 seats.[4] Labour were reduced to 16 seats, with the chairs of the West Midlands Police Authority and West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive, Mohammed Nazir and Richard Worrell, among those to lose at the election.[4] Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats won 6 seats and there was 1 independent, while the 2 UK Independence Party councillors both lost their seats.[4]

After results were declared, a box with 200 ballot papers in it was discovered underneath a table.[5] These were then counted, but the returning officer did not include them in the declarations, as they said it would not have affected the results.[4]

Notes and References

  1. News: Walsall council. 12 June 2004. BBC News Online. 18 September 2011.
  2. Web site: Local elections 2004. House of Commons Library. 18 September 2011.
  3. News: Row on BNP vote push. Johnson. Steve. 14 May 2004. Birmingham Mail. 19 September 2011.
  4. News: City waiting for election result. 12 June 2004. BBC News Online. 19 September 2011.
  5. News: British Labour punished in local elections. 12 June 2004. The Sydney Morning Herald. 19 September 2011.