2006 Barnet London Borough Council election explained

Election Name:2006 Barnet London Borough Council election
Type:Parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Party Colour:yes
Previous Election:2002 Barnet London Borough Council election
Previous Year:2002
Next Election:2010 Barnet London Borough Council election
Next Year:2010
Seats For Election:All 63 seats to Barnet London Borough Council
Majority Seats:32
Election Date:4 May 2006
Party1:Conservative Party (UK)
Seats1:37
Seat Change1:2
Popular Vote1:39,998
Percentage1:41.7%
Swing1:2.0%
Party2:Labour Party (UK)
Seats2:20
Seat Change2:1
Popular Vote2:25,492
Percentage2:26.6%
Swing2:7.3%
Party3:Liberal Democrats (UK)
Seats3:6
Seat Change3:3
Popular Vote3:18,912
Percentage3:19.7%
Swing3:2.6%
Map Size:340px
Council control
Posttitle:Council control after election
Before Election:Conservative
After Election:Conservative

The 2006 Barnet Council election took place on 4 May 2006 to elect members of Barnet London Borough Council in London, England. The whole council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council.[1]

Background

The last election in 2002 saw the Conservatives gain a majority of seats after winning 33 seats, compared to 24 for Labour and 6 Liberal Democrats.[2] In December 2005 the Liberal Democrats gained a seat in High Barnet from the Conservatives in a by-election, after having come third in the ward in 2002.[3] This meant that before the election the Conservatives had 31 seats, the Labour party 24, Liberal Democrats 7 and 1, formerly Conservative, seat was vacant.[2]

A total of 219 candidates stood in the election for the 63 seat being contested across 21 wards.[2] These included a full slate from the Conservative and Labour parties, while the Liberal Democrats had 3 candidates in all but one ward.[2] Other candidates included the Green Party who stood at least one candidate in each ward, as well as 3 from the United Kingdom Independence Party, 1 Victory United candidate and 2 independents.[2] 14 councillors did not stand for re-election and a further 1, Daniel Hope, stood in a different ward.[2]

Election result

The results saw the Conservatives increase their majority to 11 after winning 37 of the 63 seats.[4] Overall turnout in the election was 41.65%, an increase on the 2002 election turnout of 34%.[2] This turnout included 33,892 postal votes, a rise from 29,195 in 2002.[2]

Following the election the Conservative leader of the council, Brian Salinger, lost a vote of no confidence in the Conservative group by 21 votes to 16 and was replaced as leader by his deputy Mike Freer.[5]

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Ward results

Woodhouse

By-elections between 2006 and 2010

East Barnet

Cllr. Olwen Evans died on 25 December 2006 after a long battle with cancer. She had served East Barnet Ward as a councillor for 24 years (1978-1994 and 1998–2006).[6] Turnout was reasonable but lower than usual for this ward due to snowfall on the day of the election, which closed many schools and curtailed refuse collection.

Hale

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr Jane Ellison.

Edgware

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Richard F. Weider.

Totteridge

The by-election was called following the resignation of Cllr. Caroline S. Margo.

Notes and References

  1. News: Local elections: Barnet. BBC News Online. 11 June 2011.
  2. Web site: Barnet Local Elections 2006 Analysis. Barnet London Borough. 11 June 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110607181437/http://www.barnet.gov.uk/post-localelection2006-analysis.pdf. 7 June 2011. dead.
  3. News: Lib Dem infighting sees mixed byelection results. 16 December 2005. The Guardian. 12 June 2011.
  4. Web site: Local Election 2006 . Barnet London Borough . 12 June 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101226212645/http://www.barnet.gov.uk/index/council-democracy/democracy-elections/previous-election-results/local-election2006-results.htm . 26 December 2010.
  5. News: Barnet: 'Right-wing coup'. Marzouk. Lawrence. 18 May 2006. Times Series. 12 June 2011.
  6. Web site: Popular councillor loses cancer battle. Times Series.