2006 Wokingham District Council election explained

The 2006 Wokingham District Council election took place on 4 May 2006 to elect members of Wokingham Unitary Council in Berkshire, 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 41
• Liberal Democrat 13^[2]

Campaign

The election saw the United Kingdom Independence Party put forward a candidate in all of the 18 wards which were being contested.^[3] This was the first time they had done this and meant they put forward more candidates than Labour who contested 16 of the wards.^[3]

During the campaign the Liberal Democrat leader on the council, Coling Lawley, received death threats, which led the police launch an investigation.^[4]

Election result

The results saw the Conservatives strengthen their control of the council after gaining three seats from the Liberal Democrats.^[5] The gains came in Coronation, Loddon and Hillside wards with one of the defeated Liberal Democrats being their leader Coling Lawley who lost by 472 votes in Coronation ward.^[6] Overall turnout in the election was 39.8%.^[7]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Local elections: Wokingham . 14 January 2010 . BBC News Online.
2. News: Local elections . . 9 . 5 May 2006 .
3. Web site: UKIP makes Wokingham a target in May local elections . 15 January 2010 . 19 April 2006 . getwokingham.
4. Web site: Police investigate death threats to Lib Dem leader . 15 January 2010 . 4 May 2006 . Reading Post.
5. Web site: Labour holds Reading despite loss . 15 January 2010 . 5 May 2006 . BBC News Online.
6. Web site: Tories tighten their grip as Lib Dem chief ousted . 15 January 2010 . 10 May 2006 . getwokingham.
7. Web site: Local election results . 14 January 2010 . Wokingham Borough Council . 12 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100512002942/http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/council/elections/election-results/election-results/ . dead .