2018 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election explained

See main article: 2018 United Kingdom local elections.

Election Name:2018 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election
Country:England
Flag Image:Coat of arms of Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.png
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2016 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election
Previous Year:2016
Next Election:2019 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election
Next Year:2019
Seats For Election:23 of 66 seats (One Third and one by-election)
to Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council
Majority Seats:34
Turnout:36.3% (0.7%)
3Blank:Swing (pp)-->
Leader of the Council
Before Election:Phil Davies
Before Party:Labour Party (UK)
Posttitle:Leader of the Council after election
After Election:Phil Davies
After Party:Labour Party (UK)
Party1:Labour Party (UK)
Seats Before1:39
Seats1:12
Seats After1:39
Popular Vote1:40,092
Percentage1:45.5%
Swing1:0.6%
Party2:Conservative Party (UK)
Seats Before2:21
Seats2:8
Seats After2:21
Popular Vote2:31,122
Percentage2:35.3%
Swing2:4.5%
Party4:Liberal Democrats (UK)
Seats Before4:5
Seats4:2
Seats After4:5
Popular Vote4:8,993
Percentage4:10.2%
Swing4:0.7%
Party5:Green Party of England and Wales
Seats Before5:1
Seats5:1
Seats After5:1
Popular Vote5:7,545
Percentage5:8.6%
Swing5:1.8%

The 2018 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 3 May 2018 to elect members of Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council in England.[1] This election was held on the same day as other local elections.

After the election, the composition of the council was:

PartySeats  ±  
39
21
5
1
Source: BBC[2]

Election results

Overall election result

Overall result compared with 2016.

[1]

Results by constituency

Birkenhead constituency

Birkenhead consists of the wards of Bidston and St James, Birkenhead and Tranmere, Claughton, Oxton, Prenton and Rock Ferry.

[1]

Wallasey constituency

Wallasey consists of the wards of Leasowe and Moreton East, Liscard, Moreton West and Saughall Massie, New Brighton, Seacombe and Wallasey.

[1]

Wirral South constituency

Wirral South consists of the wards of Bebington, Bromborough, Clatterbridge, Eastham, and Heswall.

[1]

Wirral West constituency

Wirral West consists of the wards of Greasby, Frankby and Irby, Hoylake and Meols, Pensby and Thingwall, Upton, and West Kirby and Thurstaston.

[1]

Changes in council composition

Prior to the election the composition of the council was:

↓
3820512

After the election the composition of the council was:

↓
392151

Proportionality

The disproportionality of the 2018 election was 7.49 using the Gallagher Index.

Political PartyVote ShareSeat ShareDifferenceDifference²
Labour45.4654.559.0982.63
Conservative35.2931.823.4712.04
Liberal Democrat10.209.091.111.23
Green8.564.554.0116.08
TUSC0.270.000.270.07
UKIP0.120.000.120.01
Independent0.100.000.100.01
TOTAL112.07
TOTAL /256.04
\sqrt{TOTAL
2
}		7.49

Parties and candidates

Contesting political parties

PartyLeaderLeader sinceLeader's ward
Phil Davies29 March 2012Birkenhead and Tranmere46.1%1312
Ian Lewis8 May 2017Wallasey30.8%77
Phil Gilchrist16 May 2013Eastham10.9%22
Pat Cleary22 May 2014Birkenhead and Tranmere6.8%01

There were in total 96 candidates (down 7 from 2016).[3] As per 2016, both Labour and The Conservative Party contested all 23 seats up for election. The Green Party also stood 23 (up 2), the Liberal Democrats, 22 (up 3) and TUSC, 3 (down 4). UKIP stood 1 candidate (down 8) with 1 Independent also standing.[4]

Policies

Labour Party

Wirral Labour's local election campaign was launched on 10 April 2018 at The Engineering College in Monk's Ferry with the help of the Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram.[5]

Wirral Labour's key priorities were to protect services; work with the police and social services to clamp down on anti-social behaviour and to work with the Metro Mayor to access funds to improve roads and highways.[6]

Wirral Labour received criticism by its own LCF (Local Campaign Forum) for only having one target seat, the Green held ward of Birkenhead and Tranmere.[7] Their campaign in Birkenhead included "Super Saturdays", personal attacks against the Green candidate Pat Cleary and suspected Green voting Labour members put on a list and threatened with suspension.[7] The Greens held the seat with an increased vote share.[8] Other targets were later added.

Conservative Party

The Wirral Conservative's key priorities were to cut spending on consultants and senior directors; abolish country park and coastal area parking charges; scrap the Wirral View newspaper and use the money to reinstate school crossing patrols; scrap plans for food waste bins and instead do more to reduce packaging and plastic waste; ban lending to other councils and scrap plans to build on the Green belt.[9] [10]

Liberal Democrats

The Wirral Liberal Democrat's key priorities were to focus on getting basic services right; secure grants from the government that will recognise Wirral's needs; give local people a greater say, particularly over the Wirral Growth Company; "leave nobody out", particularly in the example of health and social services; make sure money from the sale of council assets is put back into the community; better maintain the road network with more 20 mph zones to improve safety and to scrap the Wirral View.[10]

Green Party

The Wirral Green Party's key priorities were to clamp down on waste and invest more in "key public services"; scrap the Wirral View newspaper and invest savings made in improving the environment; freeze executive pay and introduce measures to address the "obscene pay gap" between the lowest and highest paid council staff; prioritise key brownfield sites for regeneration and housing to end the threat to Wirral's Green belt; transform democratic structures to secure "a more inclusive and transparent council in contrast to the rigid closed shop operated by the Labour Party" and to prioritise investment in active travel with pedestrians, cyclists and cleaner air.[10]

Other parties

The sole UKIP candidate, Paula Walters, was urged to withdraw her nomination by The Labour Party due to a series of "hate-filled" tweets from an account under her name that compared migrants to terrorists.[11]

Retiring councillors

WardDeparting CouncillorParty
BebingtonWalter Smith[12]
Bidston and St JamesAnn McLachlan[13] Labour
ClatterbridgeTracey Pilgrim[14] Conservative
Hoylake and MeolsEddie Boult[15] Conservative
Hoylake and MeolsJohn Hale[16]
Leasowe and Moreton EastTreena Johnson[17] Labour
OxtonAlan Brighouse[18] Liberal Democrat
Pensby and ThingwallLouise Reecejones[19] Labour
PrentonDenise Realey[20] Labour

Ward results

Results compared directly with the last local election in 2016.

Bebington

[21] [22]

Bidston and St James

[23] [24]

Birkenhead and Tranmere

[8] [25]

Bromborough

[26] [27]

Clatterbridge

[28] [29]

Claughton

[30] [31]

Eastham

[32] [33] [34]

Greasby, Frankby and Irby

[35] [36] [37]

Heswall

[38] [39]

Hoylake and Meols

[40] [41] [42] [43]

Leasowe and Moreton East

[44] [45]

Liscard

[46] [47]

Moreton West and Saughall Massie

[48] [49]

New Brighton

[50] [51]

Oxton

[52] [53]

Pensby and Thingwall

[54] [55] [56]

Prenton

[57] [58] [59]

Rock Ferry

[60] [61]

Seacombe

[62] [63]

Upton

[64] [65] [66]

Wallasey

[67] [68] [69]

West Kirby and Thurstaston

[70] [71]

Changes between 2018 and 2019

Bromborough by-election 2018

Cllr Warren Ward, elected in 2016, announced his resignation on 9 July 2018.[72] A casual vacancy was announced the next day.[73] [74]

[34] [75] [76]

Campaign

On 20 July, Conservative candidate Des Drury sent a printed letter to nearly 1,200 residents about a planning application being approved for the ex-Bromborough Secondary School site that borders the south of the ward.[77] [78] The letter mentions a "More than 1,000" signature strong petition opposing the application.[79] The lead petitioner, who spoke in front of the planning committee when the application was considered on 19 July, was future Labour candidate Jo Bird.[78] This was despite the fact that all 7 Labour councillors on the committee (a majority on the committee as a whole) voted to approve the application.[79]

Upton by-election 2018

Cllr Matthew Patrick, first elected in 2013, announced his resignation on 21 September 2018.[80] He formally resigned on 7 October 2018 with a casual vacancy announced the following day.[81] [82]

[83] [84]

Other changes

DateWardNamePrevious affiliationNew affiliationCircumstance
28 August 2018Pensby and ThingwallMike SuillvanResigned.[85]
25 October 2018Rock FerryMoira McLaughlinResigned.[86]
January 2019Rock FerryChris MeadenResigned.[87]
4 March 2019BromboroughJo BirdSuspended.[88]
14 March 2019BromboroughJo BirdReinstated.[89]
18 March 2019Rock FerryBill DaviesResigned.[90]
April 2019OxtonPaul DoughtySuspended.[91]

On 22 February 2019, Moira McLaughlin was announced as leader of an Independent group composed of the three Labour defections.[92]

Notes

• italics denote the sitting councillor • bold denotes the winning candidate

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Election Results by Party, Local election - Thursday, 3rd May 2018 . 3 May 2018. 15 January 2019. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  2. News: Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Election 2018 Results. 4 May 2018. BBC News. 9 January 2018.
  3. Web site: Statement of Persons Nominated. April 2018. Eric. Robinson. 15 January 2019. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  4. Web site: Here are the Wirral Council candidates you can vote for in May's local election. Tom. Houghton. 9 April 2018. 15 January 2019. Wirral Globe.
  5. News: Wirral Council leader Phil Davies launches local election campaign . Wirral Globe. Craig. Manning. 10 April 2018. 15 January 2019.
  6. Labour is last line of defence against savage Tory cuts . 10 April 2018. 15 January 2019. Wirral Labour Group.
  7. Web site: Pip's Cabinet Kerfuffle. Julian. Justice. 17 May 2018. 15 January 2019 . Wirral Leaks.
  8. Web site: Election results for Birkenhead and Tranmere. 15 January 2019 . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  9. Wirral A5 Choice Graphic . Wirral Conservatives. 15 January 2019.
  10. Web site: What Wirral's main political parties say they will do if they win power in May local elections . Tom. Houghton. 24 April 2018 . 15 January 2019 . Liverpool Echo.
  11. News: UKIP council hopeful's 'hate-filled' tweets compared migrants to terrorists. Tom. Houghton. 22 April 2018. 15 January 2019. Liverpool Echo.
  12. Web site: Councillor Walter Smith. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 18 May 2018. 12 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144009/https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=119. dead.
  13. Web site: Councillor Ann McLachlan. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019. 12 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144053/https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=121. dead.
  14. Web site: Councillor Tracey Pilgrim. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  15. Web site: Councillor Eddie Boult. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019. 13 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180713010505/https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=661. dead.
  16. Web site: Councillor John Hale. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019. 5 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180705180701/https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=173. dead.
  17. Web site: Councillor Treena Johnson. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  18. Web site: Councillor Alan Brighouse. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019. 12 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142422/https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=665. dead.
  19. Web site: Councillor Louise Reecejones. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019. 19 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180919171858/https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=50001513. dead.
  20. Web site: Councillor Denise Realey. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019. 12 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144130/https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=668. dead.
  21. Web site: Election results for Bebington. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  22. Web site: Councillor Tony Cottier. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  23. Web site: Election results for Bidston and St James. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  24. Web site: Councillor Liz Grey. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  25. Web site: Councillor Pat Cleary. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  26. Web site: Election results for Bromborough. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  27. Web site: Councillor Irene Williams. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019. 21 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180521022008/https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=658. dead.
  28. Web site: Election results for Clatterbridge. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  29. Web site: Councillor Mary Jordan. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  30. Web site: Election results for Claughton. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  31. Web site: Councillor Gillian Wood. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  32. Web site: Election results for Eastham. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  33. Web site: Councillor Chris Carubia. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  34. Web site: Councillor Jo Bird. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  35. Web site: Election results for Greasby, Frankby and Irby. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  36. Web site: Councillor Wendy Clements . . 15 January 2019 . 21 May 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180521022133/https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=660 . dead .
  37. Web site: Councillor Andrew Corkhill . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 8 May 2019.
  38. Web site: Election results for Heswall. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  39. Web site: Councillor Les Rowlands . . 15 January 2019 . 12 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144024/https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=178 . dead .
  40. Web site: Election results for Hoylake and Meols. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  41. Web site: Councillor Tony Cox. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  42. Web site: Councillor Andrew Gardner. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  43. Web site: Councillor Peter Reisdorf. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019. 12 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143021/https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=179. dead.
  44. Web site: Election results for Leasowe and Moreton East. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  45. Web site: Councillor Sharon Jones. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  46. Web site: Election results for Liscard. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  47. Web site: Councillor Janette Williamson. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  48. Web site: Election results for Moreton West and Saughall Massie. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  49. Web site: Councillor Bruce Berry. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  50. Web site: Election results for New Brighton. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  51. Web site: Councillor Christine Spriggs. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  52. Web site: Election results for Oxton. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  53. Web site: Councillor Allan Brame. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  54. Web site: Election results for Pensby and Thingwall. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  55. Web site: Councillor Kate Cannon. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  56. Web site: Councillor Michael Collins . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 8 May 2019.
  57. Web site: Election results for Prenton. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  58. Web site: Councillor Christopher Cooke . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 8 May 2019.
  59. Web site: Councillor Samantha Frost. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  60. Web site: Election results for Rock Ferry. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  61. Web site: Councillor Moira McLaughlin. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019. 12 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144138/https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=158. dead.
  62. Web site: Election results for Seacombe. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  63. Web site: Councillor Adrian Jones. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019. 12 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144106/https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=159. dead.
  64. Web site: Election results for Upton. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  65. Web site: Councillor Stuart Whittingham. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019. 12 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180712223047/https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=669. dead.
  66. Web site: Councillor Alison Wright . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 26 February 2020.
  67. Web site: Election results for Wallasey. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  68. Web site: Councillor Lesley Rennie. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  69. Web site: Councillor Paul Martin. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 19 May 2021.
  70. Web site: Election results for West Kirby and Thurstastion. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  71. Web site: Councillor Jeff Green. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019.
  72. News: Why young Wirral councillor who took on "grey-haired old men" is stepping down. Lorna. Hughes. 9 July 2018. 15 January 2019. Liverpool Echo.
  73. Web site: Notice of casual vacancy in the office of councillor for the Bromborough ward. https://web.archive.org/web/20180728035729/https://www.wirral.gov.uk/elections-and-voting/elections/election-notices#wgSM-2 . dead . 28 July 2018 . 10 July 2018. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Robinson. Eric. 12 July 2018.
  74. Web site: Election of Councillor - Notice of Election for the Bromborough ward. https://web.archive.org/web/20180728035729/https://www.wirral.gov.uk/elections-and-voting/elections/election-notices#wgSM-1 . dead . 28 July 2018 . Robinson. Eric. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 20 July 2018.
  75. Web site: Election results for Bromborough Local by-election - Thursday, 23rd August 2018. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 23 August 2018.
  76. Web site: Councillor Steve Niblock. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 15 January 2019. 17 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180617170154/https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=155. dead.
  77. Web site: Residents dismayed after Planning Committee backs Morris Homes plan. Wirral Conservatives. 20 July 2018. 23 July 2018.
  78. News: Hundreds of homes to be built in Wirral despite major opposition. 20 July 2018. Tom. Houghton. Liverpool Echo. 23 July 2018.
  79. News: Update for Residents. Wirral Conservatives. 23 July 2018.
  80. Web site: One of Wirral's most senior politicians has announced he is to stand down. Houghton. Tom. Liverpool Echo. 21 September 2018. 21 September 2018.
  81. Web site: Notice of casual vacancy in the office of Councillor for the Upton ward. https://web.archive.org/web/20181029173222/https://www.wirral.gov.uk/elections-and-voting/elections/election-notices#wgSM-2. dead. 29 October 2018. Robinson. Eric. Wirral Council. 8 October 2018. 9 October 2018.
  82. Web site: Notice of election of a councillor for the Upton ward. https://web.archive.org/web/20181029173222/https://www.wirral.gov.uk/elections-and-voting/elections/election-notices#wgSM-1. dead. 29 October 2018. Robinson. Eric. Wirral Council. 20 October 2018.
  83. Web site: Election results for Upton Local by-election - Thursday, 22nd November 2018. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 22 November 2018. 22 November 2018.
  84. Web site: Councillor Jean Robinson. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 3 January 2019.
  85. News: 28 August 2018 . Wirral councillor quits party blaming hard left 'parasites' . 28 December 2018. Labour Uncut.
  86. News: Houghton . Tom . 25 October 2018 . Senior Labour politician quits party after 40 years citing 'absolute aggression' of 'hard-left clique' . 28 December 2018. Liverpool Echo.
  87. News: Yet ANOTHER top Labour politician quits party - blaming 'hard-left' takeover. Liverpool Echo. 12 February 2019. 12 February 2019. Tom. Houghton.
  88. News: Labour councillor suspended after 'Jew process' joke. Liverpool Echo. 4 March 2019. 4 March 2019. Tom. Houghton.
  89. News: Labour councillor who made 'Jew process' joke has suspension lifted. Liverpool Echo. 15 March 2019. 15 March 2019. Tom. Houghton.
  90. News: Labour Councillor of more than 30 years latest to quit party and slam 'hard-left' takeover. Liverpool Echo. 18 March 2019. 18 March 2019. Tom. Houghton.
  91. Web site: Wirral politician booted out of Labour after campaigning for rival party . Tom. Houghton. Liverpool Echo. 10 April 2019. 10 April 2019.
  92. News: Houghton . Tom . 22 February 2019 . The UK's newest Independent Group has been created by fed-up politicians - right here on Merseyside . 22 February 2019. Liverpool Echo.

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