| Election Name: | 2021 Isle of Wight Council election |
| Country: | Isle of Wight |
| Flag Image: | Flag of the Isle of Wight.svg |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Vote Type: | Popular |
| Previous Election: | 2017 Isle of Wight Council election |
| Previous Year: | 2017 |
| Next Election: | 2025 Isle of Wight Council election |
| Next Year: | 2025 |
| Seats For Election: | All 39 seats to the Isle of Wight Council |
| Majority Seats: | 20 |
| Turnout: | 36.93% 3.99 pp |
| Leader1: | Dave Stewart |
| Leaders Seat1: | Chale, Niton and Shorwell (lost) |
| Party1: | Conservative Party (UK) |
| Last Election1: | 25 seats, 41.3% |
| Seats Before1: | 23 |
| Seats1: | 18 |
| Seat Change1: | 7 |
| Popular Vote1: | 15,825 |
| Percentage1: | 38.7% |
| Swing1: | 2.6% |
| Party2: | Independent politician |
| Last Election2: | 11 seats, 28.2% |
| Seats Before2: | 14 |
| Seats2: | 13 |
| Seat Change2: | 2 |
| Popular Vote2: | 9,981 |
| Percentage2: | 24.4% |
| Swing2: | 3.8% |
| Party3: | Green Party of England and Wales |
| Last Election3: | 1 seats, 12.6% |
| Seats Before3: | 1 |
| Seats3: | 2 |
| Seat Change3: | 1 |
| Popular Vote3: | 4,541 |
| Percentage3: | 11.1% |
| Swing3: | 1.5% |
| Colour4: | A292F4 |
| Leader4: | Ian Stephens |
| Leaders Seat4: | Ryde West |
| Party4: | Island Independent Network |
| Last Election4: | New grouping |
| Seats Before4: | 1 |
| Seats4: | 2 |
| Seat Change4: | 2 |
| Popular Vote4: | 1,327 |
| Percentage4: | 3.2% |
| Swing4: | 3.2% |
| Leader5: | Richard Quigley |
| Leaders Seat5: | Cowes North |
| Party5: | Labour Party (UK) |
| Last Election5: | 1 seat, 9.7% |
| Seats Before5: | 1 |
| Seats5: | 1 |
| Popular Vote5: | 4,760 |
| Percentage5: | 11.6% |
| Swing5: | 1.9% |
| Leader6: | Andrew Garratt |
| Leaders Seat6: | Parkhurst and Hunnyhill |
| Party6: | Liberal Democrats (UK) |
| Last Election6: | 2 seats, 6.2% |
| Seats Before6: | 1 |
| Seats6: | 1 |
| Seat Change6: | 1 |
| Popular Vote6: | 2,139 |
| Percentage6: | 5.2% |
| Swing6: | 1.0% |
| Colour7: | FE4164 |
| Leader7: | Jonathan Bacon |
| Leaders Seat7: | Brading and St Helens |
| Party7: | Our Island |
| Last Election7: | New party |
| Seats7: | 1 |
| Seat Change7: | 1 |
| Popular Vote7: | 1,427 |
| Percentage7: | 3.5% |
| Swing7: | 3.5% |
| Colour8: | EEE600 |
| Leader8: | Daryll Pitcher |
| Leaders Seat8: | Wootton Bridge |
| Party8: | Vectis Party |
| Last Election8: | New party |
| Seats8: | 1 |
| Seat Change8: | 1 |
| Popular Vote8: | 886 |
| Percentage8: | 2.2% |
| Swing8: | 2.2% |
| Council leader | |
| Posttitle: | Council leader after election |
| Before Election: | Dave Stewart |
| Before Party: | Conservative Party (UK) |
| After Election: | Lora Peacey-Wilcox |
| After Party: | The Alliance Group |
Elections to Isle of Wight Council took place on 6 May 2021 as part of the 2021 United Kingdom local elections. These were held at the same time as the elections for the Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner.[1] The elections saw the Conservatives lose control of the council, losing seats against the national trend for the party.
| Party | Seats | Candidates | Votes | Vote % | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 18 | 7 | 39 | 15,825 | 2,552 | 38.7 | 2.6 | ||
| Independent | 13 | 2 | 22 | 9,981 | 2,527 | 24.4 | 3.8 | ||
| Green | 2 | 1 | 19 | 4,541 | 1,056 | 11.1 | 1.5 | ||
| Island Independent Network | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1,327 | 1,327 | 3.2 | 3.2 | ||
| Labour | 1 | 28 | 4,760 | 452 | 11.6 | 1.9 | |||
| Lib Dem | 1 | 1 | 12 | 2,139 | 636 | 5.2 | 1.0 | ||
| Our Island | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1,427 | 1,427 | 3.5 | 3.5 | ||
| Vectis Party | 1 | 1 | 3 | 886 | 886 | 2.2 | 2.2 | ||
| Freedom Alliance | 0 | 1 | 38 | 38 | 0.09 | 0.09 | |||
| TUSC | 0 | 1 | 20 | 20 | 0.05 | 0.05 | |||
| Total | 39 | 1 | 136 | 40,944 | 608 | ||||
New ward divisions were used for this election, with thirty wards changing,[2] with the number of wards reduced by one to 39 single-member seats.[3] In the previous election, the Conservatives had won a majority with twenty five seats, with Independents (including the Island Independent Group), Liberal Democrats, Greens, and Labour also winning seats.
For the 2021 election, as well as existing independent candidates, the new Our Island also announced its intention to support several independent candidates.[4] [5] [6]
The incumbent Conservative leader of the council lost his seat to the Green Party,[7] and was replaced as group leader by Steve Hastings, who subsequently invited other councillors to coalition talks.[8]
On 26 May, independent councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox was elected leader of the council with 20 votes to Hastings’s 18. There was a single abstention from the Labour councillor, who was absent.[9] Island Independent Network councillor Ian Stephens was elected her deputy. Independent councillor Geoff Brodie was elected as the Chair of the Council, with Green councillor Claire Critchison elected Vice-Chair.[10] [11]
The leadership and cabinet - termed the "Alliance Group" - includes Independent, Green, Island Independent Network and Our Island councillors who together make up 18 of the 39 seats on the council. With the additional external support from the Liberal Democrats and the Vectis Party this constitutes a majority of 20 out of the 39 council seats.[12] [13]
In August 2021, Cllr Brodie quit the Alliance Group over planning issues, but continues to support the administration.[14] [15]
A by-election was held in Brighstone, Calbourne and Shalfleet on 24 November 2022, triggered by the resignation of Conservative councillor Steve Hastings.[16]
A by-election was held in Wootton Bridge on 24 August 2023, triggered by the resignation of Daryll Pitcher, the leader and only elected member of the Vectis Party, after being imprisoned for rape.[18]
A by-election was held in Ventnor and St Lawrence on 21 December 2023, triggered by the resignation of Conservative councillor Gary Peace.[19]