2023 Test Valley Borough Council election explained

Election Name:	2023 Test Valley Borough Council election
Country:	Hampshire
Majority Seats:	22
Seats For Election:	All 43 seats to Test Valley Borough Council
Next Year:	2027
Next Election:	2027 Test Valley Borough Council election
Previous Year:	2019
Previous Election:	2019 Test Valley Borough Council election
Election Date:	4 May 2023
Type:	Parliamentary
Party1:	Conservative Party (UK)
Leader1:	Phil North
Last Election1:	24
Seats1:	26
Seat Change1:	2
Percentage1:	39.6%
Swing1:	2.8pp
Popular Vote1:	14,896
Party2:	Liberal Democrats (UK)
Leader2:	Neil Gwynne
Last Election2:	12
Seats2:	17
Seat Change2:	5
Percentage2:	42.4%
Swing2:	13.0pp
Popular Vote2:	15,966
Leader
Posttitle:	Leader after election
Before Election:	Phil North
Before Party:	Conservative Party (UK)
After Election:	Phil North
After Party:	Conservative Party (UK)

The 2023 Test Valley Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Test Valley Borough Council in England.^{[1] [2] [3]} This was on the same day as other local elections. The whole council of 43 members was up for election across 20 wards.

Background

At the previous election in 2019 the localist group the Andover Alliance won seven seats on the Council. However, from the beginning of their terms of office they were plagued by internal disputes and defections and they ceased to exist as a group prior to the 2023 election.^[4] As a consequence they did not field any candidates at this election, although some of their councillors chose to stand as independents. None were successful.

The Conservatives proved to be the beneficiaries of the Andover Alliance's collapse gaining all seven of their seats. Although they lost five seats to the Liberal Democrats they were able to retain control of the Council.^{[5] [6]}

Results summary

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Ward Results

Test Valley Borough Council election results.^[7]

Sitting councillors are marked with an asterisk (*).

Anna

• Christopher Thom was a member for Valley Park ward in the previous council term.

Valley Park

• Celia Dowden was a member for North Baddesley ward in the previous council term.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Borough and Parish Elections - May 2023. Test Valley Borough Council. 4 April 2023.
2. Web site: Election timetable in England. UK Government. 10 April 2023.
3. Web site: Full list of election candidates revealed for Test Valley. 6 April 2023 . Andover Advertiser. 13 April 2023.
4. Web site: Andover Alliance: A look back at the party's ups and downs. 25 October 2019 . Andover Advertiser. 11 May 2023.
5. News: Test Valley election result. BBC News. 11 May 2023.
6. Web site: Test Valley elections: Conservatives win majority, Lib Dems also gain. 5 May 2023 . Andover Advertiser. 11 May 2023.
7. Web site: Borough Elections 4 May 2023 - Results. 5 May 2023 . Test Valley Borough Council. 11 May 2023.