2024 Warrington Borough Council election explained

Election Name:2024 Warrington Borough Council election
Country:Cheshire
Type:parliamentary
Previous Election:2021 Warrington Borough Council election
Previous Year:2021
Next Election:2028 Warrington Borough Council election
Next Year:2028
Seats For Election:All 58 seats to Warrington Borough Council
Majority Seats:30
Leader1:Hans Mundry
Party1:Labour Party (UK)
Last Election1:35 seats, 38.9%
Seats Before1:36
Seats1:42
Seat Change1: 6
Popular Vote1:54,064
Percentage1:47.2%
Swing1: 8.3%
Leader2:Bob Barr
Party2:Liberal Democrats (UK)
Last Election2:9 seats, 16.0%
Seats Before2:8
Seats2:12
Seat Change2: 4
Popular Vote2:19,705
Percentage2:17.2%
Swing2: 1.2%
Party4:Independent politician
Last Election4:3 seats, 6.1%
Seats Before4:4
Seats4:3
Seat Change4: 1
Popular Vote4:7,598
Percentage4:6.6%
Swing4: 0.5%
Leader5:Nigel Balding
Party5:Conservative Party (UK)
Last Election5:11 seats, 36.6%
Seats Before5:10
Seats5:1
Seat Change5: 9
Popular Vote5:29,261
Percentage5:25.6%
Swing5: 11.0%
Leader
Posttitle:Leader after election
Before Election:Hans Mundry
Before Party:Labour Party (UK)
After Election:Hans Mundry
After Party:Labour Party (UK)

The 2024 Warrington Borough Council election was held on Thursday 2 May 2024 to elect members of Warrington Borough Council in England. It took place on the same day as other local elections in the United Kingdom.

Background

In the 2021 Warrington Borough Council election, the Labour Party retained overall control of the council but lost 10 seats.[1] Before the election, Labour had 36 Seats and the opposition having 22 seats.[2]

PartySeats
Labour Party36
Conservative Party10
Liberal Democrats8
Independents4

Councillors standing down

CouncillorWardFirst electedPartyDate announced
Russ BowdenBirchwood2010Labour28 October 2023[3]
Cathy MitchellBurtonwood & Winwick2016Labour29 October 2023[4]
Amanda KingGreat Sankey South2016Independent (elected Labour)28 January 2024[5]
Kath BuckleyLymm South2015Conservative7 March 2024[6]
Wendy MaiseyCulcheth, Glazebury & Croft2021Conservative25 March 2024[7]
David EllisBirchwood2021Labour6 April 2024[8]
Sarah HallBewsey & Whitecross2016Labour Co-op6 April 2024
Alex AbbeyBurtonwood & Winwick2020Labour6 April 2024
Maureen CreaghanPoulton South2014Labour6 April 2024
Linda ButlerChapelford & Old Hall2021Conservative6 April 2024
Bob BarrLymm North & Thelwall2006Liberal Democrats6 April 2024
Claire Lloyd-FitzgeraldOrford2021Labour6 April 2024
Morgan TarrOrford2016Labour6 April 2024
Andrew HillRixton & Woolston2016Labour6 April 2024

There were also six Councillors who were elected in 2021 that stood in different Wards in 2024.

CouncillorPartyWard elected to in 2021Ward stood in 2024
Siobhan CarrLabourWestbrookBurtonwood & Winwick
Hilary CookseyLabourPoplars & HulmeRixton & Woolston
Brian GallagherLabourWestbrookPenketh & Cuerdley
Helen MilnerLabourOrfordLymm North & Thelwall
Peter WalkerLiberal DemocratsStockton HeathAppleton
Jane WhalenLabourGreat Sankey North & Whittle HallAppleton

Post-election

The Labour Party held control of the council, increasing their majority from 36 to 42. The Liberal Democrats became the official opposition by increasing their seats from 8 to 12. Their group leader prior to the election, Bob Barr, did not stand for re-election; after the election they chose Mark Browne to be their new group leader and therefore the leader of the opposition on the council.[9] The Conservatives, who had been the official opposition prior to the election, lost 9 seats, including their group leader Nigel Balding, leaving only one Conservative on the council.[10]

After the election, Labour had 42 seats and the opposition had 16 seats.[11]

PartySeats
Labour Party42
Liberal Democrats12
Independents3
Conservative Party1

Summary

Election result

|-

Ward results

Incumbent councillors in the Ward are denoted by an asterisk (*).

Burtonwood & Winwick

Note: One of the Independent candidates, Theresa-Jane Murray, stood in the 2021 election as a Conservative candidate.

Orford

Note: The Independent candidate Carol Kilgannon stood in the 2021 election as a Conservative candidate.

Rixton & Woolston

Note: The Independent candidate Phil Eastty was elected in the 2021 election as a Conservative candidate. He then defected to Labour.[12]

Westbrook

Parish Council Results

There were several other results called for Parish Councils within the Warrington Borough. Many were uncontested, but there were also other results that were contested.

(UC) denotes Uncontested result.

Birchwood Town Council - Gorse Covert

Note: Two candidates were tied with 280 votes. The winner was drawn via lot.

Woolston Parish Council - West

Notes and References

  1. News: Warrington result - Local Elections 2021 . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-12-16.
  2. Web site: Composition of the council 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231229180303/https://www.warrington.gov.uk/councillor . 29 Dec 2023 . 29 Dec 2023 . Warrington Borough Council.
  3. News: 2023-10-28 . Warrington council leader will not stand at next election . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-11-05.
  4. Web site: 2023-10-29 . Deputy council leader confirms she too will not stand for re-election next year . 2023-11-05 . Warrington Guardian . en.
  5. Web site: Great Sankey South councillor Amanda King will not stand in elections . Warrington Guardian . 28 January 2024 .
  6. Web site: Former Tory group leader Kath Buckley announces retirement ahead of council elections . Warrington Worldwide . 7 March 2024 .
  7. Web site: Tory councillor announces she will not seek re-election . Warrington Guardian . 25 March 2024 .
  8. Web site: Skentelbery . Gary . 2024-04-06 . Election nominations close and list of candidates revealed . 2024-04-06 . Warrington Worldwide . en-GB.
  9. Web site: Marks . Ian . New Council Group leaders . Warrington Lib Dem News . 23 July 2024 . 19 May 2024.
  10. Web site: 2024-05-04 . Warrington Local Elections 2024 - all the results from across town . 2024-05-06 . Warrington Guardian . en.
  11. Web site: Make-up of the council warrington.gov.uk . 2024-05-06 . www.warrington.gov.uk.
  12. Web site: 2022-06-21 . Tory councillor makes shock switch to Labour . 2024-06-03 . Warrington Guardian . en.