The 2000 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 4 May 2000 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.[1]

After the election, the composition of the council was:

Background

Before the election the council had 17 Labour, 7 Health Concern, 5 Conservative, 5 independent, 4 Liberal Democrats and 3 Liberal councillors, with one seat vacant.[3] The council was run by an alliance of all groups apart from Labour.[3]

57 candidates stood in the election with 15 seats being contested, which included 2 seats in Greenhill ward due to a by-election being held at the same time.[3]

Election result

Health Concern became the largest group on the council after making 8 gains and Health Concern was also boosted by the decision of 3 independent councillors to join the group.[2][4] Labour losses included the deputy leader of the party and the longest-serving member of the council, Michael Kelly, in Habberley and Blakebrook ward.[5] The only other group to make a gain in the election was the Conservatives in Oldington and Foley Park ward where they took a seat from Labour.[5]

The defeats for Labour were put down to the downgrading of Kidderminster hospital, despite the local party opposing the move.[2] Labour said that the results would be a disaster as they said Health Concern had no policies in many areas.[2] However Health Concern put their success down to disillusionment with political parties that had failed to take action over the hospital and that they would represent local opinion.[2]

Following the election the Health Concern group said they wanted to continue the alliance with the other groups apart from Labour.[5]

Wyre Forest local election result 2000[6]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Health Concern 8 +8 53.3
  Independent 3 -2 20.0
  Labour 1 -7 6.7
  Conservative 1 0 6.7
  Liberal Democrats 1 0 6.7
  Liberal 1 0 6.7

References

  1. ^ "Wyre Forest". BBC News Online. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d e Walker, Jonathan (6 May 2000). "Hospital gives healthy majority Labour pushed out by campaigners' success". Birmingham Post. p. 5.
  3. ^ a b c "Local Elections: Wyre Forest". Birmingham Mail. 5 April 2000. p. 13.
  4. ^ Gray, Chris (5 May 2000). "Tories win Solihull City socialists axed Knowles out as Labour crumbles". Birmingham Post. p. 1.
  5. ^ a b c Smith, Sue (5 May 2000). "Health group pledge to rainbow alliance". Birmingham Post. p. 4.
  6. ^ "Election results: local councils". The Times. 5 May 2000. p. 4.
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