2008 Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council election
← 2007 1 May 2008 2010 →
One third of seats (23 of 63) to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
32 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Party Barnsley Ind. Labour Conservative
Seats won 10 8 2
Seat change Increase2 Decrease1 Increase1
Map of the 2008 Barnsley council election results. Barnsley Independent in teal, Labour in red, Conservatives in blue, Liberal Democrats in yellow and Independent in grey.
Majority party before election

Labour

 Majority party after election

Labour

The 2008 Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council in South Yorkshire, England. One third of the council, alongside an additional vacancy in Old Town was up for election. Prior to the election the defending councillor in Penistone West, having earlier defected from Conservative to the Barnsley Independent Group, fought the election as an Independent. The Labour party stayed in overall control of the council.[1]

Election result

Before the election it had been thought that the Labour party might lose overall control of the council but they held on by only one seat.[2][3] They lost two seats to the Barnsley Independent Group but gained one seat from the Liberal Democrats to hold on.[4] The Barnsley Independent Group also lost 1 seat to the Conservatives. Overall turnout was 34.78%.[5]

The losses for the Labour party were blamed on government policies, such as on immigration and the abolition of the 10p income tax band, by the leader of the council, Steve Houghton, who was himself re-elected for Cudworth ward.[6]

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Election Result 2008[7][8]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Barnsley Ind. 10 2 0 +2 45.5 23.0 13,517 -0.8%
  Labour 8 1 2 -1 36.4 31.4 18,443 -7.8%
  Conservative 2 1 0 +1 9.1 15.2 8,930 +1.1%
  Liberal Democrats 1 0 1 -1 4.5 6.6 3,880 +1.0%
  Independent 1 0 1 -1 4.5 5.8 3,429 +2.5%
  BNP 0 0 0 0 0 17.0 9,959 +3.4%
  Green 0 0 0 0 0 0.8 440 +0.3%
  UKIP 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 76 +0.1%

This resulted in the following composition of the council:[1]

Party Previous council New council
Labour 33 32
Barnsley Independent 20 22
Conservatives 5 6
Independent 3 2
Liberal Democrats 2 1
Total 63 63
Working majority  3   1 

Ward results

+/- figures represent changes from the last time these wards were contested.

Central[8][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Doug Birkinshaw 775 31.0 -12.2
Barnsley Ind. Noel Cowdell 660 26.4 +3.9
BNP Peter Marshall 621 24.8 -1.0
Liberal Democrats Eddie Gouthwaite 243 9.7 +9.7
Conservative Andrew Barr 202 8.1 -0.4
Majority 115 4.6 -12.8
Turnout 2,501 31.8 +1.0
Labour gain from Liberal Democrats Swing -8.0
Cudworth[8][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Steve Houghton 1,279 48.9 -25.6
BNP Terry Hubbard 650 24.9 +24.9
Liberal Democrats Pam Kershaw 215 8.2 +8.2
Independent Ian Sanders 184 7.0 +7.0
Conservative Dorothy Shaw 183 7.0 -18.5
Barnsley Ind. David Surgey 82 3.1 +3.1
Independent Tony Devoy 22 0.8 +0.8
Majority 629 24.0 -25.1
Turnout 2,615 32.8 +5.5
Labour hold Swing -25.2
Darfield[8][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Barnsley Ind. Ron Fisher 1,457 56.8 +11.9
Labour Brian Mathers 510 19.9 -9.2
BNP Steve O'Connor 316 12.3 -1.1
Conservative Gillian Milner 282 11.0 +4.4
Majority 947 46.9 +31.1
Turnout 2,565 32.7 -1.0
Barnsley Ind. hold Swing +10.5
Darton East[8][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Parkinson 1,044 34.5 -5.5
BNP Colin Porter 669 22.1 +4.9
Independent John Race 606 20.0 +8.5
Conservative Howard Pearson 490 16.2 +2.7
Liberal Democrats Sally Brook 220 7.3 +7.3
Majority 375 12.4 -9.8
Turnout 3,029 36.0 -1.1
Labour hold Swing -5.2
Darton West[8][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alice Cave 1,173 36.8 -6.2
BNP Ian Sutton 919 28.8 +1.8
Conservative Gordon Wilkinson 554 17.4 +5.4
Independent Jean Rowley 545 17.1 +17.1
Majority 254 8.0 -8.1
Turnout 3,191 38.8 -1.7
Labour hold Swing -4.0
Dearne North[8][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jennifer Worton 853 40.2 -6.7
BNP Rob Garrett 392 18.5 -3.1
Barnsley Ind. Ian Garner 375 17.7 +13.0
Liberal Democrats Sarah Brook 316 14.9 -6.6
Conservative Paul Buckley 186 8.8 +3.4
Majority 461 21.7 -3.6
Turnout 2,122 26.2 -0.3
Labour hold Swing -1.8
Dearne South[8][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Sharron Brook 1,094 39.6 +12.9
Labour Ralph Sixsmith 934 33.8 -12.1
BNP June Peel 590 21.3 -1.3
Conservative Deborah Toon 146 5.3 +0.5
Majority 160 5.8 -13.3
Turnout 2,764 30.6 -2.2
Liberal Democrats hold Swing +12.5
Dodworth[8][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Barnsley Ind. Philip Birkinshaw 1,444 48.7 +10.8
Labour Pauline Haigh 654 22.0 -6.1
Conservative George Hill 456 15.4 +1.0
BNP Nick Parker 414 13.9 +0.8
Majority 790 26.7 +16.9
Turnout 2,968 37.9 -1.9
Barnsley Ind. hold Swing +8.4
Hoyland Milton[8][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Barnsley Ind. Michael Brankin 1,159 40.4 -6.7
Labour Robin Franklin 902 31.5 -11.9
Conservative Alan Pilkington 296 10.3 +0.8
BNP Simon Goodricke 289 10.1 +10.1
Green Carol Robb 145 5.1 +5.1
UKIP Wayne Harling 76 2.7 +2.7
Majority 257 8.9 +5.2
Turnout 2,867 32.1 +1.1
Barnsley Ind. hold Swing +2.6
Kingstone[8][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Barnsley Ind. Malcolm Price 1,016 45.7 +1.4
Labour Kath Mitchell 565 25.4 -9.8
BNP Peter Robinson 407 18.3 +3.2
Conservative Geoffrey Turvey 155 7.0 +1.6
Independent Frank Watson 80 3.6 +3.6
Majority 451 20.3 +11.1
Turnout 2,223 28.0 -2.8
Barnsley Ind. hold Swing +5.6
Monk Bretton[8][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Grace Brown 911 33.4 +33.4
BNP Jane Hubbard 668 24.5 +7.4
Labour Nadia Richardson 664 24.3 -19.0
Liberal Democrats Ken Smith 247 9.0 +9.0
Conservative Peter Murray 241 8.8 -1.7
Majority 243 8.9 -5.3
Turnout 2,731 33.3 +5.3
Independent hold Swing +13.0
North East[8][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Barnsley Ind. Danny Gillespie 1,522 45.9 +2.3
Labour Arthur Whittaker 1,183 35.7 -2.7
BNP Dennis Seilly 308 9.3 +2.6
Conservative Frances Hamer 305 9.2 +3.5
Majority 339 10.2 +5.0
Turnout 3,318 36.2 -0.6
Barnsley Ind. gain from Labour Swing +0.2
Old Town (2)[8][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Barnsley Ind. Bill Gaunt 1,503 48.6 -7.1
Barnsley Ind. John Love 1,255
Labour Phil Davies 721 23.3 +1.6
BNP Daniel Cooke 564 18.2 +4.2
BNP Lancer White 424
Conservative Elizabeth Hill 306 9.9 -7.1
Conservative Alexander Wilkinson 227
Majority 782 25.3 -8.7
Turnout 5,000 37.0 +4.1
Barnsley Ind. hold Swing
Barnsley Ind. hold Swing -4.3
Penistone East[8][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Wilson 2,050 52.8 +3.8
Labour Jill Hayler 827 21.3 -2.4
Liberal Democrats Trish Arundel 654 16.8 +0.1
BNP Kelly Thorpe 355 9.1 +9.1
Majority 1,223 31.5 +6.2
Turnout 3,886 41.4 +0.0
Conservative hold Swing +3.1
Penistone West[8][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Steve Webber 1,439 42.5 +1.5
Independent Brenda Hinchcliff 654 19.3 -6.5
BNP Paul James 550 16.2 +7.6
Labour Peter Starling 447 13.2 -2.7
Green Lynda Pickersgill 295 8.7 +0.0
Majority 785 23.2 +8.0
Turnout 3,385 39.7 -2.1
Conservative gain from Independent Swing -+4.0
Rockingham[8][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Barnsley Ind. Mary Brankin 1,336 42.1 -3.5
Labour Alan Schofield 913 28.8 -13.8
BNP Paul Richardson 343 10.8 +10.8
Conservative Lesley Watkinson 296 9.3 -2.5
Liberal Democrats Patrick Connell-Fothergill 159 5.0 +5.0
Independent Bob Hannaghan 128 4.0 +4.0
Majority 423 13.3 +10.3
Turnout 3,175 37.0 +1.7
Barnsley Ind. hold Swing +5.1
Royston[8][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Graham Kyte 1,202 46.9 +2.2
Liberal Democrats Danny Oates 513 20.0 -1.3
BNP Paul Harris 392 15.3 +2.0
Conservative Garry Needham 263 10.3 +1.7
Barnsley Ind. Daniel Pickering 195 7.6 -4.4
Majority 689 26.9 +3.5
Turnout 2,565 31.1 +0.8
Labour hold Swing +1.7
St Helens[8][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Len Picken 965 46.0 -11.6
BNP Lisa Brooksbank 635 30.3 +13.7
Independent Dennis Kelk 299 14.2 -4.4
Conservative Michael Toon 200 9.5 +2.4
Majority 330 15.7 -23.3
Turnout 2,099 26.5 +2.7
Labour hold Swing -12.6
Stairfoot[8][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Barnsley Ind. Fred Clowery 1,218 48.8 +20.7
Labour Steve Redford 706 28.3 -13.2
BNP Susan Harris 350 14.0 -0.8
Conservative Clive Watkinson 224 9.0 +3.9
Majority 512 20.5 +7.2
Turnout 2,498 31.0 +0.3
Barnsley Ind. hold Swing +16.9
Wombwell[8][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Margaret Morgan 1,200 48.9 -10.3
BNP Lisa Goodricke 527 21.5 +7.0
Conservative Keith Jenner 439 17.9 +6.3
Barnsley Ind. Ray Murdoch 286 11.7 -3.0
Majority 673 27.4 -17.1
Turnout 2,452 28.9 -0.4
Labour hold Swing -8.6
Worsbrough[8][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Barnsley Ind. Gill Carr 1,264 48.1 +16.5
Labour Terry Bristowe 926 35.3 +0.1
Liberal Democrats Pat Durie 219 8.3 -2.0
Conservative Peter Hamer 217 8.3 +2.8
Majority 338 12.8 +9.3
Turnout 2,626 34.7 +0.7
Barnsley Ind. gain from Labour Swing +8.2

By-elections between 2008 and 2010

St. Helen's 15 October 2009 By-election[9][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Roy Butterwood 1,520 59.8 +13.8
BNP Lisa Brooksbank 590 23.2 -7.1
Barnsley Ind. Daniel Pickering 171 6.7 +6.7
UKIP Neil Robinson 94 3.7 +3.7
Conservative Clive Watkinson 83 3.5 -6.0
Liberal Democrats Eddie Gouthwaite 78 3.1 +3.1
Majority 930 36.6 +20.9
Turnout 2,542 31.0 +4.5
Labour hold Swing +10.4

References

  1. ^ a b "Barnsley". BBC News Online. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  2. ^ "BIG Gain on Labour Council". Barnsley News. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 23 August 2008.[dead link]
  3. ^ "ELECTIONS '08: Labour maintains control in Barnsley". The Star. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 23 August 2008.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Lib Dems take power in Sheffield". BBC Online. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 23 August 2008.
  5. ^ "Local election results 2008". Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council. Archived from the original on 2 January 2009. Retrieved 17 August 2008.
  6. ^ "Shaky 'republic' hangs on by one seat". Yorkshire Post. 3 May 2008. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 23 August 2008.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v "Local Election Results 2007: Barnsley". Local Elections Archive Project. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v "Elections Centre: Barnsley 1973-2012" (PDF). electionscentre.co.uk/plymouth.ac.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Labour fends off BNP to hold Barnsley". Local Government Chronicle. 16 October 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2009.
  10. ^ "Labour retain Barnsley but BNP second in by-election". The Star. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
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