Map of the results of the 2012 Carlisle City Council election. Labour in red, Conservatives in blue, Liberal Democrats in yellow and independent in light grey. Wards in dark grey were not contested in 2012.

The 2012 Carlisle City Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of Carlisle District Council in Cumbria, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Labour Party gained overall control of the council from no overall control.[1]

After the election, the composition of the council was:

Background

After the last election in 2011 Labour were the largest party with 24 seats, while the Conservatives had 22, the Liberal Democrats had 4 and there were 2 independents.[3] However the Conservatives continued to lead the council with Liberal Democrat support,[3] meaning that before the 2012 election Labour needed to make 2 gains to take control of the council.[4] One seat was vacant at the 2012 election in Harraby after the death of Labour councillor Dave Weedall in April 2012.[5]

17 seats were contested in 2012 and as well as Conservative and Labour candidates, there were also 11 candidates each from the UK Independence Party and the Green Party, 8 candidates from the Liberal Democrats, 2 independents and 1 candidate each from the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition and the British National Party.[4][6] The election in Carlisle brought national politicians to support their parties, with both the Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron and the Labour Leader of the Opposition Ed Miliband visiting Carlisle during the campaign.[7]

Election result

Labour became the first party to have a majority on Carlisle City Council since 2003, after taking 2 seats each from the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.[8] This took Labour to 27 of the 52 seats on the council, while the Conservatives dropped to 20 councillors and the Liberal Democrats fell to 2 seats.[8] There remained 2 independents and a further seat was vacant.[8] Overall turnout at the election was 33.9%.[5]

The Labour gains from the Conservatives came in Belle Vue and Yewdale wards, with Labour across the seats contested winning 4,530 more votes than Conservatives.[5] Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats only held one seat in Dalston, where sitting councillor Trevor Allison was re-elected, after losing two seats in Castle and Morton to Labour.[5]

Following the election the Labour group leader Joe Hendry became the new leader of Carlisle City Council, while John Mallinson became leader of the Conservative group on the council, after defeating the Conservative leader of the council from 1999 to 2012, Mike Mitchelson, in a leadership election.[9]

Carlisle local election result 2012[2][10]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour 10 4 0 +4 58.8 47.3 11,582 +4.0%
  Conservative 5 0 2 -2 29.4 28.8 7,052 -9.1%
  Liberal Democrats 1 0 2 -2 5.9 7.4 1,811 +1.4%
  Independent 1 0 0 0 5.9 3.9 953 -0.6%
  UKIP 0 0 0 0 0 6.9 1,692 +4.9%
  Green 0 0 0 0 0 5.0 1,213 +1.2%
  TUSC 0 0 0 0 0 0.4 97 -0.8%
  BNP 0 0 0 0 0 0.4 88 -0.7%

Ward results

Belah[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Morton 805 42.6 -6.6
Labour Kevin Parker 759 40.1 +8.5
UKIP Andrew Hill 247 13.1 +13.1
Green Ian Brewis 80 4.2 +4.2
Majority 46 2.4 -15.2
Turnout 1,891 38.4 -3.8
Conservative hold Swing
Belle Vue[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Leslie Tickner 909 57.7 +2.3
Conservative Michael Clarke 537 34.1 -10.5
Green Richard Hunt 80 5.1 +5.1
Liberal Democrats Terence Jones 49 3.1 +3.1
Majority 372 23.6 +12.8
Turnout 1,575 31.8 -2.4
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
Botcherby[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Michael Boaden 693 54.3 +4.3
Independent Michael Middlemore 311 24.4 -5.6
Conservative Shaidat Danmole-Ellis 141 11.1 -8.8
UKIP Robert Strong 107 8.4 +8.4
Green Lynn Bates 24 1.9 +1.9
Majority 382 29.9 +9.9
Turnout 1,276 27.1 -3.4
Labour hold Swing
Brampton[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stephen Layden 600 51.1 -3.4
Labour Graham Bartlett 404 34.4 +11.9
UKIP Christian Forster 171 14.6 +14.6
Majority 196 16.7 -14.8
Turnout 1,175 32.9 -32.7
Conservative hold Swing
Castle[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Elsie Martlew 663 56.8 +14.4
Liberal Democrats Ian Walker 229 19.6 -14.2
Conservative Kevin Reynolds 165 14.1 +14.1
Green Neil Boothman 110 9.4 -1.0
Majority 434 37.2 +28.6
Turnout 1,167 26.0 -3.3
Labour gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Currock[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Colin Glover 850 69.7 +12.6
Conservative Stephen Higgs 185 15.2 -7.2
TUSC Brent Kennedy 97 8.0 +0.8
BNP Stephen Bingham 88 7.2 -1.3
Majority 665 54.5 +19.8
Turnout 1,220 26.7 -4.5
Labour hold Swing
Dalston[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Trevor Allison 1,033 51.8 +29.6
Conservative Michael Randall 481 24.1 -25.0
Labour Sandra Warwick 305 15.3 -5.9
UKIP Robert Dickinson 174 8.7 +1.2
Majority 552 27.7
Turnout 1,993 41.6 -5.6
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Denton Holme[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Joan Southward 848 62.7 +4.8
Conservative Barbara Eden 229 16.9 -4.2
Green James Tucker 120 8.9 +4.1
UKIP John Warmingham 107 7.9 +1.5
Liberal Democrats David Wood 49 3.6 -2.5
Majority 619 45.8 +9.0
Turnout 1,353 27.8 -4.6
Labour hold Swing
Great Corby and Geltsdale[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Doreen Parsons 402 60.6 -10.1
Labour Elizabeth Furneaux 261 39.4 +10.1
Majority 141 21.3 -20.1
Turnout 663 37.7 -1.3
Conservative hold Swing
Harraby[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Lee Sherriff 961 63.6 -3.2
Conservative Hannah Dolan 299 19.8 -13.4
UKIP Edward Haughan 130 8.6 +8.6
Green Dallas Brewis 61 4.0 +4.0
Liberal Democrats Michael Gee 60 4.0 +4.0
Majority 662 43.8 +10.1
Turnout 1,511 29.9 -3.0
Labour hold Swing
Hayton[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William Graham 642 75.8 +1.6
Conservative Harry Cain 167 19.7 -6.1
UKIP Michael Owen 38 4.5 +4.5
Majority 475 56.1 +7.6
Turnout 847 50.7 -3.8
Independent hold Swing
Morton[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Elaine Stevenson 1,167 65.7 +6.2
Liberal Democrats Peter Noble 201 11.3 -0.5
UKIP Arnold Blythe 189 10.6 +10.6
Conservative Lawrence Fisher 175 9.9 -8.3
Green Gillian Curwen 44 2.5 -0.3
Majority 966 54.4 +13.0
Turnout 1,776 36.9 -2.4
Labour gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
St. Aidans[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Lucy Patrick 669 50.8 +7.5
Green John Reardon 276 21.0 -1.6
Conservative Christine Finlayson 256 19.5 -9.5
UKIP Robert Cakans 115 8.7 +8.7
Majority 393 29.9 +15.6
Turnout 1,316 27.7 -6.8
Labour hold Swing
Stanwix Urban[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Nedved 854 42.7 -7.3
Labour Grant Warwick 710 35.5 -5.5
Green Helen Davison 228 11.4 +2.4
UKIP Carol Weaver 207 10.4 +10.4
Majority 144 7.2 -1.8
Turnout 1,999 41.9 -6.3
Conservative hold Swing
Upperby[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Cape 843 72.8 +16.8
Conservative Judith Pattinson 182 15.7 -3.7
Liberal Democrats James Osler 133 11.5 -6.1
Majority 661 57.1 +20.4
Turnout 1,158 28.6 -3.9
Labour hold Swing
Wetheral[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Barry Earp 844 56.1 -4.6
Labour Roger Horne 318 21.1 -6.8
UKIP Geoffrey Round 207 13.8 +2.3
Green Michael Brader 135 9.0 +9.0
Majority 526 35.0 +2.2
Turnout 1,504 39.8 -35.7
Conservative hold Swing
Yewdale[10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Karen Gallagher 1,222 59.2 -0.5
Conservative Fiona Robson 730 35.4 -4.9
Liberal Democrats Deborah Clode 57 2.8 +2.8
Green Hazel Graham 55 2.7 +2.7
Majority 492 23.8 +4.3
Turnout 2,064 42.7 -0.8
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

By-elections between 2012 and 2014

Harraby

A by-election was held in Harraby on 21 June 2012 after the death of the longest serving councillor, Labour's Dave Weedall.[12] The seat was held for Labour by Donald Forrester with a majority of 457 votes over Conservative Keith Mellen.[13]

Harraby by-election 21 June 2012[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Donald Forrester 637 63.1 -0.5
Conservative Keith Mellen 180 17.8 -2.0
UKIP Eddie Haughan 90 8.9 +0.3
Liberal Democrats Michael Gee 71 7.0 +3.0
Green James Tucker 31 3.1 -0.9
Majority 457 45.3 +1.5
Turnout 1,009 19.9 -10.0
Labour hold Swing

Yewdale

A by-election was held in Yewdale on 5 September 2013 after the death of the former leader of the council, Labour's Joe Hendry.[14] The seat was held for Labour by Tom Dodd with a majority of 263 votes over Conservative Christina Finlayson.[14]

Yewdale by-election 5 September 2013[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Tom Dodd 716 48.7 -10.5
Conservative Christina Finlayson 453 30.8 -4.6
UKIP Mike Owen 257 17.5 +17.5
Liberal Democrats Terry Jones 31 2.1 -0.7
Green Charmain McCutcheon 14 1.0 -1.7
Majority 263 17.9 -5.9
Turnout 1,471 30.2 -12.5
Labour hold Swing

Dalston

A by-election was held in Dalston on 17 October 2013 after Conservative councillor Nicola Clarke resigned from the council as she was moving away from the area.[15] The seat was gained for the Liberal Democrats by Michael Gee with a majority of 30 votes over Conservative Michael Randall.[15]

Dalston by-election 17 October 2013[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Michael Gee 506 37.2 -14.6
Conservative Michael Randall 476 34.9 +10.8
Labour Ruth Alcroft 186 13.7 -1.6
UKIP Robert Dickinson 167 12.3 +3.6
Green James Tucker 27 2.0 +2.0
Majority 30 2.2 -25.5
Turnout 1,362 28.3 -13.3
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing

References

  1. ^ "Vote 2012". BBC News Online. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Election results 2012: Non-Metro". The Guardian. NewsBank. 5 May 2012.
  3. ^ a b "Carlisle City Council elections: Conservatives stay in power". News and Star. 7 May 2011. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  4. ^ a b Brenan, Victoria (5 April 2012). "Candidates revealed for Carlisle City Council elections". News and Star. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d Whittle, Julian (5 May 2012). "New Carlisle council leader's pledge to city". News and Star. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  6. ^ Whittle, Julian (3 May 2012). "Probe as Carlisle election candidate posts offensive material online". News and Star. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  7. ^ "Tories and Labour target Carlisle". BBC News Online. 1 May 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  8. ^ a b c "Labour takes Carlisle City Council". BBC News Online. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  9. ^ "Tories drop leader after Carlisle council elections defeat". The Cumberland News. 11 May 2012. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Declaration of result of poll" (PDF). Carlisle City Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 April 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Labour triumphs in Carlisle council elections". News and Star. 4 May 2012. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  12. ^ McClounie, Pam (11 April 2012). "Civic funeral for Carlisle City councillor Dave Weedall". News and Star. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  13. ^ a b "Labour wins city council's Harraby by-election". The Cumberland News. 22 June 2012. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  14. ^ a b c "Labour hold Carlisle council seat". News and Star. 6 September 2013. Archived from the original on 9 September 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  15. ^ a b c "Liberal Democrats gain Carlisle City Council seat". News and Star. 18 October 2013. Archived from the original on 18 October 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
Categories