South Cambridgeshire District Council election, 2018
Overall composition of the council following the 2016 election
Overall composition of the council following the 2016 election

Elections to South Cambridgeshire District Council were held on Thursday 3 May 2018[1] as part of the 2018 United Kingdom local elections. Forty five seats, making up the whole of South Cambridgeshire District Council, were up for election in twenty six wards. The council previously had 57 members, last elected by thirds in 2016, 2015 and 2014. Following a boundary review, there has been a reduction of twelve seats to 45 and the electoral pattern has changed from election by thirds to all out elections, meaning that all seats were up for election on this occasion.[2]

In a surprise result, the Liberal Democrats took control of the council, winning 30 seats.[3][4] The district had been controlled outright by the Conservative Party since the 2007 election.

Summary

The list of candidates was published on 6 April 2018.[5] Both the Conservative Party and the Labour Party fielded a full slate of 45 candidates, while the Liberal Democrats contested 41 seats. The Green Party had 26 candidates, and there were seven independent candidates. The United Kingdom Independence Party stood one candidate in Bar Hill.

There was media speculation in the build-up to the election that the Liberal Democrats could make a surprise breakthrough on the council.[6][7] The Guardian identified South Cambridgeshire as a district where the Conservative Party's approach to Brexit may damage the party's appeal to "Tory Remain" voters who had predominantly voted to remain in the European Union in the 2016 referendum.[8]

During the campaign, one of the Conservative candidates for the Fen Ditton and Fulbourn ward was suspended from the party after a number of offensive posts he had made on Twitter received national media attention. However he remained on the ballot paper as the deadline for withdrawals had passed.[9][10]

Results

2018 South Cambridgeshire District Council election[11]
Party Candidates Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Liberal Democrats 41 30 N/A N/A Increase 16 66.7 38.5 37,668
  Conservative 45 11 N/A N/A Decrease 25 24.4 34.1 33,284
  Labour 45 2 N/A N/A Increase 1 4.4 17.5 17,100
  Independent 7 2 N/A N/A Decrease 4 4.4 5.5 5,382
  Green 25 0 N/A N/A Steady 0.0 4.4 4,264
  UKIP 1 0 N/A N/A Steady 0.0 <0.1 46

Results by ward

Balsham (one seat)[5][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Geoff Harvey 659 47.5
Conservative Richard Turner 551 39.7
Labour Muhammad Shaheer 144 10.4
Green Linda Richardson 34 2.4
Majority
Turnout 47.8
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Bar Hill (one seat)[5][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Bunty Waters 527 51.7
Labour Stuart Hilpert 234 22.9
Green Hayley Farnell 109 10.7
Liberal Democrats Stephanie Ness 104 10.2
UKIP Helene Green 46 4.5
Majority
Turnout 33.4
Conservative win (new seat)
Barrington (one seat)[5][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Aidan van de Weyer 591 48.5
Conservative Simon Parrish 516 42.3
Labour John Harper 86 7.1
Green Michael King 26 2.1
Majority
Turnout 46.6
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Bassingbourn (one seat)[5][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Nigel Cathcart 583 52.1
Conservative David McCraith 393 35.1
Green Simon Saggers 143 12.8
Majority
Turnout 38.6
Labour win (new seat)
Caldecote (one seat)[5][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Tumi Hawkins 691 58.0
Conservative Des O'Brien 450 37.8
Labour John Goodall 50 4.2
Majority
Turnout 45.5
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Cambourne (three seats)[5][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ruth Betson 1,038 48.8
Conservative Shrobona Bhattacharya 931 43.8
Labour Gavin Clayton 800 37.6
Conservative Evelyne Spanner 799 37.6
Labour Darren Macey 687 32.3
Labour Len Thornton 594 28.0
Green Marcus Pitcaithly 294 13.8
Liberal Democrats Paul Newns 277 13.0
Liberal Democrats Robert Pinsker 234 11.0
Green Michela Morleo 229 10.8
Majority
Turnout 30.6
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Labour win (new seat)
Caxton & Papworth (two seats)[5][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mark Howell 1,083 62.1
Conservative Nick Wright 986 56.6
Labour Edith Hall 329 18.9
Liberal Democrats Peter Sandford 321 18.4
Green Gaynor Clements 274 15.7
Labour Richard Poynder 247 14.2
Majority
Turnout 36.4
Conservative win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Cottenham (two seats)[5][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Neil Gough 1,198 48.0
Liberal Democrats Eileen Wilson 1,092 43.8
Conservative Lynda Harford 799 32.0
Conservative Timothy Wotherspoon 746 29.9
Labour Adam Gledhill 349 14.0
Independent Frank Morris 258 10.3
Labour Mark McCormack 231 9.3
Green Colin Coe 168 6.7
Majority
Turnout 49.5
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Duxford (one seat)[5][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Peter McDonald 615 49.6
Conservative Stephen Edwards 516 41.6
Labour Jackie Scott 110 8.9
Majority
Turnout 45.7
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Fen Ditton & Fulbourn (three seats)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats John Williams 1,593 45.9
Liberal Democrats Claire Daunton 1,285 37.0
Conservative Graham Cone 1,227 35.3
Conservative Rob Turner 1,169 33.6
Liberal Democrats Mark Lunn 1,008 29.0
Conservative George Stoakley 810 23.3
Labour Tim Andrews 785 22.6
Labour Co-op Frances Amrani 687 19.8
Labour Cathie Rae 613 17.6
Green Oliver Fisher 329 9.5
Green Steve Bradshaw 245 7.1
Majority
Turnout 44.0
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Foxton (one seat)[5][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Deborah Roberts 630 47.0
Conservative Barbara Kettel 445 33.2
Liberal Democrats Giles Sanders 138 10.3
Labour Angela Patrick 127 9.5
Majority
Turnout 50.8
Independent win (new seat)
Gamlingay (one seat)[5][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Bridget Smith 707 50.3
Conservative Harriet Gould 603 42.9
Labour Jenna Hegarty 96 6.8
Majority
Turnout 47.6
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Girton (two seats)[5][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Douglas De Lacey 853 48.7
Conservative Tom Bygott 688 39.3
Labour Jane Williams 397 22.7
Conservative Delowar Hossain 320 18.3
Labour Lee Taylor 300 17.1
Liberal Democrats Patrick Thouroude 295 16.8
Green Teal Riley 237 13.5
Green John Ranken 195 11.1
Majority
Turnout 43.7
Independent win (new seat)
Conservative win (new seat)
Hardwick (one seat)[5][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Grenville Chamberlain 499 54.1
Liberal Democrats James Hosking 228 24.7
Labour Mark Hurn 151 16.4
Green David Smith 44 4.8
Majority
Turnout 37.1
Conservative win (new seat)
Harston & Comberton (three seats)[5][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Tony Mason 1,695 47.8
Liberal Democrats Philip Allen 1,640 46.2
Liberal Democrats Ian Sollom 1,638 46.2
Conservative Lina Joseph 1,314 37.0
Conservative Timothy Scott 1,310 36.9
Conservative Joshua Vanneck 1,071 30.2
Labour Chris Coleridge 410 11.6
Labour Laurens Drost 390 11.0
Labour Roger Tomlinson 389 11.0
Green Seigo Robinson 319 9.0
Majority
Turnout 48.3
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Histon & Impington (three seats)[5][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Pippa Heylings 1,508 40.8
Liberal Democrats Martin Cahn 1,217 32.9
Liberal Democrats Stephen Hunt 1,159 31.3
Independent Neil Davies 1,155 31.2
Independent Edd Stonham 895 24.2
Labour Huw Jones 842 22.8
Labour Phil Gooden 775 21.0
Conservative Louise Daily 695 18.8
Labour Geoff Moore 669 18.1
Conservative Helga Cole 581 15.7
Conservative Othman Cole 506 13.7
Green Alison Wood 242 6.5
Green Darren Cotterell 202 5.5
Green Carrie Evans 116 3.1
Majority
Turnout 43.7
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Linton (two seats)[5][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Henry Batchelor 1,150 47.1
Liberal Democrats John Batchelor 1,096 44.8
Conservative Enid Bald 981 40.1
Conservative Chris Negus 804 32.9
Labour Mike Murray 293 12.0
Labour Ernie Turkington 219 9.0
Green Paul Richardson 207 8.5
Majority
Turnout 43.3
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Longstanton (two seats)[5][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Sarah Cheung Johnson 831 50.7
Liberal Democrats Alex Malyon 703 42.9
Conservative Simon Edwards 691 42.2
Conservative Roger Hall 551 33.6
Labour Polly Gunsman 156 9.5
Labour Ed Stokes 138 8.4
Green Sandra Archer 104 6.3
Majority
Turnout 43.5
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Melbourn (two seats)[5][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Jose Hales 1,306 53.7
Liberal Democrats Philippa Hart 1,272 52.3
Conservative Irene Bloomfield 747 30.7
Conservative Mike Linnette 708 29.1
Labour Beverley Cottrell 280 11.5
Labour Turlough Stone 200 8.2
Green Paul Evans 143 5.9
Majority
Turnout 39.6
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Milton & Waterbeach (three seats)[5][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Anna Bradnam 1,403 41.4
Liberal Democrats Hazel Smith 1,289 38.0
Liberal Democrats Judith Rippeth 1,163 34.3
Independent Peter Johnson 820 23.2
Labour Elizabeth McWilliams 754 22.2
Labour Gareth Wright 746 22.0
Labour James Bull 736 21.7
Conservative George Walker 682 20.1
Conservative Clive Rabbett 663 19.6
Conservative Christine Smith Bull 640 18.9
Green Eleanor Crane 251 7.4
Green Damian Glasfurd-Brown 161 4.7
Green Tom Lachlan-Cope 139 4.1
Majority
Turnout 44.1
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Over & Willingham (two seats)[5][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Bill Handley 1,115 46.5
Liberal Democrats Dawn Percival 989 41.2
Independent Ray Manning 771 32.2
Conservative Brian Burling 636 26.5
Conservative Pippa Corney 549 22.9
Labour Fern Lane 229 9.5
Labour Alex Tiley 185 7.7
Majority
Turnout 43.9
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Sawston (two seats)[5][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Brian Milnes 1,123 51.7
Liberal Democrats Clare Delderfield 901 41.5
Conservative David Bard 747 34.4
Conservative Kevin Cuffley 690 31.8
Labour Rob Grayston 471 21.7
Labour Anand Pillai 292 13.5
Majority
Turnout 4224 39.3
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Shelford (two seats)[5][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Peter Fane 1,339 48.3
Liberal Democrats Nick Sample 1,240 44.8
Conservative Benjamin Shelton 908 32.8
Conservative Charlie Nightingale 839 30.3
Labour Mike Nettleton 466 16.8
Labour Mark Toner 346 12.5
Green Sophi Berridge 270 9.7
Majority
Turnout 49.3
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Liberal Democrats win (new seat)
Swavesey (one seat)[5][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sue Ellington 558 60.0
Labour Thomas Mayer 247 26.6
Liberal Democrats Teresa Griffiths 93 10.0
Green John Turner 32 3.4
Majority
Turnout 35.1
Conservative win (new seat)
The Mordens (one seat)[5][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Heather Williams 603 46.8
Liberal Democrats Sebastian Kindersley 598 46.4
Labour Alix Valentine 87 6.8
Majority
Turnout 47.5
Conservative win (new seat)
Whittlesford (one seat)[5][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Topping 714 63.3
Labour Philippa MacGarry 180 15.9
Liberal Democrats Caitriona Quigley 164 14.5
Green Linda Whitebread 70 6.2
Majority
Turnout 42.7
Conservative win (new seat)

By-Elections

Whittlesford, 27th February 2020
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Williams 526 55.2 -8.1
Liberal Democrats James Hobro 427 44.8 +30.3
Majority 99 10.4 -37.0
Turnout 953 35.7 -7.0
Conservative hold Swing
Girton, 6th May 2021
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Corinne Garvey 967 44.4 +27.6
Conservative Khadijeh Zargar 621 28.5 +10.2
Labour Marcelo Lima 344 15.8 -6.9
Green Colin Coe 246 11.3 -2.2
Majority 46 15.9 N/A
Turnout 2,178 53.6 +9.9
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent Swing
Harston & Comberton, 6th May 2021
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Fiona Whelan 1,785 43.6 -2.6
Conservative Lorraine Mooney 1,459 35.6 -1.4
Labour Michael Tierney 519 12.7 +1.1
Green Colin Reynolds 335 8.2 -0.8
Majority 326 8.0
Turnout 4,098 51.0 +2.7
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Melbourn, 6th May 2021
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Sally Hart 1,510 54.7 +2.4
Conservative Tom Goldie 992 36.0 +5.3
Green Paul Evans 256 9.3 +3.4
Majority 518 18.7
Turnout 2,758 43.2 +3.6
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Milton & Waterbeach, 6th May 2021
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Paul Bearpark 1,255 34.3 -3.7
Conservative Clive Rabbett 1,069 29.2 +9.6
Labour Jane Williams 915 25.0 +2.8
Green Eleanor Crane 424 11.6 +4.2
Majority 186 5.1
Turnout 3,663 44.2 +0.1
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

References

  1. ^ "Notice of Election" (PDF). South Cambridgeshire District Council. 26 March 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 May 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  2. ^ "Anglia Late Edition - April 2018". ITV Anglia. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  3. ^ "Local elections 2018: Liberal Democrats take control of South Cambridgeshire from Conservatives". Cambridge Independent. 4 May 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  4. ^ "South Cambridgeshire Lib Dems take power in from Tories". BBC News. 4 May 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF). South Cambridgeshire District Council. 6 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Tories heading for 'record all-time low' in London local elections". Sky News. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  7. ^ Stephen Bush (5 April 2018). "What's worth staying up for in the 2018 local elections?". New Statesman. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  8. ^ Ford, Robert (28 April 2018). "Local election battles – where Brexit could hurt the Tories". The Observer. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  9. ^ "Conservative candidate George Stoakley suspended over tweets". BBC News. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  10. ^ "George Stoakley: Tory council hopeful suspended over 'Jew in an attic' tweet". Evening Standard. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa "Election Results 2018". South Cambridgeshire District Council. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018.[permanent dead link]
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