Medway Council is the local authority for the unitary authority of Medway in Kent, England. It was created on 1 April 1998 replacing Gillingham and Rochester-upon-Medway.

Political control

The first election to the council was held in 1997, initially operating as a shadow authority until formally taking over from the two outgoing councils on 1 April 1998. Since 1997 political control of the council has been held by the following parties:[1][2]

Party in control Years
Labour 1997–1998
No overall control 1998–2003
Conservative 2003–2023
Labour 2023-present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 2000 have been:[3]

Councillor Party From To
Rodney Chambers Conservative May 2000 27 May 2015
Alan Jarrett Conservative 27 May 2015
Vince Maple Labour 04 May 2023

Council elections

Results maps

By-election results

1998-2003

Gillingham South By-Election 19 February 1998
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Dayantha Liyanage 656 54.3 +6.7
Labour Pamela Holman 372 30.8 +0.8
Conservative Roy Hunter 180 14.9 -7.5
Majority 284 23.5
Turnout 1,208 27.0
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

2007-2011

Rochester South and Horsted By-Election 8 May 2008[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Trevor Clarke 1,847 48.7 +7.2
Labour Adam Price 819 21.6 -5.0
Liberal Democrats Viv Parker 767 20.2 +3.6
BNP Brian Ravenscroft 257 6.8 +6.8
Green Simon Marchant 104 2.7 +2.7
Majority 1,028 27.1
Turnout 3,794 41.0
Conservative hold Swing

This by-election was triggered by the resignation of Conservative Councillor John Ward

Luton & Wayfield By-Election 3 September 2009[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tashi Bhutia 1,042 36.9 +10.8
Labour Sam Whittington 1,038 36.7 -12.3
Liberal Democrats Gary Allanach 223 7.9 +7.9
UKIP Robin Johnson 200 7.1 +7.1
BNP Brian Ravenscroft 186 6.6 +6.6
Independent Brian Cartwright 87 3.1 -21.9
Green Sarah D'Angelo 51 1.8 +1.8
Majority 4 0.2
Turnout 2,827 29.8
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

This by-election was triggered by the resignation of Labour Councillor Dennis McFarlane

River Ward By-Election 12 August 2010
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Craggs 617 45.8
Labour John Jones 544 40.4
Liberal Democrats Garry Harrison 104 7.7
Green Steven Keevil 45 3.3
BNP Brian Ravenscroft 39 2.8
English Democrat Ron Sands 33 2.4
Majority 73 5.3
Turnout 1,382
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

This by-election was triggered by the resignation of Labour Councillor Bill Esterson

River Ward By-Election 21 October 2010
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Jones 695 45.5
Conservative Andrew Mackness 631 41.3
Liberal Democrats Garry Harrison 92 6.0
UKIP Anthony Cook 42 2.8
Green Steven Keevil 36 2.4
English Democrat Ron Sands 31 2.0
Majority 64 4.2
Turnout 1527 25.7
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

This by-election was triggered by the resignation of Conservative Councillor David Craggs

2011-2015

Peninsula By-Election 20 November 2014[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UKIP Christopher Irvine 2,850 48.3 +48.3
Conservative Ron Sands 1,965 33.3 -20.9
Labour Pete Tungate 716 12.1 -8.6
Green Clive Gregory 314 5.3 -2.1
Liberal Democrats Christopher Sams 60 1.0 -5.3
Majority 885 15.0
Turnout 5,905
UKIP gain from Conservative Swing

2015-2019

Strood South by-election 20 October 2016
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Josie Iles 724 38.4 +3.4
Labour Isaac Igwe 521 27.7 +3.4
UKIP Karl Weller 480 25.5 -13.2
Green Steve Dyke 74 3.9 N/A
Liberal Democrats Isabelle Cherry 62 3.3 N/A
English Democrat Mike Russell 23 1.2 N/A
Majority 203 10.7
Turnout 1,884 16.74
Conservative gain from UKIP Swing

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of UKIP Councillor Catriona Brown-Reckless

Rainham Central by-election 3 November 2016
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jan Aldous 1,448 61.1
UKIP Mark Mencattelli 389 16.4
Labour Simon Allen 320 13.5
Liberal Democrats Paul Chaplin 137 5.8
Green George Meegan 61 2.6
English Democrat Mike Russell 14 0.6
Majority 1,059 44.7
Turnout 2,369 24.0
Conservative hold Swing

The by-election was triggered by the death of Conservative Councillor Mike O'Brien

Rochester West by-election 8 March 2018
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alex Paterson 1,212 47.5 +26.5
Conservative Alan Kew 1007 39.5 -4.0
Liberal Democrats Martin Rose 119 4.7 +1.0
Green Sonia Hyner 107 4.2 -6.1
UKIP Rob McCulloch Martin 104 4.1 -16.2
Majority 205 8.0 -5.0
Turnout 2,549 33
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Conservative Councillor Kelly Tolhurst

2019-2023

Princes Park by-election 26 August 2021[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert George Benedict Lammas 961 67.1 +19.1
Labour John Gower Strevens 313 21.9 -5.6
Green Sonia Lesley Hyner 52 3.6 N/A
Independent Matthew Bernard Durcan 51 3.6 N/A
Liberal Democrats John Edward Castle 49 3.4 N/A
Majority 648 45.2
Turnout 1,432 18.8
Conservative hold Swing
Strood North by-election 26 August 2021[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Zöe Angela Van Dyke 913 37.0 +6.4
Conservative Mark Paul Joy 728 29.5 -2.5
Green Catriona Margaret Jamieson 565 10.5 +1.0
Independent Christopher Stuart Spalding 216 8.8 N/A
Liberal Democrats Alan Edward Wells 39 1.6 N/A
Majority 185 7.5
Turnout 2,466 23.5
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
Rochester East by-election 16 December 2021[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Lauren Edwards 870 63.3 +15.2
Conservative Brian Griffin 388 28.2 +8.6
Green Bernard Hyde 69 5.0 -9.2
Liberal Democrats Sarah Manuel 48 3.5 -2.8
Majority 482 35.1
Turnout 1,375
Labour hold Swing
Peninsula by-election 8 December 2022[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent George Crozer 1,038 46.6 +46.6
Conservative Harold Ogunfemi 371 16.7 -9.2
Green Julian Sutton 255 11.5 +1.5
Independent Chris Spalding 230 10.3 +10.3
Labour David Hodges 215 9.7 -0.4
Independent Sharon Jackson 89 4.0 +4.0
Liberal Democrats Ben Rist 29 1.3 +1.3
Majority 667 30.0
Turnout 2,227
Independent hold Swing

References

  1. ^ "Council compositions". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Medway". BBC News Online. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
  3. ^ "Council minutes". Medway Council. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  4. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The District of the Medway Towns (Parishes and Electoral Changes) Order 1997. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
  5. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Medway (Electoral Changes) Order 2002. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
  6. ^ "Medway". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 May 2008.
  7. ^ "Your council". Medway Council. Archived from the original on 13 March 2008. Retrieved 9 May 2008.
  8. ^ "The Medway (Electoral Changes) Order 2021". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  9. ^ "Rochester South and Horsted by-election result". Medway Council. 9 May 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2009. [dead link]
  10. ^ "Luton and Wayfield ward by-election". Medway Council. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
  11. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Peninsula Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk.
  12. ^ "Princes Park ward results". www.medway.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Strood North ward results". www.medway.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  14. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Rochester East Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk.
  15. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Peninsula Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk.

External links

Council elections in Kent
Unitary authorities of England
Categories