Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council elections are generally held three years out of every four, with a third of the council being elected each time. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council, generally known as Wirral Council, is the local authority for the metropolitan borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. Since the last boundary changes in 2004, 66 councillors have been elected from 22 wards.[1]

Political control

The borough of Wirral was created under the Local Government Act 1972 as a metropolitan borough, with Merseyside County Council providing county-level services. The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Merseyside County Council was abolished in 1986 and Wirral became a unitary authority. Political control of the council since 1973 has been held by the following parties:[2][3]

Party in Control Years
No overall control 1973–1975
Conservative 1975–1986
No overall control 1986–1991
Labour 1991–1992
No overall control 1992–1995
Labour 1995–2002
No overall control 2002–2012
Labour 2012–2019
No overall control 2019–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 1973 have been:[4]

Councillor Image Party From To
Bill Whitehurst Conservative 1973 1974
Malcolm Thornton Conservative 1974 1977
Harry Deverill Conservative 1977 1980
David Fletcher
Cllr David Fletcher (cropped).jpg
Conservative 1980 1985
John Hale
Cllr John Hale.jpg
Conservative 1985 Oct 1986
No overall control 1986 1990
Yvonne Nolan
Cllr Yvonne Nolan.jpg
Labour 1990 1991
George Clark Labour 1991 1992
No overall control 1992 1995
Dave Jackson Labour 1995 2000
Steve Foulkes
Cllr Steve Foulkes.jpg
Labour 2000 24 May 2010
Jeff Green
Cllr Jeff Green.jpg
Conservative 24 May 2010 23 May 2011
Steve Foulkes
Cllr Steve Foulkes.jpg
Labour 23 May 2011 13 Feb 2012
Jeff Green
Cllr Jeff Green.jpg
Conservative 13 Feb 2012 21 May 2012
Phil Davies
Cllr Phil Davies portrait.jpg
Labour 21 May 2012 5 May 2019
Pat Hackett
Cllr Pat Hackett.jpg
Labour 14 May 2019 Sep 2020
Janette Williamson[5]
Cllr Janette Williamson.jpg
Labour 28 Sep 2020

Council elections

Since the first election in 1973, boundary changes have occurred in 1980 (where a third of the council were up for election) and in 2004 (where there was an all out election).[6][1][7]

Borough result maps

Changes between election

1973–1979 boundaries

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (June 2018)

1979–2004 boundaries

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (June 2018)

Wallasey by-election 1997

By-election, 13 March 1997: Wallasey
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lesley Rennie 1,781 47.3 Decrease3.1
Labour Elizabeth McArdle 1,490 39.5 Increase1.3
Liberal Democrats John Uriel 443 11.8 Increase0.4
Green George Bowler 54 1.4 New
Majority 291 7.7 Decrease4.5
Turnout 32.2 Decrease8.9
Conservative hold Swing Decrease2.2

[8][9][10]

Prenton by-election 2003

By-election, 6 February 2003: Prenton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Francis Doyle 1,764 63.3 Increase9.9
Conservative Ian McKellar 634 22.7 Increase0.9
Labour Gerard Allen 389 14.0 Decrease10.8
Majority 1,130 40.6 Increase12.0
Registered electors 11,596
Turnout 24.0 Decrease10.8
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase6.0

[11]

2004–present boundaries

Moreton West and Saughall Massie by-election 2009

By-election, 26 November 2009: Moreton West and Saughall Massie
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Steve Williams 2,255 70.1 Decrease1.0
Labour Andrew Hollingworth 615 19.1 Increase2.8
Liberal Democrats Steve Pitt 134 4.2 Decrease1.5
Independent Alec McFadden 121 3.8 New
Green Jim McGinley 92 2.9 Decrease0.4
Majority 1,640 51.0 Decrease3.8
Turnout 28.0 Decrease9.9
Conservative hold Swing Decrease1.9

[12][13]

Leasowe and Moreton East by-election 2013

By-election, 17 January 2013: Leasowe and Moreton East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ian Lewis 1,620 50.5 Increase7.2
Labour Pauline Daniels 1,355 42.2 Decrease8.8
UKIP Susan Whitham 148 4.6 Increase1.1
TUSC Mark Halligan 31 1.0 New
Liberal Democrats Daniel Clein 28 0.9 New
Green Jim McGinley 28 0.9 Decrease1.3
Majority 265 8.3 N/A
Registered electors 10,551
Turnout 30.5 Decrease8.8
Conservative gain from Labour Swing Increase8.0

[14][15]

Heswall by-election 2013

By-election, 17 January 2013: Heswall
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Kathryn Hodson 1,254 58.8 Decrease3.9
UKIP David Scott 460 21.6 Increase12.2
Labour Mike Holliday 289 13.6 -4.2
Green Barbara Burton 110 5.2 Decrease0.7
TUSC Greg North 19 0.9 New
Majority 794 37.2 Decrease7.7
Registered electors 10,855
Turnout 19.7 Decrease20.8
Conservative hold Swing Decrease3.9

[16][17]

Pensby and Thingwall by-election 2013

By-election, 28 February 2013: Pensby and Thingwall
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Phillip Brightmore 1,411 38.5 Increase5.7
Conservative Sheila Clarke 868 23.7 Decrease4.7
Liberal Democrats Damien Cummins 834 22.7 Decrease2.5
UKIP Jan Davison 426 11.6 Increase2.4
Green Allen Burton 74 2.0 Decrease2.4
English Democrat Neil Kenny 53 1.4 New
Majority 543 14.8 Increase10.4
Registered electors 10,487
Turnout 35.0 Decrease6.1
Labour gain from Conservative Swing Increase5.2

[18][19][20]

Upton by-election 2013

By-election, 24 October 2013: Upton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Matthew Patrick 1,954 65.4 Increase5.8
Conservative Geoffrey Gubb 762 25.5 Increase2.9
Green Jim McGinley 143 4.8 Decrease0.1
Liberal Democrats Alan Davies 130 4.3 Increase0.4
Majority 1,192 39.9 Increase2.9
Registered electors 12,154
Turnout 3,031 24.9 Decrease9.7
Rejected ballots 21 0.7
Labour hold Swing Increase1.5

[21][22]

Claughton by-election 2017

By-election, 4 May 2017: Claughton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Gillian Wood 1,761 52.4 Decrease14.2
Liberal Democrats David Evans 740 22.0 Increase15.3
Conservative Barbara Sinclair 567 16.9 Decrease1.0
Green Liz Heydon 136 4.1 Decrease2.2
UK_Independence_Party Beryl Jones 130 3.9 New
TUSC Leon Wheddon 27 0.8 Decrease1.7
Majority 976 30.4 Decrease18.3
Registered electors 11,336
Turnout 3,372 29.7 Decrease1.9
Rejected ballots 11 0.3 Decrease0.3
Labour hold Swing Decrease20.4

[23][24]

Bromborough by-election 2018

By-election, 23 August 2018: Bromborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Jo Bird 1,253 47.1 Decrease14.0
Conservative Des Drury 749 28.1 Increase6.0
Liberal Democrats Vicky Downie 454 17.1 Increase6.0
Independent Steve Niblock 147 5.5 New
Green Susan Braddock 59 2.2 Decrease3.5
Majority 504 19.0 Decrease20.0
Registered electors 11,760
Turnout 2664 22.7 Decrease6.9
Rejected ballots 2 0.1 Decrease0.2
Labour hold Swing Decrease10.0

[25][26]

Upton by-election 2018

By-election, 22 November 2018: Upton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jean Robinson 1,490 61.3 Increase3.1
Conservative Emma Sellman 705 29.0 Increase0.4
Green Lily Clough 151 6.2 Decrease0.5
Liberal Democrats Alan Davies 83 3.4 Decrease0.8
Majority 785 32.3 Increase2.7
Registered electors 12,040
Turnout 2,434 20.2 Decrease11.4
Rejected ballots 5 0.2 Decrease0.1
Labour hold Swing Increase1.4

[27][28]

Liscard by-election 2021

By-election, 22 July 2021: Liscard
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Daisy Kenny 1,137 53.6 Decrease3.3
Conservative Jane Owens 582 27.4 Increase1.2
Liberal Democrats Sue Arrowsmith 201 9.5 Increase2.9
Green Edward Lamb 109 5.1 Decrease3.0
Independent Lynda Williams 68 3.2 New
For Britain Gary Bergin 26 1.2 New
Majority 555 26.1 Decrease4.6
Registered electors 11,399
Turnout 2,128 18.7 Decrease10.9
Rejected ballots 5 0.2 Decrease1.0
Labour hold Swing Decrease2.3

[29]

Oxton by-election 2021

By-election, 25 November 2021: Oxton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Orod Osanlou 1,666 68.3 Increase11.3
Labour Co-op Sue Mahoney[30] 460 18.8 Decrease7.1
Conservative Philip Merry 168 6.9 Decrease1.2
Green Mary Heydon 147 6.0 Decrease1.5
Majority 1,206 49.4 Increase18.3
Registered electors 10,795
Turnout 22.7 2,447 Decrease14.5
Rejected ballots 6 0.2 Decrease0.9
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase9.2

[31]

Changes in affiliation

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (June 2018)
Previous election Date Ward Name Previous affiliation New affiliation Circumstance
1975 September 1975 New Brighton-Wallasey-Warren Kate Wood Liberal Conservative Defected.[32]
1988 October 1988 Egerton Alec Dunn Labour Independent Labour Expelled.[33]
October 1988 Leasowe Jim Edwards Labour Independent Labour Expelled.[33]
October 1988 Leasowe Ken Fox Labour Independent Labour Expelled.[33]
1990 ? Egerton Alec Dunn Independent Labour Liberal Democrats Defected.[34]
1992 March 1994 Eastham Vera Ruck Labour Conservative Defected.
1996 ? Prenton Ed Cunniffe Liberal Democrats Ind. Liberal Democrat Resigned.[35]
1998 June 1998 Prenton Ed Cunniffe Ind. Liberal Democrat Labour Defected.[35]
2000 December 2001 Egerton Colin Dow Labour Independent [n 1] Whip removed.[37]
February 2002 Bebington Kath Shaughnessy Labour Independent Resigned.[37]
2004 November 2004 Hoylake and Meols Hilary Jones Conservative Independent Resigned.[38]
April 2005 Pensby and Thingwall Oliver Adam Liberal Democrats Conservative Defected.[39]
? Hoylake and Meols Hilary Jones Independent UKIP Defected.[40]
2007 May 2007 Clatterbridge Isabel Moon Liberal Democrats Ind. Liberal Democrat Resigned.[41]
June 2007 Hoylake and Meols David Kirwan Conservative Ind. Conservative Resigned.[42]
2008 18 May 2009 Seacombe Denis Knowles Labour Conservative Defected.[43]
2011 16 May 2011 Bromborough Steve Niblock Liberal Democrats Labour Defected.[44]
2012 30 April 2013 Pensby and Thingwall Mark Johnston Liberal Democrats Independent Resigned.[45]
2015 ? Bromborough Steve Niblock Labour Independent Deselected.[46]
2018 28 August 2018 Pensby and Thingwall Mike Suillvan Labour Independent Resigned.[47]
25 October 2018 Rock Ferry Moira McLaughlin Labour Independent Resigned.[48]
January 2019 Rock Ferry Chris Meaden Labour Independent Resigned.[49]
4 March 2019 Bromborough Jo Bird Labour Co-op Independent Suspended.[50]
14 March 2019 Bromborough Jo Bird Independent Labour Co-op Reinstated.[51]
18 March 2019 Rock Ferry Bill Davies Labour Independent Resigned.[52]
April 2019 Oxton Paul Doughty Labour Independent Suspended.[53]
2019 17 July 2019 Greasby, Frankby and Irby David Burgess-Joyce Conservative Independent Suspended.[54]
6 February 2020 Bromborough Jo Bird Labour Co-op Independent Suspended.[55]
15 February 2020 Bromborough Jo Bird Independent Labour Co-op Reinstated.[56]
9 August 2020 Birkenhead and Tranmere Steve Hayes Green Independent Resigned.[57]
After 20 July 2020 Greasby, Frankby and Irby David Burgess-Joyce Conservative Independent Reinstated.[58][59]
14 November 2020 Hoylake and Meols Tony Cox Conservative Independent Suspended.[60]
December 2020 Prenton Tony Norbury Labour Independent Suspended.[61]
February 2021 Prenton Tony Norbury Independent Labour Reinstated.[62]
After November 2020 Hoylake and Meols Tony Cox Independent Conservative Reinstated.[63]
2021 19 November 2021 Bromborough Jo Bird Labour Co-op Independent Expelled.[64]
February 2022 Leasowe and Moreton East Karl Greaney Labour Independent Resigned.[65]
22 March 2022 Bromborough Jo Bird Independent Green Defected.[66]

Notes

  1. ^ Later forming the Wirral Independent Network.[36]

References

  1. ^ a b "The Borough of Wirral (Electoral Changes) Order 2003", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2003/1980, retrieved 29 August 2022
  2. ^ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Wirral". BBC News Online. 19 April 2008. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
  4. ^ "Council minutes". Wirral Council. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  5. ^ Manning, Craig (29 September 2020). "Wirral Council appoints first female leader in 30 years". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  6. ^ The Borough of Wirral (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1979 SI 1979/1523
  7. ^ "Metropolitan Borough of Wirral Election Results 1973-2012" (PDF). The Elections Centre. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  8. ^ "Kate calls Labour foul on soccer". Wirral Globe. 26 March 1997. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
  9. ^ "Councillor Lesley Rennie". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  10. ^ "Councillor Anne McArdle". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  11. ^ "Local Election - 05 February 2003 Prenton ward". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  12. ^ "Conservatives win Moreton by-election". Wirral Globe. 27 November 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
  13. ^ "Councillor Steve Williams". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  14. ^ "Election Result for Leasowe and Moreton East ward on 17 January 2013". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. January 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  15. ^ "Councillor Ian Lewis". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  16. ^ "Election Result for Heswall ward on 17 January 2013". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. January 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  17. ^ "Councillor Kathy Hodson". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  18. ^ "Election Result for Pensby and Thingwall ward on 28 February 2013". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 1 March 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  19. ^ "Councillor Phillip Brightmore". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  20. ^ "Councillor Sheila Clarke MBE". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  21. ^ "Election Result for Upton ward on 24 October 2013". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  22. ^ "Councillor Matthew Patrick". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  23. ^ "Election results for Claughton". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  24. ^ "Councillor Gillian Wood". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
  25. ^ "Election results for Bromborough Local by-election - Thursday, 23rd August 2018". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  26. ^ "Councillor Jo Bird". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  27. ^ "Election results for Upton Local by-election - Thursday, 22nd November 2018". Wirral Council. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  28. ^ "Councillor Jean Robinson". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  29. ^ "Election results for Liscard". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  30. ^ Oxton Labour Party (28 October 2021). "Oxton Labour Party's post". Facebook. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  31. ^ "Election results for Oxton". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  32. ^ "Metropolitan Borough of Wirral Election Results 1973-2012" (PDF). The Elections Centre. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  33. ^ a b c Harrison, Anne (4 May 1990). "Trouble ahead as voters split Wirral down middle". Liverpool Echo.
  34. ^ Walker, Chris (30 April 1991). "Battle Stations to woo Mersey voters". Liverpool Echo.
  35. ^ a b "Lib Dem councillor switches sides". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  36. ^ "Local Election - 10 June 2004". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 10 June 2004. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  37. ^ a b "Second councillor quits". Wirral Globe. 12 February 2002. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  38. ^ "No respect for mayor". Wirral Globe. 17 November 2004. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  39. ^ "Why I jumped ship to join the Tories". Wirral Globe. 13 April 2005. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  40. ^ "Local election - 04 May 2006". Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 4 May 2006. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  41. ^ Copestake, Eric (19 June 2007). "Councillors also have a 'third duty'". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  42. ^ Dunn, Justin (4 July 2007). "Another one bites the dust". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  43. ^ Dunn, Justin; Manning, Craig (18 May 2009). "BREAKING NEWS: Labour councillor Denis Knowles quits and joins Tories at Wallasey Town Hall". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  44. ^ "Wirral Lib Dem Steve Niblock defects to Labour Party". BBC News. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  45. ^ Murphy, Liam (30 April 2013). "Wirral councillor Mark Johnson quits Liberal Democrat Party". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  46. ^ "Battle lines drawn for Wirral's council elections on May 5". Wirral Globe. 9 April 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  47. ^ "Wirral councillor quits party blaming hard left 'parasites'". Labour Uncut. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  48. ^ Houghton, Tom (25 October 2018). "Senior Labour politician quits party after 40 years citing 'absolute aggression' of 'hard-left clique'". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  49. ^ Houghton, Tom (12 February 2019). "Yet ANOTHER top Labour politician quits party - blaming 'hard-left' takeover". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  50. ^ Houghton, Tom (4 March 2019). "Labour councillor suspended after 'Jew process' joke". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  51. ^ Houghton, Tom (15 March 2019). "Labour councillor who made 'Jew process' joke has suspension lifted". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  52. ^ Houghton, Tom (18 March 2019). "Labour Councillor of more than 30 years latest to quit party and slam 'hard-left' takeover". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  53. ^ Houghton, Tom (10 April 2019). "Wirral politician booted out of Labour after campaigning for rival party". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  54. ^ Thorp, Liam (17 July 2019). "Tory Councillor suspended after comparing black MP David Lammy to the Ku Klux Klan". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  55. ^ Tom, Rayner (7 February 2020). "Labour suspends two candidates in governing body election". Sky News. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  56. ^ Morgan, George (18 February 2020). "Wirral councillor reinstated after second Labour suspension". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  57. ^ Morgan, George (24 August 2020). "Wirral councillor suddenly quits Greens for Independent group". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  58. ^ Morgan, George (21 July 2020). "Councillor who made racist comment about black MP could return to Tory group". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  59. ^ Lally, Kate (15 December 2020). "Wirral's Tory group leader Ian Lewis steps down from role". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  60. ^ Morgan, George (19 November 2020). "Wirral Tory councillor suspended for retweet on 'Islamism'". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  61. ^ Morgan, George (9 December 2020). "Labour councillor who chaired Birkenhead meeting suspended". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  62. ^ Morgan, George (11 February 2021). "Wirral councillor Tony Norbury allowed back in Labour Party". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  63. ^ "Councillor Tony Cox". Wirral West and Wirral South Conservatives. Archived from the original on 27 March 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  64. ^ BBC News (22 November 2021). "Wirral councillor Jo Bird expelled by Labour party over banned group". BBC News. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  65. ^ Morgan, George (1 April 2022). "Wirral Labour's chief whip resigns after being 'disciplined' by party". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  66. ^ Birkenhead News (22 March 2022). "Former Labour Councillor Jo Bird joins Green Party". Birkenhead News. Retrieved 22 March 2022.

External links

Local elections in Merseyside
Categories