2008_Swale_Borough_Council_election
The 2008 Swale Borough Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Swale Borough Council in Kent, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.[1]
After the election, the composition of the council was:
16 of the 47 seats on the council were contested in 2008,[3] with the Conservatives defending 9 seats, the Liberal Democrats 4 seats and Labour 3 seats.[4] A total of 53 people contested the election and as well as candidates from the main political parties, there were also 2 candidates from Sheppey First standing on the Isle of Sheppey and 2 candidates from Faversham First contesting wards in Faversham.[4]
The Conservative majority on the council was increased by one seat after gaining three seats, but also losing two seats.[5] Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats had a net loss of one seat, while Sheppey First gained a seat.[5]
The Conservatives picked up two seats from the Liberal Democrats in Minster Cliffs and St Michaels and one seat from Labour in Queenborough and Halfway.[6] However the Liberal Democrats took one seat from the Conservatives in Davington Priory, while Sheppey First also gained a seat from the Conservatives in Sheppey Central.[6]
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 10 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 62.5 | 45.5 | 9,681 | +4.5% | |
| Liberal Democrats | 3 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 18.8 | 18.0 | 3,827 | +5.1% | |
| Labour | 2 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 12.5 | 23.7 | 5,044 | +0.9% | |
| Sheppey First | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 1,341 | -11.9% | |
| Faversham First | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.5 | 959 | +4.5% | |
| Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.1 | 226 | +0.0% | |
| Monster Raving Loony | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.7 | 156 | +0.2% | |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 | 57 | -2.5% | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Anita Walker | 512 | 37.3 | -7.1 | |
| Labour | Trevor Payne | 367 | 26.7 | -4.3 | |
| Faversham First | Jenny Gurney | 311 | 22.7 | +22.7 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Martin Bellis | 182 | 13.3 | -3.6 | |
| Majority | 145 | 10.6 | -2.8 | ||
| Turnout | 1,372 | 35.4 | -1.0 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Andrew Bowles | 1,112 | 70.7 | +4.0 | |
| Labour | Fran Rehal | 234 | 14.9 | -1.2 | |
| Green | Timothy Valentine | 226 | 14.4 | -0.3 | |
| Majority | 878 | 55.9 | +5.3 | ||
| Turnout | 1,572 | 37.4 | +1.3 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Ghlin Whelan | 577 | 44.9 | -3.0 | |
| Conservative | Derek Carnell | 538 | 41.9 | +12.6 | |
| Liberal Democrats | David Spurling | 170 | 13.2 | -1.1 | |
| Majority | 39 | 3.0 | -15.6 | ||
| Turnout | 1,285 | 33.9 | -2.0 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | Michael Henderson | 495 | 58.2 | +58.2 | |
| Conservative | John Winlow | 235 | 27.6 | -38.1 | |
| Labour | Brenda Chester | 121 | 14.2 | -20.1 | |
| Majority | 260 | 30.6 | |||
| Turnout | 851 | 44.3 | +7.3 | ||
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Colin Prescott | 683 | 77.6 | +0.7 | |
| Labour | Catherine Read | 197 | 22.4 | -0.7 | |
| Majority | 486 | 55.2 | +1.4 | ||
| Turnout | 880 | 41.4 | -4.9 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Ben Stokes | 613 | 58.5 | +17.1 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Dave Manning | 266 | 25.4 | -11.8 | |
| Labour | Ruth Walker-Grice | 168 | 16.0 | -5.4 | |
| Majority | 347 | 33.1 | +28.9 | ||
| Turnout | 1,047 | 34.7 | -9.8 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Susan Gent | 855 | 65.6 | +3.9 | |
| Labour | Martin McCusker | 296 | 22.7 | -0.2 | |
| Liberal Democrats | June Hammond | 153 | 11.7 | -3.7 | |
| Majority | 559 | 42.9 | +4.1 | ||
| Turnout | 1,304 | 26.4 | -1.9 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | Elvie Lowe | 428 | 37.5 | +6.3 | |
| Labour | Tony Winckless | 370 | 32.4 | -9.3 | |
| Conservative | Michael Dendor | 240 | 21.0 | +3.1 | |
| Independent | Andrew Crayford | 57 | 5.0 | -0.4 | |
| Monster Raving Loony | Sheikh Mihand | 46 | 4.0 | +0.1 | |
| Majority | 58 | 5.1 | |||
| Turnout | 1,141 | 32.8 | -1.7 | ||
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Adrian Crowther | 827 | 46.4 | +24.4 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Mike Brown | 559 | 31.4 | +27.4 | |
| Labour | Libby Tucker | 286 | 16.0 | +7.2 | |
| Monster Raving Loony | 'Mad' Mike Young | 110 | 6.2 | +4.0 | |
| Majority | 268 | 15.0 | |||
| Turnout | 1,782 | 31.5 | -6.3 | ||
| Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | Dave Banks | 552 | 58.0 | +10.7 | |
| Conservative | Patricia Martin | 230 | 24.2 | +2.3 | |
| Labour | Ken Rowles | 169 | 17.8 | -13.0 | |
| Majority | 322 | 33.9 | +17.4 | ||
| Turnout | 951 | 24.9 | -2.1 | ||
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Paul Hayes | 737 | 40.0 | +7.0 | |
| Labour | Jackie Constable | 618 | 33.5 | -7.1 | |
| Sheppey First | Amanda Elliott | 489 | 26.5 | +0.1 | |
| Majority | 119 | 6.5 | |||
| Turnout | 1,844 | 33.5 | -1.2 | ||
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Mike Haywood | 633 | 58.2 | +10.3 | |
| Conservative | Mike Whiting | 324 | 29.8 | -4.3 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Anne Jenkins | 131 | 12.0 | -6.0 | |
| Majority | 309 | 28.4 | +14.6 | ||
| Turnout | 1,088 | 29.7 | -5.1 | ||
| Labour hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheppey First | Paul Sturdgess | 852 | 50.9 | +5.6 | |
| Conservative | Andy Booth | 568 | 33.9 | +2.1 | |
| Labour | David Sargent | 254 | 15.2 | +0.2 | |
| Majority | 284 | 17.0 | +3.5 | ||
| Turnout | 1,674 | 27.5 | -0.3 | ||
| Sheppey First gain from Conservative | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Mark Baldock | 582 | 41.0 | -9.3 | |
| Faversham First | Findlay MacDonald | 378 | 26.6 | +26.6 | |
| Labour | Paul Durkin | 306 | 21.5 | +2.6 | |
| Liberal Democrats | David Evans | 154 | 10.8 | -12.2 | |
| Majority | 204 | 14.4 | -12.9 | ||
| Turnout | 1,420 | 35.6 | 0.0 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Derek Conway | 665 | 45.5 | +7.2 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Brenda Hammond | 566 | 38.8 | -8.0 | |
| Labour | Christine Truelove | 229 | 15.7 | +0.9 | |
| Majority | 99 | 6.7 | |||
| Turnout | 1,460 | 36.7 | -0.6 | ||
| Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | David Simmons | 960 | 59.3 | -7.4 | |
| Faversham First | Tracey Smith | 270 | 16.7 | +16.7 | |
| Labour | Philip Dangerfield | 219 | 13.5 | -1.4 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Paul Hurd | 171 | 10.6 | -7.8 | |
| Majority | 690 | 42.6 | -5.7 | ||
| Turnout | 1,620 | 40.3 | -2.7 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
Minster Cliffs
A by-election was held in Minster Cliffs on 25 September 2008 after the resignation of Sheppey First councillor Chris Boden.[9] The seat was gained for the Conservatives by Andy Booth with a majority of 221 votes over Sheppey First candidate Ray Adams.[9]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Andy Booth | 549 | 48.0 | +1.6 | |
| Sheppey First | Ray Adams | 328 | 28.7 | +28.7 | |
| Labour | Libby Tucker | 204 | 17.8 | +1.8 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Dave Manning | 63 | 5.5 | -25.9 | |
| Majority | 221 | 19.3 | +4.3 | ||
| Turnout | 1,144 | 19.8 | -11.7 | ||
| Conservative gain from Sheppey First | Swing | ||||
Sheerness East
A by-election was held in Sheerness East on 25 September 2008 after the resignation of Sheppey First councillor Gemma Wray.[9] The seat was gained by Labour candidate David Sargent with a majority of 149 votes over Liberal Democrat Colin Howe.[9]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | David Sargent | 326 | 38.5 | +6.7 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Colin Howe | 177 | 20.9 | +10.0 | |
| Conservative | Martin Goodhew | 173 | 20.4 | -1.8 | |
| Sheppey First | Mark Rogers | 171 | 20.2 | -14.9 | |
| Majority | 149 | 17.6 | |||
| Turnout | 847 | 23.1 | -3.8 | ||
| Labour gain from Sheppey First | Swing | ||||
Teynham and Lynsted
A by-election was held in Teynham and Lynsted on 2 October 2008 after the death of Conservative councillor John Disney.[10] The seat was held by Conservative Trevor Fentiman with a majority of 274 votes over Labour candidate Ken Rowles.[10]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Trevor Fentiman | 463 | 63.4 | +3.3 | |
| Labour | Ken Rowles | 189 | 25.9 | -1.7 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Brenda Hammond | 78 | 10.7 | -1.6 | |
| Majority | 274 | 37.5 | +5.0 | ||
| Turnout | 730 | 17.6 | -16.1 | ||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
- "Swale". BBC News Online. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
- "National: Full election results". The Guardian. NewsBank. 3 May 2008.
- "Tories gain in local elections in Swale". kentnews.co.uk. 2 May 2008. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
- "Swale Borough Council: Election results". Kent Online. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
- "By-election results for two wards". Kent Online. 26 September 2008. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
- "Tories strengthen their control of Swale council". kentnews.co.uk. 3 October 2008. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2015.