2003 St Albans City and District Council election
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/St_Albans_UK_local_election_2003_map.svg/300px-St_Albans_UK_local_election_2003_map.svg.png)
The 2003 St Albans City and District Council election took place on 1 May 2003 to elect members of St Albans District Council in Hertfordshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.[1]
After the election, the composition of the council was:
- Liberal Democrats 23
- Conservative 21
- Labour 13
- Independent 1[2]
Background
[edit]Following the last election in 2002 the Conservatives were the largest party with 21 seats, compared to 20 for the Liberal Democrats, 15 for Labour, 1 independent and 1 seat was vacant.[3] However the Liberal Democrats gained a seat from the Conservatives at a by-election in Verulam,[4] which meant that going into the 2003 election both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats needed to gain 8 seats to win a majority.[5]
Voting trial
[edit]The election saw a trial of various voting methods. Voters could choose between e-voting, either by computer or on a touchscreen at a polling booth, voting by phone or by post, or on a traditional ballot paper.[6] The period for voting was also increased to allow voting from the 28 April to the 1 May 2003.[6]
However problems occurred at 15 polling stations where the system did not recognise voters pin numbers,[7] which meant that traditional paper ballots had to be used in those polling stations.[8] The issues meant the election nearly had to be voided, with the count only able to start over 3 hours after polls had closed.[9]
However turnout was up by 5% on the previous election in 2002 at 43%.[10]
Election result
[edit]The Liberal Democrats gained 2 seats from Labour to become the largest party on the council with 23 councillors.[9] The Conservatives remained on 21 seats and there was still 1 independent, while the losses for Labour in Ashley and St Peter's wards reduced them to 13 seats.[9]
Following the election the Liberal Democrat group on the council chose Robert Donald as their new leader taking over from Brian Peyton.[11]
Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | 12 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 57.1 | 43.8 | 18,710 | +5.0% | |
Conservative | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23.8 | 35.4 | 15,126 | -0.4% | |
Labour | 4 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 19.0 | 20.6 | 8,784 | -4.5% | |
No Candidate Deserves My Vote! | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 63 | -0.2% |
Ward results
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Alan Marshall | 942 | 43.4 | +6.9 | |
Labour | Alistair Cooper | 759 | 35.0 | −6.3 | |
Conservative | Alec Campbell | 468 | 21.6 | +1.1 | |
Majority | 183 | 8.4 | |||
Turnout | 2,169 | 44.4 | |||
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Martin Leach | 873 | 47.1 | ||
Conservative | Lee Foster | 492 | 26.6 | ||
Liberal Democrats | Debbie Williams | 488 | 26.3 | ||
Majority | 381 | 20.5 | |||
Turnout | 1,853 | 37.6 | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Sheila Burton | 1,315 | 65.3 | +6.1 | |
Labour | Clive Newport | 356 | 17.7 | −5.2 | |
Conservative | Louisa-Jane Rosalki | 343 | 17.0 | −0.9 | |
Majority | 959 | 47.6 | +11.3 | ||
Turnout | 2,014 | 45.8 | |||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Christopher Brazier | 972 | 58.1 | +21.7 | |
Conservative | David Johns | 522 | 31.2 | −12.8 | |
Labour | David Mclean | 179 | 10.7 | −8.9 | |
Majority | 450 | 26.9 | |||
Turnout | 1,673 | 43.7 | |||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Robert Donald | 1,281 | 61.3 | +18.0 | |
Labour | Rebecca Gumbrell-Mccormick | 416 | 19.9 | −16.1 | |
Conservative | James Vessey | 394 | 18.8 | −1.9 | |
Majority | 865 | 41.4 | +34.1 | ||
Turnout | 2,091 | 46.2 | |||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Michael Waddilove | 1,149 | 50.2 | +3.5 | |
Conservative | Elizabeth Stevenson | 854 | 37.3 | −1.0 | |
Labour | David Crew | 286 | 12.5 | −2.5 | |
Majority | 295 | 12.9 | +4.5 | ||
Turnout | 2,289 | 45.5 | |||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Albert Pawle | 1,046 | 51.1 | +3.2 | |
Liberal Democrats | Rachel Andrew | 785 | 38.4 | −3.2 | |
Labour | Rosemary Ross | 214 | 10.5 | +0.0 | |
Majority | 261 | 12.7 | +6.4 | ||
Turnout | 2,045 | 41.6 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Paul Foster | 1,340 | 61.7 | −1.7 | |
Liberal Democrats | Christopher Canfield | 616 | 28.4 | +5.1 | |
Labour | David Lawlor | 216 | 9.9 | −3.4 | |
Majority | 724 | 33.3 | −6.8 | ||
Turnout | 2,172 | 43.2 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Julian Daly | 1,319 | 56.3 | −3.8 | |
Liberal Democrats | Mary Skinner | 753 | 32.1 | +7.0 | |
Labour | Benjamin Dearman | 271 | 11.6 | −3.2 | |
Majority | 566 | 24.2 | −10.8 | ||
Turnout | 2,343 | 43.6 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Malcolm Macmillan | 1,062 | 57.7 | −4.2 | |
Conservative | Gilbert Massara | 472 | 25.6 | +2.1 | |
Liberal Democrats | Carol Prowse | 308 | 16.7 | +2.1 | |
Majority | 590 | 32.1 | −6.3 | ||
Turnout | 1,842 | 33.2 | |||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Geoffrey Churchard | 1,003 | 48.5 | +1.0 | |
Conservative | John Foster | 782 | 37.8 | +1.3 | |
Labour | John Baughan | 282 | 13.6 | −2.5 | |
Majority | 221 | 10.7 | −0.3 | ||
Turnout | 2,067 | 43.6 | |||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Kathleen Morris | 1,364 | 53.3 | −4.5 | |
Conservative | Richard Bretherton | 858 | 33.5 | +5.0 | |
Labour | Jane Cloke | 338 | 13.2 | −0.5 | |
Majority | 506 | 19.8 | −9.5 | ||
Turnout | 2,560 | 52.7 | |||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Stephanie White | 1,130 | 57.7 | −7.8 | |
Conservative | Timothy Randall | 554 | 28.3 | +6.8 | |
Labour | Janet Blackwell | 276 | 14.1 | +1.1 | |
Majority | 576 | 29.4 | −14.6 | ||
Turnout | 1,960 | 38.8 | |||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Christopher O'Donovan | 1,019 | 50.5 | −1.8 | |
Conservative | Maria Maynard | 836 | 41.4 | +1.9 | |
Labour | Linda Spiri | 164 | 8.1 | −0.2 | |
Majority | 183 | 9.1 | −3.7 | ||
Turnout | 2,019 | 45.7 | |||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Christopher Whiteside | 769 | 54.7 | +13.4 | |
Liberal Democrats | Peter Klyhn | 465 | 33.1 | −6.9 | |
Labour | John Baker | 171 | 12.2 | −4.8 | |
Majority | 304 | 21.6 | +20.3 | ||
Turnout | 1,405 | 39.5 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Eileen Harris | 781 | 49.6 | −8.7 | |
Labour | Janet Smith | 777 | 49.4 | −8.9 | |
Liberal Democrats | Brian Sinfield | 397 | 25.2 | +8.0 | |
Liberal Democrats | David Terrar | 375 | 23.8 | +6.6 | |
Conservative | Eileen Brown | 356 | 22.6 | +1.3 | |
Conservative | Margaret Brownlie | 344 | 21.9 | +0.6 | |
Turnout | 1,574 | 32.4 | +9.1 | ||
Labour hold | Swing | ||||
Labour hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Richard Biddle | 927 | 46.1 | +8.0 | |
Labour | Lynette Warren | 715 | 35.6 | −8.1 | |
Conservative | Virginia Walker | 367 | 18.3 | +0.1 | |
Majority | 212 | 10.5 | |||
Turnout | 2,009 | 42.1 | |||
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Gordon Myland | 1,247 | 58.1 | +2.8 | |
Liberal Democrats | Louise Searle | 634 | 29.5 | −0.2 | |
Labour | Patricia Allen | 266 | 12.4 | −2.6 | |
Majority | 613 | 28.6 | +3.0 | ||
Turnout | 2,147 | 43.7 | |||
Conservative hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Martin Frearson | 1,457 | 52.6 | +15.5 | |
Conservative | Robin Streames | 1,033 | 37.3 | −11.4 | |
Labour | Richard Bruckdorfer | 217 | 7.8 | −4.9 | |
No Candidate Deserves My Vote! | Peter Goodall | 63 | 2.3 | +0.8 | |
Majority | 424 | 15.3 | |||
Turnout | 2,770 | 56.3 | +17.4 | ||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Christopher Oxley | 1,330 | 59.8 | +16.8 | |
Conservative | Linda Brent | 730 | 32.8 | −15.6 | |
Labour | Mary Cheale | 165 | 7.4 | −1.3 | |
Majority | 600 | 27.0 | |||
Turnout | 2,225 | 48.9 | |||
Liberal Democrats hold | Swing |
By-elections between 2003 and 2004
[edit]A by-election was held in Verulam ward on 5 April 2004 after the resignation of Conservative councillor Pauline Buffham, who was moving abroad.[14] The seat was gained for the Liberal Democrats by Susan Campbell with a majority of 265 votes over the Conservatives.[15]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Democrats | Susan Campbell | 1,173 | 49.4 | −3.2 | |
Conservative | Katherine Cramer | 908 | 38.2 | +0.9 | |
St Albans Party | Janet Girsman | 167 | 7.0 | +7.0 | |
Labour | Larry Heyman | 90 | 3.8 | −4.0 | |
Green | Marc Scheimann | 37 | 1.6 | +1.6 | |
Majority | 265 | 11.2 | −4.1 | ||
Turnout | 2,375 | 48.1 | −8.2 | ||
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing |
References
[edit]- ^ "Local elections". BBC News Online. Retrieved 9 November 2009.
- ^ "How Britain voted: English and Scottish councils". The Independent. 3 May 2003. p. 18.
- ^ "St Albans". BBC News Online. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ^ Price, Shannon (4 July 2002). "Lib-Dem victory this time around". Hertfordshire County Publications. NewsBank.
- ^ "London: Local election preview". BBC News Online. 4 April 2003. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
- ^ a b Morris, Owen (9 April 2003). "Pupils set to e-vote". Hertfordshire County Publications. NewsBank.
- ^ "Non-voters are the majority". BBC News Online. 2 May 2003. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
- ^ "A new day for democracy". www.publicservice.co.uk. 21 May 2003. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- ^ a b c Collins, Paul (2 May 2003). "E-voting glitches hamper city elections". Hertfordshire County Publications. NewsBank.
- ^ "St Albans e-voting trial goes horribly wrong. Almost". The Register. 2 May 2003. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
- ^ "Lib Dems name new leader". Hertfordshire County Publications. NewsBank. 19 May 2003.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "District Council Election Results 1st May 2003". St Albans District and City Council. Archived from the original on 13 May 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2009.
- ^ "Election results". Financial Times. 3 May 2003. p. 8.
- ^ "By-election date set after councillor quits". Hertfordshire County Publications. NewsBank. 26 February 2004.
- ^ a b "Verulam Ward By Election Result 5th April 2004". St Albans City and District Council. Archived from the original on 11 May 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.