2023 Peterborough City Council election

2023 Peterborough City Council election
← 2022 4 May 2023 (2023-05-04) 2024 →
21 out of 60 seats to Peterborough City Council
31 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
  Blank Blank Blank
Leader Wayne Fitzgerald Dennis Jones Christian Hogg
Party Conservative Labour Liberal Democrats
Leader's seat West Dogsthorpe Fletton and Stanground
Last election 28 seats, 35.8% 17 seats, 34.8% 8 seats, 13.4%
Seats before 28 14 8
Seats won 8 6 4
Seats after 30 14 8
Seat change Increase 2 Steady Steady
Popular vote 15,792 14,278 5,139
Percentage 37.6 34.0 12.2
Swing Increase Increase Increase
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
  Blank Blank Blank
Leader Nicola Day Chris Harper Julie Stevenson
Party Green Peterborough First Independent
Leader's seat Orton Waterville Stanground South Orton Waterville
Last election 3 seats, 9.3% NEW 1 seat, 0.6%
Seats before 4 4 2
Seats won 2 1 0
Seats after 3 4 1
Seat change Decrease 1 Steady Decrease 1
Popular vote 6,282 1,672 1,101
Percentage 15.0 4.0 2.6
Swing Increase Increase Increase
Winner of each seat at the 2023 Peterborough City Council election
Leader before election

Wayne Fitzgerald
Conservative
No overall control

Leader after election

Wayne Fitzgerald
Conservative
No overall control

The 2023 Peterborough City Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect member of Peterborough City Council in Cambridgeshire, England. There were 21 of the 60 seats on the council contested. The election took place alongside other local elections across England.

The council remained under no overall control, being led by a Conservative minority administration.

Overview

Going into the election, the position of the parties and the number of seats they were defending was:

Immediately after the election the position was that the Conservatives had 30 seats, Labour 14, the Liberal Democrats 5, Green 3 and there were 5 independents / Peterborough First.[1][2]

Two weeks after the elections took place, four councillors, Brian Rush (Stanground South), Peter Hiller (Glinton & Castor), Ray Bisby (Stanground South) and Gavin Elsey (Wittering), left the Conservative Party to join Peterborough First.[3]

In June 2023, after an initial suspension, Councillor Mohammed Farooq (Hargate & Hempsted) quit the Conservative Party, citing a "bullying, toxic culture.[4] He was followed soon after by his son, Councillor Saqib Farooq (Glinton & Castor)[5] and ward-colleague Councillor John Howard.[6]

Overall results

2023 Peterborough City Council election
Party This election Full council This election
Seats Net Seats % Other Total Total % Votes Votes % +/−
  Conservative 8 Increase 2 38.1 22 30 50.0 15,792 35.51 Increase 5.4
  Labour 6 Steady 28.6 8 14 23.3 14,278 32.11 Increase 6.1
  Liberal Democrats 4 Steady 19.0 4 8 13.3 5,139 11.56 Decrease 3.1
  Green 2 Decrease 1 9.5 1 3 5.0 6,282 14.13 Increase 4.4
  Peterborough First 1 Steady 4.8 3 4 6.7 1,672 3.76 Decrease 0.7
  Independent 0 Decrease 1 0.0 1 1 1.7 1,101 2.48 Increase 1.8
  TUSC 0 Steady 0 0 0 0 73 0.16 NEW
  CPA 0 Steady 0 0 0 0 54 0.12 NEW
  Reform UK 0 Steady 0 0 0 0 80 0.18 NEW

Ward results

Asterisks denote incumbent councillors seeking re-election. Unless otherwise noted, the councillors seeking re-election were elected in 2019; changes in vote share are therefore compared to the 2019 election.

Bretton

UKIP (16.7%) did not contest this election.

Bretton ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Richard James Strangward 863 44.5 Increase 9.9
Conservative Chris Burbage* 785 40.4 Increase 4.8
Liberal Democrats Rohan Cameron Stuart Wilson 133 6.9 Decrease 0.5
Green Barry Warne 81 4.2 Decrease 1.5
Independent John O'Connor 79 4.1 NEW
Majority 78 4.0
Turnout 1,941 29.1 Decrease 0.8
Labour gain from Conservative Swing Steady

Central

UKIP (5.1%) did not contest this election.

Central ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Mohammed Jamil* 1,579 62.1 Increase 6.7
Conservative Umar Khan 509 20.0 Decrease 6.9
Green Raymond Knight 203 8.0 Increase 1.3
Liberal Democrats Paul Michael Whittaker 179 7.0 Increase 1.1
TUSC Steve Cawley 73 2.9 NEW
Majority 1,070 42.1 Increase 13.6
Turnout 2,543 29.8 Decrease 10.9
Labour Co-op hold Swing Steady

Dogsthorpe

Independent Colin Hargreaves (10.7%) and the Veterans and People's Party (5.1%) did not contest this election.

The incumbent, Katia Yurgutene (Labour Co-op) did not seek re-election.

Dogsthorpe ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Katy Jane Cole 902 47.4 Increase 9.9
Conservative Muhammad Ikram 654 34.3 Increase 26.2
Liberal Democrats Sandra Ringler 152 8.0 Decrease 26.4
Green Kelsey Jack Brace 99 5.2
Independent Robert Bede Petch 97 5.1 NEW
Majority 248 13.0 Increase 9.9
Turnout 1,904 28.2 Decrease 0.8
Labour Co-op hold Swing Steady

East

The Liberal Democrats (9.7%) did not contest this election.

East ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Shabina Asad Qayyum* 1,618 65.6 Increase 17.3
Conservative Ekta Patel 665 27.0 Decrease 6.9
Green Luke Chapman 120 4.9 Decrease 3.2
Independent Jo Johnson 62 2.5 NEW
Majority 953 38.7 Increase 24.3
Turnout 2,465 33.9 Increase 1.5
Labour Co-op hold Swing Steady

Eye, Thorney and Newborough

UKIP (14.8%) and SDP (7.9%) did not contest this election.

Eye, Thorney & Newborough ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Steve Allen* 1,122 54.3 Increase 1.5
Labour John Shearman 587 28.4 Increase 14.7
Green Michael Alexander 244 11.8 Increase 4.6
Liberal Democrats Annie Rose Francis Mary Geraghty 115 5.6 Increase 2.1
Majority 535 25.9 Decrease 12.1
Turnout 2,068 28.1 Decrease 5.1
Conservative hold Swing Steady

Fletton and Stanground

UKIP (16%) did not contest this election.

The incumbent, Jade Seager, was elected in 2022.

Fletton & Stanground ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Jade Seager* 874 48.5 Decrease 3.2
Conservative Davide Broccoli 434 24.1 Increase 11.8
Labour Angus Ellis 348 19.3 Increase 6.3
Green Danette Lisa O'Hara 145 8.1 Increase 1.1
Majority 440 24.4 Decrease 11.3
Turnout 1,801 24.9 Decrease 3.5
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Steady

Fletton and Woodston

UKIP (16%) and Our Nation (1.7%) did not contest this election.

The incumbent was Imtiaz Ali who had defected to the Green Party from Labour.[7]

Fletton & Woodston ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Nick Thulbourn 732 37.4 Increase 7.1
Conservative Andrew Stephen Willey 720 36.8 Increase 2.9
Green Imtiaz Ali* 406 20.8 Increase 10.0
Liberal Democrats Neil Christopher Walton 98 5.0 Decrease 2.9
Majority 12 0.6
Turnout 1,956 26.2 Decrease 0.6
Labour Co-op hold Swing Steady

Glinton and Castor

Hiller defected from the Conservatives to Peterborough First less than two weeks after being re-elected.[3]

Glinton & Castor ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter John Hiller* 1,088 59.8 Decrease 6.9
Labour Sue Farr 278 15.3 Increase 6.0
Liberal Democrats Claire Biggam Bysshe 270 14.8 Increase 2.1
Green Greg Guthrie 183 10.1 Decrease 1.1
Majority 810 44.5 Decrease 9.5
Turnout 1,819 35.9 Decrease 2.6
Conservative hold Swing Steady

Gunthorpe

UKIP (9.3%) and the Green Party (3.6%) did not contest this election.

Gunthorpe ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Sandra Christine Bond* 1,166 49.8 Increase 5.9
Conservative John Philip Peach 853 36.4 Increase 2.5
Labour Madison Challis 269 11.5 Increase 2.3
CPA Tom Rogers 54 2.3 NEW
Majority 313 13.4 Increase 3.4
Turnout 2,342 35.5 Decrease 1.8
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Steady

Hampton Vale

The Green Party (5.4%) did not contest this time.

Hampton Vale ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Chris Wiggin* 549 47.2 Decrease 3.2
Conservative Rhys Evans 402 34.5 Increase 13.1
Labour Abdul Mannan 213 18.3 Decrease 4.6
Majority 147 12.6 Decrease 14.9
Turnout 1,164 23.0 Decrease 2.9
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Steady

Hargate and Hempsted

Councillor Howard left the Conservative group less than five weeks after being re-elected.[6]

Hargate & Hempsted ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Ian Howard* 637 47.7 Increase 8.4
Labour Timothy Kujiyat 511 38.2 Increase 20.5
Liberal Democrats Rachel Ann Speed 113 8.5 Decrease 26.7
Green Michael Robert Whitaker 75 5.6 Decrease 2.2
Majority 126 9.4 Increase 5.3
Turnout 1,336 21.0 Decrease 3.1
Conservative hold Swing Steady

North

UKIP (9.9%) and the Liberal Democrats (5.3%) did not contest this election.

The incumbent was Ansar Ali who had resigned from the Labour Party.[8]

North ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Asim Mahmood 1,078 42.9 Decrease 10.2
Independent Ansar Ali* 863 34.4 NEW
Conservative Akim Akim 393 15.6 Decrease 12.7
Green Tracey Foreman 178 7.1 Increase 3.8
Majority 215 8,6 Decrease 16.2
Turnout 2,512 35.5 Decrease 4.2
Labour Co-op gain from Independent Swing Steady

Orton Longueville

UKIP (16.7%) and the Liberal Democrats (5.7%) did not contest this election.

The incumbent, Heather Skibsted, defected to the Green Party from Labour.[9]

Orton Longueville ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Heather Skibsted* 868 44.0 Increase 27.5
Conservative Aqib Mohammed Farooq 561 28.4 Decrease 1.5
Labour Co-op Wendy Mary Smith 545 27.6 Decrease 3.7
Majority 307 15.6
Turnout 1,974 26.5 Decrease 3.6
Green gain from Labour Swing

Orton Waterville

The incumbent, Nicola Day, is Green Party group leader.

Orton Waterville ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Nicola Day* 1,786 69.8 Increase 5.8
Conservative Matthew Jon Bliszczak 496 19.4 Decrease 8.3
Labour Oluwaseun Akinyele 205 8.0 Increase 1.9
Liberal Democrats Vince Carroll 73 2.9 Increase 0.8
Majority 1,290 50.4 Increase 14.1
Turnout 2,560 36.0 Decrease 3.9
Green hold Swing Steady

Park

There were two vacant seats in this ward following the resignation of Shaz Nawaz[10] (elected 2021, Labour).

The incumbent, Ikra Yasin (Labour), did not seek re-election.[11]

Park ward (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Khan Arfan 1,660 47.6 Increase 5.0
Conservative Muhammad Asif 1,148 32.9 Decrease 11.7
Labour Co-op Junayd Hussain 1,024 29.3 Decrease 17.4
Labour Sabra Yasin 1,003 28.7 Decrease 20.9
Green Fiona Radic 529 15.2 Increase 9.4
Green Steve Wilson 341 9.8 NEW
Liberal Democrats Ian Hardman 197 5.6 Increase 0.8
Reform UK Sue Morris 80 2.3 NEW
Majority 636 18.2
Turnout 3,490 44.6 Decrease 1.7
Conservative gain from Labour Co-op Swing Steady
Conservative gain from Labour Swing Steady

Paston and Walton

UKIP (15.5%) did not contest this time.

Paston & Walton ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Simon Frederick Barkham* 836 44.9 Decrease 3.1
Conservative Alex Rafiq 597 32.0 Increase 21.5
Labour David Powell 352 18.9 Decrease 2.6
Green Simon Mayhew 78 4.2 Decrease 0.3
Majority 239 12.8 Decrease 13.7
Turnout 1,863 25.9 Decrease 3.9
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Steady

Ravensthorpe

UKIP (12.7%) did not contest this election.

The incumbent, Lucinda Robinson (Labour Co-op), is not seeking re-election.

Ravensthorpe ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Raja Sabeel Ahmed 1,239 48.3 Increase 11.7
Labour Co-op Jason McNally 872 34.0 Decrease 6.7
Green Edward Murphy 363 14.2 Increase 9.8
Liberal Democrats Richard Cham 91 3.5 Decrease 2.1
Majority 367 14.3 Steady
Turnout 2,565 34.4 Decrease 0.4
Conservative gain from Labour Swing Steady

Stanground South

UKIP (17.8%) did not contest this election.

Rush defected from the Conservatives to Peterborough First less than two weeks after being re-elected.[3]

Stanground South ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Brian Rush* 798 49.4 Increase 2.4
Labour Harry Lewis 553 34.2 Increase 11.6
Green Stuart Middleton 165 10.2 Increase 2.8
Liberal Democrats Simon John Garner 101 6.2 Increase 1.0
Majority 245 15.2 Decrease 9.2
Turnout 1,617 21.6 Decrease 2.4
Conservative hold Swing Steady

Werrington

This is the first time Werrington First have contested an election under the "Peterborough First – Werrington Independent" description.[12]

Werrington ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Peterborough First Judy Fox* 1,672 66.3 Decrease 8.4
Labour Rosalind Jones 332 13.2 Increase 7.3
Conservative Hayley Jayne Shelton 280 11.1 Decrease 0.4
Green Georgia Wade 158 6.3 Increase 1.0
Liberal Democrats Simon James Kail 78 3.1 Increase 0.5
Majority 1,340 53.2 Decrease 11.0
Turnout 2,520 32.8 Decrease 2.1
Peterborough First hold Swing Steady

West

UKIP (10.5%) did not contest this election.

The incumbent, Wayne Fitzgerald, is Leader of the Council.

West ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Wayne Fitzgerald* 842 51.7 Decrease 2.2
Labour Lorraine Andison 414 25.4 Increase 7.7
Green Collette Francis 260 16.0 Increase 7.8
Liberal Democrats Polly Geraghty 114 7.0 Decrease 2.7
Majority 428 26.3 Decrease 9.9
Turnout 1,630 39.6 Decrease 0.2
Conservative hold Swing Steady

Changes 2023–2024

  • Councillors Bisby, Hiller and Rush defected from the Conservatives to Peterborough First just two weeks after the local election in May 2023.[13] Councillor Elsey defected the following day.[3]
  • Councillor Mohammed Farooq was suspended by the Conservative Party in May 2023.[14] Despite being re-admitted in June, Cllr (M) Farooq quit the party due to a "bullying, toxic culture[15] - followed by his son, Cllr Saqib Farooq[16] and ward-colleague Cllr John Howard.[17]

References

  1. ^ "Local elections 2023: Peterborough is a little microclimate of its own". BBC News. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  2. ^ Taylor, Joanna (5 May 2023). "Conservatives still 'very much in charge' council leader says as elections results announced". Peterborough Telegraph. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d "Peterborough City Council: Fourth Conservative resigns from party". BBC News. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  4. ^ Elworthy, John (7 June 2023). "'Bullying, toxic culture' nearly killed me says Peterborough city councillor". cambsnews.co.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  5. ^ Elworthy, John (7 June 2023). "Tories rocked by second resignation of the day – and its only 9 o'clock". cambsnews.co.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  6. ^ a b Elworthy, John (7 June 2023). "Third – and biggest – name quits Tory group on Peterborough Council". cambsnews.co.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  7. ^ Briggs, Stephen (10 January 2023). "Councillor for Fletton and Woodston ward 'resigns' from Labour to join Peterborough Green Party". peterboroughtoday.co.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  8. ^ Taylor, Joanna (23 January 2023). "Ansar Ali: Second Peterborough councillor 'resigns' from Labour Party". peterboroughtoday.co.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  9. ^ Jones, Ben (19 July 2022). "Peterborough councillor leaves Labour Party to join Green Party". peterboroughtoday.co.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  10. ^ "Peterborough Labour Group Leader announces his resignation from the council". Peterborough Telegraph. 15 February 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  11. ^ "Ex-Labour councillor Ikra Yasin explains why she's standing down from Peterborough City Council". Peterborough Telegraph. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  12. ^ Jones, Ben (10 May 2022). "Chris Harper takes over as leader of Peterborough First group on city council". peterboroughtoday.co.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  13. ^ "Three Conservative councillors resign from party with Horsey Bridge development among issues". Peterborough Telegraph. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  14. ^ "North West Cambs Conservative Association 'disappointed' by its president's suspension from Peterborough council group". Peterborough Telegraph. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  15. ^ Elworthy, John (7 June 2023). "'Bullying, toxic culture' nearly killed me says Peterborough city councillor". Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  16. ^ Elworthy, John (7 June 2023). "Tories rocked by second resignation of the day – and its only 9 o'clock". Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  17. ^ Elworthy, John (7 June 2023). "Third – and biggest – name quits Tory group on Peterborough Council". cambsnews.co.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2023.