Reading Borough Council election, 2011
Encyclopedia
Elections to Reading Borough Council
took place on Thursday 5 May 2011.
There were 15 seats up for election, one third of the council. The election meant that the council continued to have no overall control
but a Labour
led minority administration replaced the previous Conservative
Liberal Democrat
coalition. The posts of leader of the council
and mayor were filled at a meeting of the council on 25 May 2011. Labour member Deborah Edwards was elected mayor on the casting vote
of outgoing mayor, Gul Khan. Councillor Edwards then used her casting vote in favour of the new Leader of the council, Jo Lovelock. The two Green Party
councillors abstained in both votes.
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
took place on Thursday 5 May 2011.
There were 15 seats up for election, one third of the council. The election meant that the council continued to have no overall control
No overall control
Within the context of local councils of the United Kingdom, the term No Overall Control refers to a situation in which no single party achieves a majority of seats and is analogous to a hung parliament...
but a Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
led minority administration replaced the previous Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
coalition. The posts of leader of the council
Cabinet-style council
A Cabinet-style Council is a type of local government which has been introduced in the United Kingdom for Local Councils following the introduction of the Local Government Act 2000....
and mayor were filled at a meeting of the council on 25 May 2011. Labour member Deborah Edwards was elected mayor on the casting vote
Casting vote
A casting vote is a vote given to the presiding officer of a council or legislative body to resolve a deadlock and which can be exercised only when such a deadlock exists...
of outgoing mayor, Gul Khan. Councillor Edwards then used her casting vote in favour of the new Leader of the council, Jo Lovelock. The two Green Party
Green Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including...
councillors abstained in both votes.