Redditch Council election, 1998
Encyclopedia
Elections to Redditch
Council were held on 7 May 1998. One third of the council was up for election and the Labour
party stayed in overall control of the council.
After the election, the composition of the council was
after the resignation of a Labour councillor
there. The only ward where there was no election this year was Church Hill.
As only a third of the seats were being elected the Labour party was guaranteed to keep its majority on the council. However the Conservatives were hoping to gain at least two seats in the election and raised increases in council house
rents and controversy over disability benefits as issues where they could benefit from.
of under 25% was raised a conccerning development.
Redditch
Redditch is a town and local government district in north-east Worcestershire, England, approximately south of Birmingham. The district had a population of 79,216 in 2005. In the 19th century it became the international centre for the needle and fishing tackle industry...
Council were held on 7 May 1998. One third of the council was up for election and the 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...
party stayed in overall control of the council.
After the election, the composition of the council was
- LabourLabour 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...
23 - ConservativeConservative 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...
4 - Liberal Democrat 2
Campaign
In total 11 seats were up for election, with two seats contested in Batchley wardWards of the United Kingdom
A ward in the United Kingdom is an electoral district at sub-national level represented by one or more councillors. It is the primary unit of British administrative and electoral geography .-England:...
after the resignation of a Labour councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
there. The only ward where there was no election this year was Church Hill.
As only a third of the seats were being elected the Labour party was guaranteed to keep its majority on the council. However the Conservatives were hoping to gain at least two seats in the election and raised increases in council house
Council house
A council house, otherwise known as a local authority house, is a form of public or social housing. The term is used primarily in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Council houses were built and operated by local councils to supply uncrowded, well-built homes on secure tenancies at...
rents and controversy over disability benefits as issues where they could benefit from.
Election results
The results saw only one seat change hands with the Liberal Democrats gaining a seat in Abbey ward from Labour. A low turnoutVoter turnout
Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election . After increasing for many decades, there has been a trend of decreasing voter turnout in most established democracies since the 1960s...
of under 25% was raised a conccerning development.