Redditch Council election, 2000
Encyclopedia
The 2000 Redditch Council election took place on 4 May 2000 to elect members of Redditch
Borough Council
in Worcestershire
, England
. 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
to protest against the closures. Meanwhile the Labour Party campaigned on their development plans, community action and CCTV plans and neighbourhood groups.
The election saw a trial of early voting with voting booth
s open for over a week before election day. Approximately 1.5% of the electorate voted early in the trial.
. It was the first time in twenty years that the Conservatives had won a seat in Greenlands.
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...
Borough Council
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
in Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. 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...
17 - 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...
10 - Liberal Democrat 2
Campaign
The Labour Party defended seven of the nine seats that were up for election in the election with the opposition parties hoping to make gains. A significant issue in the election were plans to close or merge ten schools in the borough. On election day itself a mother who had two children at one of the schools which was to be closed chained herself outside of a polling stationPolling station
A polling place or polling station is where voters cast their ballots in elections.Since elections generally take place over a one- or two-day span on a periodic basis, often annual or longer, polling places are often located in facilities used for other purposes, such as schools, churches, sports...
to protest against the closures. Meanwhile the Labour Party campaigned on their development plans, community action and CCTV plans and neighbourhood groups.
The election saw a trial of early voting with voting booth
Voting booth
A voting booth or polling booth is a room or cabin in a polling station where voters are able to cast their vote in private to protect the secrecy of the ballot. Commonly the entrance to the voting booth is a retractable curtain...
s open for over a week before election day. Approximately 1.5% of the electorate voted early in the trial.
Election result
The Conservatives gained four seats in the election in Greenlands, Matchborough, Central and Feckenham wardsWards 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:...
. It was the first time in twenty years that the Conservatives had won a seat in Greenlands.