Rushmoor Council election, 2002
Encyclopedia
The 2002 Rushmoor Council election took place on 2 May 2002 to elect members of Rushmoor
Borough
Council in Hampshire
, England
. The whole council was up for election with boundary changes since the last election in 2000
reducing the number of seats by 3. The Conservative party
stayed in overall control of the council.
and a former parliamentary candidate John Card for Labour
in Mayfield. As well as the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour, there were also 9 Green party
candidates contesting the election in Aldershot
wards.
Independents
standing in the election included the sitting councillor, Patrick Kirby, who was joined by another 2 independent candidates in Knellwood. Other independents were campaigner Peter Sandy in Heron Wood, poet Derek Asker in Empress ward and the many times candidate Arthur Uther Pendragon
.
One sitting councillor
who did not stand in the election however was John Debenham, who stood down after having served on the council since it was created in 1974.
, while the only independent elected was Patrick Kirby, who was re-elected in Knellwood.
Split ward results occurred in Knellwood where two Conservatives were elected as well as Patrick Kirby and in St Marks where one Liberal Democrat and two Conservatives won election. The two successful Conservative candidates in Knellwood had to toss a coin
to decide which of them would serve 1 or 2 years after they finished with the same number of votes. Roland Dibbs won the coin toss and was elected to 2 years on the council.
Rushmoor
Rushmoor is a local government district and borough in Hampshire, England. It covers the towns of Aldershot and Farnborough.It was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of the borough of Aldershot and the Farnborough urban district....
Borough
Borough status in the United Kingdom
Borough status in the United Kingdom is granted by royal charter to local government districts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The status is purely honorary, and does not give any additional powers to the council or inhabitants of the district...
Council in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, 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...
. The whole council was up for election with boundary changes since the last election in 2000
Rushmoor Council election, 2000
The 2000 Rushmoor Council election took place on 4 May 2000 to elect members of Rushmoor Borough Council in Hampshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party gained overall control of the council from no overall control....
reducing the number of seats by 3. The Conservative party
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...
stayed in overall control of the council.
Candidates
Due to the boundary changes all 42 seats on the council were contested with 119 candidates standing in the election. Among the candidates from the main political parties was Paul Bourke, formerly a Conservative, who stood for the Liberal Democrats in Wellington 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:...
and a former parliamentary candidate John Card for 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...
in Mayfield. As well as the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour, there were also 9 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...
candidates contesting the election in Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
wards.
Independents
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
standing in the election included the sitting councillor, Patrick Kirby, who was joined by another 2 independent candidates in Knellwood. Other independents were campaigner Peter Sandy in Heron Wood, poet Derek Asker in Empress ward and the many times candidate Arthur Uther Pendragon
Arthur Uther Pendragon
Arthur Uther Pendragon is an English eco-campaigner, neo-druid leader, media personality, and self-declared reincarnation of King Arthur, a name by which he is also known.-Early years:...
.
One sitting 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:...
who did not stand in the election however was John Debenham, who stood down after having served on the council since it was created in 1974.
Election result
The results saw the Conservatives maintain control of the council after winning 25 of the 42 seats. The Liberal Democrats stayed on 10 seats after regaining a seat in Cove and Southwood, but losing a seat in Manor Park where the deputy mayor George Papresti was defeated. Labour was reduced to 6 seats after losing their last seats in FarnboroughFarnborough, Hampshire
-History:Name changes: Ferneberga ; Farnburghe, Farenberg ; Farnborowe, Fremborough, Fameborough .Tower Hill, Cove: There is substantial evidence...
, while the only independent elected was Patrick Kirby, who was re-elected in Knellwood.
Split ward results occurred in Knellwood where two Conservatives were elected as well as Patrick Kirby and in St Marks where one Liberal Democrat and two Conservatives won election. The two successful Conservative candidates in Knellwood had to toss a coin
Coin flipping
Coin flipping or coin tossing or heads or tails is the practice of throwing a coin in the air to choose between two alternatives, sometimes to resolve a dispute between two parties...
to decide which of them would serve 1 or 2 years after they finished with the same number of votes. Roland Dibbs won the coin toss and was elected to 2 years on the council.