Wyre Forest Council election, 2008
Encyclopedia
The 2008 Wyre Forest Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Wyre Forest
District
Council in Worcestershire
, England
. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party
gained overall control of the council from no overall control
.
After the election, the composition of the council was
, 7 Liberals
, 3 Labour
, 2 Liberal Democrats and 2 independents
. 14 seats were contested in the election with the Conservatives defending 6, Liberals 3, independents 2 and Health Concern, Labour and Liberal Democrats 1 each.
The Conservatives needed to gain 4 seats to win a majority, but Health Concern were also hoping to make gains to take over as largest party on the council. Health Concern campaigned on issues including bringing more entertainment facilities to the council area and opposing a new fleet of black taxi
s, as well as their health policies.
, who became the first Asian councillor
in Wyre Forest, and Julian Phillips in Bewdley
and Arley, who became a councillor at the age of 23. Both Labour and the Liberals lost one seat to the Conservatives, while both independent councillors were defeated.
The Conservatives described the results as an endorsement of their record, while Labour saw them as being due to anti-government feeling. The results were also seen as a sign that the Conservatives could gain the parliamentary constituency
at the next general election from Health Concern's Richard Taylor
.
For Labour, Jamie Shaw, previously Leader of the Council and a Wyre Forest councillor for 23 years, narrowly failed in his bid to regain a seat in Areley Kings
.
Wyre Forest (district)
This article is about the local government district in WorcestershireWyre Forest is a local government district in Worcestershire, England, covering the towns of Kidderminster, Stourport-on-Severn and Bewdley, and several civil parishes and their villages...
District
Non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially shire districts, are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a so-called "two-tier" arrangement...
Council 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 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...
gained overall control of the council from 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...
.
After the election, the composition of the council was
- 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...
22 - Health ConcernIndependent Kidderminster Hospital and Health ConcernIndependent Kidderminster Hospital and Health Concern is a political party based in Kidderminster, United Kingdom...
10 - LiberalLiberal Party (UK, 1989)The Liberal Party is a United Kingdom political party. It was formed in 1989 by a group of individuals within the original Liberal Party who felt that the merger of the party with the Social Democratic Party, to form the Liberal Democrats, had ended the spirit of the Liberal Party, claiming that...
6 - 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...
2 - Liberal Democrat 2
Campaign
Before the election the Conservatives ran the council as a minority administration with them holding 18 seats as compared to 10 for Health ConcernIndependent Kidderminster Hospital and Health Concern
Independent Kidderminster Hospital and Health Concern is a political party based in Kidderminster, United Kingdom...
, 7 Liberals
Liberal Party (UK, 1989)
The Liberal Party is a United Kingdom political party. It was formed in 1989 by a group of individuals within the original Liberal Party who felt that the merger of the party with the Social Democratic Party, to form the Liberal Democrats, had ended the spirit of the Liberal Party, claiming that...
, 3 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...
, 2 Liberal Democrats and 2 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...
. 14 seats were contested in the election with the Conservatives defending 6, Liberals 3, independents 2 and Health Concern, Labour and Liberal Democrats 1 each.
The Conservatives needed to gain 4 seats to win a majority, but Health Concern were also hoping to make gains to take over as largest party on the council. Health Concern campaigned on issues including bringing more entertainment facilities to the council area and opposing a new fleet of black taxi
Hackney carriage
A hackney or hackney carriage is a carriage or automobile for hire...
s, as well as their health policies.
Election result
The results saw the Conservatives win a majority on the council for the first time since 1979. They gained 4 more seats to end the election on 22 seats, while Health Concern, although gaining a quarter of the vote, did no more than to hold its one sitting member up for election, Brian Glass, and thus stayed on 10 seats. Among the Conservative gains were Mumshad Ahmed in Broadwaters 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:...
, who became the first Asian 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:...
in Wyre Forest, and Julian Phillips in Bewdley
Bewdley
Bewdley is a town and civil parish in the Wyre Forest District of Worcestershire, England, along the Severn Valley a few miles to the west of Kidderminster...
and Arley, who became a councillor at the age of 23. Both Labour and the Liberals lost one seat to the Conservatives, while both independent councillors were defeated.
The Conservatives described the results as an endorsement of their record, while Labour saw them as being due to anti-government feeling. The results were also seen as a sign that the Conservatives could gain the parliamentary constituency
Wyre Forest (UK Parliament constituency)
Wyre Forest is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
at the next general election from Health Concern's Richard Taylor
Richard Taylor (UK politician)
Richard Thomas Taylor FRCP is an English doctor and former politician. He served as an Independent Member of Parliament for Wyre Forest between 2001 and 2010...
.
For Labour, Jamie Shaw, previously Leader of the Council and a Wyre Forest councillor for 23 years, narrowly failed in his bid to regain a seat in Areley Kings
Areley Kings
Areley Kings is a Worcestershire village on the River Severn 10 miles north of Worcester in the picturesque area of the Wyre Forest. The area is featured in the Domesday Book and many historical places of interest are open to visitors...
.