The 2019 Herefordshire Council election took place on 2 May 2019 to elect 52 of 53 members of Herefordshire Council in England.[1] The election in Ross North ward was deferred until 6 June 2019 following the death of the UKIP candidate.

Summary

Election result

The election resulted in the Conservative Party losing its majority on the council for the first time since 2007, winning 13 seats. Independents made gains and became the largest group on the council after winning 18 seats, 9 seats short of a majority. The Liberal Democrats and Greens also made gains at the expense of the Conservatives, winning 7 seats each.[2][3] Two non-party groupings, the 'Herefordshire Independents' (comprising 12 of the 18 Independents elected) and the localist It's Our County, formed a coalition with the Greens to govern the council.

2019 Herefordshire Council election
Party Candidates Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Independent 31 18 13 3 Increase 10 34.0 28.5 14,455 +9.8
  Conservative 53 13 1 17 Decrease 16 24.5 34.2 17,334 –7.2
  It's Our County 11 8 2 6 Decrease 4 15.1 8.7 4,425 –17.8
  Green 12 7 5 0 Increase 5 13.2 13.1 6,652 +8.7
  Liberal Democrats 18 7 5 0 Increase 5 13.2 9.9 5,041 +2.8
  Labour 10 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 3.5 1,773 +3.2
  UKIP 7 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 1.9 962 +0.4
  Democrats and Veterans 1 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 0.2 92 New

Ward results

Arrow

Arrow
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Roger Phillips 931 79.8 Increase7.6
Labour Liz Lever 236 20.2 N/A
Turnout 1,167 40.2
Conservative hold Swing

Aylestone Hill

Aylestone Hill
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Ange Tyler 746 74.2 Increase30.3
Conservative Frank Cornthwaite 260 25.8 Decrease1.1
Turnout 1,006 40.6
Independent gain from It's Our County Swing

Backbury

Backbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent John Hardwick 788 70.5 Increase26.2
Conservative Barclay Rogers 329 29.5 Decrease5.3
Turnout 1,117 41.3
Independent hold Swing

Belmont Rural

Belmont Rural
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
It's Our County Tracy Bowes 624 79.6 Increase45.0
Conservative Jamie Price 160 20.4 Decrease12.6
Turnout 784 28.3
It's Our County hold Swing

Birch

Birch
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Toni Fagan 779 64.5 N/A
Conservative David Atkinson 429 35.5 Decrease10.9
Turnout 1,208 49.3
Green gain from Conservative Swing

Bircher

Bircher
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Sebastian Bowen 1,330 94.3 Increase33.3
Conservative Rachael Fitzgerald Finch 80 5.7 Decrease22.6
Turnout 1,410 45.6
Independent hold Swing

Bishops Frome & Cradley

Bishops Frome & Cradley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Ellie Chowns 974 78.6 Increase47.2
Conservative Peter Hamblin 265 21.4 Decrease47.2
Turnout 1,239 48.0
Green gain from Conservative Swing

Bobblestock

Bobblestock
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Tim Price 326 49.2 N/A
Conservative Clive Butler 179 27.0 Decrease5.6
UKIP Gwyn Price 157 23.7 Increase2.3
Turnout 662 25.9
Independent gain from Conservative Swing

Bromyard Bringsty

Bromyard Bringsty
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nigel Shaw 540 53.0 Increase15.1
Independent Roger Page 479 47.0 N/A
Turnout 1,019 37.4
Conservative hold Swing

Bromyard West

Bromyard West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
It's Our County Alan Seldon 395 60.1 Increase5.4
Conservative Andrew Jones 262 39.9 Decrease5.4
Turnout 657 27.1
It's Our County hold Swing

Castle

Castle
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Graham Jones 752 62.6 N/A
Conservative Alan Watkins 449 37.4 Decrease6.7
Turnout 1,201 47.7
Independent gain from Conservative Swing

Central

Central
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Jeremy Milln 471 53.9 N/A
Liberal Democrats Rob Owens 192 22.0 Decrease0.1
Conservative Allan Drew 121 13.8 Decrease13.4
Independent Jonathan Jones 90 10.3 N/A
Turnout 874 36.1
Green gain from It's Our County Swing

College

College
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
It's Our County Kath Hey 374 46.2 Increase19.0
Conservative Brian Wilcox 297 36.7 Increase1.6
UKIP Stephen Cooke 139 17.2 N/A
Turnout 810 30.4
It's Our County gain from Conservative Swing

Credenhill

Credenhill
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Bob Matthews 717 80.9 Increase32.6
Conservative Phil Marsh 169 19.1 Decrease7.3
Turnout 886 36.6
Independent hold Swing

Dinedor Hill

Dinedor Hill
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
It's Our County David Summers 498 51.8 Increase0.6
Conservative Esther Rudge 463 48.2 Decrease0.6
Turnout 961 35.0
It's Our County hold Swing

Eign Hill

Eign Hill
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
It's Our County Elizabeth Foxton 476 66.6 Increase7.0
Conservative Kieran Phillips 125 17.5 Decrease9.0
Liberal Democrats David Hurds 114 15.9 Increase2.0
Turnout 715 38.8
It's Our County hold Swing

Golden Valley North

Golden Valley North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Jennie Hewitt 697 52.7 N/A
Conservative Philip Price 485 36.7 Decrease8.5
Labour Anna-Maria Coda 141 10.7 N/A
Turnout 1,323 55.1
Independent gain from Conservative Swing

Golden Valley South

Golden Valley South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Peter Jinman 805 73.4 N/A
Conservative Nicholas Savage 149 13.6 Decrease52.2
Labour Isabelle Watkins 142 13.0 N/A
Turnout 1,096 41.8
Independent gain from Conservative Swing

Greyfriars

Greyfriars
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Diana Toynbee 531 52.9 N/A
Independent Sharon Michael 270 26.9 N/A
Conservative Anil Kuttikrishnan Nair 116 11.6 Decrease14.7
Liberal Democrats Stephen Williams 86 8.6 Decrease4.9
Turnout 1,003 36.0
Green gain from It's Our County Swing

Hagley

Hagley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Paul Andrews 541 54.6 N/A
Conservative Dave Greenow 449 45.4 Increase8.3
Turnout 990 33.8
Independent gain from Conservative Swing

Hampton

Hampton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
It's Our County John Harrington 611 56.6 Increase19.2
Conservative Bruce Baker 468 43.4 Decrease13.1
Turnout 1,079 38.4
It's Our County gain from Conservative Swing

Hinton & Hunderton

Hinton & Hunderton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Kevin Tillett 251 34.2 Increase19.2
Independent Chris Chappell 192 26.2 Decrease12.9
UKIP Nigel Ely 173 23.6 N/A
Conservative Peter Harries 63 8.6 N/A
Independent Ashley Winter 54 7.4 N/A
Turnout 733 25.6
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent Swing

Holmer

Holmer
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mark Millmore 347 36.5 Increase3.5
Independent John Phipps 312 32.8 N/A
Independent Stephen Tannatt Nash 291 30.6 N/A
Turnout 950 32.3
Conservative gain from Independent Swing

Hope End

Hope End
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tony Johnson 690 58.1 Decrease1.0
Labour Phil Probert 498 41.9 N/A
Turnout 1,188 41.8
Conservative hold Swing

Kerne Bridge

Kerne Bridge
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Yolande Watson 588 53.5 N/A
Conservative Paul Newman 511 46.5 Decrease3.3
Turnout 1,099 44.3
Independent gain from Conservative Swing

Kings Acre

Kings Acre
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Graham Andrews 534 70.5 N/A
Conservative Rob Williams 223 29.5 N/A
Turnout 757 28.6
Independent gain from It's Our County Swing

Kington

Kington
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Terry James 736 81.2 Increase81.2
Conservative Roger Pendleton 170 18.8 N/A
Turnout 906 36.0
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Ledbury North

Ledbury North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
It's Our County Liz Harvey 451 54.5 Decrease5.6
Conservative Karl Bufton 376 45.5 Increase5.6
Turnout 827 32.7
It's Our County hold Swing

Ledbury South

Ledbury South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Helen I'Anson 285 38.6 Decrease9.9
Liberal Democrats Matthew Eakin 245 33.2 Increase17.5
Labour Maria Mackness 150 20.3 N/A
Independent Emma Holton 59 8.0 N/A
Turnout 739 29.5
Conservative hold Swing

Ledbury West

Ledbury West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Phillip Howells 312 47.5 N/A
Independent Phill Bettington 194 29.5 N/A
Conservative Debbie Baker 151 23.0 Decrease23.4
Turnout 657 24.3
Liberal Democrats gain from It's Our County Swing

Leominster East

Leominster East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Jenny Bartlett 654 72.3 Increase25.5
Conservative Wayne Rosser 250 27.7 Decrease9.0
Turnout 904 30.8
Green hold Swing

Leominster North & Rural

Leominster North & Rural
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Stone 601 63.7 Decrease3.6
Green Tessa Smith-Winnard 342 36.3 Increase3.6
Turnout 943 31.1
Conservative hold Swing

Leominster South

Leominster South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Trish Marsh 527 72.7 Increase42.0
Conservative Angela Pendleton 198 27.3 Increase0.8
Turnout 725 28.2
Green gain from Independent Swing

Leominster West

Leominster West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Felicity Norman 515 72.6 Increase21.8
Conservative Thomas Mangnall 104 14.7 Decrease21.5
Liberal Democrats Clive Thomas 90 12.7 Decrease0.3
Turnout 709 32.3
Green hold Swing

Llangarron

Llangarron
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Elissa Swinglehurst 653 54.2 Decrease2.1
Green Maggie Setterfield 552 45.8 N/A
Turnout 1,205 44.4
Conservative hold Swing

Mortimer

Mortimer
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Carole Gandy 603 53.6 Increase12.6
It's Our County Michael Guest 276 24.6 Decrease16.2
Liberal Democrats Jonathan Catling 245 21.8 N/A
Turnout 1,124 42.4
Conservative hold Swing

Newton Farm

Newton Farm
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Bernard Hunt 171 30.9 N/A
Liberal Democrats Jacqui Carwardine 147 26.5 Increase14.7
Labour Margy Whalley 101 18.2 N/A
Democrats and Veterans Glen Powell 92 16.6 N/A
Conservative Jeremy Chapman 43 7.8 Decrease8.6
Turnout 554 18.6
Independent hold Swing

Old Gore

Old Gore
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Barry Durkin 629 58.3 Increase4.1
Green Robert Palgrave 449 41.7 N/A
Turnout 1,078 43.0
Conservative hold Swing

Penyard

Penyard
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent William Wilding 573 47.7 N/A
Conservative Harry Bramer 524 43.6 Decrease20.4
UKIP David Howle 104 8.7 N/A
Turnout 1,201 43.6
Independent gain from Conservative Swing

Queenswood

Queenswood
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Pauline Crockett 834 80.8 Increase39.4
Conservative Matthew Kirby 198 19.2 Decrease14.2
Turnout 1,032 38.7
Independent hold Swing

Red Hill

Red Hill
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Rone 308 39.8 Decrease4.7
Liberal Democrats Daniel Powell 284 36.7 Increase25.3
Independent Amanda Martin 181 23.4 N/A
Turnout 773 26.6
Conservative hold Swing

Ross East

Ross East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Paul Symonds 536 46.0 Increase29.5
Conservative Phillip Cutter 316 27.1 Decrease9.2
It's Our County Andrew Hotston 129 11.1 N/A
UKIP Clive Hamilton 93 8.0 Decrease6.9
Labour Terry Prince 92 7.9 N/A
Turnout 1,166 39.6
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing

Ross North

The election in Ross North ward was deferred until 6 June 2019 following the death of the UKIP candidate, Gareth Williams.[3] The Liberal Democrats won the postponed election.[4]

Ross North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Christopher Bartrum 547 75.1
Conservative Nigel Gibbs 136 18.7
Labour Melvin Hodges 45 6.2
Turnout 728 26
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing

Ross West

Ross West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Louis Stark 469 47.2 Increase10.7
Conservative Simeon Cole 309 31.1 Decrease18.5
Independent Robert Taylor 216 21.7 N/A
Turnout 994 37.1
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing

Saxon Gate

Saxon Gate
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Gemma Dean 352 53.0 N/A
Liberal Democrats Aubrey Oliver 187 28.2 Increase5.2
Conservative Mark McEvilly 125 18.8 Decrease17.2
Turnout 664 23.9
Independent gain from Conservative Swing

Stoney Street

Stoney Street
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent David Hitchiner 602 55.5 N/A
Conservative Stephen Williams 284 26.2 Decrease5.4
Liberal Democrats David Howerski 199 18.3 N/A
Turnout 1,085 41.1
Independent gain from Conservative Swing

Sutton Walls

Sutton Walls
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Kema Gaster 505 50.7 Increase6.6
Independent Steve Williams 492 49.3 N/A
Turnout 997 39.9
Conservative hold Swing

Three Crosses

Three Crosses
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jonathan Lester 699 61.6 Decrease1.0
Green Rebecca Tully 436 38.4 N/A
Turnout 1,135 40.7
Conservative hold Swing

Tupsley

Tupsley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Jim Kenyon 776 79.9 N/A
Conservative Thomas Small 195 20.1 Increase2.1
Turnout 971 39.8
Independent gain from It's Our County Swing

Weobley

Weobley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Michael Jones 493 43.7 Decrease5.7
Conservative Mark Cooper 371 32.9 Decrease17.7
Labour Heather Morison 265 23.5 N/A
Turnout 1,129 39.0
Independent gain from Conservative Swing

Whitecross

Whitecross
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
It's Our County Sue Boulter 400 47.7 Increase18.7
UKIP Richard Smith 169 20.1 Decrease0.7
Liberal Democrats Tricia Hales 148 17.6 Decrease1.4
Conservative Keith Farmer 122 14.5 Decrease8.9
Turnout 839 32.2
It's Our County hold Swing

Widemarsh

Widemarsh
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Polly Andrews 253 39.5 Increase0.7
It's Our County Paul Stevens 191 29.8 Decrease6.8
UKIP Mick Gunner 127 19.8 N/A
Conservative Michael Agyeman 70 10.9 Decrease13.7
Turnout 641 28.8
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Wormside

Wormside
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Christy Bolderson 549 51.1 Increase10.9
Green Carole Protherough 422 39.3 N/A
Labour Stephen Hancorn 103 9.6 N/A
Turnout 1,074 39.7
Conservative hold Swing

Changes 2019–2023

Immediately following 2019 local elections

The 2019 election resulted in the Conservative Party losing its majority on the council for the first time since 2007, winning 13 seats. Independents made gains and became the largest group on the council after winning 18 seats, 15 of which formed the Herefordshire Independents Group. The Liberal Democrats and Greens also made gains at the expense of the Conservatives. It's Our County lost four seats, down to 8.

Following negotiations, a three-way coalition between 'Herefordshire Independents', 'It's Our County' and the Green Party was formed. Herefordshire Independents took four cabinet positions, and the Leader of the Council, the Greens took two cabinet positions and Deputy Leader of the Council and It's Our County took the remaining two cabinet positions.[5]

Date Herefordshire Independents Conservative It's Our County Greens Lib Dems Independent Vacant Coalition Majority
3 May 2019 15 13 8 7 6 3 1 +7

The Ross North poll was postponed after the death of a UKIP candidate, leading to one unfilled vacancy at this point.

Defections and resignations

Following disagreements about a new by-pass road in the Herefordshire Independents group, five councillors left to form a new group, 'True Independents'.[6]

Separately, Sue Boulter resigned shortly after being elected for It's Our County, in Whitecross, creating a second vacancy and temporarily reducing the number of It's Our County councillors.[5]

Date Herefordshire Independents Conservative It's Our County Greens Lib Dems True Independents Independent Vacant Coalition Majority
5 June 2019 10 13 7 7 6 5 3 2 -3

Two by-elections

The Liberal Democrats won the by-election in Ross North the day after the five True Independents defected from the Herefordshire Independents.[7]

Date Herefordshire Independents Conservative It's Our County Greens Lib Dems True Independents Independent Vacant Coalition Majority
6 June 2019 10 13 7 7 7 5 3 1 -4

Following Sue Boulter's resignation upon her election, her husband won the resulting by-election.[8]

Date Herefordshire Independents Conservative It's Our County Greens Lib Dems True Independents Independent Vacant Coalition Majority
11 July 2019 10 13 8 7 7 5 3 0 -3

Unaligned Independents join the Herefordshire Independents

By the end of the summer, former Hereford city mayor Jim Kenyon had temporarily joined the Herefordshire Independents to bolster their numbers, and since left again to sit as the last remaining standalone independent, as the other two previously unaligned independents have since joined the ruling coalition of Herefordshire Independents, taking Herefordshire Independents to 12 seats.[9]

Date Herefordshire Independents Conservative It's Our County Greens Lib Dems True Independents Independent Coalition Majority
14 Sept 2019 12 13 8 7 7 5 1 +1

Bromyard West

Bromyard West: 10 March 2022
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Clare Davies 315 55.6 New
Independent Nick Ferguson 152 26.8 New
Conservative Mark Franklin 100 17.6 −22.2
Majority 163 28.8 N/A
Turnout 567 23.5 −3.6
Independent gain from It's Our County Swing N/A

References

  1. ^ "Elections". Herefordshire Council. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  2. ^ "Herefordshire Council". BBC News. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Local government elections - Ross North ward vacancy". Herefordshire Council. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Election of a District Councillor for the Ross North Ward - Declaration of result of poll" (PDF). Herefordshire Council. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Independent councillor set to lead Herefordshire Council". Hereford Times. 22 May 2019.
  6. ^ Garcia, Carmelo (5 June 2019). "Eastern bypass spat splits ruling group". Hereford Times. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  7. ^ "Ross North Ward - Declaration of result of poll" (PDF). Herefordshire Council. 6 June 2019.
  8. ^ "Whitecross Ward - Declaration of result of poll" (PDF). Herefordshire Council. 11 July 2019.
  9. ^ "Former mayor leaves council group". Evesham Journal. 14 September 2019.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Herefordshire_Council_election
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