2006 Winchester City Council election

The 2006 Winchester Council election took place on 4 May 2006 to elect members of Winchester District 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.[1]

2006 Winchester City Council election

← 2004 4 May 2006 2007 →

19 of 57 seats to Winchester City Council
29 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Party Conservative Liberal Democrats
Seats before 22 26
Seats won 13 4
Seats after 29 21
Popular vote 17,604 11,047
Percentage 53.8% 33.8%

  Third party Fourth party
 
Party Labour Independent
Seats before 5 4
Seats won 1 1
Seats after 4 3
Popular vote 2,100 1,898
Percentage 6.4% 5.8%

Results by Ward

Council control before election

No overall control

Council control after election

Conservative

After the election, the composition of the council was:

Campaign

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Before the election the Liberal Democrats had 26 seats, the Conservatives 22, independents 5 and Labour 4.[3] 19 seats were being contested with 4 Liberal Democrat and 1 independent councillors standing down at the election, while the council leader Sheila Campbell and 2 other cabinet members were defending seats.[3]

Issues in the election included anti-social behaviour, council tax, rural transportation and planning policy.[4]

Election result

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The count was disrupted delaying the last result after some of the ballot papers were set on fire meaning water had to be poured into the ballot box.[5] The results saw the Conservatives take control of the council for the first time since the early 1990s.[6] They gained 7 seats included 5 from the Liberal Democrats and 1 each from Labour and the independents.[5] Conservatives defeated both the Liberal Democrat council leader Sheila Campbell and the Labour leader Patrick Davies.[6]

The widespread press coverage earlier in the year about the local Liberal Democrat MP Mark Oaten having had sex with male prostitutes was seen as having damaged the Liberal Democrats and benefited the Conservatives.[7][8][9] In the July after the election Oaten announced that he would be standing down from parliament at the next general election.[10]

Following the election George Beckett became the new Conservative leader of the council.[11]

Winchester Local Election Result 2006[12][13]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes /−
  Conservative 13 7 0 7 68.4 53.8 17,604 12.1%
  Liberal Democrats 4 0 5 -5 21.1 33.8 11,047 -8.3%
  Labour 1 0 1 -1 5.3 6.4 2,100 -1.0%
  Independent 1 0 1 -1 5.3 5.8 1,898 -0.1%
  UKIP 0 0 0 0 0 0.2 64 -2.6%

Ward results

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Bishop's Waltham

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Bishop's Waltham[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Georgina Busher 985 45.8 0.6
Conservative Roger Hockin 928 43.2 16.9
Labour Stephen Haines 120 5.6 1.3
Independent Ruby Forrest 117 5.4 5.4
Majority 57 2.6 −16.3
Turnout 2,150 42
Independent hold Swing

Cheriton & Bishops Sutton

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Cheriton & Bishops Sutton[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Harry Verney 565 62.6 10.1
Liberal Democrats Christopher Day 338 37.4 −7.5
Majority 227 25.2 17.6
Turnout 903 53
Conservative hold Swing

Colden Common and Twyford

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Colden Common and Twyford[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Richard Izard 971 51.3 −10.1
Conservative Theresa Marshall 850 44.9 12.3
Labour Tessa Valentine 73 3.9 −2.2
Majority 121 6.4 −22.4
Turnout 1,894 47
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Denmead

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Denmead[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frederick Allgood 1,742 81.4 9.6
Liberal Democrats Thomas Houghton 320 15.0 −9.3
Labour David Picton-Jones 78 3.6 −0.4
Majority 1,422 66.4 18.9
Turnout 2,140 41
Conservative hold Swing

Droxford, Soberton and Hambledon

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Droxford, Soberton and Hambldon[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Antony Coates 740 78.5 10.0
Liberal Democrats Margaret Scriven 203 21.5 −8.2
Majority 537 57.0 18.2
Turnout 943 59
Conservative hold Swing

Kings Worthy

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Kings Worthy[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stanley Howell 799 51.0 9.6
Liberal Democrats Hilary Jones 697 44.5 −0.6
Labour Elaine Fullaway 70 4.5 −0.6
Majority 102 6.5
Turnout 1,566 49
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

Olivers Battery & Badger Farm

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Olivers Battery & Badger Farm[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Brian Colin 837 48.7 −9.2
Conservative Susan Evershed 829 48.2 11.1
Labour David Smith 53 3.1 −1.9
Majority 8 0.5 −20.3
Turnout 1,719 54
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Owslebury & Curdridge

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Owslebury & Curdridge[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Laurence Ruffell 881 60.2 15.9
Liberal Democrats Roy Stainton 539 36.8 −16.0
Labour Brian Fullaway 44 3.0 0.1
Majority 342 23.4
Turnout 1,464 49
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

Shedfield

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Shedfield[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Roger Huxstep 649 44.5 0.7
Independent Andrew Archard 554 38.0 −11.9
Independent Stuart Jones 173 11.9 11.9
Labour Patricia Hayward 82 5.6 −0.7
Majority 95 6.5
Turnout 1,458 47
Conservative gain from Independent Swing

Sparsholt

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Sparsholt[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Keith Wood 484 62.0 13.3
Liberal Democrats Richard Coleman 297 38.0 −13.3
Majority 187 24.0
Turnout 781 52
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

St. Barnabas

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St. Barnabas[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Worrall 1,350 52.7 3.7
Liberal Democrats Allan Mitchell 1,099 42.9 −1.4
Labour Adrian Field 111 4.3 −2.4
Majority 251 9.8 5.1
Turnout 2,560 55
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

St. Bartholomew

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St. Bartholomew[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Dominic Hiscock 978 49.4 2.8
Conservative Patrick Cunningham 869 43.9 8.9
Labour Timothy Curran 133 6.7 −3.4
Majority 109 5.5 −6.1
Turnout 1,980 43
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

St. John and All Saints

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St. John and All Saints[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Chris Pines 507 32.7 3.4
Conservative Michael Lovegrove 498 32.1 6.8
Liberal Democrats Adrian Hicks 478 30.8 −1.8
Independent Harold Robbins 69 4.4 4.4
Majority 9 0.6
Turnout 1,552 35
Labour hold Swing

St. Luke

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St. Luke[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Stephens 614 43.1 5.9
Liberal Democrats Simon Hobson 458 32.1 −10.4
Labour Patrick Davies 354 24.8 4.5
Majority 156 11.0
Turnout 1,426 35
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

St. Michael

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St. Michael[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ian Tait 1,240 58.7 18.0
Liberal Democrats Susan Chester 702 33.2 −10.7
Labour Albert Edwards 107 5.1 1.2
UKIP Judith Napier-Clark 64 3.0 −4.0
Majority 538 25.5
Turnout 2,113 47
Conservative hold Swing

St. Paul

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St. Paul[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Raymond Pearce 845 50.4 −6.0
Conservative Gillian Allen 725 43.2 9.5
Labour Debra Grech 108 6.4 −3.5
Majority 120 7.2 −15.5
Turnout 1,678 39
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Swanmore and Newton

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Swanmore and Newtown[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Victoria Weston 1,101 56.2 0.9
Liberal Democrats Sheila Campbell 805 41.1 −0.8
Labour Dennis May 52 2.7 −0.1
Majority 296 15.1 1.7
Turnout 1,958 60
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

The Alresfords

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The Alresfords[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Hollingbery 1,469 59.3 18.3
Liberal Democrats Jacqueline Porter 876 35.4 −7.4
Labour Robin Atkins 131 5.3 −1.5
Majority 593 23.9
Turnout 2,476 51
Conservative hold Swing

Wonston and Micheldever

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Wonston and Micheldever[12][13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stephen Godfrey 1,271 65.1 7.4
Liberal Democrats Peter McLoughlin 604 30.9 −6.9
Labour Nigel Lickley 77 3.9 −0.5
Majority 667 34.2 14.3
Turnout 1,952 48
Conservative hold Swing

References

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  1. ^ "Local elections: Winchester". BBC News Online. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  2. ^ "Local elections". The Times. 6 May 2006. p. 64.
  3. ^ a b "Candidates line up for local elections". Southern Daily Echo. 6 April 2006. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
  4. ^ "The battle to control Winchester". BBC News Online. 26 April 2006. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
  5. ^ a b "Sex scandal blamed for Tory win". BBC News Online. 5 May 2006. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
  6. ^ a b "Jubilant Tories win city control for the first time since early 90s". Southern Daily Echo. 5 May 2006. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
  7. ^ Summers, Deborah (6 May 2006). "Tories celebrate council gains as voters give Labour a bloody nose Cameron: hard work starts now as party gains 309 seats". The Herald. p. 4.
  8. ^ Morris, Nigel (6 May 2006). "Campbell: Lib Dem results 'mixed'". The Independent. p. 9.
  9. ^ "We pass poll test say Libs". Daily Express. 6 May 2006.
  10. ^ "Lib Dem Oaten to stand down as MP". BBC News Online. 25 July 2006. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
  11. ^ "Tories pledge to give everyone a fair say". Southern Daily Echo. 25 May 2006. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "District Council Election Results May 2006". Winchester City Council. Archived from the original on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Tories win control of city". Southern Daily Echo. 5 May 2006. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
Preceded by
2004 Winchester Council election
Winchester local elections Succeeded by
2007 Winchester Council election