2023 English local election
The 2023 Cotswold District Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect all members of Cotswold District Council in Gloucestershire, England.[1][2][3] It was held on the same day as other local elections in England.
The Liberal Democrats increased their majority on the council.[4] The Conservative group leader, Tony Berry, lost his seat.[5]
Summary
Election result
2023 Cotswold District Council election |
Party | Candidates | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Liberal Democrats | 31 | 22 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 64.7 | 46.9 | 13,362 | 2.4 |
| Conservative | 34 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 26.5 | 42.9 | 12,220 | 4.0 |
| Green | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5.9 | 5.5 | 1,573 | 0.5 |
| Independent | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | | 2.9 | 3.7 | 1,041 | 2.0 |
| Labour | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.6 | 174 | 2.5 |
| Heritage | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.2 | 67 | N/A |
| TUSC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.1 | 31 | N/A |
Chris Twells Controversy
During the run-up to the election a minor controversy emerged when Chris Twells, a Liberal Democrat councillor for Salford City Council's Ordsall ward since 2022, sought to simultaneously become a councillor in Cotswold District Council, standing in the Tetbury with Upton ward over 150 miles away from Salford.[6] While both he and the Liberal Democrats claimed he was merely a 'paper candidate,' he subsequently won in a surprise upset.[7] Admist calls for his resignation in both areas,[8] the Liberal Democrats shortly after suspended him from the party.[9] Now an independent councillor in both councils, Chris Twells announced he would resign from his Ordsall seat, although it would then take him until January of the next year to even set a date for this.[10] He finally resigned from his Ordsall seat on March 15 2024 and remains on the Cotswold council as a independent councillor to this day.
Ward results
Abbey
Cirencester Abbey[11] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Mark Harris* | 504 | 62.2 | -13.0 |
| Conservative | Jackie Tarleton | 233 | 28.8 | +12.1 |
| Green | Erin Hughes | 73 | 9.0 | New |
Majority | 271 | 33 | |
Turnout | 810 | | |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | -12.6 | |
Blockley
Blockley Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Green | Clare Turner | 518 | 56.3 | +38.0 |
| Conservative | Sue Jepson* | 402 | 43.7 | -12.5 |
Majority | 116 | 12.6 | |
Turnout | 920 | | |
| Green gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Bourton Vale
Bourton Vale Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Len Wilkins | 518 | 60.9 | -3.5 |
| Liberal Democrats | George Fenton | 262 | 30.8 | -4.8 |
| Green | Joe Eastoe | 70 | 8.2 | N/A |
Majority | 256 | 30.1 | |
Turnout | 850 | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Bourton Village
Bourton Village Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | John Wareing | 425 | 50.3 | -4.7 |
| Conservative | Madan Samuel | 420 | 49.7 | +4.7 |
Majority | 5 | 0.6 | -9.4 |
Turnout | 825 | | |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Campden and Vale
Campden and Vale (2 seats) Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Tom Stowe* | 1,271 | 66.1 | +20.1 |
| Conservative | Gina Blomefield* | 1,258 | 65.4 | +16.2 |
| Liberal Democrats | Danny Loveridge | 604 | 31.4 | +2.5 |
| Liberal Democrats | Rupert Potter | 497 | 25.8 | N/A |
Majority | 654 | 34.0 | |
Turnout | 1924 | | |
| Conservative hold |
| Conservative hold |
Chedworth and Churn Valley
Chedworth and Churn Valley Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Paul Hodgkinson | 576 | 64.0 | +6.4 |
| Conservative | Shaun Parsons | 324 | 36.0 | +18.3 |
Majority | 252 | 28.0 | |
Turnout | 900 | | |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Chesterton
Cirencester Chesterton Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Roly Hughes* | 398 | 63.9 | -15.8 |
| Conservative | Peter Braidwood | 155 | 24.9 | +4.6 |
| Green | Michael Poole | 70 | 11.2 | New |
Majority | 243 | 39.0 | |
Turnout | 623 | | |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Coln Valley
Coln Valley Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | John Fowles | 480 | 52.2 | -6.5 |
| Liberal Democrats | Tristan Wilkinson | 440 | 47.8 | +20.0 |
Majority | 40 | 4.3 | |
Turnout | 920 | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Ermin
Ermin Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Julia Judd* | 581 | 64.9 | +6.8 |
| Liberal Democrats | Ed Smith | 314 | 35.1 | -6.8 |
Majority | 267 | 29.8 | |
Turnout | 895 | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Fairford North
Fairford North Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Michael Vann | 406 | 51.5 | -17.7 |
| Conservative | Tom Dutton | 316 | 40.1 | +9.8 |
| Heritage | James Nicholls | 67 | 8.5 | N/A |
Majority | 90 | 11.4 | |
Turnout | 789 | | |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Fosseridge
Fosseridge Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | David Cunningham | 563 | 65.6 | -3.1 |
| Liberal Democrats | Anthony McGarel-Groves | 295 | 34.4 | +3.1 |
Majority | 268 | 31.2 | |
Turnout | 858 | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Four Acres
Cirencester Four Acres Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Ray Brassington* | 395 | 66.1 | -3.5 |
| Conservative | Rob Gibson | 203 | 33.9 | +10.0 |
Majority | 192 | 32.1 | |
Turnout | 598 | | |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Grumbolds Ash with Avening
Grumbolds Ash with Avening Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Tony Slater | 488 | 61.4 | +0.1 |
| Liberal Democrats | Joanna Walker | 307 | 38.6 | +15.7 |
Majority | 181 | 22.8 | |
Turnout | 795 | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Kemble
Kemble Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Mike McKeown | 665 | 56.9 | N/A |
| Conservative | Tony Berry* | 479 | 41.0 | -16.9 |
| Independent | Charlotte Smith | 25 | 2.1 | N/A |
Majority | 186 | 15.9 | |
Turnout | 1169 | | |
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Lechlade, Kempsford and Fairford South
Lechlade, Kempsford and Fairford South (2 seats) Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Clare Muir | 1,150 | 56.5 | +26.2 |
| Liberal Democrats | Helene Mansilla | 976 | 48.0 | N/A |
| Conservative | Stephen Andrews* | 785 | 38.6 | -13.4 |
| Conservative | Steve Trotter* | 776 | 38.2 | -13.6 |
| Labour | Esme Barlow Hall | 131 | 6.4 | N/A |
| Labour | Trevor Smith | 114 | 5.6 | -9.1 |
Majority | 191 | | |
Turnout | 2034 | 9.4 | |
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative |
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative |
Moreton East
Moreton East Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Angus Jenkinson | 436 | 42.7 | -20.1 |
| Conservative | Tom Bradley | 407 | 39.9 | +6.2 |
| Independent | Chas Allen | 108 | 10.6 | N/A |
| Green | Sue Berry | 69 | 6.8 | N/A |
Majority | 29 | 2.8 | |
Turnout | 1020 | | |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Moreton West
Moreton West Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Daryl Corps | 451 | 51.5 | +6.7 |
| Liberal Democrats | Craig Thurling | 352 | 41.3 | -13.9 |
| Green | Bob Eastoe | 63 | 7.2 | N/A |
Majority | 89 | 10.2 | |
Turnout | 876 | | |
| Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
New Mills
Cirencester New Mills Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Claire Bloomer* | 382 | 72.9 | -3.0 |
| Conservative | Lynn Hilditch | 142 | 27.1 | +3.0 |
Majority | 240 | 45.8 | |
Turnout | 524 | | |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Northleach
Northleach Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Tony Dale* | 511 | 50.5 | -11.7 |
| Conservative | Becca Amory | 427 | 42.2 | +4.4 |
| Green | Hannah Grayson-Gaito | 74 | 7.4 | N/A |
Majority | 84 | 8.3 | |
Turnout | 1012 | | |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Sandywell
Sandywell Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Jeremy Theyer | 448 | 53.7 | -13.3 |
| Liberal Democrats | Alan McLellan | 386 | 46.3 | +21.4 |
Majority | 62 | 7.4 | |
Turnout | 834 | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Siddington and Cerney Rural
Siddington and Cerney Rural Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Mike Evemy* | 530 | 65.9 | -5.5 |
| Conservative | Richard Davies | 274 | 34.1 | +5.5 |
Majority | 256 | 31.8 | |
Turnout | 804 | | |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
South Cerney Village
South Cerney Village Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Juliet Layton* | 481 | 63.7 | -20.0 |
| Conservative | Helen Roffe | 274 | 36.3 | +20.0 |
Majority | 207 | 27.4 | |
Turnout | 755 | | |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
St Michael's
Cirencester St Michael's Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Joe Harris* | 512 | 68.4 | -4.5 |
| Conservative | Chris Vaughan | 236 | 31.6 | +12.2 |
Majority | 276 | 36.9 | |
Turnout | 748 | | |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Stow
Stow Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Dilys Neill* | 436 | 57.9 | -7.4 |
| Conservative | David Thorpe | 290 | 38.5 | +3.8 |
| Independent | Agnieszka Wright | 27 | 3.6 | N/A |
Majority | 146 | 19.4 | |
Turnout | 753 | | |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Stratton
Cirencester Stratton Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Patrick Coleman* | 516 | 56.7 | -0.4 |
| Conservative | Jill Rixon | 278 | 30.5 | +17.3 |
| Green | Bob Irving | 85 | 9.3 | N/A |
| TUSC | Gunther Strait | 31 | 3.4 | N/A |
Majority | 238 | 26.2 | |
Turnout | 910 | | |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Tetbury East and Rural
Tetbury East and Rural Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | Nikki Ind* | 635 | 76.7 | +3.2 |
| Conservative | Jenny Knight | 193 | 23.3 | -3.2 |
Majority | 442 | 53.4 | |
Turnout | 828 | | |
| Independent hold | Swing | | |
Tetbury Town
Tetbury Town Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Ian Watson | 336 | 50.5 | +31.0 |
| Conservative | Stephen Hirst* | 183 | 27.5 | -12.8 |
| Independent | Ann Pearce | 104 | 15.6 | N/A |
| Labour | Symon Bye | 43 | 6.5 | N/A |
Majority | 153 | 23.0 | |
Turnout | 666 | | |
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Tetbury with Upton
Tetbury with Upton Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Christopher Twells | 267 | 37.6 | +28.5 |
| Conservative | Peter Coleman | 207 | 29.2 | -18.8 |
| Independent | Kevin Painter | 142 | 20.0 | N/A |
| Green | Michael Wagner | 94 | 13.2 | N/A |
Majority | 60 | 8.5 | |
Turnout | 710 | | |
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
The Ampneys and Hampton
The Ampneys and Hampton Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Lisa Spivey* | 614 | 57.5 | -1.0 |
| Conservative | Lottie Goldstone | 454 | 42.5 | +1.0 |
Majority | 160 | 15.0 | |
Turnout | 1068 | | |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
The Beeches
Cirencester Beeches Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Nigel Robbins* | 406 | 55.5 | -24.1 |
| Conservative | Adam Limb | 251 | 34.3 | +13.9 |
| Green | Lucy Schlappa | 74 | 10.1 | N/A |
Majority | 155 | 21.2 | |
Turnout | | | |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
The Rissingtons
The Rissingtons Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Green | Andrew Maclean* | 383 | 56.6 | +4.0 |
| Conservative | Esther Trinder | 294 | 43.4 | -4.0 |
Majority | 89 | 13.1 | |
Turnout | 677 | | |
| Green hold | Swing | | |
Watermoor
Cirencester Watermoor Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Gary Selwyn* | 446 | 69.8 | +12.0 |
| Conservative | Mackenzie Vaughan | 193 | 30.2 | +18.5 |
Majority | 253 | 39.6 | |
Turnout | 639 | | |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
By-elections
Lechlade, Kempsford and Fairford South, 14 December 2023 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Tristan Wilkinson | 705 | 48.5 | -8.0 |
| Conservative | Stephen Andrews | 624 | 42.9 | +4.3 |
| Labour | Anna Mainwaring | 73 | 5.0 | -1.4 |
| Independent | Marshall Regan | 53 | 3.6 | N/A |
Majority | 81 | 5.6 | |
Turnout | 1,455 | | |
| Liberal Democrats hold |
References
- ^ "Elections 2023". Cotswold District Council. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ "Lib-Dems defend majority of two at next month's Cotswold local elections". Gloucestershire News Service. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ^ "Election timetable in England". UK Government. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ^ "Local elections 2023: Lib Dems strengthen Cotswolds position". BBC News. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ Norris, Phil; Garcia, Carmelo (5 May 2023). "Cotswold District Council local election 2023 results - full list of new councillors". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ "Cotswolds election candidate is already a councillor 153 miles away in Greater Manchester". Gloucestershire Live. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "Salford councillor who won second seat 160 miles away says he will resign". The Guardian. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "Local elections: Councillor who won second seat 150 miles away quits". BBC. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "Lib Dem who won two seats 150 miles apart suspended". BBC. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "King Charles III's republican Cotswold councillor reveals date he'll quit other council he sits on 160 miles away in Greater Manchester". Gloucestershire Live. 23 January 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "Cotswold District Council - Election results for Abbey". Cotswold District Council. Retrieved 5 May 2023.