2008 UK local government election
Elections to Purbeck District Council were held on 1 May 2008. Nine of the twenty-four seats on the council were up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.[1] Overall turnout was 44.86%.[2]
A big issue in the election was housing with much criticism of plans to build over five thousand homes in the district by 2026.[3] The nominations for the election saw an unusual event when Liberal Democrat candidate Alexandra Brenton signed the nomination papers for her friend and Labour Party candidate Selby Bennett.[4] Two seats were contested in Lytchett Matravers after Liberal Democrat councillor Michael Peacock stood down in February.[5]
The results saw the Liberal Democrat party gained Wareham and Wool wards from the Conservative Party to pull level on the Council. The Conservative party took Swanage South from Liberal Democrat Colin Bright who had defected from the Conservatives the previous month.[6]
After the election, the composition of the council was
- Conservative 11
- Liberal Democrat 11
- Independent 2
Election result
Purbeck Local Election Result 2008 Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Liberal Democrats | 5 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 55.6 | 45.6 | 6,174 | +3.8% |
| Conservative | 4 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 44.4 | 47.3 | 6,399 | +8.7% |
| Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.8 | 653 | -2.3% |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.2 | 304 | -3.2% |
Ward results
Lytchett Matravers (2) Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Martyn Colvey | 785 | | |
| Conservative | David Cross | 729 | | |
| Liberal Democrats | Alexandra Brenton | 715 | | |
| Conservative | Colin Gibb | 692 | | |
| Labour | James Selby Bennett | 50 | | |
Turnout | 2,971 | 52.7 | +0.4 |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Lytchett Minster and Upton East Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Wendy Starr | 692 | 57.6 | -4.1 |
| Conservative | Simon Williams | 509 | 42.4 | +4.1 |
Majority | 183 | 15.2 | -8.2 |
Turnout | 1,201 | 39.1 | -0.8 |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Lytchett Minster and Upton West Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Paul Johns | 829 | 65.3 | +15.8 |
| Liberal Democrats | Mark Howlett | 391 | 30.8 | -19.7 |
| Labour | Ruth Cade | 50 | 3.9 | +3.9 |
Majority | 438 | 24.5 | |
Turnout | 1,270 | 42.6 | -6.3 |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
St Martin Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Beryl Ezzard | 563 | 56.2 | -0.9 |
| Conservative | Jane Thomas | 438 | 43.8 | +10.3 |
Majority | 125 | 12.4 | -11.2 |
Turnout | 1,001 | 46.5 | +0.9 |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Swanage North Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Gloria Marsh | 917 | 59.3 | +8.2 |
| Liberal Democrats | Philippa Keeling | 497 | 32.1 | +7.1 |
| Labour | Margaret Storey | 132 | 8.5 | -2.3 |
Majority | 420 | 27.2 | +1.1 |
Turnout | 1,546 | 46.2 | -3.4 |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Swanage South Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Alison Patrick | 932 | 50.6 | +10.6 |
| Liberal Democrats | Colin Bright | 561 | 30.5 | +1.1 |
| Labour | Marilyn Larthe de Langladure | 348 | 18.9 | +0.6 |
Majority | 371 | 20.1 | +9.5 |
Turnout | 1,841 | 38.5 | 0.0 |
| Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Wareham Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Keith Critchley | 1,245 | 57.6 | -4.6 |
| Conservative | Roy Anderson | 915 | 42.4 | +4.6 |
Majority | 330 | 15.2 | -9.2 |
Turnout | 2,160 | 47.0 | +4.1 |
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Wool Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Graham Holmes | 725 | 47.1 | +0.7 |
| Conservative | Malcolm Shakesby | 438 | 28.4 | -6.1 |
| Independent | Rosemary Grey-Hodder | 304 | 19.7 | +19.7 |
| Labour | Rosemary Phillips | 73 | 4.7 | -2.6 |
Majority | 287 | 18.7 | +6.8 |
Turnout | 1,540 | 46.5 | +2.9 |
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
References
- ^ "Tories gain seats and Labour lose". BBC Online. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2008.
- ^ "Purbeck District council". Purbeck District Council. Archived from the original on 2 March 2001. Retrieved 2 May 2008.
- ^ "Purbeck: no control". Bournemouth Daily Echo. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2008.
- ^ "Lib Dem signs for Labour 'friend'". BBC Online. 29 April 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2008.
- ^ "Housing the big issue for Purbeck electors". Bournemouth Daily Echo. 29 April 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2008.
- ^ "Tories lose Purbeck council". Bournemouth Daily Echo. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2008.[permanent dead link]
- 2008 Purbeck election result
- Declaration of Results of Polls - District and Town Council Elections held on 1 May 2008[permanent dead link]