2012 Coventry City Council election

Elections for Coventry City Council were held on Thursday, 3 May 2012, the same day as other 2012 local elections in the United Kingdom. As the council is elected by thirds, one seat in each of the city's 18 wards was up for election. The Labour Party won the seat in 15 of the wards, gaining a total of 8 and increasing their majority to 32 seats.[1] The Conservative Party won the remaining three seats, losing six, with the Liberal Democrats and the Socialist Party both losing their only seat on the council.[2]

Map of the 2012 Coventry election. Conservatives in blue, Labour in red

The election coincided with a local referendum on whether to have an elected mayor.[3]

Campaign

The Conservative party focused their efforts on retaining their existing seats, campaigning on issues like the closure of Sure Start centres, disruption caused by rebuilding the city centre, and an alternative budget proposal.[4] Labour focused on their aim of protecting frontline services, rebuilding the city centre for the Olympics (Coventry hosted several football events), and fixing potholes. Liberal Democrat councillor Russell Field focused on his record in working for his ward. The Socialists supported an independent candidate in Foleshill who is campaigning against the planned closure of a local sports centre. They focused on "stiffening the resistance to coalition cuts to this city" and accused Labour of signing up to coalition austerity plans. The Greens focused on alternative plans for the city, including an insulation scheme for homes and instituting a Living Wage for council employees. UKIP was focussing on local issues.[4]

Results

Voter turnout was 26%.[5]

Coventry City Council Election, 2012
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour 15 8 0 +8 83% 53.72% 32,414 -0.88%
  Conservative 3 0 6 -6 17% 26.36% 16,755 -0.14%
  Socialist Alternative 0 0 1 -1 0 5.35% 3401 +1.66%
  Green 0 0 0 0 0 5.05% 3212 +0.11%
  Liberal Democrats 0 0 1 -1 0 3.91% 2486 -1.27%
  BNP 0 0 0 0 0 2.70% 1718 -0.95%
  UKIP 0 0 0 0 0 2.29% 1457 +1.44%
  Independent 0 0 0 0 0 1.71% 1085 +1.13%
  Christian Movement for Great Britain 0 0 0 0 0 0.80% 511 N/A
  TOTAL 18 8 8 0 100% 63,572

Council composition

The composition of the council before and after the election can be found in the following table:

Party Previous council Staying councillors Seats up for election Election result New council
Labour 35 28 7 15 43
Conservatives 17 8 9 3 11
Socialist Alternative 1 0 1 0 0
Green 0 0 0 0 0
Liberal Democrats 1 0 1 0 0
British National Party 0 0 0 0 0
UKIP 0 0 0 0 0
Christian Movement for Great Britain 0 0 0 0 0
Independent 0 0 0 0 0
Total 54 36 18 18 54

Results by ward

Note: For all wards, the percentage change is calculated from the council local election in 2011 (the last time the ward was contested), whilst the gains, losses, and holds are calculated from 2008 (the last time these particular seats were contested).

Bablake Ward[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David John Galliers 1502 37.3% -11.6%
Conservative Jaswant Singh Birdi 1302 32.3% -1.8%
Independent John Gazey 669 16.6% N/A
BNP Betty Booton 179 4.4% +0.6%
Green Walter William Milner 141 3.5% -0.7%
Liberal Democrats Peter Simpson 122 3.0% -1.2%
Socialist Alternative Jethro Waldron 48 1.2% +0.4%
Christian Movement for Great Britain Louise Lebar 35 0.9% N/A
Majority 200 5.0%
Turnout 4028 32.38% -10.27%
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Note for Bablake ward: Independent candidate John Gazey was the sitting councillor for the Conservative party. After being deselected he decided to run as an independent.[7]

Binley and Willenhall Ward[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dave Chater 1898 58.29% -0.07%
Conservative Linda Ann Reece 570 17.51% -5.73%
UKIP Colin Aldous Stubbs 503 15.45% +7.57%
BNP David Clarke 100 3.07% -1.89%
Green Justin Wood 95 2.92% -0.03%
Socialist Alternative Ross Armstrong 67 2.06% +0.17%
Majority 1328 40.79% -5.67%
Turnout 3256 25.43% -7.73%
Labour hold Swing
Cheylesmore Ward[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Hazel Margaret Noonan 1992 48.46% +0.27%
Labour Anne Frances Arlidge 1688 41.06% -1.24%
Green John Verdult 266 6.47% +0.07%
Socialist Alternative Judy Griffiths 141 3.43% +0.32%
Majority 304 7.39% +2.8%
Turnout 4111 25.04% -16.92%
Conservative hold Swing
Earlsdon Ward[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Allan Robert Andrews 2137 46.29% +3.21%
Labour Bilal Akhtar 1442 31.23% -9.96%
Green Scott Gordon Redding 327 7.08% +1.39%
UKIP James Michael Bowes 272 5.89% N/A
Liberal Democrats Derek Stephen Benefield 261 5.65% -2.13%
Socialist Alternative Fiona Pashazadeh 116 2.51% +0.25%
Christian Movement for Great Britain William Sidhu 43 0.93% N/A
Majority 695 15.05% +13.16%
Turnout 4617 37.03% -11.73%
Conservative hold Swing
Foleshill Ward[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Malkiat Singh Auluck 2112 57.33% -9.57%
Conservative Shabbir Ahmed 1114 30.24% +6.62%
Independent William Bromwich 213 5.78% N/A
Green Rana Sumra 80 2.17% -0.62%
Christian Movement for Great Britain Ron Lebar 71 1.93% N/A
BNP Hunter Helmsley 61 1.66% -0.97%
Majority 998 27.09%
Turnout 3684 29.70% -9.65%
Labour hold Swing
Henley Ward[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ed Ruane 2036 60.42% +3.06%
Liberal Democrats Brian David Patton 488 14.48% -13.38%
Conservative Steven Henry Charles Keough 393 11.66% N/A
BNP Rose Morris 243 7.21% -0.81%
Green George Robinson 121 3.59% -0.48%
Socialist Alternative Siobhan Friel 80 2.37% -0.32%
Majority 1548 45.93%
Turnout 3370 25.10% -7.08%
Labour hold Swing
Holbrook Ward[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Rachel Elizabeth Lancaster 2087 68.63% +3.2%
Conservative Val Stone 404 13.29% -7.72%
Green Stephen Gray 215 7.07% +1.38%
BNP Mark Badrick 211 6.94% +1.04%
Socialist Alternative Jim Hensman 99 3.26% +1.92%
Majority 1683 55.34%
Turnout 3041 24.18% -10.22%
Labour hold Swing
Longford Ward[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Duggins 2409 72.30% -0.23%
Christian Movement for Great Britain Raj Kumar 362 10.86% N/A
BNP Frankie Bates 203 6.09% +0.05%
Green Paul Andrew 163 4.89% +0.95%
Socialist Alternative Craig Davenport 111 3.33% +0.92%
Conservative Dial Masih 58 1.74% -12.64%
Majority 2047 61.43%
Turnout 3332 24.68 -6.72%
Labour hold Swing
Lower Stoke Ward[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Catherine Elizabeth Miks 1748 54.20% -2.99%
Conservative Michael Arthur Ballinger 484 15.01% -7.31%
Socialist Alternative Rob McArdle 310 9.61% +3.23%
UKIP John Bevan 233 7.22% N/A
Liberal Democrats James Henry White 168 5.21% N/A
Green Laura Vesty 161 4.99% -2.75%
BNP Keith Oxford 101 3.13% -2.59%
Majority 1264 39.19%
Turnout 3225 23.85% -10.85%
Labour hold Swing
Radford Ward[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mal Mutton 1896 65.47% +0.6%
Conservative Mary Taylor 498 17.20% -0.19%
Green Gavin Collins 210 7.25% +1.63%
Socialist Alternative Glen Watson 142 4.90% +2.56%
BNP Ian Wankling 126 4.35% -0.75%
Majority 1398 48.27%
Turnout 2896 21.44% -8.51%
Labour hold Swing
Sherbourne Ward[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alison Jane Gingell 1833 57.21% +2.04%
Conservative Leon Victor Emirali 705 22.00% -5.12%
Green John Griffiths 225 7.02% +2.36%
BNP Leisel Wagstaff 173 5.40% +1.27%
Socialist Alternative Jason Toynbee 145 4.53% +2.05%
Liberal Democrats Christopher Glenn 96 3.00% -2.95%
Majority 1128 35.21%
Turnout 3204 25.08% -12.57%
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
St. Michael's Ward[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Naeem Akhtar 1,673 49.03% -9.04%
Socialist Alternative Dave Nellist 1,469 43.05% +12.73%
Conservative Christian Michael Cliffe 243 7.12% -3.3%
Majority 204 5.98%
Turnout 3413 21.19 -5.48%
Labour gain from Socialist Alternative Swing
Upper Stoke Ward[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Kamran Asif Caan 2024 57.85% -0.84%
Liberal Democrats Russell David Field 682 19.49% +1.00%
Conservative Denise Beech 275 7.86% -3.90%
Green John Halpin 213 6.09% +2.41%
BNP John Hurren 156 4.46% +2.26%
Socialist Alternative Paul Smith 120 3.43% +1.23%
Majority 1342 38.35%
Turnout 3499 26.00% -7.00%
Labour gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Wainbody Ward[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Anthony Blundell 1540 42.09% -1.49%
Labour Martin Patrick Hartnett 1214 33.19% -0.74%
UKIP Mark Taylor 449 12.27% +5.53%
Green Danny Foulstone 210 5.74% -1.25%
Liberal Democrats Napier Penlington 172 4.70% -2.59%
Socialist Alternative Dan Crowter 54 1.48% 0.00%
Majority 326 8.91%
Turnout 3659 28.45% -16.55%
Conservative hold Swing
Westwood Ward[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Maya Ali 1418 41.73% -5.15%
Conservative Marcus Edgar Lapsa 1346 39.61% +1.13%
Green Merle Gering 183 5.39% -0.86%
BNP Darren Thomas 165 4.86% -0.63%
Liberal Democrats Greg Judge 145 4.27% N/A
Socialist Alternative Jim Donnelly 122 3.59% +1.55%
Majority 72 2.19%
Turnout 3398 25.65% -10.35%
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
Whoberley Ward[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jayne Elisabeth Innes 1693 49.37% -1.08%
Conservative Roger Maurice James Bailey 1014 29.57% +2.15%
Green Rachel Adshead 320 9.33% +2.83%
Socialist Alternative Richard Groves 206 6.01% +3.86%
Liberal Democrats Brian Rees Lewis 160 4.67% -1.14%
Majority 679 19.80%
Turnout 3429 27.34% -13.57%
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
Woodlands Ward[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Steven Peter Thomas 1853 47.35% +4.39%
Conservative Heather Johnson 1534 39.20% +2.14%
Green Dan Gower 222 5.67% +2.16%
Liberal Democrats Jacqueline Bridget Basu 192 4.91% -5.41%
Socialist Alternative Sunara Begum 82 2.10% +1.27%
Majority 319 8.15%
Turnout 3913 29.36% -11.54%
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
Wyken Ward[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Robert Richard Thay 1888 53.82% +0.42%
Conservative Susanna Dixon 1146 32.67% -2.72%
Independent Adrian Roll 203 5.79% +1.57%
Green Cathy Wattebot 160 4.56% +0.05%
Socialist Alternative Jodie Hannis 89 2.54% +0.06%
Majority 742 21.`15%
Turnout 3508 26.65% -11.95%
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

References
  1. "Labour gain in Coventry and Nuneaton and Bedworth". BBC News. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  2. "Coventry votes no to an elected Mayor". Coventry City Council. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  3. "Referendum in May 2012 to vote on Coventry elected mayor". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
  4. Reid, Les (27 April 2012). "Battle on for seats in Coventry and Warwickshire council elections". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  5. Carpenter, Steve (4 May 2012). "Labour in control at Coventry City Council elections". Coventry Observer. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  6. Coventry City Council (4 May 2012). "Coventry City Council (local) election results - May 3, 2012". Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  7. Bigot, Martin (21 March 2012). "John Gazey set to take on Coventry's Tory party at May elections". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
  8. Coventry City Council (4 May 2012). "Coventry City Council (local) election results - May 3, 2012". Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  9. Coventry City Council (4 May 2012). "Coventry City Council (local) election results - May 3, 2012". Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  10. Coventry City Council (4 May 2012). "Coventry City Council (local) election results - May 3, 2012". Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  11. Coventry City Council (4 May 2012). "Coventry City Council (local) election results - May 3, 2012". Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  12. Coventry City Council (4 May 2012). "Coventry City Council (local) election results - May 3, 2012". Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  13. Coventry City Council (4 May 2012). "Coventry City Council (local) election results - May 3, 2012". Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  14. Coventry City Council (4 May 2012). "Coventry City Council (local) election results - May 3, 2012". Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  15. Coventry City Council (4 May 2012). "Coventry City Council (local) election results - May 3, 2012". Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  16. Coventry City Council (4 May 2012). "Coventry City Council (local) election results - May 3, 2012". Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  17. Coventry City Council (4 May 2012). "Coventry City Council (local) election results - May 3, 2012". Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  18. Coventry City Council (4 May 2012). "Coventry City Council (local) election results - May 3, 2012". Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  19. Coventry City Council (4 May 2012). "Coventry City Council (local) election results - May 3, 2012". Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  20. Coventry City Council (4 May 2012). "Coventry City Council (local) election results - May 3, 2012". Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  21. Coventry City Council (4 May 2012). "Coventry City Council (local) election results - May 3, 2012". Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  22. Coventry City Council (4 May 2012). "Coventry City Council (local) election results - May 3, 2012". Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  23. Coventry City Council (4 May 2012). "Coventry City Council (local) election results - May 3, 2012". Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  24. Coventry City Council (4 May 2012). "Coventry City Council (local) election results - May 3, 2012". Retrieved 4 May 2012.
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