North West Leicestershire District Council elections are held every four years. North West Leicestershire District Council is the local authority for the non-metropolitan district of North West Leicestershire in Leicestershire, England. Since the last boundary changes in 2015, 38 councillors are elected from 38 wards.[1]

Political control

The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Since 1973 political control of the council has been held by the following parties:[2]

Party in controlYears
Labour1973–1976
No overall control1976–1979
Labour1979–1983
No overall control1983–1991
Labour1991–2007
Conservative2007–2023
No overall control2023–present

Following the 2019 election, the council's composition is:

↓
1 10 4 3 20
G Labour LDem Ind Conservative

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 2003 have been:[3]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Frank Straw Labourpre-20036 May 2007
Richard Blunt Conservative15 May 2007

Elections and results

Overall control Labour Conservative Lib Dem BNP Green Independent
2023 NOC 17 12 5 - - 4
2019 Conservative 10 20 4 - 1 3
2015 Conservative 10 25 1 0 0 2
Ward boundary changes[4]
2011 Conservative 16 21 1 0 0 0
2007 Conservative 5 27 3 2 - 1
2003 Labour 20 12 4 - - 2
Ward boundary changes; seats reduced from 40 to 38[5]
1999 Labour 31 8 0 - - 1
1995 Labour 35 3 0 - - 2
1991 Labour 26 13 0 - - 1
Ward boundary changes[6]
1987 NOC - - - - - -
Ward boundary changes[7]
1983 NOC - - - - - -
Ward boundary changes; number of seats changed[8]
1979 Labour - - - - - -
1976 NOC 19 13 0 - - 10
1973 Labour 25 8 0 - - 10

A dash indicates that the results for a particular election are not available, or that a party did not stand in an election.

District result maps

Ward details

Below is a summary of each ward in the District of North West Leicestershire. For each ward, a brief description is given along with a table showing its electoral history. In two or three member wards, the swings shown are based upon the average votes received by all candidates from a party.

Appleby

The Appleby ward covers several small, rural villages in the far south of the District. It has been represented by Richard Blunt since 2003; Blunt has also been the Leader of the Council since 2007. Like several of the District's geographically large rural wards, it is a safe seat for the Conservatives; it was, however, held by Labour for one term after their landslide victory in 1995.

Election Party Councillor Margin Swing
2011   Conservative Richard Blunt 28.9% 24.3% from Con to Ind
2007   55.0% 5.2% from Lab to Con
2003   Edward Blunt 44.6%
1995   Labour J. Lewis 20.0%

Ashby Castle

The Ashby Castle ward is one of three wards that cover the Ashby-de-la-Zouch area. It has been represented by John Coxon since 2003. Geographically, it is the smallest of Ashby's wards and contains the 15th century Ashby Castle from which the ward takes its name. It is a very safe seat for the Conservatives who have consistently achieved a majority of between 40% and 50%, however, in 1995 they came in third place behind a Labour candidate and a victorious Independent.

Election Party Councillor Margin Swing
2011   Conservative John Coxon 43.0% 3.0% from Con to Lab
2007   49.0% 1.4% from Lab to Con
2003   46.2%
1995   Independent G. Orme 13.5%

Ashby Holywell

Another of Ashby-de-la-Zouch's three wards, the Ashby Holywell ward elects two councillors. It has been represented by two Conservatives, Roger Bayliss and Graham Allman, since 2003. This ward leans toward the Conservatives although it has been held by Labour in the past and saw a pro-Labour swing at the last election

Election Party First Councillor Party Second Councillor Swing
2011   Conservative Roger Bayliss   Conservative Graham Allman 1.7% from Con to Lab
2007     4.4% from Lab to Con
2003     Labour Gordon Tacey
1995   Labour L. Whetton   J. Fisher

Ashby Ivanhoe

The Ashby Ivanhoe ward is the last of Ashby-de-la-Zouch's three wards; it also elects two councillors. It has been represented by two Conservatives, James Hoult and Geraint Jones, since 2007. Ivanhoe is a key marginal ward between Labour and the Conservatives. It could be considered to be a bellwether ward because it has returned two councillors for the victorious party at every election.

Election Party First Councillor Party Second Councillor Swing
2011   Conservative James Hoult   Conservative Geraint Jones 2.5% from Con to Lab
2007     8.0% from Lab to Con
2003   Labour David Whetton   Labour Sean Sheahan
1995   B. Mitchell   J. Roberts

Bardon

The Bardon ward is situated in the greater Coalville area and contains the headquarters of Bardon Aggregates as well as a large quarry managed by the company. It has been represented by Michael Specht since 2011. It has been consecutively held by the Conservatives since its creation in 2003, however, it is now a three-way marginal after the Conservatives, the Lib Dems and Labour received 33.4%, 31.2% and 27.6% respectively at the last election.

Election Party Councillor Margin Swing
2011   Conservative Michael Specht 2.2% 18.5% from Con to Lib Dem
2007   Ted Purver 32.1% 4.4% from Lab to Con
2003   23.4%
1995 Ward did not exist

Ibstock and Heather

The Ibstock and Heather ward covers the village of Ibstock, which is situated approximately 2.5 miles south of Coalville, and the small village of Heather (pronounced HEE-ther); it elects three councillors. It has been represented by two Labour councillors and one Conservative since 2011. Three by-elections* have taken place in this ward since 2008; the first two of which, both in 2008, were narrowly won by Labour and the Conservatives respectively, despite a strong challenge from the BNP; the third was fairly comfortably won by Labour despite a good result for the Liberal Democrats. This ward has generally favoured Labour but has also elected Conservatives more recently.

Election Party First Councillor Party Second Councillor Party Third Councillor Swing
2012*   Labour Dave De Lacy 8.9% from Con to Lab
2011   Stacy Harris   Labour Janet Ruff   Conservative Virge Richichi 0.5% from Con to Lab
2008*   21.2% from Con to BNP
2008*   Labour Felix Fenning 18.3% from Lab to BNP
2007   Dai Male   Conservative Craig Bowley   Conservative Ted Blunt 7.1% from Lab to Con
2003     Labour Felix Fenning   Labour Alison Harrop
1995     Labour D. Costello   Labour A. Smith

Thringstone

The Thringstone ward covers the northwestern portion of Coalville and was formed after boundary changes in 2003. It has been represented by two Labour councillors since its creation. Thringstone is the safest Labour seat in the District as it is the only ward which has always returned Labour councillors; its predecessor, Holly Hayes, was also a very safe Labour seat.

Election Party First Councillor Party Second Councillor Swing
2011   Labour Leon Spence   Labour Dave Everitt 4.0% from Con to Lab
2007   Pam Clayfield   12.2% from Lab to Con
2003     Roderick Evans
1995 Ward did not exist

By-elections

Overview

By-electionDateIncumbent partyResult
Holly Hayes 19 August 1999 Labour Labour
Ibstock and Heather 10 January 2008 Labour Labour
18 December 2008 Conservative Conservative
16 February 2012 Labour Labour
Measham South 4 February 2016 Labour Labour
Ibstock East 6 May 2021 Labour Conservative
Worthington and Breedon Conservative Conservative

2019 - 2023

Ibstock East By-Election, 6 May 2021[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jenny Simmons 355 57.8 +25.6
Labour Carissma Griffiths 164 26.7 -15.1
Liberal Democrats David Wyatt 54 8.8 +8.8
Green Liz Fletcher 41 6.7 +6.7
Majority 191 31.1
Turnout 614
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Worthington and Breedon By-Election, 6 May 2021[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Raymond Morris 696 69.7 +3.2
Labour Gregory Parle 139 13.9 -3.9
Green Gareth Shilton 104 10.4 +10.4
Liberal Democrats Paul Tyler 60 6.0 -9.7
Majority 557 55.8
Turnout 999
Conservative hold Swing

2015 - 2019

Measham South By-Election, 4 February 2016[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Sean Sheahan 257 42.8 -12.3
Conservative Annette Bridge 202 33.7 −11.2
UKIP Martin Green 141 23.5 +23.5
Majority 55 9.2
Turnout 600
Labour hold Swing

2011 - 2015

Ibstock and Heather By-Election, 16 February 2012
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dave De Lacy 480 34.5 +4.5
Liberal Democrats Kim Wyatt 372 26.7 +12.5
Conservative Russell Boam 357 25.6 −13.3
Independent Ivan Hammonds 125 9.0 −7.8
Green Sue Morrell 32 2.3 N/A
UKIP Jakob Whiten 26 1.9 N/A
Majority 108 7.8
Turnout 1,392 24.9 −24.4
Labour hold Swing +8.9

2007 - 2011

Ibstock and Heather By-Election, 18 December 2008
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Virge Richichi 660 31.5 −11.5
BNP Ivan Hammonds 645 30.8 N/A
Labour Corinne Male 614 29.4 −9.8
Liberal Democrats David Wyatt 174 8.3 −1.0
Majority 15 0.7
Turnout 2,093 37.4
Conservative hold Swing −21.2
Ibstock and Heather By-Election, 10 January 2008
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Felix Fenning 699 30.9 −8.3
BNP Ivan Hammonds 637 28.2 N/A
Conservative Paul Oakden 515 22.8 −20.2
Liberal Democrats David Wyatt 411 18.2 +8.9
Majority 62 2.7 N/A
Turnout 2,262 40.4
Labour hold Swing −18.3

1999 - 2003

Holly Hayes By-Election, 19 August 1999
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour 459 44.5 −5.1
Liberal Democrats 410 39.7 +17.1
Independent 88 8.5 −3.1
Conservative 75 7.3 −8.8
Majority 49 4.8
Turnout 1,032
Labour hold Swing

References

  1. ↑ "The North West Leicestershire (Electoral Changes) Order 2014", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2014/3060, retrieved 18 August 2022
  2. ↑ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  3. ↑ "Council minutes". North West Leicestershire District Council. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  4. ↑ legislation.gov.uk - The North West Leicestershire (Electoral Changes) Order 2014. Retrieved on 3 November 2015.
  5. ↑ legislation.gov.uk - The District of North West Leicestershire (Electoral Changes) Order 2002. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
  6. ↑ legislation.gov.uk - The Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire (County Boundaries) Order 1991. Retrieved on 5 November 2015.
  7. ↑ The Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire (County and District Boundaries) Order 1985
  8. ↑ The District of North West Leicestershire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1980
  9. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Ibstock East Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  10. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Worthington and Breedon Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  11. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Measham South Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
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