1997 Bracknell Forest Borough Council election

1997 local election in Bracknell Forest December 2022 December 2022 1997 Bracknell Forest Borough Council election parliamentary no 1997 05 01 y 1995 Bracknell Forest Borough Council election 1995 2000 Bracknell Forest Borough Council election 2000 All 40 seats to Bracknell Forest Borough Council 21 75% https://democratic.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/mgElectionResults.aspx?ID=8&RPID=59635815 Borough Council Elections - Thursday, 1 May 1997 28 December 2022 1 May 1997 Bracknell Forest Borough Council Con Paul Bettison Conservative Party (UK) Little Sandhurst 12 23 11 25,438 44.7% 7.1% Lab Austin McCormack Labour Party (UK) Wildridings 22 17 5 17,751 31.2% 7.6% Liberal Democrats (UK) LD David Neighbour Voters put Lib Dems to the sword Bracknell Times 8 May 1997 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0003585/19970508/008/0008 28 December 2022 College Town(lost re-election) 6 0 6 11,857 20.8% 1.6% Council control Council control after election Labour Conservative The 1997 Bracknell Forest Borough Council election took place on 1 May 1997, to elect all 40 members in 19 wards for Bracknell Forest Borough Council in England. The election was held on the same day as both the 1997 United Kingdom general election and other local elections in England as part of the 1997 United Kingdom local elections, resulting in a much higher turnout of 75% compared to 1995. With the planned abolition of Berkshire County Council, Bracknell Forest would see itself transition from a district council to a unitary authority a year into the new term. Despite the landslide victory of the Labour Party in the general election, Bracknell Forest emerged as the only council in the United Kingdom to switch from outright Labour control to outright Conservative control, with the Conservative Party gaining a majority of 6. The Liberal Democrats were wiped out. Part of the reason for such a dramatic switch was ascribed to the presence of a 'New Labour' slate of candidates. 'New' party opposes election law change Bracknell Times 10 July 1997 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003585/19970710/003/0003 28 January 2023 Tompkins John Inquiry needed to sort out Labour feud Bracknell Times 21 August 1997 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003585/19970821/006/0006 28 January 2023 Irrespective of its name, it was not connected to the New Labour movement, but was led by former Labour group leader John Tompkins. In two wards, where the Conservatives gained 3 councillors from Labour, the margin of victory was smaller than the vote share of the 'New Labour' candidates. The local Labour Party argued that the similarity of the 'New Labour' name amounted to an attempt at confusing voters and investigated legal action. Former Conservative council leader Alan Ward, who won re-election in Central Sandhurst, surmised that the national Labour Party - both euphoric and preoccupied by its win of government - was not interested in pursuing the case, and the election results were allowed to stand. Ward Alan Not A Single Excuse Writersworld 2012 226 978-09572052-0-8 This would be the start of a 26-year Conservative reign, headed by Paul Bettison, that would only end in 2023. Results summary 1997 Bracknell Forest Borough Council election Conservative Party (UK) 23 11 11 0 25,438 44.7 57.5 Labour Party (UK) 17 5 0 5 17,751 31.2 42.5 Liberal Democrats (UK) 0 6 0 6 11,857 20.8 0.0 New Labour 0 0 0 0 1,251 2.2 0.0 Independent (politician) 0 0 0 0 642 1.1 0.0 Ward results An asterisk (*) denotes an incumbent councillor standing for re-election Ascot Ascot (3) Conservative Party (UK) Anne Kay Haydon 2,955 51.3 +17.4 Conservative Party (UK) Hilary Doyle* 2,928 Conservative Party (UK) Dorothy Andrea Susan Hayes* 2,893 Liberal Democrats (UK) Frances Sophia Farrelly 1,433 24.9 -8.1 Labour Party (UK) Lucy Mary Norman 1,376 23.9 -9.2 Liberal Democrats (UK) Susan Jane Simmonds 1,358 Liberal Democrats (UK) Anthony Francis Harradine 1,343 Labour Party (UK) John James Harding 1,295 Labour Party (UK) John Kenneth Wright 1,206 69.7 +38.7 8,267 Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) Liberal Democrats (UK) Binfield Binfield (2) Conservative Party (UK) Terry Mills 2,059 50.7 +2.9 Conservative Party (UK) John Bruce Harrison 1,996 Labour Party (UK) Robert Martin Woodrow 915 22.5 -9.8 Labour Party (UK) Edwin Lloyd Glasson 877 Liberal Democrats (UK) Bernard Walter Yoxall 721 17.8 -2.1 Independent (politician) Kenneth Charles Bennett 363 8.9 New Independent (politician) Geoffrey Howard Taylor*taylor n Taylor was elected as a Conservative Party candidate in 1995. 281 76.3 +40.4 5,384 Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) Bullbrook Bullbrook (3) Labour Party (UK) Patrick Joseph Ryan* 1,267 36.1 -8.4 Conservative Party (UK) Gareth Michael Barnard 1,233 35.1 +3.4 Conservative Party (UK) James Michael Barry Egan* 1,225 Labour Party (UK) Robert Edward Draper* 1,214 Labour Party (UK) Michael John Salter 1,144 Conservative Party (UK) Jones A. Ms. 1,135 Liberal Democrats (UK) Lesley Marion Boyd 807 23.0 -0.8 Liberal Democrats (UK) Stephen Hedley Barker 770 Liberal Democrats (UK) Ronald Henry Hanson 690 New Labour Carole Ann Hall 204 5.8 New New Labour Neil Albert Tomkins 170 New Labour Peter John Hall 166 72.6 +30.9 5,105 Labour Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) Central Sandhurst Central Sandhurst (2) Conservative Party (UK) Peter Laurie North* 1,368 56.5 +12.4 Conservative Party (UK) Alan Frederick Ward* 1,245 Liberal Democrats (UK) Raymond William Earwicker 608 25.1 -16.5 Liberal Democrats (UK) John Mark Nicholson 596 Labour Party (UK) Jillian Irene Ryan 348 14.4 +0.1 Labour Party (UK) Edward Geary 286 New Labour Peter John Woodburn Darke 97 4.0 New 76.8 +29.9 3,159 Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) College Town College Town (2) Conservative Party (UK) Andrew (Andy) Duncan Blatchford 1,219 46.7 +15.9 Conservative Party (UK) Raymond Simonds 1,142 Liberal Democrats (UK) Veronica Anne Sullivan* 993 38.1 -14.6 Liberal Democrats (UK) David Alan Neighbour* 982 Labour Party (UK) Ian Plested 397 15.2 -1.3 Labour Party (UK) Alexandra Denise Tidd 381 69.7 +36.0 4,138 Conservative Party (UK) Liberal Democrats (UK) Conservative Party (UK) Liberal Democrats (UK) Cranbourne Cranbourne Conservative Party (UK) Mary Patricia Ballin* 503 67.2 +8.7 Labour Party (UK) Anthony Malcolm House 246 32.8 -8.7 70.0 +35.3 1,089 Conservative Party (UK) Crowthorne Crowthorne (3) Conservative Party (UK) James George Finnie* 1,461 46.8 +8.1 Conservative Party (UK) Robert Hugh Wade 1,228 Conservative Party (UK) John (Cliff) Clifton Thompson 1,172 Liberal Democrats (UK) Stephen Pope* 949 30.4 -12.8 Liberal Democrats (UK) Christopher Robin Sexton 908 Liberal Democrats (UK) David James Maxwell* 890 Labour Party (UK) Roy John Bailey 712 22.8 +4.7 Labour Party (UK) Daphne Elizabeth Sandiford 647 Labour Party (UK) Sylvia Maria Ruth Trevis 588 75.6 +34.0 4,175 Conservative Party (UK) Liberal Democrats (UK) Conservative Party (UK) Liberal Democrats (UK) Conservative Party (UK) Garth Garth (2) Labour Party (UK) Dennis Rueben Good* 1,027 47.1 -8.8 Labour Party (UK) Steven Paul Taylor* 999 Conservative Party (UK) Jacqueline Doris Sylvia Ryder 786 36.1 +1.9 Conservative Party (UK) Beatrice Helen Brown 683 Liberal Democrats (UK) Robert David Maxwell 269 12.3 +2.4 New Labour Janette Mary Tompkins 97 4.5 New New Labour Jean Oxenbury 64 76.4 +25.7 2,929 Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) Great Hollands North Great Hollands North (2) Labour Party (UK) Jeananne Margaret Shillcock* 1,168 45.3 -17.2 Labour Party (UK) Langdon Richard Jones* 1,160 Conservative Party (UK) Betty Anne Nicholls 961 37.2 -0.3 Conservative Party (UK) Marilyn Denise Edmeades 910 Liberal Democrats (UK) Polly Martin 452 17.5 New 73.8 +30.4 3,628 Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) Great Hollands South Great Hollands South (2) Labour Party (UK) Michael John Adams* 1,063 43.3 -3.1 Conservative Party (UK) Robert Angell 991 40.4 +0.6 Labour Party (UK) Stephen William King* 975 Conservative Party (UK) Janice Ann Angell 948 Liberal Democrats (UK) John Alexander Shepherd 399 16.3 +2.5 69.9 +28.4 3,599 Labour Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) Hanworth Hanworth (3) Labour Party (UK) George William Bayle 1,953 44.9 -6.4 Labour Party (UK) Janet Hazel Keene* 1,869 Labour Party (UK) Tom Wheaton* 1,853 Conservative Party (UK) Martin William Wallace 1,585 36.4 +3.8 Conservative Party (UK) Alan Sydney Browne 1,581 Conservative Party (UK) Diana Simone Olivia Henfrey 1,524 Liberal Democrats (UK) Geoffrey Noel Le-Patourel 816 18.7 +2.7 74.2 +32.2 6,168 Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) Harmans Water Harmans Water (3) Labour Party (UK) William James Ernest Onions* 2,033 39.5 -11.8 Conservative Party (UK) Shelagh Rosemary Pile 1,801 35.0 -0.3 Conservative Party (UK) Jean Amy Sutcliffe 1,721 Labour Party (UK) Stanley Charles Simmonds* 1,667 Conservative Party (UK) Alexander John Wood 1,607 Labour Party (UK) Graham Edward Stuart Vertigen 1,584 Liberal Democrats (UK) Alan Edward Cocks 847 16.5 +3.1 New Labour Deborah Rose Simmonds 461 9.0 New New Labour Kevin Anthony Philip Simmonds 367 72.9 +32.6 6,351 Labour Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) Little Sandhurst Little Sandhurst (2) Conservative Party (UK) Paul David Bettison* 1,291 55.0 +7.0 Conservative Party (UK) Dale Philip Birch* 1,220 Liberal Democrats (UK) John Richard Score 618 26.3 -0.4 Liberal Democrats (UK) Nicholas Beresford Taylor 574 Labour Party (UK) Clive Urquhart 439 18.7 -6.6 Labour Party (UK) Susan Dorothy Gurran 415 77.8 +35.4 3,186 Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) Old Bracknell Old Bracknell (3) Labour Party (UK) Michael John Beadsley 1,368 43.9 -16.4 Labour Party (UK) Hirst B. Ms.* 1,309 Labour Party (UK) Donald Anthony Veakins* 1,196 Conservative Party (UK) Elizabeth Regina Mary Ashcroft 1,055 33.8 +6.9 Conservative Party (UK) Isabel Margaret Mattick 1,034 Conservative Party (UK) Christopher Richard Martin Turrell 950 Liberal Democrats (UK) John Edward Roffey 520 16.7 +3.9 New Labour John Lewis 174 5.6 New New Labour Roderick Alan Lewis 170 New Labour Nicola Metcalfe 169 75.1 +29.6 4,055 Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) Owlsmoor Owlsmoor Conservative Party (UK) David James Worrall 1,480 49.7 +12.2 Liberal Democrats (UK) Reginald Peter John Hodge* 948 31.8 -14.5 Labour Party (UK) Andrew Douglas Annette 551 18.5 +2.3 73.6 +36.3 4,152 Conservative Party (UK) Liberal Democrats (UK) Priestwood Priestwood (2) Labour Party (UK) Juliet Mary Clifford* 930 43.9 +2.5 Labour Party (UK) David John Fawcett* 798 Conservative Party (UK) Veronica Carol Lewin 544 25.7 -0.2 Conservative Party (UK) Arthur George Thomson 469 Independent (politician) Raymond Frederick Ackary 279 13.2 New Liberal Democrats (UK) Stanley James Southgate 228 10.8 +3.5 New Labour John William Tomkins 136 6.4 New New Labour John Joseph Oxenbury 98 76.4 +27.9 2,929 Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) St. Marys St. Marys Conservative Party (UK) Robert Anthony Flood* 962 70.5 +3.3 Liberal Democrats (UK) Muriel Evelyn Holburn 252 18.5 New Labour Party (UK) Carol Ann Draper 151 11.1 -21.7 79.4 +46.3 1,733 Conservative Party (UK) Warfield Warfield Conservative Party (UK) Edward Michael Sargeant* 2,572 59.8 +4.1 Labour Party (UK) Patricia Eira Brown 986 22.9 +2.6 Liberal Democrats (UK) Martyn Jon Towle 744 17.3 -6.6 77.4 +45.2 5,657 Conservative Party (UK) Wildridings Wildridings (2) Labour Party (UK) Austin John McCormack* 821 46.4 -8.6 Labour Party (UK) Philip Grayson* 754 Conservative Party (UK) Margaret Rose Wreglesworth 612 34.6 +1.1 Conservative Party (UK) Noel William Wreglesworth 553 Liberal Democrats (UK) Laurence Gerard John Gallagher 253 14.3 +2.8 New Labour Jonathan Paul Tompkins 82 4.6 New New Labour Simon Peter Brooks 52 77.9 +25.9 2,203 Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) By-elections Harmans Water Harmans Water By-Election 25 February 1999 https://democratic.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=67&RPID=60032764 Harmans Water By-Election - Thursday, 25 February 1999 1 February 2023 25 February 1999 Bracknell Forest Borough Council Labour Party (UK) Roy John Bailey 876 50.2 +10.7 Conservative Party (UK) Christopher Richard Martin Turrell 765 43.9 +8.9 Liberal Democrats (UK) Alan Edward Cocks 103 5.9 -10.6 111 6.3 1,744 Labour Party (UK) Great Hollands South Great Hollands South By-Election 19 November 1998 https://democratic.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=57&RPID=60033269 Great Hollands South By-Election - Thursday, 19 November 1998 1 February 2023 19 November 1998 Bracknell Forest Borough Council Labour Party (UK) John Stefan Piasecki 638 62.2 +18.9 Conservative Party (UK) Diana Simone Olivia Henfrey 329 32.1 -8.3 Liberal Democrats (UK) David James Maxwell 58 5.7 -10.6 309 30.1 1,025 Labour Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) +13.6 Footnotes 30em n References Category:Bracknell Forest Borough Council elections Bracknell Forest Category:1990s in Berkshire