2006 United Kingdom local elections

none October 2020 May 2012 2006 United Kingdom local elections United Kingdom parliamentary 2005 United Kingdom local elections 2005 2007 United Kingdom local elections 2007 All 32 London boroughs, all 36 metropolitan boroughs,20 out of 46 unitary authorities and 88 out of 238 English districts 4 May 2006 Councils Councils +/- Councillors Councillors +/- Davidcameron (cropped).jpg 130 120 160 0 4 David Cameron 6 December 2005 Conservative Party (UK) 39% 1% 68 11 1,830 316 Tony Blair WEF (cropped).jpg 120 120 160 0 0 Tony Blair 21 July 1994 Labour Party (UK) 26% 2% 30 17 1,439 319 Sir Ming Campbell MP 2008 cropped.jpg 120 120 160 0 0 Menzies Campbell 2 March 2006 Liberal Democrats (UK) 25% 13 1 909 2 United Kingdom local elections, 2006.svg 300px Colours denote council control following elections, as shown in the main table of results. The 2006 United Kingdom local elections were held on Thursday 4 May 2006. All London borough council seats were up for election, as well as a third of the seats on each of the metropolitan borough councils, and a third of some unitary authorities and shire districts. Several councils elected half of their seats: these were Adur, Cheltenham, Fareham, Gosport, Hastings, Nuneaton and Bedworth, and Oxford. Local elections follow a four-year cycle, and the 2006 election was the follow-on from the 2002 elections. Mayoral contests were held in the London boroughs of Hackney, Lewisham and Newham, and in Watford. Crewe and Nantwich held a referendum on the issue of whether or not to have a directly elected mayor. This was the first set of elections since David Cameron was elected leader of the Conservative Party. The Conservatives strengthened their position as the largest party in local government, making headway against Labour. Results Note: Figures for number of councils and councillors is only in regard to those councils up for election in 2006, and does not include councils not up for election. Party Councillors Councils Number Change Number Change Conservative Party (UK) 1,830 316 68 11 Labour Party (UK) 1,439 319 30 17 Liberal Democrats (UK) 909 2 13 1 Residents Association 35 13 0 British National Party 33 33 0 Green Party of England and Wales 29 20 0 Respect Party 16 13 0 Liberal Party (UK, 1989) 8 2 0 Independent Kidderminster Hospital and Health Concern 5 1 0 Christian Peoples Alliance 3 2 0 Socialist Party (England and Wales) 3 0 UK Independence Party 1 0 Other 0 0 No overall control n/a n/a 655 Turnout was 36%, compared to 40% in 2004 and 33% in 2002.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/vote2006/locals/html/region_99999.stm BBC Election 2006 results News.bbc.co.uk Pre-election predictions On 7 April, a report produced by the University of Plymouth for Newsnight, based on results of council by-elections in the past three months, suggested that, compared to the 2002 local elections: Labour would increase their national vote share by 2% to 28% but that they would lose around 130 seats. The Conservatives would suffer a decrease in the national vote share of 4% leaving them with 33% and a loss of around 95 seats. The Liberal Democrats would increase their vote share by 2% to 29% and would gain around 190 seats.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/4889142.stm BBC News Robbie Gibb Friday, 7 April 2006 7 April 2006 This prediction may be seen to be almost entirely inaccurate. Projected national share Projected National Share In an analysis for the Sunday Times, psephologists Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher, of the University of Plymouth, produced an estimate of the national share of the vote. According to their calculations, the parties would have the following share of the vote: Conservative: 39% Labour: 26% Liberal Democrats: 25% Others: 10% They note that this is estimate not intended to predict the vote share in an actual general election, because voters often vote differently in general elections due to local issues, or to a wish to "fire a shot across the government's bows" without actually removing it.Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher, "Tories approach the point of take-off", Sunday Times, 7 May 2006, p. 13 The BBC had a similar national share prediction, based on the results of 950 key wards: Conservative: 40% LibDem: 27% Labour: 26% Others: 7%https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/vote2006/locals/html/region_99999.stm BBC News BBC NEWS, Election 2006, UK - National Notable battles In Birmingham, the Acting Returning officer announced that the votes in the Kingstanding ward had been incorrectly tallied, incorrectly giving a win to the BNP's Sharon Ebanks, whereas she should have been in third place. The only way in which this result can be corrected is for one of the candidates to raise a petition to the courts; the council has said it will support in any way it can any candidates who wish to raise such a petition.http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=80635&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=13908 Elections 2006 - Results 5 May 2006 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20060507011129/http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=80635&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=13908 7 May 2006 Labour's Catherine Grundy did so, and was declared the rightful winner.JUDGE REVEALS LOCAL ELECTION RECOUNT RESULT https://www.lgcplus.com/archive/judge-reveals-local-election-recount-result-19-07-2006/ Local Government Chronicle (LGC) 21 January 2025 en 19 July 2006 In Crawley, after three recounts, one result showed 500 votes for the Labour candidate and 500 for the Conservative. As per electoral law, the candidates subsequently drew lots. The Conservative candidate Adam G. Brown won, giving his party a majority and switching the council from Labour to Conservative control for the first time since 1971.Local Elections Archive Project — Broadfield North Ward https://www.andrewteale.me.uk/leap/ward/5357/ www.andrewteale.me.uk 21 January 2025 Another count was tied in St Albans, this time between Conservative and Lib Dem candidates on 1,131 votes each. The candidates drew lots with the Lib Dems winning, giving them a majority on the local council.Local Elections Archive Project — Wheathampstead Ward https://www.andrewteale.me.uk/leap/ward/3224/ www.andrewteale.me.uk 21 January 2025 In Chester the Conservatives were in third place in one ward, with around only 20% of the votes (in 2004), however they managed to win the seat with a majority of around 20%, and a 45% vote share. Their vote increased by over 110%, and was believed to be one of the largest increases in vote share (as a percentage) in the country. Campaign launches UK Independence Party (UKIP) launched their local election campaign on 28 March 2006,https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4852794.stm BBC News UKIP launches local poll campaign 28 March 2006 where they put forward their policies for the local elections which included: the reduction of council tax by 50%; local binding referendums on major issues; and giving councils control of business rates and letting them receive the proceeds from stamp duty. The Liberal Democrats' campaign launch was held on 3 Aprilhttps://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4872064.stm BBC News At-a-glance: Lib Dem poll launch 3 April 2006 and was led by Sir Menzies Campbell MP. Labour's campaign for the local elections was launched on 5 Aprilhttps://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4878918.stm BBC News At-a-glance: Labour's poll launch 5 April 2006 and was led by the Prime Minister, Tony Blair MP (Lab, Sedgefield) and the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Blair's expected successor, Gordon Brown MP (Lab, Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath) in the wake of rumours of a split between the two over when Blair should stand down as Prime Minister.King Oliver Tempest Matthew Blair and Brown unite for campaign launch https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/apr/05/labour.uk 18 September 2019 The Guardian 5 April 2006 Respect launched their election manifesto on 10 April 2006 calling the local elections a referendum on New Labour.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4895734.stm BBC News Galloway launches poll campaign 10 April 2006 The Greens launched their campaign on 11 April, having already announced that 1,300 candidates will be standing across the country.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4899144.stm BBC News Greens launch local election bid 11 April 2006https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4880400.stm BBC News Greens outline electoral campaign 5 April 2006 The BNP launched their election manifesto on 14 April. Soon after, Margaret Hodge, the Labour Employment Minister, told the press that 8 out of 10 white voters in her east London constituency of Barking admitted being tempted to vote for the BNP, hinting that the party's share of council seats was set to increase.https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/hodge-blamed-for-increase-in-farright-s-support-6103122.html Hodge blamed for increase in far-right's support McSmith Andy 22 April 2006 The Independent 2 June 2022 The Conservatives launched their campaign on 18 April. David Cameron, Eric Pickles, Caroline Spelman and Peter Ainsworth fronted a press conference that focused on environmental issues.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4919396.stm BBC News At-a-glance: Conservative poll launch 18 April 2006 Timeline Date Event 28 March UKIP (UK Independence Party) launch local election campaign. 29 March The London Communications Agency issue a study suggesting that the Conservatives would gain a minimum of six London Borough councils.http://www.londoncommunications.co.uk/html/lcapredicts_item.lasso?id=9198 16 boroughs could change in 2006 local elections https://web.archive.org/web/20060217095909/http://www.londoncommunications.co.uk/html/lcapredicts_item.lasso?id=9198 17 February 2006 London Communications 3 April The Liberal Democrats launch local election campaign.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4871074.stm BBC News Lib Dems launch election campaign 3 April 2006 4 April Independent anti-war strategic voting web site launched in London.https://www.strategicvoter.org.uk/ https://web.archive.org/web/20060305164026/http://www.strategicvoter.org.uk/ dead Strategic Voter 2005 Strategic Voter 5 March 2006 5 April Labour launch their local election campaign.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4878166.stm BBC News Blair and Brown in show of unity 5 April 2006 Conservatives offer a chance for "ordinary people" to appear in the local election broadcast.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4880076.stm BBC News Tories offer chance of TV stardom 5 April 2006 10 April Respect launch their local election campaign. 14 April The British National Party launch their election campaign. 18 April The first party election broadcast by the Labour Party depicts David Cameron MP (Con, Witney) as a chamleon and even launch a website to promote the idea.http://www.davethechameleon.com/dtchome https://web.archive.org/web/20060423124737/http://www.davethechameleon.com/dtchome Dave the Chameleon - available in any colour (as long as it's blue) 23 April 2006 davethechameleon.com dead dmy-all See also: Dave the Chameleon. 19 April The Conservative Election Broadcast (using the tagline "Vote Blue Go Green") was presented by people responding to the Conservatives request for "ordinary people" as reported on 5 April 2006. 20 April The Liberal Democrat Election Broadcast recounted the election of Menzies Campbell MP as leader. 24 April The Green Party Election Broadcast asks voters to use their multi member vote to elect Greens onto their local council. 26 April In a day described by the tabloid press as "New Labour's Black Wednesday", three cabinet ministers have three different 'crises' on the same day. 27 April Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell MP challenges the Conservatives over their 'Vote Blue Go Green' campaign. 28 April Local Government Minister David Miliband MP urges voters to "think local" rather than on national issues. 2 May The Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats criticise the Labour Party for taking credit for London's successful Olympic bid in their Party Election Broadcast. The West Midlands Police confirm their presence at Birmingham polling stations on election day amid fears of widespread ballot fraud. 3 May The final PMQs before the election sees party leaders debating national scandals and Labour Party insiders predicting the worst results since 1968.http://www.epolitix.com/EN/News/200605/2f1e80a2-7b04-4fe7-881f-b76806724325.htm Central Lobby - UK political and parliamentary policy news, interviews and analysis Epolitix.com 2 February 2013 June 2023 InternetArchiveBot yes 4 May The Labour Party acknowledges it could face the loss of former strongholds and even slip into third place nationally in local government numbers.http://www.epolitix.com/EN/News/200605/92cc93a0-bec9-4540-9c5e-184b95c0d674.htm Central Lobby - UK political and parliamentary policy news, interviews and analysis Epolitix.com 2 February 2013 30 September 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070930184614/http://www.epolitix.com/EN/News/200605/92cc93a0-bec9-4540-9c5e-184b95c0d674.htm usurped England London boroughs Council Previous control Result Details Barking and Dagenham Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) holdDetails Barnet Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) holdDetails Bexley Labour Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) gainDetails Brent Labour Party (UK) No overall control gainDetails Bromley Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) holdDetails Camden Labour Party (UK) No overall control gainDetails Croydon Labour Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) gainDetails Ealing Labour Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) gainDetails Enfield Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) holdDetails Greenwich Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) holdDetails Hackney Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) holdDetails Hammersmith and Fulham Labour Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) gainDetails Haringey Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) holdDetails Harrow No overall control Conservative Party (UK) gainDetails Havering No overall control Conservative Party (UK) gainDetails Hillingdon No overall control Conservative Party (UK) gainDetails Hounslow Labour Party (UK) No overall control gainDetails Islington Liberal Democrats (UK) No overall control gainDetails Kensington and Chelsea Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) holdDetails Kingston upon Thames Liberal Democrats (UK) Liberal Democrats (UK) holdDetails Lambeth No overall control Labour Party (UK) gainDetails Lewisham Labour Party (UK) No overall control gainDetails Merton Labour Party (UK) No overall control gainDetails Newham Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) holdDetails Redbridge Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) holdDetails Richmond upon Thames Conservative Party (UK) Liberal Democrats (UK) gainDetails Southwark No overall control No overall control holdDetails Sutton Liberal Democrats (UK) Liberal Democrats (UK) holdDetails Tower Hamlets Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) holdDetails Waltham Forest No overall control No overall control holdDetails Wandsworth Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) holdDetails Westminster Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) holdDetails Metropolitan boroughs One third of the seats in all 36 Metropolitan Boroughs were up for election. Council Previous control Result Details Barnsley Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) holdDetails Birmingham No overall control No overall control holdDetails Bolton No overall control No overall control holdDetails Bradford No overall control No overall control holdDetails Bury Labour Party (UK) No overall control gainDetails Calderdale No overall control No overall control holdDetails Coventry No overall control Conservative Party (UK) gainDetails Doncaster No overall control No overall control holdDetails Dudley Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) holdDetails Gateshead Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) holdDetails Kirklees No overall control No overall control holdDetails Knowsley Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) holdDetails Leeds No overall control No overall control holdDetails Liverpool Liberal Democrats (UK) Liberal Democrats (UK) holdDetails Manchester Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) holdDetails Newcastle upon Tyne Liberal Democrats (UK) Liberal Democrats (UK) holdDetails North Tyneside No overall control No overall control holdDetails Oldham Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) holdDetails Rochdale No overall control No overall control holdDetails Rotherham Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) holdDetails St. Helens No overall control No overall control holdDetails Salford Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) holdDetails Sandwell Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) holdDetails Sefton No overall control No overall control holdDetails Sheffield Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) holdDetails Solihull Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) holdDetails South Tyneside Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) holdDetails Stockport Liberal Democrats (UK) Liberal Democrats (UK) holdDetails Sunderland Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) holdDetails Tameside Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) holdDetails Trafford Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) holdDetails Wakefield Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) holdDetails Walsall Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) holdDetails Wigan Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) holdDetails Wirral No overall control No overall control holdDetails Wolverhampton Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) holdDetails Unitary authorities One third of the council seats were up for election in 20 unitary authorities. Council Previous control Result Details Blackburn with Darwen Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) holdDetails Bristol No overall control No overall control holdDetails Derby Labour Party (UK)Derby control A A No overall control gainDetails Halton Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) holdDetails Hartlepool Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) holdDetails Kingston upon Hull No overall control No overall control holdDetails Milton Keynes Liberal Democrats (UK) No overall control gainDetails North East Lincolnshire No overall control No overall control holdDetails Peterborough Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) holdDetails Plymouth Labour Party (UK) No overall control gainDetails Portsmouth No overall control No overall control holdDetails Reading Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) holdDetails Slough No overall control No overall control holdDetails Southampton No overall control No overall control holdDetails Southend-on-Sea Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) holdDetails Stoke-on-Trent Labour Party (UK) No overall control gainDetails Swindon Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) holdDetails Thurrock Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) holdDetails Warrington Labour Party (UK) No overall control gainDetails Wokingham Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) holdDetails Derby control A ADerby council was in no overall control following the previous election in a Liberal Democrat/Conservative administration. Following a by-election in July 2005 Labour gained one councillor off the Liberal Democrats, thereby gaining control of the council. https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/derbyshire/4685007.stm Labour wins city council control 4 September 2011 15 July 2005 BBC News Online District councils Half of council Council Previous control Result Details Adur Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Cheltenham No overall control No overall control hold Details Fareham Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Gosport No overall control No overall control gain Details Hastings No overall control Conservative Party (UK) gain Details Nuneaton and Bedworth Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) hold Details Oxford No overall control No overall control hold Details Third of council In 81 English district authorities one third of the council was up for election. Council Previous control Result Details Amber Valley Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Barrow-in-Furness Labour Party (UK) No overall control gain Details Basildon Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Basingstoke and Deane No overall control No overall control hold Details Bassetlaw No overall control Conservative Party (UK) gain Details Bedford No overall control No overall control hold Details Brentwood Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Broxbourne Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Burnley No overall control No overall control hold Details Cambridge Liberal Democrats (UK) Liberal Democrats (UK) hold Details Cannock Chase No overall control No overall control hold Details Carlisle No overall control No overall control hold Details Castle Point Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Cherwell Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Chester No overall control No overall control hold Details Chorley No overall control Conservative Party (UK) gain Details Colchester No overall control No overall control hold Details Congleton Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Craven No overall control No overall control hold Details Crawley Labour Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) gain Details Crewe and Nantwich No overall control No overall control hold Details Daventry Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Eastbourne Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Eastleigh Liberal Democrats (UK) Liberal Democrats (UK) hold Details Ellesmere Port and Neston Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) hold Details Elmbridge No overall control No overall control hold Details Epping Forest No overall control No overall control hold Details Exeter No overall control No overall control hold Details Gloucester No overall control No overall control hold Details Great Yarmouth Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Harlow No overall control No overall control hold Details Harrogate Conservative Party (UK) No overall control gain Details Hart No overall control No overall control hold Details Havant Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Hertsmere Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Huntingdonshire Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Hyndburn Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Ipswich No overall control No overall control hold Details Lincoln Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) hold Details Macclesfield Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Maidstone No overall control No overall control hold Details Mole Valley No overall control Conservative Party (UK) gain Details Newcastle-under-Lyme Labour Party (UK) No overall control gain Details North Hertfordshire Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Norwich No overall control No overall control hold Details Pendle Liberal Democrats (UK) Liberal Democrats (UK) hold Details Penwith No overall control No overall control hold Details Preston No overall control No overall control hold Details Purbeck Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Redditch Labour Party (UK) No overall control gain Details Reigate and Banstead Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Rochford Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Rossendale Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Rugby No overall control No overall control hold Details Runnymede Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Rushmoor Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details St Albans No overall control Liberal Democrats (UK) gain Details Shrewsbury and Atcham No overall control Conservative Party (UK) gain Details South Bedfordshire Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details South Cambridgeshire No overall control No overall control hold Details South Lakeland No overall control Liberal Democrats (UK) gain Details Stevenage Labour Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) hold Details Stratford-on-Avon Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Stroud Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Swale Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Tamworth Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Tandridge Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Three Rivers Liberal Democrats (UK) Liberal Democrats (UK) hold Details Tunbridge Wells Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Watford Liberal Democrats (UK) Liberal Democrats (UK) hold Details Waveney Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Welwyn Hatfield Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details West Lancashire Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details West Lindsey Conservative Party (UK) No overall control gain Details West Oxfordshire Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Weymouth and Portland No overall control No overall control hold Details Winchester No overall control Conservative Party (UK) gain DetailsWoking No overall control No overall control hold Details Worcester Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Worthing Conservative Party (UK) Conservative Party (UK) hold Details Wyre Forest No overall control No overall control hold Details References Bibliography Local elections 2006. House of Commons Library Research Paper 06/26. BBC Local Election Website Schedule of elections (Electoral Commission) Guide to England's 2006 elections (BBC) Overview https://web.archive.org/web/20060112081727/http://www.gwydir.demon.co.uk/uklocalgov/elec2006.htm 12 January 2006 (gwydir.demon.co.uk) Online hustings, manifestos and candidates for Lambeth (electionmemory.com) External links Voting day for local elections in England The great local vote swindle - Electoral Reform Society briefing on the 2006 local elections Local elections Category:David Cameron Category:Premiership of Tony Blair