Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council Elections (2011)
Encyclopedia
The 2011 elections to Cheshire West and Chester
Borough Council were the first elections to this Council after it had been re-warded into a mixture of single-, two- and three-member wards. They took place on 5th May
alongside the United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum, 2011. The previous election held for 2008
were based on the old Cheshire County Council
electoral divisions each of which returned 3 members. The 2008 elections elected 72 members to serve first on the shadow authority and then, with effect from 1 April 2009, the new Council when it took over responsibility for the delivery of local government services.
Given the re-warding that took place in time for the 2011 elections, direct comparisons between the 2008 and 2011 results are problematic. Superficially the 2011 results give the impression of a dramatic swing to Labour
when compared with the 2008 results—however, this is misleading. In 2008 the Labour Party was particularly unpopular, with the local government elections taking place shortly after the '10p tax rate
' had been abolished, plunging Labour support to a particular low. This unpopularity, coupled with the then large electoral wards electing 3 councillors per ward, and the first-past-the-post system, very much favoured the then leading party in the opinion polls—the Conservatives
—who, in 2008, won a much greater majority than had otherwise been predicted.
The 2011 elections with the re-warding took place one year into the national Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition
at a time when support for the Liberal Democrats
was at a particular low. Nationally Labour's support had rallied considerably when compared with 2008.
Before the elections in 2011 the majority Conservative party suffered a small number of defections principally almost certainly associated with existing councillors failing to be selected by the party to fight the seat of their choice.
The 2011 election result (75 members) was Conservatives 42 (–8): Labour 32 (+19): Liberal Democrats 1 (–3) (the figures in brackets refer to the change in numbers compared with the state of the parties immediately before the election where 72 members were elected). As noted above the Conservatives had reduced in number from 55 to 50 through resignations, defections and withdrawal of the party whip
associated with the processes for selection of candidates to fight the 2011 election.
The total votes cast in the 2011 election were: Conservatives 84,705 (45.34%); Labour 69,829 (37.38%); Liberal Democrats 22,223 (11.90%).
Cheshire West and Chester
Cheshire West and Chester is a unitary authority area with borough status, in the ceremonial county of Cheshire. It was established in April 2009 as part of the 2009 structural changes to local government in England, by virtue of an order under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health...
Borough Council were the first elections to this Council after it had been re-warded into a mixture of single-, two- and three-member wards. They took place on 5th May
United Kingdom local elections, 2011
The 2011 United Kingdom local elections were held on Thursday 5 May 2011. In England, direct elections were held in all 36 Metropolitan boroughs, 194 Second-tier district authorities, 49 unitary authorities and various mayoral posts, meaning local elections took place in all parts of England with...
alongside the United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum, 2011. The previous election held for 2008
Cheshire West and Chester Council election, 2008
Elections to the newly created Cheshire West and Chester Council took place on 1 May 2008. Elections occurred in all 24 wards, with each ward returning 3 councillors to the council...
were based on the old Cheshire County Council
Cheshire County Council
Cheshire County Council was a County Council, of the second highest level of United Kingdom Government for the residents of Cheshire. Founded in 1889, it ceased to exist on 1 April 2009, when it and the district councils in Cheshire were replaced by two unitary authorities; Cheshire West and...
electoral divisions each of which returned 3 members. The 2008 elections elected 72 members to serve first on the shadow authority and then, with effect from 1 April 2009, the new Council when it took over responsibility for the delivery of local government services.
Given the re-warding that took place in time for the 2011 elections, direct comparisons between the 2008 and 2011 results are problematic. Superficially the 2011 results give the impression of a dramatic swing to Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
when compared with the 2008 results—however, this is misleading. In 2008 the Labour Party was particularly unpopular, with the local government elections taking place shortly after the '10p tax rate
Starting rate of UK income tax
The starting rate of income tax, often known as the 10p rate, was the lowest rate of personal income taxation in the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2008...
' had been abolished, plunging Labour support to a particular low. This unpopularity, coupled with the then large electoral wards electing 3 councillors per ward, and the first-past-the-post system, very much favoured the then leading party in the opinion polls—the Conservatives
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
—who, in 2008, won a much greater majority than had otherwise been predicted.
The 2011 elections with the re-warding took place one year into the national Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition
United Kingdom coalition government (2010–present)
The ConservativeLiberal Democrat coalition is the present Government of the United Kingdom, formed after the 2010 general election. The Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats entered into discussions which culminated in the 2010 coalition agreement, setting out a programme for government...
at a time when support for the Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
was at a particular low. Nationally Labour's support had rallied considerably when compared with 2008.
Before the elections in 2011 the majority Conservative party suffered a small number of defections principally almost certainly associated with existing councillors failing to be selected by the party to fight the seat of their choice.
The 2011 election result (75 members) was Conservatives 42 (–8): Labour 32 (+19): Liberal Democrats 1 (–3) (the figures in brackets refer to the change in numbers compared with the state of the parties immediately before the election where 72 members were elected). As noted above the Conservatives had reduced in number from 55 to 50 through resignations, defections and withdrawal of the party whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
associated with the processes for selection of candidates to fight the 2011 election.
The total votes cast in the 2011 election were: Conservatives 84,705 (45.34%); Labour 69,829 (37.38%); Liberal Democrats 22,223 (11.90%).