North West Leicestershire District Council elections

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 control		Years
	Labour	1973–1976
	No overall control	1976–1979
	Labour	1979–1983
	No overall control	1983–1991
	Labour	1991–2007
	Conservative	2007–2023
	No overall control	2023–present

Following the 2023 election, the council's composition is:

↓

17	5	4	12
Labour	LDem	Ind	Conservative

Leadership

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

Councillor	Party		From	To
Frank Straw		Labour	pre-2003	6 May 2007
Richard Blunt		Conservative	15 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

• 
  2003 results map
• 
  2007 results map
• 
  2011 results map
• 
  2015 results map
• 
  2019 results map
• 
  2023 results map

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-election	Date	Incumbent party		Result
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.

External links

• North West Leicestershire District Council