2023 Newcastle City Council election

2023 Newcastle City Council election
4 May 2023
27 out of 78 seats to Newcastle City Council
40 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader Nick Kemp Colin Ferguson
Party Labour Liberal Democrats
Leader's seat Byker Gosforth
Last election 51 seats, 44.1% 21 seats, 23.4%
Seats before 49 21
Seats won 14 10
Seats after 48 23
Seat change Decrease 3 Increase 2
Popular vote 27,688 18,417
Percentage 41.7% 27.8%
Swing Decrease 2.4% Increase 4.4%
  Third party Fourth party
 
Leader Tracey Mitchell N/A
Party Newcastle Ind. Independents
Last election 3 seats, 5.7% 3 seats, 4.8%
Seats before 3 3
Seats won 2 1
Seats after 4 3
Seat change Increase 1 Steady
Popular vote 3,139 2,766
Percentage 4.7% 4.2%
Swing Decrease 1.0% Decrease 0.6%
Winner of each seat at the 2023 Newcastle City Council election
Council control before election

Nick Kemp
Labour

 Council control after election

Nick Kemp
Labour

The 2023 Newcastle City Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect one third of the members of Newcastle City Council in Tyne & Wear, England.[1] This was on the same day as other local elections in England and Wales.

There were 27 of the 78 seats on the council up for election, being the usual third of the council plus a by-election in the North Jesmond ward. The result saw the Labour Party lose three seats with the Liberal Democrats and Newcastle Independents making gains. Labour retained its majority on the council.[2][3]

Background

The Labour Party has historically been dominant in Newcastle. Labour controlled the council from its creation in 1973 until 2004, when the Liberal Democrats won a majority on the council.[4] Labour retook control in 2011,[5] and have maintained a majority at every subsequent election.

Until 2022, the Labour council was led by Nick Forbes, who was also the Leader of the Labour group of the Local Government Association. The election marked the end of the first year of Nick Kemp's leadership of Newcastle City Council and as leader of the Labour group.

The seats up for election in 2023 were last contested in 2019.

This was the first election for Colin Ferguson as leader of the Liberal Democrats group, who took over from Nick Cott, and Tracey Mitchell as leader of the Newcastle Independents,[6] who had taken over from Jason Smith.

Election result

Despite losing three seats, the council remained under Labour majority control. Labour made a net loss of three seats.

Five seats changed hands at this election. The Liberal Democrats gained seats in North Jesmond and West Fenham from Labour. The Newcastle Independents gained two seats from Labour, the Denton and Westerhope ward and the Lemington ward. Despite losing three seats elsewhere on the council, Labour took the seat of Callerton and Throckley from the Newcastle Independents.

Nick Kemp faced a challenge for the council leadership from fellow Labour councillor Ged Bell. Bell had served as a councillor since 1996 and was a member of the council's cabinet under Nick Forbes.[7] The challenge was withdrawn, leaving Kemp to return unopposed as leader of the Labour group.

2023 Newcastle City Council election[8]
Party This election Full council This election
Candidates Seats Net Seats % Other Total Total % Votes Votes % +/−
  Labour {{{candidates}}} 14 Decrease 3 51.9 34 48 61.5 27,688 41.7 -2.4
  Liberal Democrats {{{candidates}}} 10 Increase 2 37.0 13 23 29.5 18,417 27.8 +4.4
  Newcastle Ind. {{{candidates}}} 2 Increase 1 7.4 2 4 5.1 3,139 4.7 -1.0
  Independent {{{candidates}}} 1 Steady 3.7 2 3 3.8 2,766 4.2 -0.6
  Conservative {{{candidates}}} 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 7,661 11.5 -2.0
  Green {{{candidates}}} 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 6,233 9.4 +1.6
  Freedom Alliance {{{candidates}}} 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 235 0.4 +0.3
  SDP {{{candidates}}} 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 85 0.1 N/A
  TUSC {{{candidates}}} 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 71 0.1 N/A
  Communist {{{candidates}}} 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 65 0.1 ±0.0

Ward results

The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by Newcastle City Council following the close of nominations on 4 April 2023.[9]

Arthur's Hill

Arthur's Hill[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Joanne Kingsland* 833 69.1 −0.9
Green Katie Fletcher 208 17.2 +7.3
Conservative Fahim Habibi 107 8.9 +1.5
Liberal Democrats Tahir Siddique 58 4.8 +0.7
Majority 625 51.8 Decrease8.3
Turnout 1,206 23.5 Decrease6.0
Registered electors 5,128
Labour hold Swing Decrease4.1

Benwell and Scotswood

Benwell and Scotswood[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Susan Anthony* 1,636 65.0 +14.5
Conservative Jamie Kelly 475 18.9 +9.7
Liberal Democrats Hans Christian Andersen 217 8.6 +3.4
Green Lee Irving 189 7.5 +2.5
Majority 1,161 46.1 Increase12.8
Turnout 2,517 31.2 Decrease1.8
Registered electors 8,079
Labour hold Swing Increase2.4

Blakelaw

Blakelaw[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Linda Hobson* 1,069 59.7 +8.7
Newcastle Ind. Sarah Armstrong 295 16.5 New
Conservative Lucy Howie 224 12.5 +3.1
Liberal Democrats Bill Shepherd 121 6.8 −5.6
Green Jessica Whitaker 82 4.6 −1.8
Majority 774 43.2 Increase13.1
Turnout 1,791 26.1 Decrease1.6
Registered electors 6,852
Labour hold Swing Decrease3.9

Byker

Byker[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Nicholas Kemp* 885 49.4 −5.3
Green Nick Hartley 675 37.7 +28.1
Conservative Jamie Hampton 127 7.1 +2.0
Liberal Democrats Mark Ridyard 105 5.9 +1.8
Majority 210 11.7 Decrease26.3
Turnout 1,792 27.0 Decrease4.5
Registered electors 6,644
Labour hold Swing Decrease16.7

Callerton and Throckley

Callerton and Throckley[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Adam Walker 1,080 41.7 +12.4
Newcastle Ind. John Gordon 541 20.9 −13.2
Conservative John Dobie 481 18.6 +2.9
Green Idwal John 319 12.3 +0.6
Liberal Democrats Richard Morris 169 6.5 −2.8
Majority 539 20.8 Increase16.0
Turnout 2,590 30.6 Decrease2.8
Registered electors 8,470
Labour gain from Newcastle Ind. Swing Increase12.8

Castle

Castle[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Ali Avaei* 1,369 43.2 +9.1
Labour Co-op Andrew Herridge 1,175 37.1 +7.4
Conservative Joshua Clark 406 12.8 +0.4
Green Andrew Thorp 220 6.9 +1.0
Majority 194 6.1 Increase1.7
Turnout 3,170 29.5 Decrease7.1
Registered electors 10,750
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase0.9

Chapel

Chapel[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Margaret Donnelly 2,766 78.8 +5.9
Labour Co-op Milo Jasper Barnett 419 11.9 −3.6
Conservative Ian Forster 203 5.8 −3.7
Green James Milne 62 1.8 New
Liberal Democrats Judith Steen 60 1.7 −0.5
Majority 2,347 66.9 Increase15.9
Turnout 3,510 46.8 Decrease1.3
Registered electors 7,499
Independent hold Swing Increase4.8

Dene and South Gosforth

Dene and South Gosforth[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Henry Gallagher* 1,659 48.2 +3.4
Labour Christopher Bartlett 1,221 35.5 +7.5
Green Robert Taylor 298 8.7 −4.9
Conservative Gerry Langley 262 7.6 0
Majority 438 12.7 Decrease4.2
Turnout 3,440 46.9 Decrease3.0
Registered electors 7,333
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Decrease2.1

Denton and Westerhope

Denton and Westerhope[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Newcastle Ind. Adam Mitchell 1,226 45.4 +13.3
Labour Bill Purvis 1,093 40.5 +4.1
Conservative Alexis Fernandes 187 6.9 +0.2
Liberal Democrats Libby Dicken 109 4.0 +1.0
Green Cécile Renaud-Glorieux 83 3.1 New
Majority 133 4.9 Decrease0.7
Turnout 2,698 31.7 Decrease1.9
Registered electors 8,504
Newcastle Ind. gain from Labour Swing Increase4.6

Elswick

Elswick[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Habib Rahman* 1,383 71.8 −0.2
Green Peter Thomson 271 14.1 +2.8
Conservative Saamiya Malik 181 9.4 0
Liberal Democrats Hamed Aghajani 90 4.7 −2.6
Majority 1,112 57.8 Decrease3.0
Turnout 1,925 25.2 Decrease7.5
Registered electors 7,635
Labour hold Swing Decrease1.5

Fawdon and West Gosforth

Fawdon and West Gosforth[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Peter Lovatt* 1,673 58.5 +0.2
Labour Co-op Ava Rowell 688 24.1 +1.7
Conservative Stephen Axford 295 10.3 +0.7
Green Roger Whittaker 204 7.1 −2.6
Majority 985 34.4 Decrease1.6
Turnout 2,860 38.9 Increase0.1
Registered electors 7,351
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Decrease0.8

Gosforth

Gosforth[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Tom Woodwark* 1,565 39.0 −1.6
Conservative Doc Anand 1,334 33.3 +7.0
Labour Nick Arnold 875 21.8 +1.9
Green Anna Foster 237 5.9 −7.2
Majority 231 5.8 Decrease8.6
Turnout 4,011 52.8 Increase1.5
Registered electors 7,596
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Decrease4.3

Heaton

Heaton[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mehrban Sadiq 1,384 49.0 +2.7
Green Andrew Gray 625 22.1 −5.6
Liberal Democrats Tom Appleby 595 21.1 +3.4
Conservative Shah Ali 156 5.5 −2.8
Communist Steve Handford 65 2.3 New
Majority 759 26.9 Increase8.3
Turnout 2,825 39.4 Decrease1.9
Registered electors 7,171
Labour hold Swing Increase4.2

Kenton

Kenton[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Paula Maines 1,337 55.1 +6.6
Liberal Democrats Robert Austin 562 23.2 −1.1
Conservative Zak Mudie 270 11.1 −5.7
Green Adam Jackson 185 7.6 New
TUSC Nicholas Fray 71 2.9 −7.5
Majority 775 32.0 Increase7.8
Turnout 2,425 33.2 Increase1.6
Registered electors 7,313
Labour hold Swing Increase3.9

Kingston Park South and Newbiggin Hall

Kingston Park South and Newbiggin Hall[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jacqui Robinson* 1,377 66.8 +10.6
Conservative Jamie Setch 321 15.6 −13.7
Liberal Democrats Aidan King 249 12.1 −2.4
Green Tristan Gilet 113 5.5 New
Majority 1,056 51.3 Increase24.3
Turnout 2,060 29.6 Decrease1.2
Registered electors 6,957
Labour hold Swing Increase12.2

Lemington

Lemington[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Newcastle Ind. Joanne Nix 1,077 45.9 +8.7
Labour Co-op Stephen Barry-Stanners 918 39.1 −2.5
Conservative Joel Bland 195 8.3 −2.2
Liberal Democrats Robert Petrie 80 3.4 −1.9
Green Hilda Frost 76 3.2 −2.1
Majority 159 6.8 Increase2.4
Turnout 2,346 33.0 Increase1.1
Registered electors 7,111
Newcastle Ind. gain from Labour Swing Increase5.6

Manor Park

Manor Park[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Deborah Burns 1,573 53.6 −3.4
Labour Carly Walker-Dawson 859 29.3 −3.7
Conservative Beth Spurr 260 8.9 −1.2
Green Michael Rabley 242 8.2 New
Majority 714 24.3 Increase0.3
Turnout 2,934 41.2 Decrease0.6
Registered electors 7,117
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase0.2

Monument

Monument[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Teresa Cairns* 751 63.2 +17.3
Green James Vesty 205 17.0 −8.7
Conservative Aaron Whelan-Harvey 133 11.2 −1.1
Liberal Democrats David Partington 102 8.6 −7.5
Majority 546 45.8 Increase24.8
Turnout 1,191 23.7 Decrease5.5
Registered electors 5,029
Labour hold Swing Increase13.0

North Jesmond

North Jesmond[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Gerry Keating* 1,322 65.1 +23.8
Liberal Democrats Philip Browne 1,276 62.8 +21.5
Labour Co-op Oskar Avery 567 27.9 −15.3
Labour Co-op Michael Bell 512 25.2 −18.1
Green Shehla Naqvi 179 8.8 +1.4
Green Tim Dowson 135 6.6 −0.8
Conservative Stephen Dawes 79 3.9 −2.8
Conservative Gemma Brown 73 3.6 −3.1
Majority 755 37.2 Increase15.5
Majority 764 37.6 Increase35.7
Turnout 2,032 47.6 Increase2.5
Turnout 2,032 47.6 Increase12.2
Registered electors 4,433
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase20.0
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing Increase19.8

Two seats were contested in North Jesmond: the seat due in the ordinary election and a casual vacancy caused by the resignation of Labour councillor Stella Postlethwaite.[29]

Ouseburn

Ouseburn[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Gareth Kane* 931 49.7 ±0.0
Labour Asad Syed 705 37.7 +0.1
Green Phill James 187 10.0 +0.5
Conservative Marie Summersby 49 2.6 −0.6
Majority 226 12.1 Even
Turnout 1,872 37.6 Decrease6.4
Registered electors 4,976
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Decrease0.1

Parklands

Parklands[31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Christine Morrissey* 2,143 54.2 +13.1
Labour Matthew Hill 895 22.6 +5.7
Conservative Andrew Burnett 536 13.6 −6.2
Green Audrey MacNaughton 378 9.6 +0.6
Majority 1,248 31.6 Increase11.4
Turnout 3,952 44.8 Decrease3.0
Registered electors 8,824
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase3.7

South Jesmond

South Jesmond[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Lesley Storey* 828 45.5 +8.6
Liberal Democrats Fiona Punchard 476 26.2 +6.6
Green Alistair Ford 250 13.8 −12.9
Conservative Elias al Dahan 179 9.8 −5.7
SDP Martin Evison 85 4.7 +3.4
Majority 352 19.4 Increase9.1
Turnout 1,818 36.5 Increase3.1
Registered electors 4,975
Labour hold Swing Increase1.0

Walker

Walker[33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Margaret Wood* 1,224 70.3 +16.9
Conservative Alex Walker 229 13.2 +5.8
Liberal Democrats Stephen Psallidas 100 5.7 −1.3
Green Tom Whatson 95 5.5 New
Freedom Alliance Steve Fish 92 5.3 New
Majority 995 57.2 Increase35.8
Turnout 1,740 24.7 Decrease4.5
Registered electors 7,039
Labour hold Swing Increase5.6

Walkergate

Walkergate[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Paul Frew* 1,571 59.6 +15.6
Liberal Democrats Deborah Gallagher 433 16.4 +1.4
Conservative Stephen Oxborough 331 12.5 +3.0
Green Doug Paterson 160 6.1 −0.2
Freedom Alliance Julie Fish 143 5.4 New
Majority 1,138 43.1 Increase23.7
Turnout 2,638 31.8 Decrease1.8
Registered electors 8,293
Labour hold Swing Increase7.1

West Fenham

West Fenham[35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats P.J. Morrissey 1,200 45.3 +39.6
Labour Co-op Sylvia Copley* 883 33.3 −10.8
Conservative Raja Khan 329 12.4 +2.4
Green Tay Pitman 237 8.9 −2.3
Majority 317 12.0 Decrease11.2
Turnout 2,649 36.6 Increase4.0
Registered electors 7,229
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing Increase25.2

Wingrove

Wingrove[36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Rebecca Shatwell* 1,520 67.3 +11.4
Green John Pearson 318 14.1 +0.9
Conservative Jarred Riley 239 10.6 +0.5
Liberal Democrats Colin Steen 180 8.0 −3.9
Majority 1,202 53.3 Increase10.5
Turnout 2,257 31.4 Decrease5.9
Registered electors 7,198
Labour hold Swing Increase5.3

Changes between 2023 and 2024

  • 29 November 2023: Jason Smith, Newcastle Independents councillor for Lemington, resigned on health grounds. Because the vacancy arose within six months of the next ordinary election, no by-election was held.[37] Smith died in January 2024 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.[38]
  • 26 January 2024: Habib Rahman, Labour councillor for Elswick and a former lord mayor, left the Labour Party and began sitting as an independent. He criticised the party's approach to Islamophobia and its position on the Israel–Gaza war.[39]
  • 20 March 2024: Brenda Hindmarsh, Liberal Democrat councillor for Fawdon and West Gosforth, resigned with immediate effect. Her vacancy was filled alongside the ward's ordinary seat at the 2024 election.[40]
  • 23 April 2024: Shumel Rahman, Labour councillor for Monument, left the party and began sitting as an independent, saying that he had been victimised over his support for Palestine.[41]

References

  1. ↑ "Notice of Election" (PDF). Newcastle City Council. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  2. ↑ Holland, Daniel (5 May 2023). "Local Elections 2023: Newcastle City Council results in full - how every candidate scored". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  3. ↑ "Local elections 2023: Labour hold Sunderland, Newcastle, South Tyneside and Gateshead". BBC News. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  4. ↑ "Newcastle City Council Election Results 1973-2012" (PDF). Elections Centre. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  5. ↑ "BBC News - Election 2011 - England council elections - Newcastle upon Tyne". BBC News. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  6. ↑ "Labour lose seats in Newcastle but remain dominant force – as council leader prepares for challenge - Chronicle Live". www.chroniclelive.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  7. ↑ "Nick Kemp challenged for Newcastle City Council leadership as Labour power struggle takes another twist - Chronicle Live". www.chroniclelive.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  8. ↑ "Local Elections 2023 – Thursday 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF). Newcastle City Council. 4 April 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  10. ↑ "Election results for Arthur's Hill, 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  11. ↑ "Election results for Benwell and Scotswood, 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  12. ↑ "Election results for Blakelaw, 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  13. ↑ "Election results for Byker, 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  14. ↑ "Election results for Callerton and Throckley, 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  15. ↑ "Election results for Castle, 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  16. ↑ "Election results for Chapel, 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  17. ↑ "Election results for Dene and South Gosforth, 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  18. ↑ "Election results for Denton and Westerhope, 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  19. ↑ "Election results for Elswick, 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  20. ↑ "Election results for Fawdon and West Gosforth, 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  21. ↑ "Election results for Gosforth, 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  22. ↑ "Election results for Heaton, 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  23. ↑ "Election results for Kenton, 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  24. ↑ "Election results for Kingston Park South and Newbiggin Hall, 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  25. ↑ "Election results for Lemington, 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  26. ↑ "Election results for Manor Park, 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  27. ↑ "Election results for Monument, 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  28. ↑ "Election results for North Jesmond, 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  29. ↑ Holland, Daniel (27 March 2023). "Second seat up for grabs in Newcastle election battleground after North Jesmond Labour councillor resigns". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  30. ↑ "Election results for Ouseburn, 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  31. ↑ "Election results for Parklands, 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  32. ↑ "Election results for South Jesmond, 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  33. ↑ "Election results for Walker, 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  34. ↑ "Election results for Walkergate, 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  35. ↑ "Election results for West Fenham, 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  36. ↑ "Election results for Wingrove, 4 May 2023". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  37. ↑ "Councillor resigns". Newcastle City Council. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  38. ↑ "Tributes paid to former Newcastle councillor". Newcastle City Council. 24 January 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  39. ↑ Holland, Daniel (26 January 2024). "Newcastle's first Muslim lord mayor accuses Labour of 'culture of racism' as he quits party". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  40. ↑ "Newcastle councillor resigns with immediate effect". Newcastle City Council. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  41. ↑ Holland, Daniel (23 April 2024). "Newcastle Labour councillor quits party and claims he was 'victimised' over Palestine support". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
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