Maidstone Borough Council elections

Elections to Maidstone Borough Council in Kent, United Kingdom are held each year to elect one-third of its members, followed by one year without election. Since the last boundary changes in 2002, 55 councillors have been elected from 26 wards.[1] From 2024 onwards, the format of elections will change, with all 49 councillors being elected once every 4 years.

Council composition

Composition of the council[2]
Year Conservative Liberal Democrats[a] Labour Green UKIP Independents
& Others		 Council control
after election
Local government reorganisation; council established (60 seats)
1973 13 19 12 – – 16 No overall control
1976 39 7 7 0 – 7 Conservative
New ward boundaries (55 seats)
1979 34 7 10 0 – 0 Conservative
1980 32 9 10 0 – 4 Conservative
1982 28 15 9 0 – 3 Conservative
1983 27 17 8 0 – 3 No overall control
1984 24 20 8 0 – 3 No overall control
1986 20 23 9 0 – 3 No overall control
1987 20 25 8 0 – 2 No overall control
1988 22 23 8 0 – 2 No overall control
1990 20 23 8 0 – 4 No overall control
1991 20 22 9 0 – 4 No overall control
1992 27 16 8 0 – 4 No overall control
1994 23 17 10 0 0 5 No overall control
1995 17 17 15 0 0 6 No overall control
1996 11 21 18 0 0 5 No overall control
1998 13 21 16 0 0 5 No overall control
1999 15 22 13 0 0 5 No overall control
2000 16 22 12 0 0 5 No overall control
New ward boundaries (55 seats)
2002 19 21 12 0 0 3 No overall control
2003 21 21 10 0 0 3 No overall control
2004 23 20 9 0 0 3 No overall control
2006 27 20 5 0 0 3 No overall control
2007 26 21 4 0 0 4 No overall control
2008 29 20 1 0 0 5 Conservative
2010 28 23 0 0 0 4 Conservative
New ward boundaries (55 seats)
2011 30 21 0 0 0 4 Conservative
2012 30 19 1 0 0 5 Conservative
2014 25 19 2 0 4 5 No overall control
2015 25 20 2 0 4 4 No overall control
2016 23 22 2 0 5 3 No overall control
2018 27 19 3 0 1 0 No overall control
2019 25 20 4 0 1 5 No overall control
2021 29 17 4 0 0 5 Conservative
2022 27 12 5 1 0 10 No overall control
2023 24 12 6 3 0 10 No overall control
New ward boundaries (49 seats)
2024 13 12 6 10 0 8[b] No overall control

Borough result maps

By-elections

1994-1998

Yalding Ward By-Election 1 May 1997[3]
CandidatePartyVotes%±%
 Conservative Party1,00044.44%+12.1%
 Liberal Democrats64328.58%-15.2%
 Labour Party60726.98%+7.3%
Total2,250100.00%
Rejected Ballot Papers
Ballot Papers Issued
Registered Electors
Turnout
 Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats
Loose Ward By-Election 3 July 1997[4]
CandidatePartyVotes%±%
 Liberal Democrats28359.08%-13.8%
 Conservative Party11724.43%+8.2%
 Labour Party7916.49%+5.5%
Total479100.00%
Rejected Ballot Papers
Ballot Papers Issued
Registered Electors
Turnout25.4%
 Liberal Democrats hold
High Street Ward By-Election 13 November 1997[5]
CandidatePartyVotes%±%
 Liberal Democrats35039.64%-3.0%
 Labour Party31035.11%-5.8%
 Conservative Party12313.93%+0.1%
Maidstone First738.27%+8.3%
 Green Party273.06%+0.4%
Total883100.00%
Rejected Ballot Papers
Ballot Papers Issued
Registered Electors
Turnout19.8%
 Liberal Democrats gain from Labour

1998-2002

Allington Ward By-Election 29 October 1998[6][7]
CandidatePartyVotes%±%
 Cynthia Elizabeth RobertsonLiberal Democrats74472.16%+5.2%
 Margaret Helen June TaylorLabour Party15915.42%-0.3%
 Helen Violet MortimerConservative Party12812.42%+2.8%
Total1,031100.00%
Rejected Ballot Papers0
Ballot Papers Issued1,031
Registered Electors
Turnout18.5%
 Liberal Democrats hold
Boxley Ward By-Election 29 October 1998[8][9]
CandidatePartyVotes%±%
 Michael Ian YatesConservative Party63063.25%+23.1%
 John Brian DohertyLiberal Democrats20120.18%+6.1%
 Stephen GibsonLabour Party16516.57%-25.5%
Total996100.00%
Rejected Ballot Papers2
Ballot Papers Issued998
Registered Electors
Turnout14.1%
 Conservative gain from Independent
Hollingbourne Ward By-Election 29 October 1998[10][11]
CandidatePartyVotes%±%
 Tracy Ann Helen WarnerConservative Party19848.29%-12.0%
 Paul Geoffrey BeggLiberal Democrats19347.07%+25.1%
 Jeanne Mary GibsonLabour Party194.63%-13.1%
Total410100.00%
Rejected Ballot Papers0
Ballot Papers Issued410
Registered Electors
Turnout35.3%
 Conservative hold

2002-2006

Marden & Yalding Ward By-Election 27 November 2003[12][13]
CandidatePartyVotes%±%
 Paddy C. J. GermainConservative Party72649.83%-12.5%
 Carol A. JacquesLiberal Democrats53536.72%+18.4%
 John M. HughesLabour Party15310.50%-4.0%
 Brian HoggUK Independence Party432.95%-1.8%
Total1,457100.00%
Rejected Ballot Papers
Ballot Papers Issued
Registered Electors
Turnout24.4%
 Conservative hold
Downswood & Otham Ward By-Election 13 October 2005[14][15]
CandidatePartyVotes%±%
David MarchantIndependent31461.33%+15.0%
 Timothy M. CrockfordConservative Party18435.94%+17.2%
 Audrey D. GardnerLabour Party142.73%+2.3%
Total512100.00%
Rejected Ballot Papers
Ballot Papers Issued
Registered Electors
Turnout24.4%
Independent hold

2006-2010

Parkwood Ward By-Election 30 November 2006[16][17]
CandidatePartyVotes%±%
 Robert FieldLiberal Democrats34757.64%+23.5%
 Wesley MasonLabour Party13021.59%-13.3%
 Scott HahnefeldConservative Party12520.76%-10.1%
Total602100.00%
Rejected Ballot Papers2
Ballot Papers Issued604
Registered Electors
Turnout19.3%
 Liberal Democrats gain from Labour
Shepway South Ward By-Election 6 December 2007[18][19]
CandidatePartyVotes%±%
 Sheena WilliamsConservative Party25135.96%-9.7%
 Gill AnnanLabour Party24034.38%+34.4%
 Bryan Charles VizzardLiberal Democrats17324.79%-22.0%
 Stephen Fraser MuggeridgeGreen Party344.87%-2.6%
Total698100.00%
Rejected Ballot Papers
Ballot Papers Issued
Registered Electors
Turnout16.1%
 Conservative gain from Labour
Fant Ward By-Election 1 October 2009[20]
CandidatePartyVotes%±%
 Fran SmithLiberal Democrats70246.37%+18.8%
 Paul ButcherConservative Party39325.96%-7.4%
 Stuart JefferyGreen Party31720.94%+4.9%
 Bruce HealdLabour Party1026.74%-16.3%
Total1,514100.00%
Rejected Ballot Papers
Ballot Papers Issued
Registered Electors
Turnout23.6%
 Liberal Democrats hold

2010-2014

A by-election was held in Allington Ward following the death of Malcolm Robertson on 10 August 2012.[21][22]

Allington Ward By-Election 18 October 2012[23]
CandidatePartyVotes%±%
 Belinda Janet WatsonLiberal Democrats88552.37%
 Barry Stephen GinleyConservative Party43425.68%
 Marianna Romeojuliet PoliszczukLabour Party17910.59%
 Gareth Anthony KendallUK Independence Party1629.59%
 Jill ShepherdGreen Party301.78%
Total1,690100.00%
Rejected Ballot Papers9
Ballot Papers Issued1,699
Registered Electors5,604
Turnout30.32%
 Liberal Democrats hold

2014-2018

Staplehurst By-Election 27 July 2014[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Paulina Watson 609 36.2 +9.1
Conservative Louise Brice 603 35.9 +3.0
UKIP Jamie Kalmar 311 18.5 −5.0
Labour John Randall 117 7.0 −0.8
Green David George 41 2.4 −1.1
Majority 6 0.4
Turnout 1,681
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Fant By-Election 10 September 2015[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Matt Boughton 477 27.1 −2.6
Liberal Democrats Rosaline Janko 424 24.1 +2.1
Labour Keith Adkinson 352 20.0 −0.4
Green Stuart Jeffery 249 14.2 +3.9
UKIP Colin Taylor 180 10.2 −7.4
Independent Mike Hogg 75 4.3 +4.3
Majority 53 3.0
Turnout 1,757
Conservative hold Swing
Shepway South By-Election 8 September 2016[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
UKIP John Barned 432 45.5 +7.2
Conservative Bob Hinder 215 22.7 −5.1
Labour Dan Wilkinson 183 19.3 −5.5
Independent Jon Hicks 88 9.3 +9.3
Liberal Democrats Milden Choongo 31 3.3 −2.6
Majority 217 22.9
Turnout 949
UKIP hold Swing
Bearsted By-Election 4 May 2017[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Denis Spooner 1,713 72.7 +36.1
Labour Tim Licence 253 10.7 +1.5
Liberal Democrats Karen Davies 250 10.6 +7.4
Green Ciaran Oliver 141 6.0 +2.7
Majority 1,460 61.9
Turnout 2,357
Conservative hold Swing
North Ward by-election, 30 November 2017[28][29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Cleator, Maureen 270 19.3%
Green Eagle, Derek 47 3.4%
Liberal Democrats Field, Rob 719 51.4%
Conservative Taylor-Maggio, Cheryl Janette 270 25.9%
Total votes 1399
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing

2018-2022

Headcorn By-Election 13 September 2018[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Karen Chappell-Tay 686 57.3 −17.5
Liberal Democrats Merilyn Fraser 409 34.1 +19.6
Labour Jim Grogan 63 5.3 −5.5
Green Derek Eagle 40 3.3 +3.3
Majority 277 23.1
Turnout 1,198
Conservative hold Swing

2022-2026

Harrietsham, Lenham and North Downs By-Election 2 October 2025 (3 seats)[31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Chris Houlihan 1,228
Reform Steve Povey 1,226
Reform Mariela Nedelcheva 1,153
Green Callum Sweetman 459
Green James Snyder 452
Green Reshmi Kalam 430
Conservative Isobelle Horne 342
Conservative Darcy Rotherham 285
Liberal Democrats Jennifer Horwood 236
Conservative Onyekachukwu Chukwuma 234
Liberal Democrats Sam Burrows 156
Liberal Democrats Andrew Cockersole 123
Heritage Sean Turner 97
Independent Gary Butler 74
Independent Sam Lawrence-Rose 69
Reform gain from Independent Swing
Reform gain from Independent Swing
Reform gain from Independent Swing

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Includes totals for the predecessors of the Liberal Democrats, the Liberal Party and SDP (both of which participated in the Alliance).
  2. ↑ Including 2 Fant & Oakwood Independents

References

  1. ↑ "Becoming a councillor". Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 3 March 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. ↑ "Composition calculator". Colin Rallings & Michael Thrasher. The Elections Centre, Plymouth University. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  3. ↑ "Maidstone BC, Yalding". Local Authority Byelection Results.
  4. ↑ "Maidstone BC, Loose". Local Authority Byelection Results.
  5. ↑ "Maidstone BC, High Street". Local Authority Byelection Results.
  6. ↑ "Result of Poll". Maidstone Borough Council. Archived from the original on 25 June 2002.
  7. ↑ "Maidstone BC, Allington". Local Authority Byelection Results.
  8. ↑ "Result of Poll". Maidstone Borough Council. Archived from the original on 19 July 2001.
  9. ↑ "Maidstone BC, Boxley". Local Authority Byelection Results.
  10. ↑ "Result of Poll". Maidstone Borough Council. Archived from the original on 19 July 2001.
  11. ↑ "Maidstone BC, Hollingbourne". Local Authority Byelection Results.
  12. ↑ "Vote 2003 - By-Election". Maidstone Borough Council. Archived from the original on 3 January 2004.
  13. ↑ "Maidstone BC, Marden and Yalding". Local Authority Byelection Results.
  14. ↑ "Vote 2005 - By-Election". Maidstone Borough Council. Archived from the original on 17 January 2006.
  15. ↑ "Maidstone BC, Downswood & Otham". Local Authority Byelection Results.
  16. ↑ "Result of Poll" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council.
  17. ↑ "Maidstone BC, Parkwood". Local Authority Byelection Results.
  18. ↑ "Result of Poll" (PDF). Maidstone Borough Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  19. ↑ "Maidstone BC, Shepway South". Local Authority Byelection Results.
  20. ↑ "Maidstone BC, Fant". Local Authority Byelection Results.
  21. ↑ "Town's longest serving councillor dies". Kent Messenger. 10 August 2012.
  22. ↑ Kilpatrick, Dean (10 August 2012). "Kent councillor Malcom Robertson dies aged 67". KOS Media.
  23. ↑ "Election results for Allington Ward". Maidstone Borough Council. 18 October 2012.
  24. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Staplehurst Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  25. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Staplehurst Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  26. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Shepway South Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  27. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Bearsted Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  28. ↑ "Notice of poll" (PDF). www.maidstone.gov.uk. Maidstone Borough Council. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  29. ↑ "Lib Dems win seat from Tories during town by-election". Kent Online. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  30. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Headcorn Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  31. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Headcorn Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  32. ↑ "Maidstone". BBC News Online. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
  33. ↑ legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Maidstone (Electoral Changes) Order 2001. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
  34. ↑ legislation.gov.uk - The Maidstone (Electoral Changes) Order 2008. Retrieved on 3 November 2015.
  35. ↑ Electoral Commission - Statement on the UK Government's decision to postpone May's polls. Retrieved on 11 April 2021
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