Norfolk County Council elections

Norfolk County Council in England is elected every four years. Since the last boundary changes in 2005, 84 councillors have been elected from 84 wards.[1]

Council composition

Year Con Lab LD[a] Grn UKIP Ref GYF Independents
& Others		 Council control
after election
Local government reorganisation; council established (83 seats)
1973 51 27 0 – – – – 5[b] Conservative
1977 70 13 0 0 – – – 0 Conservative
1981 51 27 4 0 – – – 1 Conservative
New division boundaries; seats increased from 83 to 84
1985 44 25 15 0 – – – 0 Conservative
1989 47 28 9 0 – – – 0 Conservative
1993 34 32 16 0 – – – 2 No overall control
1997 36 34 13 0 0 – – 1 No overall control
2001 48 26 10 0 0 – – 0 Conservative
New division boundaries; seats remain at 84
2005 46 22 14 2 0 – – 0 Conservative
2009 60 3 13 7 1 – – 0 Conservative
2013 40 14 10 4 15 – – 1 No overall control
2017 55 17 11 0 0 – – 1 Conservative
2021 58 12 8 3 0 0 – 3 Conservative
New division boundaries; seats remain at 84
2026[c] 8 1 13 12 – 40 9 1 No overall control

Visual representation

1989









1993








1997








2001









2005








2009








2013







2017








2021








2026







County result maps

By-election results 1997 to present day

1997–2001

University by-election 20 November 1997
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour 808 43.0 +1.0
Liberal Democrats 796 42.4 +2.5
Conservative 275 14.6 −0.2
Majority 12 0.6
Turnout 1,879 33.3
Labour hold Swing
Lakenham by-election 6 May 1999
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour 803 53.5 +1.2
Liberal Democrats 402 26.8 −2.2
Conservative 296 19.7 +2.5
Majority 401 26.7
Turnout 1,501
Labour hold Swing
Holt by-election 28 October 1999
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats 1,848 55.4 +14.5
Conservative 1,358 40.7 +0.7
Labour 130 3.9 −15.2
Majority 490 14.7
Turnout 3,336 44.0
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Northgate by-election 15 June 2000
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour 575 48.4 −8.3
Conservative 558 47.0 +15.5
Liberal Democrats 55 4.6 −7.2
Majority 17 1.4
Turnout 1,188 27.0
Labour hold Swing

2001–2005

Wymondham by-election 2 August 2001
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats 1,736 49.2 +13.0
Conservative 1,734 49.1 +9.1
Green 57 1.6 −0.7
Majority 2 0.1
Turnout 3,527 35.7
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Mousehold by-election 26 September 2002
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour 807 51.6 +7.4
Liberal Democrats Paul Kendrick 461 29.5 −3.7
Conservative 132 8.4 −8.2
Independent 82 5.2 +5.2
Green 81 5.2 −0.7
Majority 346 22.1
Turnout 1,563
Labour hold Swing
Downham Market by-election 16 December 2004
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Shelagh Hutson 1,301 68.3 +13.0
Labour 223 11.7 −20.4
UKIP Michael Stone 191 10.1 +10.1
Liberal Democrats John Nicholas-Letch 190 10.0 +0.2
Majority 1,078 56.6
Turnout 1,905 21.3
Conservative hold Swing

2005–2009

Town Close by-election 26 May 2005[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Christopher Hull 1,151 36.1 +30.9
Liberal Democrats Moira Toye 958 30.1 −11.7
Labour David Fullman 606 19.0 −14.7
Conservative John Wyatt 470 14.8 −4.5
Majority 193 6.0
Turnout 3,185 41.0
Green gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Humbleyard by-election 4 May 2006[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Judith Virgo 1,725 47.7 +1.6
Liberal Democrats Jacqueline Sutton 1,474 40.7 +7.4
Green Richard Bearman 239 6.6 +0.7
Labour John Cowan 180 5.0 −9.7
Majority 251 7.0
Turnout 3,618
Conservative hold Swing
Clavering by-election 3 May 2007[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tony Tomkinson 1,743 46.0 +5.2
Liberal Democrats Bronwen Jenkins 1,347 35.6 −8.1
Green Paul Fitzgerald 378 9.8 +2.2
Labour Jeanette Fowler 324 8.6 +8.6
Majority 396 10.4
Turnout 3,787 45.1
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Aylsham by-election 22 November 2007[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats David Harrison 1,696 60.6 +23.2
Conservative Ian Graham 854 30.5 −6.4
Labour Terry Glasspoole 177 6.3 −19.4
UKIP Vandra Ahlstrom 71 2.5 +2.5
Majority 842 30.1
Turnout 2,798 39.0
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

2009–2013

Humbleyard by-election 13 January 2011[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Judith Virgo 1,015 46.6 −5.4
Liberal Democrats Jacqueline Sutton 438 20.1 −4.5
Labour Marian Chapman 424 19.5 +11.4
Green Janet Kitchener 170 7.8 −7.7
UKIP Richard Coke 133 6.1 +6.1
Majority 577 26.5 −0.9
Turnout 2,185 26.1 −20.8
Conservative hold Swing −0.5
Lothingland by-election 5 May 2011[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Barry Stone 1,611 49.0 +3.6
Labour Trevor Wainwright 1,076 32.7 +10.6
Independent John Cooper 418 12.7 +12.7
Green Michael Brackenbury 184 5.6 +5.6
Majority 535 16.3 +3.3
Turnout 3,289
Conservative hold Swing −3.5
Old Catton by-election 14 July 2011[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Judy Leggett 664 40.6 −8.2
Liberal Democrats Bob Fowkes 414 25.3 +11.8
Labour Co-op Chrissie Rumsby 377 23.0 +12.2
UKIP Glenn Tingle 107 6.5 −9.7
Green Jennifer Parkhouse 75 4.6 −6.0
Majority 250 15.3 −617.3
Turnout 1,642 25.7 −12.5
Conservative hold Swing −10.0
Lakenham by-election 24 November 2011[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Susan Whitaker 1,051 43.0 +16.1
Liberal Democrats David Fairbairn 611 25.0 −6.7
Green Paul Neale 492 20.1 +7.4
Conservative Mathew Morris 160 6.5 −6.5
UKIP Stephen Emmens 133 5.4 −10.3
Majority 440 18.0 +13.1
Turnout 2,455
Labour Co-op gain from Liberal Democrats Swing +11.4
Clenchwarton and Kings Lynn South by-election 27 September 2012[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Alexandra Kampouropoulos 824 45.8 +34.1
Conservative Paul Foster 424 23.5 −15.7
Liberal Democrats Kathleen Mayer 282 15.7 −13.1
UKIP Michael Stone 271 15.0 +15.0
Majority 400 22.2 +11.7
Turnout 1,806 22.5 −12.4
Labour gain from Conservative Swing +24.9

Percentage change is since June 2009.

2013–2017

West Thetford by-election 1 August 2013
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Terry Jermy 1,071 45.2 +9.8
UKIP John Newton 900 38.0 +2.6
Conservative Tristan Ashby 282 11.9 −3.5
Independent Danny Jeffrey 78 3.3 N/A
Green Sandra Walmsley 40 1.7 −1.1
Majority 171 7.2
Turnout 2,371 24.6 +0.9
Labour gain from UKIP Swing 6.2

Percentage change is since May 2013. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of UKIP Councillor Peter Georgiou, after he admitted to shoplifting and tobacco duty evasion.[12]

North Walsham East by-election 24 October 2013[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Eric Seward 1,044 40.9 +5.8
UKIP Lynette Comber 565 22.1 −1.0
Labour Stephen Burke 442 17.3 −3.9
Conservative David Oliver 359 14.1 −2.4
Green Paul Oakes 80 3.1 −0.9
Independent Graham Jones 61 2.4 N/A
Majority 479 18.8
Turnout 2,562 29.5 −5.6
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Gorleston St Andrews by-election 16 July 2015
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Graham Plant 876 42.7 +15.3
Labour Tony Wright 773 37.7 +1.8
UKIP Adrian Myers 285 13.9 −22.8
Liberal Democrats Tony Harris 66 3.2 N/A
Green Harry Webb 51 2.5 N/A
Majority 103 5.0
Turnout 2,053 27.9
Conservative gain from UKIP Swing

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Councillor Matthew Smith, who was elected as a member of the UK Independence Party, following his guilty plea to charges of electoral fraud.[14]

Mile Cross by-election 16 July 2015
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Co-op Chrissie Rumsby 749 51.8 +7.2
Conservative Chelsea Bales 279 19.3 +8.7
Green Richard Edwards 209 14.4 −6.8
UKIP Michelle Ho 148 10.2 −9.2
Liberal Democrats Tom Dymoke 62 4.3 +0.1
Majority 470 32.5 +9.2
Turnout 1,452 18.5 −7.6
Labour hold Swing −0.8
Loddon by-election 24 September 2015
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Barry Stone 1,094 57.0 −6.7
Labour Co-op David Bissonnet 357 18.6 +6.4
Liberal Democrats Christopher Brown 235 12.3 +7.1
UKIP Alan Baugh 233 12.1 −6.8
Majority 737 38.4 −6.4
Turnout 1,926 23.2 −21.6
Conservative hold Swing −6.6
South Smallburgh by-election 19 November 2015[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Alison Bradnock 1,383 56.4 +25.8
Conservative Paul Rice 697 28.4 +1.0
UKIP Barry Whitehouse 219 8.9 −17.8
Labour Co-op David Spencer 103 4.2 −5.3
Green Anne Filgate 52 2.1 −1.6
Majority 686 28.0
Turnout 2,456 34.7 −5.4
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Watton by-election 19 November 2015[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Claire Bowes 822 45.6 +18.2
Independent Keith Gilbert 793 44.0 +20.4
Labour Joseph Sisto 105 5.8 −5.4
Green Timothy Birt 81 4.5 +0.3
Majority 29 1.6
Turnout 1,806 21
Conservative gain from UKIP Swing N/A

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Councillor Stan Hebborn, who was elected for the UK Independence Party.[17]

2017–2021

Yare & All Saints by-election 12 July 2018
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Connolly 955 64.8 −8.0
Labour Harry Clarke 337 22.9 +10.6
Liberal Democrats Andrew Thorpe 182 12.4 −2.6
Majority 618 41.2 −16.6
Turnout 1,478 19.1 −16.6
Conservative hold Swing −9.3
Wroxham by-election 4 April 2019
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Fran Whymark 922 55.7 −3.2
Liberal Democrats Stephen Heard 395 23.9 +4.0
Green Jan Davis 174 10.5 +5.0
Labour Juila Wheeler 163 9.9 −0.8
Majority 527 31.9 −7.2
Turnout 1,673 20.7 −16.0
Conservative hold Swing −3.6

2021–2026

Gaywood South by-election 29 July 2021[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Rob Colwell 648 39.3 +28.1
Labour Micaela Bartrum 561 34.0 −1.6
Conservative Phil Trask 378 22.9 −25.4
Independent Robin Talbot 35 2.1 +2.1
UKIP Michael Stone 28 1.7 −3.2
Majority 87 5.3
Turnout 1,650
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Gaywood North and Central by-election 1 December 2022[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats David Sayers 364 35.6 +28.5
Labour Richard Johnson 356 34.8 +1.3
Conservative Sheila Young 256 25.0 −31.1
Green Vicky Fairweather 46 4.5 +4.5
Majority 8 0.8
Turnout 1,022
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Swaffham by-election 4 May 2023[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Nunn 1,288 50.8 −17.8
Labour Terry Land 649 25.6 +9.0
Liberal Democrats Josie Ratcliff 596 23.5 +17.8
Majority 639 25.2
Turnout 2,533
Conservative hold Swing
West Depwade by-election 13 July 2023[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Catherine Rowett 663 29.0 +19.6
Conservative Tony Holden 582 25.4 −18.2
Liberal Democrats Ian Spratt 409 17.9 +7.4
Independent Beverley Spratt 405 17.7 −6.0
Labour Pam Reekie 228 10.0 −2.8
Majority 81 3.5
Turnout 2,287 24.8 −16.0
Green gain from Conservative Swing +18.9
Freebridge Lynn by-election 3 August 2023[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats John Crofts 669 38.4 +38.4
Conservative Olivia Morris 539 31.0 −33.7
Green Andrew de Whalley 418 24.0 +4.3
Labour Lesley Marriage 115 6.6 −9.0
Majority 130 7.5
Turnout 1,741
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Freebridge Lynn by-election 12 September 2024[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Simon Ring 723 53.8 +53.8
Conservative Jason Law 454 33.8 +2.8
Labour Wilf Lambert 167 12.4 +5.8
Majority 269 20.0
Turnout 1,344
Independent gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Mancroft by-election 1 May 2025[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Serene Shibli 1,255 50.3 −1.6
Reform Karl Catchpole 510 20.4 +20.4
Labour Josh Horsfall 432 17.3 −15.9
Conservative Edith Jones 147 5.9 −9.0
Liberal Democrats Gordon Dean 124 5.0 +5.0
Homeland Lorna Garner 26 1.0 +1.0
Majority 745 29.9
Turnout 2,494
Green hold Swing
Marshland North by-election 1 May 2025[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Julian Kirk 1,286 54.9 +54.9
Liberal Democrats Alan Holmes 404 17.3 +17.3
Conservative Richard Blunt 389 16.6 −41.6
Labour Matt Hannay 120 5.1 −9.4
Green Rob Archer 75 3.2 +3.2
Independent Michael Squire 67 2.9 +2.9
Majority 882 37.7
Turnout 2,341
Reform gain from Conservative Swing
Thetford West by-election 1 May 2025[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform David Bick 917 47.9 +47.9
Labour Terry Land 644 33.6 −23.3
Conservative Peter Wilkinson 240 12.5 −21.5
Liberal Democrats Ian Minto 115 6.0 +1.2
Majority 273 14.2
Turnout 1,916
Reform gain from Labour Swing

2026–2030

Old Catton by-election 16 July 2026[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Antony Little 973 34.6 +8.5
Green Phoebe Connell 921 32.7 +13.9
Reform Sue Lawn 561 19.9 −10.1
Labour Co-op Jake Norman 147 5.2 −10.7
Liberal Democrats Martin Callam 100 3.6 −5.6
Restore Hamish Williams 98 3.5 N/A
Monster Raving Loony His Excellency Freeman 13 0.5 N/A
Majority 52 1.8 −2.1
Turnout 2,813 39.8 −7.9
Registered electors 7,047
Conservative gain from Reform Swing

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 1 Independent Conservative
  3. ↑ Delayed from 2025.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "The How the council works". Norfolk County Council. Archived from the original on 28 April 2006. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
  2. ↑ Godley, Dan (2 March 2026). "Why were some elections "cancelled"?". LGIU. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  3. ↑ "Greens in shock ward by-election win". Local Government Chronicle. 27 May 2005. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
  4. ↑ "Humbleyard by-election result". Norfolk County Council. 5 May 2006. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
  5. ↑ "Clavering by-election result". Norfolk County Council. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
  6. ↑ "Declaration of result of poll" (PDF). Broadland District Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
  7. ↑ "Declaration of result of poll". Norfolk County Council. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  8. ↑ "Declaration of result of poll". Norfolk County Council. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  9. ↑ "Declaration of result of poll". Norfolk County Council. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  10. ↑ "Declaration of result of poll". Norfolk County Council. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  11. ↑ "Declaration of result of poll". Norfolk County Council. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  12. ↑ "Labour fight off UKIP to take Thetford West by-election". Eastern Daily Press. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  13. ↑ "Past election results". Norfolk County Council. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017.
  14. ↑ "Conservatives win back Gorleston seat in Norfolk County Council by-election". Great Yarmouth Mercury. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  15. ↑ "Past election results". Norfolk County Council. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017.
  16. ↑ "Breckland council – Norfolk County Council by Election – Watton Division". Breckland District Council. Archived from the original on 23 August 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  17. ↑ "Polling stations announced for crucial Watton by-election". Watton and Swaffham Times. Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  18. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Gaywood South Division". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  19. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Gaywood North and Central Division". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  20. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Swaffham Division". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  21. ↑ "Declaration of result of poll". South Norfolk Council. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  22. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Freebridge Lynn Division". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  23. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Freebridge Lynn Division". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  24. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Mancroft Division". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  25. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Marshland North Division". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  26. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Thetford West Division". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  27. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Old Catton Division". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
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