2023 Herefordshire Council election

2023 Herefordshire Council election
All 53 seats to Herefordshire Council; 27 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	37.3%
	Winner of each seat at the 2023 Herefordshire Council election
Leader before election; David Hitchiner; Independents for Herefordshire; No overall control	Leader after election ; Jonathan Lester; Conservative; No overall control

The 2023 Herefordshire Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Herefordshire Council in Herefordshire, England.^[1] This was on the same day as other local elections in the UK.

Prior to the election the council was under no overall control, being led by David Hitchiner of the Independents for Herefordshire group.^[2] After the election the council remained under no overall control, but the Conservatives gained seats and managed to form a minority administration led by Jonathan Lester.^[3]

Summary

Election result

2023 Herefordshire Council election
Party		Candidates	Seats	Gains	Losses	Net gain/loss	Seats %	Votes %	Votes	+/−
	Conservative	53	21	11	3	8	39.6	34.6	18,940	0.4
	Liberal Democrats	53	12	6	1	5	22.6	24.2	13,257	14.3
	Independent	45	8	3	13	10	15.1	21.6	11,834	6.9
	Green	19	9	3	1	2	17.0	13.3	7,299	0.2
	Labour	14	1	1	0	1	1.9	4.1	2,235	0.6
	It's Our County	3	2	0	6	6	3.8	1.6	896	7.1
	Reform UK	6	0	0	0		0.0	0.6	317	New

Candidates

The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by Herefordshire Council following the close of nominations on 4 April 2023.^[4] The results were:^[5]^[6]

Arrow

Arrow
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Roger Phillips*	950	72.8	7.0
	Liberal Democrats	Dan Ciolte	181	13.9	N/A
	Green	John Whitelegg	174	13.3	N/A
Majority			769	58.9	0.7
Turnout			1305	44.4
	Conservative hold

Aylestone Hill

Aylestone Hill
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Adam Spencer	379	37.9	N/A
	Independent	Ange Tyler*	256	25.6	48.6
	Liberal Democrats	Anna Davey	177	17.7	N/A
	Conservative	Alexander Walsh	160	16.0	9.8
	Reform UK	Fiona Stokes	28	2.8	N/A
Majority			123	12.3	36.1
Turnout			1007	40.3
	Labour gain from Independent

Backbury

Backbury
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Graham Biggs	394	35.2	5.7
	Liberal Democrats	James Vidler	385	34.4	N/A
	Independent	John Hardwick*	341	30.4	40.1
Majority			9	0.8	40.2
Turnout			1120	43.4
	Conservative gain from Independent

Belmont Rural

Belmont Rural
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Mark Dykes	315	35.8	N/A
	Conservative	Andy Cooper	207	23.4	3.0
	Independent	Alan Jones	199	22.6	N/A
	Independent	Rachael Percival	93	10.6	N/A
	Reform UK	Nigel Ely	67	7.6	N/A
Majority			108	12.4	46.8
Turnout			883	31.1
	Liberal Democrats gain from It's Our County

Birch

Birch
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Green	Toni Fagan*	562	45.1	19.4
	Conservative	Michael Agyeman	533	42.8	7.3
	Liberal Democrats	Alex Griffiths	151	12.1	N/A
Majority			29	2.3	26.7
Turnout			1246	48.3
	Green hold

Bircher

Bircher
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Dan Hurcomb	754	49.2	43.5
	Independent	Sebastian Bowen*	516	33.7	60.6
	Green	Tessa Smith-Winnard	137	8.9	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	Angharad Pope	126	8.2	N/A
Majority			258	15.5	73.1
Turnout			1535	47.3
	Conservative gain from Independent

Bishops Frome and Cradley

Bishops Frome and Cradley
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Green	Ellie Chowns*	801	68.9	9.7
	Conservative	Mark Franklin	316	27.2	5.8
	Liberal Democrats	Robert Turner	45	3.9	N/A
Majority			515	41.7	15.5
Turnout			1166	43.72
	Green hold

Bobblestock

Bobblestock
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Rob Owens	244	29.4	N/A
	Conservative	Clive Butler	241	29.0	2.0
	Independent	Tim Price*	202	24.3	24.9
	Labour	Anna Coda	143	17.3	N/A
Majority			3	0.4	−21.8
Turnout			836	31.93
	Liberal Democrats gain from Independent

Bromyard Bringsty

Bromyard Bringsty
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Peter Stoddart	562	47.4	5.6
	Green	Karen Rock	370	31.2	N/A
	Independent	Roger Page	139	11.7	35.3
	Liberal Democrats	Clare Hobbs	115	9.7	N/A
Majority			198	16.2	10.2
Turnout			1191	27.35
	Conservative hold

Bromyard West

Bromyard West
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Clare Davies*	412	62.2	N/A
	Conservative	Paul Harper	116	17.5	22.4
	Labour	Liam Holman	86	13.0	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	Clare West	48	7.3	N/A
Majority			296	44.7	24.5
Turnout			664	27.35
	Independent gain from It's Our County

Castle

Castle
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Robert Highfield	346	28.6	8.8
	Independent	Alan Watkins	345	28.5	N/A
	Independent	Rob Rimmer	316	26.1	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	Scott Shaw	203	16.8	N/A
Majority			1	0.1	25.1
Turnout			1117	43.34
	Conservative gain from Independent

Central

Central
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Green	Catherine Gennard	413	46.4	7.5
	Liberal Democrats	Mal Williams	268	30.0	8.0
	Conservative	Michael Gray	210	23.6	9.8
Majority			145	16.4	15.5
Turnout			900	35.3
	Green hold

College

College
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Ben Proctor	230	29.5	N/A
	Labour	Kath Hey*	222	28.5	N/A
	Conservative	Rachel Taylor	209	26.8	9.9
	Independent	Ian Skyrme	73	9.4	N/A
	Independent	Amanda Yilmaz	46	5.8	N/A
Majority			8	1.0	8.5
Turnout			785	28.6
	Liberal Democrats gain from It's Our County

Credenhill

Credenhill
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Bob Matthews*	351	38.3	42.6
	Conservative	Gareth Johnston	308	33.6	14.5
	Liberal Democrats	Paula Chambers	137	15.0	N/A
	Independent	Charlie Taylor	120	13.1	N/A
Majority			43	4.7	−57.1
Turnout			917	36.0
	Independent hold

Dinedor Hill

Dinedor Hill
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	David Davies	401	38.9	9.3
	Liberal Democrats	Cat Hornsey	370	35.9	N/A
	It's Our County	David Summers*	260	25.2	26.6
Majority			31	3.0	0.6
Turnout			1042	36.8
	Conservative gain from It's Our County

Eign Hill

Eign Hill
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Elizabeth Foxton*	440	38.4	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	Sam Potts	261	22.8	6.9
	Labour	Steven Woolley	238	20.8	N/A
	Conservative	Anthony Thompson	207	18.0	0.5
Majority			179	15.6	33.5
Turnout			1151	41.5
	Independent gain from It's Our County

Golden Valley North

Golden Valley North
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Philip Price	584	46.6	9.9
	Independent	Jennie Hewitt*	492	39.2	13.5
	Liberal Democrats	Brett Jenkins	178	14.2	N/A
Majority			92	7.4	8.6
Turnout			1261	50.4
	Conservative gain from Independent

Golden Valley South

Golden Valley South
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Peter Jinman*	594	52.3	21.1
	Conservative	Dave Greenow	400	35.2	21.6
	Liberal Democrats	Duncan Starling	142	12.5	N/A
Majority			194	17.1	42.7
Turnout			1147	43.2
	Independent hold

Greyfriars

Greyfriars
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Green	Diana Toynbee*	398	41.3	11.6
	Liberal Democrats	Matt Lane	261	27.0	18.4
	Conservative	Keith Farmer	214	22.2	10,6
	Independent	Neil Clark	92	9.5	N/A
Majority			137	11.7	11.7
Turnout			1147	43.2
	Green hold

Hagley

Hagley
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Ivan Powell	407	33.0	N/A
	Conservative	Josh Smith	381	30.8	14.6
	Liberal Democrats	Stephen Williams	224	18.1	N/A
	Independent	Paul Andrews*	223	18.1	36.5
Majority			26	2.2	7.0
Turnout			1245	38.2
	Independent gain from Independent

Hampton

Hampton
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Bruce Baker	545	44.2	0.8
	Independent	John Harrington*	420	34.1	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	William Motley	268	21.7	N/A
Majority			125	10.1	3.1
Turnout			1238	42.7
	Conservative gain from It's Our County

Hinton & Hunderton

Hinton & Hunderton
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Kevin Tillett*	417	66.9	32.7
	Conservative	Jeremy Chapman	126	20.2	11.6
	Independent	Amanda Martin	80	12.8	N/A
Majority			191	46.7	38.7
Turnout			625	20.8
	Liberal Democrats hold

Holmer

Holmer
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Frank Cornthwaite	366	33.4	3.1
	Liberal Democrats	Paul Stevens	315	28.7	N/A
	Independent	Stephen Tannatt Nash	205	18.7	11.9
	Independent	John Phipps	159	14.5	18.3
	Independent	Mark Weaden	51	4.7	N/A
Majority			41	4.7	1.0
Turnout			1104	32.8
	Conservative hold

Hope End

Hope End
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Green	Helen Heathfield	856	59.5	N/A
	Conservative	Keith Pieri	461	32.0	26.1
	Liberal Democrats	Kim James	122	8.5	N/A
Majority			395	27.5	15.9
Turnout			1447	48.8
	Green gain from Conservative		Swing

Kerne Bridge

Kerne Bridge
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Simeon Cole	442	39.9	6.6
	Liberal Democrats	Sarah Freer	300	27.1	N/A
	Independent	Katie Fowler	280	25.3	N/A
	Independent	Andrew Terry	85	7.7	N/A
Majority			142	12.8	5.8
Turnout			1124	43.1
	Conservative gain from Independent

Kings Acre

Kings Acre
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Robert Williams	270	32.2	2.7
	Independent	Graham Andrews*	240	28.6	41.5
	Liberal Democrats	Debbie Hobbs	236	28.1	N/A
	Independent	James Murphy	93	11.1	N/A
Majority			30	3.6	37.4
Turnout			847	32
	Conservative gain from Independent

Kington

Kington
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Terry James*	487	48.5	32.7
	Green	Helen Hamilton	304	30.2	N/A
	Independent	Fred Hawkins	115	11.5	N/A
	Conservative	Natasha Saunders	98	9.8	9.0
Majority			83	18.3	44.1
Turnout			1005	39.1
	Liberal Democrats hold

Ledbury North

Ledbury North
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	It's Our County	Liz Harvey*	424	44.0	10.5
	Independent	Ewan Sinclair	231	24.0	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	Gem Murray	172	17.9	N/A
	Conservative	Cole Fellows	136	14.1	31.4
Majority			293	20	11.0
Turnout			969	36.8
	It's Our County hold

Ledbury South

Ledbury South
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Green	Stef Simmons	424	38.6	N/A
	Conservative	Helen l'Anson*	352	32.0	6.6
	Liberal Democrats	Matthew Eakin	241	21.9	11.3
	Labour	Will Hopkins	82	7.5	12.8
Majority			72	6.6	1.2
Turnout			1101	38.3
	Green gain from Conservative

Ledbury West

Ledbury West
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Green	Justine Peberdy	431	46.1	N/A
	Conservative	Rachel F. Finch	218	23.3	0.3
	Liberal Democrats	Phillip Howells*	194	20.8	8.7
	Labour	Jonathan Browning	91	9.8	N/A
Majority			213	15.2	29.4
Turnout			936	34.5
	Green gain from Liberal Democrats

Leominster East

Leominster East
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Green	Jenny Bartlett*	452	50.0	22.3
	Conservative	Simon Donegan	315	34.8	7.1
	Liberal Democrats	Marcus Murray	137	15.2	N/A
Majority			137	15.2	29.4
Turnout			908	30.5
	Green hold

Leominster North and Rural

Leominster North and Rural
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	John Stone*	524	49.0	14.7
	Green	Bryony John	456	42.7	6.4
	Liberal Democrats	Mary Springer	89	8.3	N/A
Majority			68	6.3	21.1
Turnout			1075	34.8
	Conservative hold

Leominster South

Leominster South
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Green	Mark Woodall	379	45.0	27.7
	Conservative	Angeline Logan	262	31.1	3.8
	Liberal Democrats	Lorraine Chatwin	104	12.3	N/A
	Labour Co-op	Nick Comley	98	11.6	N/A
Majority			117	13.9	31.5
Turnout			851	32.0
	Green hold

Leominster West

Leominster West
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Allan Williams	371	49.7	35.0
	Green	Jill Hanna	267	35.7	36.9
	Liberal Democrats	Clive Thomas	109	14.6	1.9
Majority			104	14.0	43.9
Turnout			754	34.9
	Conservative gain from Green

Llangarron

Llangarron
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Elissa Swinglehurst*	652	54.2
	Liberal Democrats	Michelle Stetchfield	551	45.8	N/A
Majority			101	8.4
Turnout			1217	56.4
	Conservative hold

Mortimer

Mortimer
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Carole Gandy*	562	54.8	1.2
	Liberal Democrats	Susan Roberts	246	24.0	2.2
	Green	Callum Coomber	217	21.2	N/A
Majority			316	30.8	1.8
Turnout			1036	38.8
	Conservative hold

Newton Farm

Newton Farm
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Jacqui Carwardine	277	44.7	18.2
	Labour	Joe Emmett	201	32.4	14.2
	Conservative	John Jones	142	22.9	15.1
Majority			76	12.3	7.9
Turnout			19.9	622
	Liberal Democrats gain from Independent

Old Gore

Old Gore
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Barry Durkin*	524	44.4	13.9
	Independent	Gemma Davies	372	31.5	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	Linden Delves	285	24.1	N/A
Majority			152	13.2	3.4
Turnout			1188	47.2
	Conservative hold

Penyard

Penyard
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Harry Bramer	738	57.4	13.8
	Liberal Democrats	John Winder	547	42.6	N/A
Majority			191	14.8	10.7
Turnout			1297	41.9
	Conservative gain from Independent

Queenswood

Queenswood
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Pauline Crockett*	346	31.2	49.6
	Conservative	Nicholas Entwisle	290	26.1	6.9
	Independent	Colin Williams	277	25.0	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	Tim Fry	196	17.7	N/A
Majority			56	5.1	56.5
Turnout			1113	40.1
	Independent hold

Red Hill

Red Hill
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Dan Powell	539	64.1	27.4
	Conservative	Steve Williams	302	35.9	3.9
Majority			247	28.2	8.0
Turnout			844	28.8
	Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative

Ross East

Ross East
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Ed O'Driscoll	417	36.5	9.5
	Conservative	Becky Walsh	293	25.6	1.5
	Independent	Milly Boylan	258	22.6	N/A
	Labour	Nick Richmond	152	13.3	5.4
	Independent	Adam Fielding	24	2.1	N/A
Majority			124	10.9	8.0
Turnout			1148	38.7
	Liberal Democrats hold

Ross North

Ross North
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Chris Bartrum*	350	37.7	37.4
	Independent	Daniel Lister	313	33.8	N/A
	Conservative	Valerie Coker	153	16.5	2.2
	Labour	Melvin Hodges	111	12.0	5.2
Majority			37	3.9	52.5
Turnout			933	30.8
	Liberal Democrats hold

Ross West

Ross West
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Louis Stark*	423	43.3	4.0
	Conservative	Nigel Gibbs	240	24.6	6.5
	Independent	Rob Taylor	207	21.2	0.5
	Labour	Edward Philpott	106	10.9	N/A
Majority			183	18.7	2.6
Turnout			982	36.4
	Liberal Democrats hold

Saxon Gate

Saxon Gate
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Aubrey Oliver	363	54.1	25.9
	Conservative	William Norman	135	20.1	1.3
	Independent	John Jones	123	18.3	N/A
	Reform UK	Daniel Coughlin	50	7.5	N/A
Majority			228	34.0	9.2
Turnout			675	23.4
	Liberal Democrats gain from Independent

Stoney Street

Stoney Street
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	David Hitchiner	406	35.3	20.2
	Conservative	Phillip Cutter	374	32.5	6.3
	Liberal Democrats	David Howerski	371	32.2	13.9
Majority			32	2.8	26.5
Turnout			1155	40.0
	Independent hold

Sutton Walls

Sutton Walls
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Peter Hamblin	483	45.8	4.9
	Green	Taylor Whitchurch	197	18.7	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	Scott Richardson	192	18.2	N/A
	Independent	Steve Williams	183	17.3	32.0
Majority			186	27.1	25.7
Turnout			1060	40.3
	Conservative hold

Three Crosses

Three Crosses
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Jonathan Lester*	763	55.6	6.0
	Green	Rebecca Tully	461	33.7	4.7
	Liberal Democrats	Duncan Cooper	142	10.4	N/A
Majority			302	21.9	1.3
Turnout			1372	47.0
	Conservative hold

Tupsley

Tupsley
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Jim Kenyon*	556	48.0	31.9
	Independent	Liz Board	335	28.9	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	Hugh Brooks	142	12.3	N/A
	Conservative	Patrick Pytka	125	10.8	9.3
Majority			221	19.1	31.7
Turnout			1159	46.7
	Independent hold

Weobley

Weobley
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Nicholas Mason	450	38.9	6.0
	Independent	Mike Jones*	404	34.9	8.8
	Liberal Democrats	Barry Ashton	304	26.3	N/A
Majority			46	4.0	6.8
Turnout			1171	39.3
	Conservative gain from Independent

Whitecross

Whitecross
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	It's Our County	Dave Boulter	212	29.8	17.9
	Liberal Democrats	Emma Mayes	185	26.0	8.4
	Conservative	Marsha Barnsley	143	20.1	5.6
	Labour	Billie Kupeli	122	17.1	N/A
	Reform UK	Richard Smith	50	7.0	N/A
Majority			27	3.8	23.8
Turnout			714	27.5
	It's Our County hold

Widemarsh

Widemarsh
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Polly Andrews*	233	38.9	0.6
	Labour	Neil Barrington	204	34.1	N/A
	Conservative	Kathy Handby	113	18.9	8.0
	Reform UK	Mick Gunner	49	8.2	N/A
Majority			19	4.8	4.9
Turnout			604	25.4
	Liberal Democrats hold

Wormside

Wormside
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Richard Thomas	481	41.5	9.6
	Independent	Simon Davies	362	31.3	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	Edward Hickie	242	20.9	N/A
	Reform UK	Robert Cribb	73	6.3	N/A
Majority			119	10.2	1.6
Turnout			1168	39.0
	Conservative hold

References

^ Of the 25 councillors prior to the election who did not belong to a registered political party, 18 formed the "Independents for Herefordshire" group led by David Hitchiner, 6 formed the "True Independents" group led by Bob Matthews, and 1 (Jim Kenyon) did not belong to any group.
^ There were six councillors prior to the election who had been elected as It's Our County candidates, but all sat in the "Independents for Herefordshire" group. Of those six, three stood again for It's Our County in 2023 (Dave Boulter, Liz Harvey and David Summers), two stood as independent candidates (Elizabeth Foxton and John Harrington), and one did not stand for re-election (Tracy Bowes).

^ "Local Government Elections". Herefordshire Council. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
^ McEwan, Gavin (3 May 2023). "Herefordshire election: what is the current state of the parties?". Ledbury Reporter. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
^ Pearson, James; Jones, Megan (19 May 2023). "Minority council elects Conservative leader". BBC News. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
^ "District elections and candidates". Herefordshire Council. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
^ McEwan, Gavin (12 May 2023). "Herefordshire elections: the full results". Hereford Times. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
^ "District (ward) election results". Herefordshire Council. Retrieved 22 May 2023.

[1] Of the 25 councillors prior to the election who did not belong to a registered political party, 18 formed the "Independents for Herefordshire" group led by David Hitchiner, 6 formed the "True Independents" group led by Bob Matthews, and 1 (Jim Kenyon) did not belong to any group.

[2] There were six councillors prior to the election who had been elected as It's Our County candidates, but all sat in the "Independents for Herefordshire" group. Of those six, three stood again for It's Our County in 2023 (Dave Boulter, Liz Harvey and David Summers), two stood as independent candidates (Elizabeth Foxton and John Harrington), and one did not stand for re-election (Tracy Bowes).

[3] "Local Government Elections". Herefordshire Council. Retrieved 27 April 2023.

[4] McEwan, Gavin (3 May 2023). "Herefordshire election: what is the current state of the parties?". Ledbury Reporter. Retrieved 22 May 2023.

[5] Pearson, James; Jones, Megan (19 May 2023). "Minority council elects Conservative leader". BBC News. Retrieved 20 May 2023.

[6] "District elections and candidates". Herefordshire Council. Retrieved 27 April 2023.

[7] McEwan, Gavin (12 May 2023). "Herefordshire elections: the full results". Hereford Times. Retrieved 22 May 2023.

[8] "District (ward) election results". Herefordshire Council. Retrieved 22 May 2023.

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