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1997 Bracknell Forest Borough Council election

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1997 Bracknell Forest Borough Council election
← 1995 1 May 1997 (1997-05-01) 2000 →

All 40 seats to Bracknell Forest Borough Council
21 seats needed for a majority
Turnout75%[1]
  First party Second party Third party
 
Con
Lab
LD
Leader Paul Bettison Austin McCormack David Neighbour[2]
Party Conservative Labour Liberal Democrats
Leader's seat Little Sandhurst Wildridings College Town
(lost re-election)
Last election 12 22 6
Seats won 23 17 0
Seat change Increase 11 Decrease 5 Decrease 6
Popular vote 25,438 17,751 11,857
Percentage 44.7% 31.2% 20.8%
Swing Increase 7.1% Decrease 7.6% Decrease 1.6%

Council control before election

Labour

Council control after election

Conservative

The 1997 Bracknell Forest Borough Council election took place on 1 May 1997, to elect all 40 members in 19 wards for Bracknell Forest Borough Council in England. The election was held on the same day as both the 1997 United Kingdom general election and other local elections in England as part of the 1997 United Kingdom local elections, resulting in a much higher turnout of 75% compared to 1995. With the planned abolition of Berkshire County Council, Bracknell Forest would see itself transition from a district council to a unitary authority a year into the new term. Despite the landslide victory of the Labour Party in the general election, Bracknell Forest emerged as the only council in the United Kingdom to switch from outright Labour control to outright Conservative control, with the Conservative Party gaining a majority of 6. The Liberal Democrats were wiped out.

Part of the reason for such a dramatic switch was ascribed to the presence of a 'New Labour' slate of candidates.[3][4] Irrespective of its name, it was not connected to the New Labour movement, but was led by former Labour group leader John Tompkins. In two wards, where the Conservatives gained 3 councillors from Labour, the margin of victory was smaller than the vote share of the 'New Labour' candidates. The local Labour Party argued that the similarity of the 'New Labour' name amounted to an attempt at confusing voters and investigated legal action. Former Conservative council leader Alan Ward, who won re-election in Central Sandhurst, surmised that the national Labour Party - both euphoric and preoccupied by its win of government - was not interested in pursuing the case, and the election results were allowed to stand.[5] This would be the start of a 26-year Conservative reign, headed by Paul Bettison, that would only end in 2023.

Summary

[edit]
1997 Bracknell Forest Borough Council election
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 23 Increase 11 Steady 0 Increase 11 57.5 44.7 25,438
  Labour 17 Steady 0 Decrease 5 Decrease 5 42.5 31.2 17,751
  Liberal Democrats 0 Steady 0 Decrease 6 Decrease 6 0.0 20.8 11,857
  New Labour 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 0.0 2.2 1,251
  Independent 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 Steady 0 0.0 1.1 642

Ward results

[edit]

An asterisk (*) denotes an incumbent councillor standing for re-election

Ascot

[edit]
Ascot (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Anne Kay Haydon 2,955 51.3 +17.4
Conservative Hilary Doyle* 2,928
Conservative Dorothy Andrea Susan Hayes* 2,893
Liberal Democrats Frances Sophia Farrelly 1,433 24.9 −8.1
Labour Lucy Mary Norman 1,376 23.9 −9.2
Liberal Democrats Susan Jane Simmonds 1,358
Liberal Democrats Anthony Francis Harradine 1,343
Labour John James Harding 1,295
Labour John Kenneth Wright 1,206
Turnout 69.7 +38.7
Registered electors 8,267
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

Binfield

[edit]
Binfield (2)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Terry Mills 2,059 50.7 +2.9
Conservative John Bruce Harrison 1,996
Labour Robert Martin Woodrow 915 22.5 −9.8
Labour Edwin Lloyd Glasson 877
Liberal Democrats Bernard Walter Yoxall 721 17.8 −2.1
Independent Kenneth Charles Bennett 363 8.9 New
Independent Geoffrey Howard Taylor*[n 1] 281
Turnout 76.3 +40.4
Registered electors 5,384
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Bullbrook

[edit]
Bullbrook (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Patrick Joseph Ryan* 1,267 36.1 −8.4
Conservative Gareth Michael Barnard 1,233 35.1 +3.4
Conservative James Michael Barry Egan* 1,225
Labour Robert Edward Draper* 1,214
Labour Michael John Salter 1,144
Conservative Jones A. Ms. 1,135
Liberal Democrats Lesley Marion Boyd 807 23.0 −0.8
Liberal Democrats Stephen Hedley Barker 770
Liberal Democrats Ronald Henry Hanson 690
New Labour Carole Ann Hall 204 5.8 New
New Labour Neil Albert Tomkins 170
New Labour Peter John Hall 166
Turnout 72.6 +30.9
Registered electors 5,105
Labour hold Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Central Sandhurst

[edit]
Central Sandhurst (2)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Laurie North* 1,368 56.5 +12.4
Conservative Alan Frederick Ward* 1,245
Liberal Democrats Raymond William Earwicker 608 25.1 −16.5
Liberal Democrats John Mark Nicholson 596
Labour Jillian Irene Ryan 348 14.4 +0.1
Labour Edward Geary 286
New Labour Peter John Woodburn Darke 97 4.0 New
Turnout 76.8 +29.9
Registered electors 3,159
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

College Town

[edit]
College Town (2)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew (Andy) Duncan Blatchford 1,219 46.7 +15.9
Conservative Raymond Simonds 1,142
Liberal Democrats Veronica Anne Sullivan* 993 38.1 −14.6
Liberal Democrats David Alan Neighbour* 982
Labour Ian Plested 397 15.2 −1.3
Labour Alexandra Denise Tidd 381
Turnout 69.7 +36.0
Registered electors 4,138
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

Cranbourne

[edit]
Cranbourne
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mary Patricia Ballin* 503 67.2 +8.7
Labour Anthony Malcolm House 246 32.8 −8.7
Turnout 70.0 +35.3
Registered electors 1,089
Conservative hold Swing

Crowthorne

[edit]
Crowthorne (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James George Finnie* 1,461 46.8 +8.1
Conservative Robert Hugh Wade 1,228
Conservative John (Cliff) Clifton Thompson 1,172
Liberal Democrats Stephen Pope* 949 30.4 −12.8
Liberal Democrats Christopher Robin Sexton 908
Liberal Democrats David James Maxwell* 890
Labour Roy John Bailey 712 22.8 +4.7
Labour Daphne Elizabeth Sandiford 647
Labour Sylvia Maria Ruth Trevis 588
Turnout 75.6 +34.0
Registered electors 4,175
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Garth

[edit]
Garth (2)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Dennis Rueben Good* 1,027 47.1 −8.8
Labour Steven Paul Taylor* 999
Conservative Jacqueline Doris Sylvia Ryder 786 36.1 +1.9
Conservative Beatrice Helen Brown 683
Liberal Democrats Robert David Maxwell 269 12.3 +2.4
New Labour Janette Mary Tompkins 97 4.5 New
New Labour Jean Oxenbury 64
Turnout 76.4 +25.7
Registered electors 2,929
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Great Hollands North

[edit]
Great Hollands North (2)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jeananne Margaret Shillcock* 1,168 45.3 −17.2
Labour Langdon Richard Jones* 1,160
Conservative Betty Anne Nicholls 961 37.2 −0.3
Conservative Marilyn Denise Edmeades 910
Liberal Democrats Polly Martin 452 17.5 New
Turnout 73.8 +30.4
Registered electors 3,628
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Great Hollands South

[edit]
Great Hollands South (2)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Michael John Adams* 1,063 43.3 −3.1
Conservative Robert Angell 991 40.4 +0.6
Labour Stephen William King* 975
Conservative Janice Ann Angell 948
Liberal Democrats John Alexander Shepherd 399 16.3 +2.5
Turnout 69.9 +28.4
Registered electors 3,599
Labour hold Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Hanworth

[edit]
Hanworth (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George William Bayle 1,953 44.9 −6.4
Labour Janet Hazel Keene* 1,869
Labour Tom Wheaton* 1,853
Conservative Martin William Wallace 1,585 36.4 +3.8
Conservative Alan Sydney Browne 1,581
Conservative Diana Simone Olivia Henfrey 1,524
Liberal Democrats Geoffrey Noel Le-Patourel 816 18.7 +2.7
Turnout 74.2 +32.2
Registered electors 6,168
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Harmans Water

[edit]
Harmans Water (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour William James Ernest Onions* 2,033 39.5 −11.8
Conservative Shelagh Rosemary Pile 1,801 35.0 −0.3
Conservative Jean Amy Sutcliffe 1,721
Labour Stanley Charles Simmonds* 1,667
Conservative Alexander John Wood 1,607
Labour Graham Edward Stuart Vertigen 1,584
Liberal Democrats Alan Edward Cocks 847 16.5 +3.1
New Labour Deborah Rose Simmonds 461 9.0 New
New Labour Kevin Anthony Philip Simmonds 367
Turnout 72.9 +32.6
Registered electors 6,351
Labour hold Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Little Sandhurst

[edit]
Little Sandhurst (2)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul David Bettison* 1,291 55.0 +7.0
Conservative Dale Philip Birch* 1,220
Liberal Democrats John Richard Score 618 26.3 −0.4
Liberal Democrats Nicholas Beresford Taylor 574
Labour Clive Urquhart 439 18.7 −6.6
Labour Susan Dorothy Gurran 415
Turnout 77.8 +35.4
Registered electors 3,186
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing

Old Bracknell

[edit]
Old Bracknell (3)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Michael John Beadsley 1,368 43.9 −16.4
Labour Hirst B. Ms.* 1,309
Labour Donald Anthony Veakins* 1,196
Conservative Elizabeth Regina Mary Ashcroft 1,055 33.8 +6.9
Conservative Isabel Margaret Mattick 1,034
Conservative Christopher Richard Martin Turrell 950
Liberal Democrats John Edward Roffey 520 16.7 +3.9
New Labour John Lewis 174 5.6 New
New Labour Roderick Alan Lewis 170
New Labour Nicola Metcalfe 169
Turnout 75.1 +29.6
Registered electors 4,055
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

Owlsmoor

[edit]
Owlsmoor
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David James Worrall 1,480 49.7 +12.2
Liberal Democrats Reginald Peter John Hodge* 948 31.8 −14.5
Labour Andrew Douglas Annette 551 18.5 +2.3
Turnout 73.6 +36.3
Registered electors 4,152
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

Priestwood

[edit]
Priestwood (2)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Juliet Mary Clifford* 930 43.9 +2.5
Labour David John Fawcett* 798
Conservative Veronica Carol Lewin 544 25.7 −0.2
Conservative Arthur George Thomson 469
Independent Raymond Frederick Ackary 279 13.2 New
Liberal Democrats Stanley James Southgate 228 10.8 +3.5
New Labour John William Tomkins 136 6.4 New
New Labour John Joseph Oxenbury 98
Turnout 76.4 +27.9
Registered electors 2,929
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

St. Marys

[edit]
St. Marys
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Anthony Flood* 962 70.5 +3.3
Liberal Democrats Muriel Evelyn Holburn 252 18.5 New
Labour Carol Ann Draper 151 11.1 −21.7
Turnout 79.4 +46.3
Registered electors 1,733
Conservative hold Swing

Warfield

[edit]
Warfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Michael Sargeant* 2,572 59.8 +4.1
Labour Patricia Eira Brown 986 22.9 +2.6
Liberal Democrats Martyn Jon Towle 744 17.3 −6.6
Turnout 77.4 +45.2
Registered electors 5,657
Conservative hold Swing

Wildridings

[edit]
Wildridings (2)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Austin John McCormack* 821 46.4 −8.6
Labour Philip Grayson* 754
Conservative Margaret Rose Wreglesworth 612 34.6 +1.1
Conservative Noel William Wreglesworth 553
Liberal Democrats Laurence Gerard John Gallagher 253 14.3 +2.8
New Labour Jonathan Paul Tompkins 82 4.6 New
New Labour Simon Peter Brooks 52
Turnout 77.9 +25.9
Registered electors 2,203
Labour hold Swing
Labour hold Swing

By-elections

[edit]

Harmans Water

[edit]
Harmans Water By-Election 25 February 1999[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Roy John Bailey 876 50.2 +10.7
Conservative Christopher Richard Martin Turrell 765 43.9 +8.9
Liberal Democrats Alan Edward Cocks 103 5.9 −10.6
Majority 111 6.3
Turnout 1,744
Registered electors
Labour hold Swing

Great Hollands South

[edit]
Great Hollands South By-Election 19 November 1998[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Stefan Piasecki 638 62.2 +18.9
Conservative Diana Simone Olivia Henfrey 329 32.1 −8.3
Liberal Democrats David James Maxwell 58 5.7 −10.6
Majority 309 30.1
Turnout 1,025
Registered electors
Labour gain from Conservative Swing 13.6

Footnotes

[edit]
  1. ^ Taylor was elected as a Conservative Party candidate in 1995.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Borough Council Elections - Thursday, 1 May 1997". Bracknell Forest Borough Council. 1 May 1997. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Voters put Lib Dems to the sword". Bracknell Times. 8 May 1997. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  3. ^ "'New' party opposes election law change". Bracknell Times. 10 July 1997. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  4. ^ Tompkins, John (21 August 1997). "Inquiry needed to sort out Labour feud". Bracknell Times. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  5. ^ Ward, Alan (2012). Not A Single Excuse. Writersworld. p. 226. ISBN 978-09572052-0-8.
  6. ^ "Harmans Water By-Election - Thursday, 25 February 1999". Bracknell Forest Borough Council. 25 February 1999. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  7. ^ "Great Hollands South By-Election - Thursday, 19 November 1998". Bracknell Forest Borough Council. 19 November 1998. Retrieved 1 February 2023.