← Braintree (all cycles) · 4 May 2023 cohort

Braintree 2023

Local elections held 4 May 2023.

26 ward races

49 seats

42 elected below the proportional quota

85.7% of seats below quota

How to read this page

Each race below shows the share of valid ballots the marginal elected candidate actually won, and compares it to the proportional quota: the share that would be needed to be guaranteed that seat under any proportional voting method (1 seats + 1). For a 1-seat ward the quota is 50%; for 2 seats, 33.3%; for 3 seats, 25%.

Where the actual winning share fell below the quota, we show the gap as points under par — the editorial indictment. Above-par results are just majority mandates and pass without comment. The voting method is the subject of every observation here. Named candidates appear as the public election record requires; the cause being audited is the voting method, not the individuals. See the methodology page for derivations.

If votes were counted by party

Across the 26 wards in this cycle, parties received the vote totals below. The proportional column shows what each party would have won if the 49 seats had been allocated to those vote totals in proportion (how, with caveats). The Δ column is the actual seat count minus the proportional seat count — positive numbers are parties First-Past-the-Post over-represented in this council, negative are parties it under-represented.

Party	Votes	Vote %	Seats won	% of seats	Proportional seats	Proportional %	Δ
Conservative and Unionist Party	26,211	39.8%	26	53.1%	20	40.8%	+6
Labour Party	17,677	26.8%	9	18.4%	14	28.6%	-5
Green Party	10,187	15.5%	4	8.2%	8	16.3%	-4
Independent	6,727	10.2%	7	14.3%	5	10.2%	+2
HALST RES	2,330	3.5%	3	6.1%	1	2.0%	+2
Liberal Democrats	2,298	3.5%	0	0.0%	1	2.0%	-1
Reform UK	321	0.5%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
UK Independence Party (UKIP)	68	0.1%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
Heritage Party	51	0.1%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
Total	65,870	100.0%	49	100.0%	49	100.0%	0

Vote share vs seats won

The top bar is each party's share of votes cast in this council. Below, one square per seat, coloured by the party that won it — first the actual First-Past-the-Post result, then what a proportional method would have produced from the same vote totals. Divergence between the bar and the actual grid is the indictment of the method.

Vote share

Actual seats

Proportional seats

Wards in this council

Sorted with the largest gap below the quota first. Click any ward to jump to its full result.

Witham North · 2 seats · won at 18.9% · +14.4 pts below quota
Witham Central · 2 seats · won at 18.9% · +14.4 pts below quota
Witham West · 2 seats · won at 19.5% · +13.8 pts below quota
Witham South · 2 seats · won at 21.0% · +12.3 pts below quota
Braintree South · 2 seats · won at 21.8% · +11.5 pts below quota
Halstead Trinity · 2 seats · won at 22.5% · +10.9 pts below quota
Three Fields · 2 seats · won at 22.7% · +10.6 pts below quota
Bocking South · 2 seats · won at 22.9% · +10.4 pts below quota
Bocking North · 2 seats · won at 23.8% · +9.5 pts below quota
Bocking Blackwater · 3 seats · won at 15.9% · +9.1 pts below quota
Braintree Central & Beckers Green · 3 seats · won at 16.0% · +9.0 pts below quota
Kelvedon & Feering · 2 seats · won at 24.6% · +8.7 pts below quota
Great Notley & Black Notley · 3 seats · won at 17.2% · +7.8 pts below quota
Braintree West · 2 seats · won at 26.2% · +7.2 pts below quota
Coggeshall · 2 seats · won at 26.7% · +6.6 pts below quota
Halstead St Andrew's · 2 seats · won at 27.0% · +6.4 pts below quota
The Colnes · 2 seats · won at 27.5% · +5.9 pts below quota
Yeldham · 1 seat · won at 44.2% · +5.8 pts below quota
Hedingham · 2 seats · won at 30.0% · +3.4 pts below quota
Hatfield Peverel & Terling · 2 seats · won at 31.1% · +2.3 pts below quota
Silver End & Cressing · 2 seats · won at 31.9% · +1.4 pts below quota
Gosfield & Greenstead Green · 1 seat · won at 52.6% · above quota
Stour Valley North · 1 seat · won at 55.6% · above quota
Stour Valley South · 1 seat · won at 59.3% · above quota
Bumpstead · 1 seat · won at 60.2% · above quota
Rayne · 1 seat · won at 64.0% · above quota

Race results

Witham North · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 18.9% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +14.4 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,870

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Taylor, B.	Conservative and Unionist Party	568	19.8%	Elected
2	Williams, E.	Conservative and Unionist Party	543	18.9%	Elected
3	Barlow, P.	Labour Party	477	16.6%
4	Headley, L.	Labour Party	418	14.6%
5	Hicks, S.	Green Party	401	14.0%
6	Hughes, P.	Green Party	396	13.8%
7	Blaxill, T.	Reform UK	67	2.3%

Electorate 5,496 · Ballots cast 2,870 · Back to ward index

Witham Central · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 18.9% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +14.4 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,568

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Rajeev, S.	Conservative and Unionist Party	510	19.9%	Elected
2	Williams, T.	Conservative and Unionist Party	486	18.9%	Elected
3	Barlow, L.	Labour Party	362	14.1%
4	Gerrard-Abbott, E.	Green Party	358	13.9%
5	Coleman, J.	Labour Party	288	11.2%
6	Fleet, B.	Liberal Democrats	259	10.1%
7	Waring, H.	Liberal Democrats	198	7.7%
8	Thomson, R.	Reform UK	107	4.2%

Electorate 4,940 · Ballots cast 2,568 · Back to ward index

Witham West · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 19.5% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +13.8 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,660

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Hayes, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	533	20.0%	Elected
2	Ramage, R.	Conservative and Unionist Party	520	19.5%	Elected
3	Coleman, J.	Labour Party	467	17.6%
4	Robertson, J.	Labour Party	427	16.1%
5	Ager, S.	Green Party	361	13.6%
6	Crane, S.	Green Party	254	9.5%
7	Holt, A.	Liberal Democrats	98	3.7%

Electorate 4,880 · Ballots cast 2,660 · Back to ward index

Witham South · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 21.0% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +12.3 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,254

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Heath, P.	Labour Party	501	22.2%	Elected
2	Martin, J.	Labour Party	473	21.0%	Elected
3	Korsinah, W.	Conservative and Unionist Party	448	19.9%
4	Trigg, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	424	18.8%
5	Bills, S.	Green Party	174	7.7%
6	Hewitt, P.	Liberal Democrats	137	6.1%
7	Ryland, C.	Liberal Democrats	97	4.3%

Electorate 4,519 · Ballots cast 2,254 · Back to ward index

Braintree South · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 21.8% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +11.5 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,097

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Green, M.	Labour Party	468	22.3%	Elected
2	Bowers, K.	Conservative and Unionist Party	457	21.8%	Elected
3	Thurgood, J.	Labour Party	444	21.2%
4	Rehman, S.	Conservative and Unionist Party	399	19.0%
5	Wick, S.	Green Party	185	8.8%
6	Hughes, T.	Liberal Democrats	144	6.9%

Electorate 4,651 · Ballots cast 2,097 · Back to ward index

Halstead Trinity · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 22.5% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +10.9 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,314

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Pell, J.	HALST RES	625	27.0%	Elected
2	Fincken, M.	Labour Party	520	22.5%	Elected
3	Warren, G.	Labour Party	437	18.9%
4	Hilton, L.	HALST RES	409	17.7%
5	Britten, B.	Conservative and Unionist Party	180	7.8%
6	Poole, L.	Conservative and Unionist Party	143	6.2%

Electorate 5,034 · Ballots cast 2,314 · Back to ward index

Three Fields · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 22.7% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +10.6 pts below quota Valid ballots 3,750

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Ault, M.	Independent	995	26.5%	Elected
2	Staines, M.	Independent	851	22.7%	Elected
3	Warner, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	818	21.8%
4	Canning, S.	Conservative and Unionist Party	593	15.8%
5	Edwards, W.	Labour Party	265	7.1%
6	Newton, S.	Labour Party	228	6.1%

Electorate 4,597 · Ballots cast 3,750 · Back to ward index

Bocking South · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 22.9% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +10.4 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,115

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Edwards, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	511	24.2%	Elected
2	Thorogood, M.	Labour Party	485	22.9%	Elected
3	McArdle, T.	Conservative and Unionist Party	479	22.6%
4	Heath, R.	Labour Party	459	21.7%
5	Handy, K.	Green Party	181	8.6%

Electorate 4,596 · Ballots cast 2,115 · Back to ward index

Bocking North · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 23.8% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +9.5 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,191

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Jefferis, L.	Labour Party	565	25.8%	Elected
2	Baugh, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	522	23.8%	Elected
3	Martin, K.	Labour Party	506	23.1%
4	Ajala, F.	Conservative and Unionist Party	372	17.0%
5	Phillips, A.	Green Party	226	10.3%

Electorate 4,170 · Ballots cast 2,191 · Back to ward index

Bocking Blackwater · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 15.9% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +9.1 pts below quota Valid ballots 4,858

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Walters, L.	Conservative and Unionist Party	815	16.8%	Elected
2	Wrench, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	804	16.6%	Elected
3	Flint, L.	Conservative and Unionist Party	773	15.9%	Elected
4	Andrews, D.	Green Party	582	12.0%
5	Curitz, J.	Labour Party	576	11.9%
6	Chidgey, D.	Labour Party	540	11.1%
7	Parsons, R.	Labour Party	421	8.7%
8	Card, J.	Liberal Democrats	347	7.1%

Electorate 7,331 · Ballots cast 4,858 · Back to ward index

Braintree Central & Beckers Green · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 16.0% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +9.0 pts below quota Valid ballots 4,283

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Mason, S.	Labour Party	699	16.3%	Elected
2	Diamond, T.	Labour Party	694	16.2%	Elected
3	Ayten, J.	Labour Party	687	16.0%	Elected
4	Brown, K.	Conservative and Unionist Party	488	11.4%
5	Canning, S.	Conservative and Unionist Party	475	11.1%
6	Hensman, A.	Conservative and Unionist Party	425	9.9%
7	Attwood, S.	Green Party	422	9.9%
8	Riches, C.	Independent	393	9.2%

Electorate 6,567 · Ballots cast 4,283 · Back to ward index

Kelvedon & Feering · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 24.6% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +8.7 pts below quota Valid ballots 3,820

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Thorogood, P.	Green Party	1,096	28.7%	Elected
2	Finch, C.	Green Party	940	24.6%	Elected
3	Mitchell, R.	Conservative and Unionist Party	668	17.5%
4	Jayatillake, I.	Conservative and Unionist Party	644	16.9%
5	Davidson, E.	Labour Party	246	6.4%
6	Carlaw, P.	Labour Party	226	5.9%

Electorate 4,537 · Ballots cast 3,820 · Back to ward index

Great Notley & Black Notley · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 17.2% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +7.8 pts below quota Valid ballots 5,650

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Butland, G.	Conservative and Unionist Party	1,028	18.2%	Elected
2	Ricci, F.	Conservative and Unionist Party	979	17.3%	Elected
3	Cunningham, T.	Conservative and Unionist Party	969	17.2%	Elected
4	Gerrard-Abbott, P.	Green Party	490	8.7%
5	Beatty, A.	Labour Party	428	7.6%
6	Smith, B.	Liberal Democrats	387	6.8%
7	Jones, A.	Labour Party	384	6.8%
8	Jagniaszek, B.	Labour Party	354	6.3%
9	Toombs, D.	Liberal Democrats	347	6.1%
10	Sheppard, G.	Liberal Democrats	284	5.0%

Electorate 7,527 · Ballots cast 5,650 · Back to ward index

Braintree West · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 26.2% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +7.2 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,643

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Cunningham, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	727	27.5%	Elected
2	Prime, G.	Conservative and Unionist Party	692	26.2%	Elected
3	Wilsdon, A.	Labour Party	457	17.3%
4	Wyatt, P.	Labour Party	426	16.1%
5	Scales, N.	Green Party	341	12.9%

Electorate 4,629 · Ballots cast 2,643 · Back to ward index

Coggeshall · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 26.7% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +6.6 pts below quota Valid ballots 3,474

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Walsh, T.	Independent	981	28.2%	Elected
2	Abram, D.	Independent	928	26.7%	Elected
3	Wilson, S.	Conservative and Unionist Party	540	15.5%
4	Siddall, C.	Conservative and Unionist Party	478	13.8%
5	Powers, B.	Labour Party	287	8.3%
6	Agarwal-Hollands, U.	Labour Party	260	7.5%

Electorate 4,602 · Ballots cast 3,474 · Back to ward index

Halstead St Andrew's · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 27.0% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +6.4 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,344

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Bond, J.	HALST RES	664	28.3%	Elected
2	Munday, A.	HALST RES	632	27.0%	Elected
3	Finch, D.	Conservative and Unionist Party	289	12.3%
4	Knight, S.	Labour Party	286	12.2%
5	Tearle, K.	Labour Party	255	10.9%
6	Senbanjo, O.	Conservative and Unionist Party	150	6.4%
7	Wood, J.	UK Independence Party (UKIP)	68	2.9%

Electorate 4,800 · Ballots cast 2,344 · Back to ward index

The Colnes · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 27.5% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +5.9 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,573

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Courtauld, G.	Conservative and Unionist Party	724	28.1%	Elected
2	Spray, G.	Conservative and Unionist Party	707	27.5%	Elected
3	Astley, J.	Green Party	549	21.3%
4	Hindley, S.	Labour Party	346	13.4%
5	Preston, F.	Labour Party	247	9.6%

Electorate 4,718 · Ballots cast 2,573 · Back to ward index

Yeldham · single-seat

Marginal winner 44.2% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +5.8 pts below quota Valid ballots 706

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Dulken, R.	Conservative and Unionist Party	312	44.2%	Elected
2	Allen, J.	Independent	282	39.9%
3	Franklin, D.	Labour Party	112	15.9%

Electorate 2,210 · Ballots cast 706 · Back to ward index

Hedingham · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 30.0% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +3.4 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,549

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Beavis, J.	Independent	941	36.9%	Elected
2	Taylor, W.	Independent	764	30.0%	Elected
3	Ferrando, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	304	11.9%
4	Rawlinson, P.	Conservative and Unionist Party	236	9.3%
5	Calver, C.	Labour Party	156	6.1%
6	Creamer, M.	Labour Party	148	5.8%

Electorate 4,452 · Ballots cast 2,549 · Back to ward index

Hatfield Peverel & Terling · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 31.1% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +2.3 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,752

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Dervish, C.	Conservative and Unionist Party	877	31.9%	Elected
2	Coleridge, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	855	31.1%	Elected
3	Barker, J.	Green Party	409	14.9%
4	Bennison, L.	Labour Party	312	11.3%
5	Bennett, T.	Labour Party	299	10.9%

Electorate 4,851 · Ballots cast 2,752 · Back to ward index

Silver End & Cressing · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 31.9% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +1.4 pts below quota Valid ballots 3,187

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Abbott, J.	Green Party	1,198	37.6%	Elected
2	Wright, B.	Green Party	1,017	31.9%	Elected
3	Bayford, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	300	9.4%
4	Hammond, D.	Conservative and Unionist Party	297	9.3%
5	Bennison, S.	Labour Party	134	4.2%
6	Griffin, A.	Labour Party	126	4.0%
7	Hawkins, A.	Independent	64	2.0%
8	Page, A.	Heritage Party	51	1.6%

Electorate 5,275 · Ballots cast 3,187 · Back to ward index

Gosfield & Greenstead Green · single-seat

Marginal winner 52.6% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −2.6 pts Valid ballots 753

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Schwier, P.	Conservative and Unionist Party	396	52.6%	Elected
2	Bishop, J.	Green Party	219	29.1%
3	Warren, D.	Labour Party	138	18.3%

Electorate 2,183 · Ballots cast 753 · Back to ward index

Stour Valley North · single-seat

Marginal winner 55.6% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −5.6 pts Valid ballots 912

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Parker, I.	Conservative and Unionist Party	507	55.6%	Elected
2	Long, P.	Labour Party	172	18.9%
3	Posen, M.	Green Party	167	18.3%
4	Richards, R.	Reform UK	66	7.2%

Electorate 2,326 · Ballots cast 912 · Back to ward index

Stour Valley South · single-seat

Marginal winner 59.3% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −9.3 pts Valid ballots 926

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Holland, D.	Conservative and Unionist Party	549	59.3%	Elected
2	Robinson, P.	Green Party	221	23.9%
3	Hearn, F.	Labour Party	156	16.8%

Electorate 2,484 · Ballots cast 926 · Back to ward index

Bumpstead · single-seat

Marginal winner 60.2% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −10.2 pts Valid ballots 796

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Garrod, D.	Conservative and Unionist Party	479	60.2%	Elected
2	Knights, G.	Labour Party	236	29.6%
3	Saggers, N.	Reform UK	81	10.2%

Electorate 2,307 · Ballots cast 796 · Back to ward index

Rayne · single-seat

Marginal winner 64.0% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −14.0 pts Valid ballots 825

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Hooks, A.	Independent	528	64.0%	Elected
2	Young, G.	Conservative and Unionist Party	218	26.4%
3	Gibson, N.	Labour Party	79	9.6%

Electorate 2,196 · Ballots cast 825 · Back to ward index