Conservative Party › 2021
Conservative Party in 2021
Polling day: 6 May 2021. 143 councils held elections.
Summary
- Contested in 143 of 143 councils; ran for 4,729 seats.
- Won 2,336 seats (49.4% of seats up) on 40.9% of the vote.
- Net change vs each council's last appearance in this dataset: +636 seats across 96 councils up, 20 councils down, 25 flat, 2 new to the window.
- Council-control change: 11 gained, 2 lost.
Same votes, different counting rule
Compare the seats Conservative Party actually won under FPTP with a proportional re-count of the same council-level votes. Positive means seats unfairly awarded by FPTP; negative means seats the party was denied by FPTP.
Where Conservative Party led, as of 2021
Councils where Conservative Party was the largest single party in the most recent composition snapshot at or before 2021. Greens ring councils gained at this election; reds ring those lost. Click any hex to drill in.
As of 2021
227 councils led
+11 gained this cycle
−2 lost this cycle
Grey hexes are councils where another party led, or where we don't have a snapshot for that year.
Council-control changes
Councils where the largest party in the running composition changed at this election. How a flip is defined →
Gained (11)
- Nuneaton and Bedworth from Labour Party
- Southampton from Labour Party
- Hartlepool from Other
- Cannock Chase from Labour Party
- Crawley from Labour Party
- Amber Valley from Labour Party
- Harlow from Labour Party
- Plymouth from Labour Party
- Bolton from Labour Party
- Hart from Other
- Portsmouth from Liberal Democrats
Lost (2)
- Oxfordshire to Liberal Democrats
- Tandridge to Other
Where the seats came from
Per-council net seat change vs each council's prior appearance in our dataset (typically that council's previous all-out election or its last by-thirds slice). "Debut" rows are councils whose first cycle in our window is 2021 — usually the result of a boundary reorganisation or being a county outside our 2021 LEH coverage.
Seats gained (96 councils)
| Council | Won | Last cycle | Net | Vote share | Seat share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buckinghamshire | 113 | 41 (2017) | +72 | 47.5% | 76.9% |
| Kent | 62 | 0 (2019) | +62 | 49.0% | 76.5% |
| West Sussex | 48 | 0 (2019) | +48 | 46.8% | 68.6% |
| Surrey | 47 | 0 (2019) | +47 | 42.2% | 58.0% |
| Warwickshire | 42 | 0 (2018) | +42 | 48.6% | 73.7% |
| Northumberland | 34 | 0 (2019) | +34 | 45.7% | 50.7% |
| Gloucestershire | 28 | 0 (2019) | +28 | 43.9% | 52.8% |
| Cambridgeshire | 28 | 0 (2019) | +28 | 39.0% | 45.9% |
| County Durham | 24 | 0 (2019) | +24 | 27.2% | 19.0% |
| Basingstoke & Deane | 33 | 12 (2019) | +21 | 48.8% | 61.1% |
| Rotherham | 20 | 0 (2016) | +20 | 28.4% | 33.9% |
| Hartlepool | 13 | 1 (2019) | +12 | 25.5% | 36.1% |
| Chorley | 13 | 2 (2019) | +11 | 39.5% | 31.0% |
| Dudley | 23 | 13 (2019) | +10 | 57.1% | 88.5% |
| Pendle | 18 | 8 (2019) | +10 | 48.2% | 54.5% |
| Peterborough | 16 | 7 (2019) | +9 | 44.6% | 69.6% |
| Warrington | 11 | 2 (2016) | +9 | 36.7% | 19.0% |
| Sandwell | 9 | 0 (2019) | +9 | 36.6% | 33.3% |
| Derbyshire | 45 | 37 (2017) | +8 | 47.7% | 70.3% |
| Harlow | 12 | 4 (2019) | +8 | 60.0% | 92.3% |
| Welwyn Hatfield | 15 | 8 (2019) | +7 | 48.7% | 88.2% |
| Thurrock | 13 | 6 (2019) | +7 | 53.2% | 76.5% |
| Southend On Sea | 11 | 4 (2019) | +7 | 40.5% | 57.9% |
| Staffordshire | 57 | 51 (2017) | +6 | 56.6% | 91.9% |
| Leicestershire | 42 | 36 (2017) | +6 | 51.3% | 76.4% |
| Nottinghamshire | 37 | 31 (2017) | +6 | 42.4% | 56.1% |
| Worcestershire | 45 | 40 (2017) | +5 | 49.6% | 78.9% |
| Plymouth | 14 | 9 (2019) | +5 | 50.6% | 73.7% |
| Amber Valley | 13 | 8 (2019) | +5 | 53.6% | 81.3% |
| Cannock Chase | 12 | 7 (2019) | +5 | 52.6% | 92.3% |
| Basildon | 10 | 5 (2019) | +5 | 48.7% | 66.7% |
| Ipswich | 9 | 4 (2019) | +5 | 44.9% | 50.0% |
| Calderdale | 9 | 4 (2019) | +5 | 39.0% | 47.4% |
| Gloucester | 26 | 22 (2016) | +4 | 47.3% | 66.7% |
| Nuneaton & Bedworth | 15 | 11 (2018) | +4 | 58.2% | 88.2% |
| Solihull | 12 | 8 (2019) | +4 | 53.8% | 66.7% |
| Wokingham | 12 | 8 (2019) | +4 | 46.2% | 66.7% |
| Southampton | 11 | 7 (2019) | +4 | 42.9% | 68.8% |
| Doncaster | 11 | 7 (2017) | +4 | 33.2% | 20.0% |
| Bolton | 10 | 6 (2019) | +4 | 38.8% | 47.6% |
| Kirklees | 9 | 5 (2019) | +4 | 38.4% | 36.0% |
| Wakefield | 8 | 4 (2019) | +4 | 37.5% | 36.4% |
| Hyndburn | 7 | 3 (2019) | +4 | 46.7% | 53.8% |
| Salford | 7 | 3 (2019) | +4 | 25.6% | 11.7% |
| Stevenage | 6 | 2 (2019) | +4 | 39.8% | 42.9% |
| Lincoln | 5 | 1 (2019) | +4 | 41.7% | 45.5% |
| Oldham | 5 | 1 (2019) | +4 | 23.8% | 25.0% |
| Norfolk | 58 | 55 (2017) | +3 | 48.4% | 69.0% |
| Suffolk | 55 | 52 (2017) | +3 | 48.0% | 73.3% |
| Swindon | 15 | 12 (2019) | +3 | 48.5% | 71.4% |
| Havant | 14 | 11 (2019) | +3 | 59.2% | 100.0% |
| Maidstone | 12 | 9 (2019) | +3 | 47.3% | 63.2% |
| Gosport | 11 | 8 (2018) | +3 | 48.5% | 64.7% |
| Milton Keynes | 11 | 8 (2019) | +3 | 42.0% | 52.4% |
| Brentwood | 9 | 6 (2019) | +3 | 49.1% | 75.0% |
| Colchester | 9 | 6 (2019) | +3 | 44.8% | 47.4% |
| Derby | 9 | 6 (2019) | +3 | 38.5% | 50.0% |
| Tunbridge Wells | 8 | 5 (2019) | +3 | 36.8% | 44.4% |
| Sunderland | 8 | 5 (2019) | +3 | 34.8% | 28.6% |
| Tandridge | 7 | 4 (2019) | +3 | 36.3% | 43.8% |
| Trafford | 7 | 4 (2019) | +3 | 33.6% | 28.0% |
| Hart | 6 | 3 (2019) | +3 | 49.2% | 50.0% |
| Mole Valley | 5 | 2 (2019) | +3 | 38.1% | 38.5% |
| Burnley | 4 | 1 (2019) | +3 | 32.0% | 26.7% |
| Lancashire | 48 | 46 (2017) | +2 | 43.9% | 57.1% |
| North East Lincolnshire | 12 | 10 (2019) | +2 | 55.9% | 85.7% |
| Rushmoor | 11 | 9 (2019) | +2 | 52.7% | 78.6% |
| Cherwell | 11 | 9 (2019) | +2 | 47.7% | 68.8% |
| Adur | 11 | 9 (2018) | +2 | 45.4% | 61.1% |
| Bradford | 11 | 9 (2019) | +2 | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| Tamworth | 10 | 8 (2019) | +2 | 56.9% | 100.0% |
| Rugby | 10 | 8 (2019) | +2 | 48.6% | 66.7% |
| Rochford | 9 | 7 (2019) | +2 | 42.9% | 60.0% |
| Leeds | 9 | 7 (2019) | +2 | 31.2% | 26.5% |
| Wolverhampton | 8 | 6 (2019) | +2 | 43.0% | 36.4% |
| Winchester | 7 | 5 (2019) | +2 | 45.0% | 46.7% |
| Bury | 7 | 5 (2019) | +2 | 41.2% | 36.8% |
| Blackburn With Darwen | 6 | 4 (2019) | +2 | 38.8% | 35.3% |
| Coventry | 6 | 4 (2019) | +2 | 33.4% | 31.6% |
| Cheltenham | 5 | 3 (2018) | +2 | 37.5% | 25.0% |
| North Tyneside | 5 | 3 (2019) | +2 | 35.7% | 21.7% |
| Wigan | 4 | 2 (2019) | +2 | 30.4% | 15.4% |
| Tameside | 3 | 1 (2019) | +2 | 35.7% | 15.8% |
| Sefton | 3 | 1 (2019) | +2 | 25.9% | 12.5% |
| Cornwall | 47 | 46 (2017) | +1 | 37.3% | 54.0% |
| Walsall | 14 | 13 (2019) | +1 | 54.1% | 63.6% |
| Fareham | 13 | 12 (2018) | +1 | 56.2% | 86.7% |
| West Oxfordshire | 9 | 8 (2019) | +1 | 41.1% | 52.9% |
| North Hertfordshire | 8 | 7 (2019) | +1 | 40.8% | 53.3% |
| St Albans | 8 | 7 (2019) | +1 | 34.3% | 40.0% |
| Worthing | 6 | 5 (2019) | +1 | 44.8% | 46.2% |
| Stockport | 3 | 2 (2019) | +1 | 25.8% | 14.3% |
| Halton | 2 | 1 (2019) | +1 | 18.8% | 3.7% |
| Eastleigh | 1 | 0 (2019) | +1 | 36.2% | 8.3% |
| South Tyneside | 1 | 0 (2019) | +1 | 21.6% | 5.0% |
| Sheffield | 1 | 0 (2019) | +1 | 18.7% | 3.4% |
Seats lost (20 councils)
| Council | Won | Last cycle | Net | Vote share | Seat share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reigate & Banstead | 11 | 29 (2019) | -18 | 47.1% | 61.1% |
| Runnymede | 9 | 26 (2019) | -17 | 45.0% | 69.2% |
| Oxfordshire | 21 | 31 (2017) | -10 | 36.8% | 33.3% |
| Crawley | 8 | 17 (2019) | -9 | 48.6% | 57.1% |
| Isle Of Wight | 18 | 25 (2017) | -7 | 38.6% | 46.2% |
| Wiltshire | 61 | 67 (2017) | -6 | 47.3% | 62.2% |
| Shropshire | 42 | 48 (2017) | -6 | 44.7% | 57.5% |
| Hertfordshire | 46 | 51 (2017) | -5 | 43.3% | 59.0% |
| Lincolnshire | 54 | 58 (2017) | -4 | 55.4% | 77.1% |
| Essex | 52 | 56 (2017) | -4 | 48.7% | 69.3% |
| Preston | 5 | 9 (2019) | -4 | 34.6% | 31.3% |
| Devon | 39 | 42 (2017) | -3 | 42.8% | 65.0% |
| East Sussex | 27 | 30 (2017) | -3 | 42.0% | 54.0% |
| Stroud | 20 | 23 (2016) | -3 | 43.1% | 39.2% |
| Castle Point | 5 | 8 (2019) | -3 | 40.7% | 33.3% |
| Worcester | 5 | 7 (2019) | -2 | 39.3% | 41.7% |
| Portsmouth | 5 | 7 (2019) | -2 | 35.9% | 35.7% |
| Broxbourne | 9 | 10 (2019) | -1 | 63.8% | 90.0% |
| Rossendale | 4 | 5 (2019) | -1 | 45.7% | 33.3% |
| Three Rivers | 4 | 5 (2019) | -1 | 37.6% | 30.8% |
Debut councils (2)
| Council | Won | Vote share | Seat share |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Northamptonshire | 66 | 50.8% | 71.0% |
| North Northamptonshire | 60 | 52.6% | 76.9% |
No change (25)
- Hampshire 56 seats (unchanged from 2017)
- Bristol, City Of 14 seats (unchanged from 2016)
- Epping Forest 13 seats (unchanged from 2019)
- Redditch 9 seats (unchanged from 2019)
- Hastings 8 seats (unchanged from 2018)
- Wirral 8 seats (unchanged from 2019)
- West Lancashire 7 seats (unchanged from 2019)
- Elmbridge 6 seats (unchanged from 2019)
- Woking 4 seats (unchanged from 2019)
- Reading 4 seats (unchanged from 2019)
- Rochdale 3 seats (unchanged from 2019)
- Slough 2 seats (unchanged from 2019)
- Exeter 2 seats (unchanged from 2019)
- Barnsley 1 seats (unchanged from 2019)
- St Helens 1 seats (unchanged from 2019)
- Watford 0 seats (unchanged from 2019)
- Gateshead 0 seats (unchanged from 2019)
- Norwich 0 seats (unchanged from 2019)
- Kingston Upon Hull 0 seats (unchanged from 2019)
- Newcastle Upon Tyne 0 seats (unchanged from 2019)
- Oxford 0 seats (unchanged from 2018)
- Cambridge 0 seats (unchanged from 2019)
- Manchester 0 seats (unchanged from 2019)
- Liverpool 0 seats (unchanged from 2019)
- Knowsley 0 seats (unchanged from 2019)
Net-change comparisons are versus each council's most recent appearance in our dataset (2021–2026). For all-out councils that's the previous all-out cycle (typically four years prior); for by-thirds councils it's last year's slice. Cross-cycle ward boundary changes can produce small artefacts — see methodology.