← Swale (all cycles) · 4 May 2023 cohort

Swale 2023

Local elections held 4 May 2023.

24 ward races

47 seats

39 elected below the proportional quota

83.0% 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 24 wards in this cycle, parties received the vote totals below. The proportional column shows what each party would have won if the 47 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	16,694	30.4%	12	25.5%	15	31.9%	-3
Labour Party	13,738	25.0%	15	31.9%	12	25.5%	+3
SWALE IND	9,449	17.2%	11	23.4%	8	17.0%	+3
Liberal Democrats	7,127	13.0%	5	10.6%	6	12.8%	-1
Green Party	4,722	8.6%	3	6.4%	4	8.5%	-1
Independent	2,301	4.2%	1	2.1%	2	4.3%	-1
Reform UK	569	1.0%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
Heritage Party	240	0.4%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
OMRL	161	0.3%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
Total	55,001	100.0%	47	100.0%	47	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.

Sheppey East · 2 seats · won at 19.3% · +14.1 pts below quota
Sheppey Central · 3 seats · won at 11.1% · +13.9 pts below quota
Homewood · 2 seats · won at 19.5% · +13.8 pts below quota
Kemsley · 2 seats · won at 20.4% · +12.9 pts below quota
Bobbing, Iwade & Lower Halstow · 2 seats · won at 21.6% · +11.7 pts below quota
Watling · 2 seats · won at 22.1% · +11.2 pts below quota
Queenborough & Halfway · 3 seats · won at 14.1% · +10.9 pts below quota
Murston · 2 seats · won at 22.6% · +10.7 pts below quota
St Ann's · 2 seats · won at 22.8% · +10.5 pts below quota
Minster Cliffs · 3 seats · won at 15.7% · +9.3 pts below quota
Roman · 2 seats · won at 26.0% · +7.3 pts below quota
Teynham & Lynsted · 2 seats · won at 26.3% · +7.0 pts below quota
Borden & Grove Park · 2 seats · won at 27.7% · +5.6 pts below quota
Sheerness · 3 seats · won at 19.8% · +5.2 pts below quota
Abbey · 2 seats · won at 28.7% · +4.6 pts below quota
East Downs · 1 seat · won at 45.9% · +4.1 pts below quota
Milton Regis · 2 seats · won at 29.6% · +3.7 pts below quota
Hartlip Newington & Upchurch · 2 seats · won at 29.8% · +3.5 pts below quota
Woodstock · 2 seats · won at 30.1% · +3.2 pts below quota
Boughton & Courtenay · 2 seats · won at 32.6% · +0.7 pts below quota
Priory · 1 seat · won at 54.6% · above quota
Chalkwell · 1 seat · won at 55.3% · above quota
The Meads · 1 seat · won at 68.2% · above quota
West Downs · 1 seat · won at 75.3% · above quota

Race results

Sheppey East · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 19.3% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +14.1 pts below quota Valid ballots 1,634

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Moore, L.	Conservative and Unionist Party	347	21.2%	Elected
2	Noe, T.	Conservative and Unionist Party	315	19.3%	Elected
3	Wheatcroft, M.	Labour Party	226	13.8%
4	Sandle, P.	Independent	215	13.2%
5	Bidgood, G.	Independent	191	11.7%
6	Walton, D.	Green Party	129	7.9%
7	Nissanga, P.	Reform UK	108	6.6%
8	Tatton, W.	Independent	103	6.3%

Electorate 4,449 · Ballots cast 1,634 · Back to ward index

Sheppey Central · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 11.1% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +13.9 pts below quota Valid ballots 3,506

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Jayes, E.	SWALE IND	794	22.6%	Elected
2	Neal, P.	Conservative and Unionist Party	409	11.7%	Elected
3	Tucker, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	389	11.1%	Elected
4	Edworthy, I.	Labour Party	362	10.3%
5	Eakin, O.	Conservative and Unionist Party	360	10.3%
6	Henley, A.	Labour Party	333	9.5%
7	MacDonald, P.	Independent	298	8.5%
8	Currie, E.	Liberal Democrats	200	5.7%
9	Banks, S.	Green Party	200	5.7%
10	Young, M.	OMRL	161	4.6%

Electorate 6,693 · Ballots cast 3,506 · Back to ward index

Homewood · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 19.5% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +13.8 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,478

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Clark, S.	Labour Party	511	20.6%	Elected
2	Cheesman, S.	Labour Party	483	19.5%	Elected
3	Clinch, J.	SWALE IND	395	15.9%
4	Hoynes, D.	Conservative and Unionist Party	343	13.8%
5	Wright, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	340	13.7%
6	Lee, T.	Heritage Party	240	9.7%
7	Stennings, F.	Liberal Democrats	166	6.7%

Electorate 4,848 · Ballots cast 2,478 · Back to ward index

Kemsley · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 20.4% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +12.9 pts below quota Valid ballots 1,747

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Carnell, D.	SWALE IND	476	27.2%	Elected
2	Wise, A.	Labour Party	357	20.4%	Elected
3	Gent, S.	Conservative and Unionist Party	356	20.4%
4	Dendor, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	322	18.4%
5	Clark, T.	Liberal Democrats	236	13.5%

Electorate 4,639 · Ballots cast 1,747 · Back to ward index

Bobbing, Iwade & Lower Halstow · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 21.6% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +11.7 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,231

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Chapman, L.	SWALE IND	501	22.5%	Elected
2	Clark, R.	Conservative and Unionist Party	483	21.6%	Elected
3	Olukoya, O.	Labour Party	401	18.0%
4	Randall, G.	Conservative and Unionist Party	343	15.4%
5	Wilson, M.	Liberal Democrats	267	12.0%
6	Goatham, C.	Green Party	236	10.6%

Electorate 4,601 · Ballots cast 2,231 · Back to ward index

Watling · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 22.1% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +11.2 pts below quota Valid ballots 3,748

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Martin, B.	Liberal Democrats	1,009	26.9%	Elected
2	Martin, C.	Liberal Democrats	830	22.1%	Elected
3	Goodenough, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	496	13.2%
4	Valentine, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	465	12.4%
5	Newman, R.	Labour Party	350	9.3%
6	Scott, J.	Labour Party	300	8.0%
7	Heyen, O.	Green Party	298	8.0%

Electorate 5,676 · Ballots cast 3,748 · Back to ward index

Queenborough & Halfway · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 14.1% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +10.9 pts below quota Valid ballots 3,699

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Shiel, A.	Labour Party	603	16.3%	Elected
2	Marchington, P.	Conservative and Unionist Party	586	15.8%	Elected
3	Whiting, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	522	14.1%	Elected
4	Boakes, D.	Labour Party	508	13.7%
5	Allison, B.	Conservative and Unionist Party	498	13.5%
6	Hartley, J.	Labour Party	462	12.5%
7	March, L.	SWALE IND	293	7.9%
8	Brinklow, L.	Liberal Democrats	227	6.1%

Electorate 6,068 · Ballots cast 3,699 · Back to ward index

Murston · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 22.6% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +10.7 pts below quota Valid ballots 1,757

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Hall, J.	SWALE IND	593	33.8%	Elected
2	Last, M.	Labour Party	397	22.6%	Elected
3	Hampshire, A.	Conservative and Unionist Party	211	12.0%
4	Grys, G.	Conservative and Unionist Party	171	9.7%
5	Stennings, A.	Liberal Democrats	139	7.9%
6	Zeng, M.	Liberal Democrats	127	7.2%
7	Layton, M.	Green Party	119	6.8%

Electorate 4,563 · Ballots cast 1,757 · Back to ward index

St Ann's · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 22.8% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +10.5 pts below quota Valid ballots 3,357

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Jackson, C.	Labour Party	846	25.2%	Elected
2	Golding, K.	Labour Party	765	22.8%	Elected
3	Gibson, C.	Liberal Democrats	448	13.3%
4	Rowlands, J.	Liberal Democrats	444	13.2%
5	Fisher, B.	Conservative and Unionist Party	398	11.9%
6	O'Brien, F.	Conservative and Unionist Party	363	10.8%
7	Arrowsmith-Brown, S.	Reform UK	93	2.8%

Electorate 4,240 · Ballots cast 3,357 · Back to ward index

Minster Cliffs · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 15.7% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +9.3 pts below quota Valid ballots 3,529

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Nundy, T.	SWALE IND	656	18.6%	Elected
2	Booth, A.	Conservative and Unionist Party	561	15.9%	Elected
3	Ingleton, K.	Conservative and Unionist Party	554	15.7%	Elected
4	Bolitho, H.	Conservative and Unionist Party	466	13.2%
5	Darby, R.	Independent	457	12.9%
6	Tucker, L.	Labour Party	396	11.2%
7	Galvin, J.	Green Party	276	7.8%
8	Fotheringham-Bray, W.	Reform UK	163	4.6%

Electorate 6,188 · Ballots cast 3,529 · Back to ward index

Roman · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 26.0% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +7.3 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,054

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Gibson, E.	Labour Party	652	31.7%	Elected
2	Watson, K.	Labour Party	535	26.0%	Elected
3	Quinton, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	300	14.6%
4	Okotie, A.	Conservative and Unionist Party	266	13.0%
5	Blacklock, D.	Green Party	167	8.1%
6	Madgwick, R.	Liberal Democrats	134	6.5%

Electorate 4,722 · Ballots cast 2,054 · Back to ward index

Teynham & Lynsted · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 26.3% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +7.0 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,528

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Bowen, L.	Conservative and Unionist Party	764	30.2%	Elected
2	Speed, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	666	26.3%	Elected
3	Bott, J.	Green Party	506	20.0%
4	Jessiman, G.	Labour Party	344	13.6%
5	Barker, D.	Liberal Democrats	135	5.3%
6	Morris, C.	Liberal Democrats	113	4.5%

Electorate 5,080 · Ballots cast 2,528 · Back to ward index

Borden & Grove Park · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 27.7% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +5.6 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,628

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Baldock, M.	SWALE IND	1,030	39.2%	Elected
2	Cavanagh, A.	SWALE IND	728	27.7%	Elected
3	Hampshire, N.	Conservative and Unionist Party	424	16.1%
4	Dobbs, C.	Conservative and Unionist Party	262	10.0%
5	Singer, M.	Labour Party	184	7.0%

Electorate 4,672 · Ballots cast 2,628 · Back to ward index

Sheerness · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 19.8% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +5.2 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,893

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Harrison, A.	Labour Party	727	25.1%	Elected
2	Brawn, H.	Labour Party	612	21.2%	Elected
3	White, D.	Labour Party	573	19.8%	Elected
4	Rogers, P.	Conservative and Unionist Party	394	13.6%
5	McCall, L.	Independent	382	13.2%
6	Williams, J.	Reform UK	205	7.1%

Electorate 8,226 · Ballots cast 2,893 · Back to ward index

Abbey · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 28.7% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +4.6 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,811

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Perkin, H.	Liberal Democrats	918	32.7%	Elected
2	Williams, C.	Liberal Democrats	807	28.7%	Elected
3	Payne, T.	Labour Party	314	11.2%
4	Brown, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	267	9.5%
5	Rehal, M.	Labour Party	261	9.3%
6	Brown, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	244	8.7%

Electorate 4,125 · Ballots cast 2,811 · Back to ward index

East Downs · single-seat

Marginal winner 45.9% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +4.1 pts below quota Valid ballots 922

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Thompson, T.	Green Party	423	45.9%	Elected
2	Simmons, D.	Conservative and Unionist Party	389	42.2%
3	Fisher, S.	Liberal Democrats	110	11.9%

Electorate 2,246 · Ballots cast 922 · Back to ward index

Milton Regis · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 29.6% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +3.7 pts below quota Valid ballots 1,888

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Winckless, A.	Labour Party	674	35.7%	Elected
2	Valls, A.	Labour Party	559	29.6%	Elected
3	Davey, S.	SWALE IND	303	16.0%
4	Danaher, D.	Conservative and Unionist Party	186	9.9%
5	Williams, S.	Conservative and Unionist Party	166	8.8%

Electorate 4,725 · Ballots cast 1,888 · Back to ward index

Hartlip Newington & Upchurch · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 29.8% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +3.5 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,950

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Palmer, R.	SWALE IND	943	32.0%	Elected
2	Palmer, C.	SWALE IND	879	29.8%	Elected
3	Horton, A.	Conservative and Unionist Party	513	17.4%
4	Saroy, A.	Conservative and Unionist Party	336	11.4%
5	Cooper, M.	Labour Party	279	9.5%

Electorate 4,973 · Ballots cast 2,950 · Back to ward index

Woodstock · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 30.1% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +3.2 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,492

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Stephen, S.	SWALE IND	830	33.3%	Elected
2	Stephen, P.	SWALE IND	750	30.1%	Elected
3	Burgess, L.	Conservative and Unionist Party	584	23.4%
4	Beer, J.	Labour Party	328	13.2%

Electorate 4,506 · Ballots cast 2,492 · Back to ward index

Boughton & Courtenay · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 32.6% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +0.7 pts below quota Valid ballots 3,440

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Lehmann, R.	Green Party	1,123	32.6%	Elected
2	Gould, A.	Green Party	1,122	32.6%	Elected
3	Baker, P.	Conservative and Unionist Party	392	11.4%
4	Lane, O.	Conservative and Unionist Party	346	10.1%
5	Tutt, J.	SWALE IND	278	8.1%
6	Fox, S.	Liberal Democrats	102	3.0%
7	Linfield, I.	Liberal Democrats	77	2.2%

Electorate 4,572 · Ballots cast 3,440 · Back to ward index

Priory · single-seat

Marginal winner 54.6% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −4.6 pts Valid ballots 721

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Henderson, M.	Liberal Democrats	394	54.6%	Elected
2	Culham, A.	Conservative and Unionist Party	174	24.1%
3	Crayford, R.	Labour Party	98	13.6%
4	Jackson, S.	Green Party	55	7.6%

Electorate 2,331 · Ballots cast 721 · Back to ward index

Chalkwell · single-seat

Marginal winner 55.3% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −5.3 pts Valid ballots 539

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Miller, C.	Labour Party	298	55.3%	Elected
2	Allsep, R.	Conservative and Unionist Party	173	32.1%
3	Temple, H.	Green Party	68	12.6%

Electorate 2,873 · Ballots cast 539 · Back to ward index

The Meads · single-seat

Marginal winner 68.2% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −18.2 pts Valid ballots 579

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Hunt, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	395	68.2%	Elected
2	Wakelen, S.	Liberal Democrats	184	31.8%

Electorate 2,819 · Ballots cast 579 · Back to ward index

West Downs · single-seat

Marginal winner 75.3% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −25.3 pts Valid ballots 870

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Bonney, M.	Independent	655	75.3%	Elected
2	Benford, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	155	17.8%
3	Barker, K.	Liberal Democrats	60	6.9%

Electorate 2,253 · Ballots cast 870 · Back to ward index