# 2008 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election

The 2008 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council in England. This election was held on the same day as other local elections.
After the election, the composition of the council was:
| Party | Seats | ± |
| Conservative | 24 | 4 |
| Labour | 21 | 4 |
| Liberal Democrat | 20 | 1 |
| Ind. Conservative | 1 | |
| Ind. Lib Dem | 0 | 1 |

## Election results
### Overall election result

Overall result compared with 2007.
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election result, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Votes | Votes | Votes |
| Party | Party | Stood | Elected | Gained | Unseated | Net | % of total | % | No. | Net % |
| | Conservative | 22 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 50.0 | 43.6 | 37,925 | 5.0 |
| | Labour | 22 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 22.7 | 25.6 | 22,277 | 3.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 22 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 27.3 | 22.6 | 19,624 | 2.6 |
| | Green | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 4.9 | 4,267 | 0.5 |
| | UKIP | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 2.4 | 2,127 | 0.7 |
| | BNP | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.6 | 489 | N/A |
| | Independent | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.2 | 147 | 0.2 |
| | Liberal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.1 | 96 | N/A |
| | Ind. Lib Dem | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | N/A |

## Ward results

Results compared directly with the last local election in 2007.

### Bebington

Bebington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sheila Clarke | 1,945 | 40.9 | 10.0 |
| | Labour | Susan Percy | 1,719 | 36.2 | 7.5 |
| | UKIP | Hilary Jones | 479 | 10.1 | 0.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sheena Turner | 448 | 9.4 | 2.1 |
| | Green | Michael Harper | 162 | 3.4 | 0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 226 | 4.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,858 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 40.1 | 1.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 8.8 | |

### Bidston and St James

Bidston and St James :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | James Crabtree | 1,129 | 54.6 | 5.1 |
| | Conservative | Christine Wilson | 313 | 15.1 | 2.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Brace | 266 | 12.9 | 3.6 |
| | BNP | Steve McHale | 236 | 11.4 | N/A |
| | Green | George Bowler | 125 | 6.0 | 1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 816 | 39.5 | 6.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,030 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 20.7 | 1.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 3.4 | |

### Birkenhead and Tranmere

Birkenhead and Tranmere :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jean Stapleton | 1,278 | 59.9 | 2.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alan Brighouse | 315 | 14.8 | 0.1 |
| | Conservative | June Cowin | 297 | 13.9 | 2.5 |
| | Green | Catherine Page | 244 | 11.4 | 0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 963 | 45.1 | 2.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,278 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 20.8 | 0.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 1.2 | |

### Bromborough

Bromborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Steve Niblock | 1,496 | 42.8 | 5.5 |
| | Labour | Irene Williams | 817 | 23.4 | 4.2 |
| | Conservative | Mark Gibson | 746 | 21.3 | 2.5 |
| | BNP | David McLennan | 253 | 7.2 | New |
| | Green | Percy Hogg | 132 | 3.8 | 1.5 |
| | UKIP | Timothy Pass | 53 | 1.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 679 | 19.4 | 1.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,736 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 32.6 | 0.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 0.6 | |

### Clatterbridge

Clatterbridge :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Cherry Povall | 2,950 | 55.2 | 15.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert Earl | 1,566 | 29.3 | 15.4 |
| | Labour | Valerie Morgan | 591 | 11.0 | 1.0 |
| | Green | Jim McGinley | 130 | 2.4 | 0.8 |
| | UKIP | Roger Jones | 112 | 2.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,384 | 25.9 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,811 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 45.4 | |
| | Conservative gain from Ind. Lib Dem | Conservative gain from Ind. Lib Dem | Swing | 15.3 | |

### Claughton

Claughton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Davies | 1,695 | 51.1 | 0.9 |
| | Conservative | Barbara Sinclair | 959 | 28.9 | 1.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Roy Wood | 482 | 14.5 | 0.4 |
| | Green | James Brady | 179 | 5.4 | 1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 736 | 22.2 | 2.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,330 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 29.4 | 0.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 1.2 | |

### Eastham

Eastham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Phillip Gilchrist | 3,038 | 71.3 | 1.0 |
| | Conservative | Nick Whieldon | 678 | 15.9 | 0.7 |
| | Labour | Christopher Lawler | 415 | 9.7 | 2.2 |
| | Green | Brian Gibbs | 132 | 3.1 | 0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,360 | 55.4 | 0.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,121 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 38.3 | 0.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 0.1 | |

### Greasby, Frankby and Irby

Greasby, Frankby and Irby :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gill Gardiner | 2,329 | 44.6 | 2.7 |
| | Conservative | Wendy Clements | 2,254 | 43.2 | 9.0 |
| | Labour | Barbara Moores | 493 | 9.4 | 0.9 |
| | Green | Perle Sheldricks | 145 | 2.8 | 0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 75 | 1.4 | 11.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,539 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 45.3 | 0.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 5.9 | |

### Heswall

Heswall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Johnson | 3,599 | 73.7 | 4.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Bill Jones | 513 | 10.5 | 2.2 |
| | Labour | Audrey Moore | 453 | 9.3 | 2.8 |
| | Green | Matthew Rosseinsky | 219 | 4.5 | 1.5 |
| | UKIP | Mike Magee | 101 | 2.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,086 | 63.2 | 6.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,095 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 44.3 | 0.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 3.3 | |

### Hoylake and Meols

Hoylake and Meols :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Hale | 2,762 | 64.8 | 1.9 |
| | Labour | Di Christian | 676 | 15.9 | 0.8 |
| | Green | Colin Hawksworth | 468 | 11.0 | 3.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alexander Clark | 355 | 8.3 | 2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,086 | 48.9 | 2.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,474 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 40.8 | 0.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 1.4 | |

### Leasowe and Moreton East

Leasowe and Moreton East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ian Lewis | 2,025 | 51.4 | 7.5 |
| | Labour | Don Prout | 1,373 | 34.9 | 9.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gerald Hainsworth | 222 | 5.6 | 0.8 |
| | Green | Rosemary Bland | 171 | 4.3 | 1.1 |
| | Independent | Glenn Fleetwood | 147 | 3.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 652 | 16.5 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,905 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 36.2 | 1.9 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | 8.5 | |

### Liscard

Liscard :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Keeley | 2,122 | 51.1 | 1.4 |
| | Labour | David Hawkins | 1,369 | 33.0 | 4.8 |
| | UKIP | Robbie Quinn | 304 | 7.3 | 3.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Daniel Clein | 195 | 4.7 | 1.0 |
| | Green | Jacqueline Smith | 159 | 3.8 | 0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 753 | 18.1 | 6.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,208 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 37.1 | 0.3 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | 3.1 | |

### Moreton West and Saughall Massie

Moreton West and Saughall Massie :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Christopher Blakeley | 2,936 | 71.1 | 10.6 |
| | Labour | Darren Dodd | 674 | 16.3 | 7.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Eric Copestake | 237 | 5.7 | 2.1 |
| | UKIP | Lynda Williams | 145 | 3.5 | |
| | Green | James Drew | 137 | 3.3 | 0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,262 | 54.8 | 18.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,920 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 37.9 | 2.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 9.2 | |

### New Brighton

New Brighton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sue Taylor | 1,994 | 47.5 | 1.8 |
| | Labour | Pat Hackett | 1,572 | 37.4 | 5.8 |
| | Green | Rebecca Koncienzcy | 358 | 8.5 | 4.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Eric Fenna | 278 | 6.6 | 2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 422 | 10.1 | 4.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,930 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 38.6 | 2.9 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | 2.0 | |

### Oxton

Oxton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Pat Williams | 1,910 | 53.2 | 1.6 |
| | Conservative | Marcus Bleasdale | 748 | 20.8 | 4.1 |
| | Labour | David Barden | 614 | 17.1 | 1.8 |
| | UKIP | Cathy Williams | 179 | 5.0 | 0.7 |
| | Green | Garnette Bowler | 139 | 3.9 | 1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,162 | 32.4 | 3.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,141 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 32.4 | 0.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 1.8 | |

### Pensby and Thingwall

Pensby and Thingwall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert Wilkins | 2,071 | 43.7 | 0.3 |
| | Conservative | John Meyer | 1,813 | 38.2 | 1.2 |
| | Labour | John Cunningham | 564 | 11.9 | 3.6 |
| | UKIP | Mike Pepler | 160 | 3.4 | New |
| | Green | Allen Burton | 135 | 2.8 | 0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 258 | 5.5 | 1.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,656 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 44.6 | 0.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 0.8 | |

### Prenton

Prenton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ann Bridson | 1,836 | 48.5 | 3.8 |
| | Labour | Denise Realey | 905 | 23.9 | 3.0 |
| | Conservative | John Gilbert | 792 | 20.9 | 4.4 |
| | Green | Mark Mitchell | 154 | 4.1 | 0.2 |
| | Liberal | Sean Keatley | 96 | 2.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 931 | 24.6 | 0.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,017 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 34.5 | 2.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 0.4 | |

### Rock Ferry

Rock Ferry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Bill Davies | 1,325 | 55.2 | 4.4 |
| | Conservative | Joanne Suffield | 493 | 20.5 | 3.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Heppinstall | 354 | 14.8 | 1.0 |
| | Green | Peter Exley | 228 | 9.5 | 0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 832 | 34.7 | 7.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,023 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 24.1 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 3.7 | |

### Seacombe

Seacombe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Salter | 1,188 | 51.0 | 8.5 |
| | Conservative | Ann Lavin | 508 | 21.8 | 0.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Steve Pitt | 282 | 12.1 | 0.2 |
| | UKIP | Christopher Wellstead | 243 | 10.4 | New |
| | Green | Simon Wagner | 107 | 4.6 | 2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 680 | 29.2 | 8.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,445 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 22.4 | 0.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 4.3 | |

### Upton

Upton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tom Anderson | 1,861 | 42.1 | 3.4 |
| | Labour | Sue Brown | 1,857 | 42.0 | 1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Beazer | 451 | 10.2 | 2.6 |
| | Green | Lesley Hussenbux | 256 | 5.8 | 0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4 | 0.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,277 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 36.2 | 0.2 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | 2.3 | |

### Wallasey

Wallasey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Kate Wood | 3,083 | 64.2 | 5.9 |
| | Labour | Anne McArdle | 954 | 19.9 | 3.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Codling | 409 | 8.5 | 1.2 |
| | UKIP | Ian Watson | 180 | 3.7 | 0.7 |
| | Green | Cynthia Stonall | 175 | 3.6 | 0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,129 | 44.3 | 9.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,937 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 40.2 | 0.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 4.9 | |

### West Kirby and Thurstaston

West Kirby and Thurstaston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Watt | 3,047 | 64.6 | 2.6 |
| | Labour | James Brown | 616 | 13.1 | 0.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Cresswell | 571 | 12.1 | 3.6 |
| | Green | Patrick Cleary | 312 | 6.6 | 1.7 |
| | UKIP | Philip Griffiths | 171 | 3.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,431 | 51.5 | 5.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,346 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 45.7 | 1.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 2.6 | |

## Changes between 2008 and 2010
### Moreton West and Saughall Massie by-election 2009

By-election, 26 November 2009: Moreton West and Saughall Massie :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Steve Williams | 2,255 | 70.1 | 1.0 |
| | Labour | Andrew Hollingworth | 615 | 19.1 | 2.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Steve Pitt | 134 | 4.2 | 1.5 |
| | Independent | Alec McFadden | 121 | 3.8 | New |
| | Green | Jim McGinley | 92 | 2.9 | 0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,640 | 51.0 | 3.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 28.0 | 9.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 1.9 | |

### Other changes

| Date | Ward | Name | Previous affiliation | Previous affiliation | New affiliation | New affiliation | Circumstance |
| 18 May 2009 | Seacombe | Denis Knowles | | Labour | | Conservative | Defected. |