# 2012 Coventry City Council election

Elections for Coventry City Council were held on Thursday, 3 May 2012, the same day as other 2012 local elections in the United Kingdom. As the council is elected by thirds, one seat in each of the city's 18 wards was up for election. The Labour Party won the seat in 15 of the wards, gaining a total of 8 and increasing their majority to 32 seats. The Conservative Party won the remaining three seats, losing six, with the Liberal Democrats and the Socialist Party both losing their only seat on the council.
The election coincided with a local referendum on whether to have an elected mayor.

## Campaign

The Conservative party focused their efforts on retaining their existing seats, campaigning on issues like the closure of Sure Start centres, disruption caused by rebuilding the city centre, and an alternative budget proposal. Labour focused on their aim of protecting frontline services, rebuilding the city centre for the Olympics (Coventry hosted several football events), and fixing potholes. Liberal Democrat councillor Russell Field focused on his record in working for his ward. The Socialists supported an independent candidate in Foleshill who is campaigning against the planned closure of a local sports centre. They focused on "stiffening the resistance to coalition cuts to this city" and accused Labour of signing up to coalition austerity plans. The Greens focused on alternative plans for the city, including an insulation scheme for homes and instituting a Living Wage for council employees. UKIP was focussing on local issues.

## Results

Voter turnout was 26%.
Coventry City Council Election, 2012 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 15 | 8 | 0 | +8 | 83% | 53.72% | 32,414 | -0.88% |
| Conservative | 3 | 0 | 6 | -6 | 17% | 26.36% | 16,755 | -0.14% |
| Socialist Alternative | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 | 5.35% | 3401 | +1.66% |
| Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.05% | 3212 | +0.11% |
| Liberal Democrats | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 | 3.91% | 2486 | -1.27% |
| BNP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.70% | 1718 | -0.95% |
| UKIP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.29% | 1457 | +1.44% |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.71% | 1085 | +1.13% |
| Christian Movement for Great Britain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.80% | 511 | N/A |
| TOTAL | 18 | 8 | 8 | 0 | | 100% | 63,572 | |

### Council composition

The composition of the council before and after the election can be found in the following table:
| Party | Party | Previous council | Staying councillors | Seats up for election | Election result | New council |
| | Labour | 35 | 28 | 7 | 15 | 43 |
| | Conservatives | 17 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 11 |
| | Socialist Alternative | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| | Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| | British National Party | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | UKIP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Christian Movement for Great Britain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 54 | 36 | 18 | 18 | 54 |

### Results by ward

Note: For all wards, the percentage change is calculated from the council local election in 2011 (the last time the ward was contested), whilst the gains, losses, and holds are calculated from 2008 (the last time these particular seats were contested).
Bablake Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David John Galliers | 1502 | 37.3% | −11.6% |
| | Conservative | Jaswant Singh Birdi | 1302 | 32.3% | −1.8% |
| | Independent | John Gazey | 669 | 16.6% | N/A |
| | BNP | Betty Booton | 179 | 4.4% | +0.6% |
| | Green | Walter William Milner | 141 | 3.5% | −0.7% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Simpson | 122 | 3.0% | −1.2% |
| | Socialist Alternative | Jethro Waldron | 48 | 1.2% | +0.4% |
| | Christian Movement for Great Britain | Louise Lebar | 35 | 0.9% | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 200 | 5.0% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4028 | 32.38% | −10.27% |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Note for Bablake ward: Independent candidate John Gazey was the sitting councillor for the Conservative party. After being deselected he decided to run as an independent.
Binley and Willenhall Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dave Chater | 1898 | 58.29% | −0.07% |
| | Conservative | Linda Ann Reece | 570 | 17.51% | −5.73% |
| | UKIP | Colin Aldous Stubbs | 503 | 15.45% | +7.57% |
| | BNP | David Clarke | 100 | 3.07% | −1.89% |
| | Green | Justin Wood | 95 | 2.92% | −0.03% |
| | Socialist Alternative | Ross Armstrong | 67 | 2.06% | +0.17% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1328 | 40.79% | −5.67% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3256 | 25.43% | −7.73% |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Cheylesmore Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Hazel Margaret Noonan | 1992 | 48.46% | +0.27% |
| | Labour | Anne Frances Arlidge | 1688 | 41.06% | −1.24% |
| | Green | John Verdult | 266 | 6.47% | +0.07% |
| | Socialist Alternative | Judy Griffiths | 141 | 3.43% | +0.32% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 304 | 7.39% | +2.8% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4111 | 25.04% | −16.92% |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Earlsdon Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Allan Robert Andrews | 2137 | 46.29% | +3.21% |
| | Labour | Bilal Akhtar | 1442 | 31.23% | −9.96% |
| | Green | Scott Gordon Redding | 327 | 7.08% | +1.39% |
| | UKIP | James Michael Bowes | 272 | 5.89% | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Derek Stephen Benefield | 261 | 5.65% | −2.13% |
| | Socialist Alternative | Fiona Pashazadeh | 116 | 2.51% | +0.25% |
| | Christian Movement for Great Britain | William Sidhu | 43 | 0.93% | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 695 | 15.05% | +13.16% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4617 | 37.03% | −11.73% |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Foleshill Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Malkiat Singh Auluck | 2112 | 57.33% | −9.57% |
| | Conservative | Shabbir Ahmed | 1114 | 30.24% | +6.62% |
| | Independent | William Bromwich | 213 | 5.78% | N/A |
| | Green | Rana Sumra | 80 | 2.17% | −0.62% |
| | Christian Movement for Great Britain | Ron Lebar | 71 | 1.93% | N/A |
| | BNP | Hunter Helmsley | 61 | 1.66% | −0.97% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 998 | 27.09% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3684 | 29.70% | −9.65% |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Henley Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ed Ruane | 2036 | 60.42% | +3.06% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Brian David Patton | 488 | 14.48% | −13.38% |
| | Conservative | Steven Henry Charles Keough | 393 | 11.66% | N/A |
| | BNP | Rose Morris | 243 | 7.21% | −0.81% |
| | Green | George Robinson | 121 | 3.59% | −0.48% |
| | Socialist Alternative | Siobhan Friel | 80 | 2.37% | −0.32% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1548 | 45.93% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3370 | 25.10% | −7.08% |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Holbrook Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Rachel Elizabeth Lancaster | 2087 | 68.63% | +3.2% |
| | Conservative | Val Stone | 404 | 13.29% | −7.72% |
| | Green | Stephen Gray | 215 | 7.07% | +1.38% |
| | BNP | Mark Badrick | 211 | 6.94% | +1.04% |
| | Socialist Alternative | Jim Hensman | 99 | 3.26% | +1.92% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1683 | 55.34% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3041 | 24.18% | −10.22% |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Longford Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Duggins | 2409 | 72.30% | −0.23% |
| | Christian Movement for Great Britain | Raj Kumar | 362 | 10.86% | N/A |
| | BNP | Frankie Bates | 203 | 6.09% | +0.05% |
| | Green | Paul Andrew | 163 | 4.89% | +0.95% |
| | Socialist Alternative | Craig Davenport | 111 | 3.33% | +0.92% |
| | Conservative | Dial Masih | 58 | 1.74% | −12.64% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2047 | 61.43% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3332 | 24.68 | −6.72% |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Lower Stoke Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Catherine Elizabeth Miks | 1748 | 54.20% | −2.99% |
| | Conservative | Michael Arthur Ballinger | 484 | 15.01% | −7.31% |
| | Socialist Alternative | Rob McArdle | 310 | 9.61% | +3.23% |
| | UKIP | John Bevan | 233 | 7.22% | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | James Henry White | 168 | 5.21% | N/A |
| | Green | Laura Vesty | 161 | 4.99% | −2.75% |
| | BNP | Keith Oxford | 101 | 3.13% | −2.59% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1264 | 39.19% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3225 | 23.85% | −10.85% |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Radford Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mal Mutton | 1896 | 65.47% | +0.6% |
| | Conservative | Mary Taylor | 498 | 17.20% | −0.19% |
| | Green | Gavin Collins | 210 | 7.25% | +1.63% |
| | Socialist Alternative | Glen Watson | 142 | 4.90% | +2.56% |
| | BNP | Ian Wankling | 126 | 4.35% | −0.75% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1398 | 48.27% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2896 | 21.44% | −8.51% |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Sherbourne Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alison Jane Gingell | 1833 | 57.21% | +2.04% |
| | Conservative | Leon Victor Emirali | 705 | 22.00% | −5.12% |
| | Green | John Griffiths | 225 | 7.02% | +2.36% |
| | BNP | Leisel Wagstaff | 173 | 5.40% | +1.27% |
| | Socialist Alternative | Jason Toynbee | 145 | 4.53% | +2.05% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Glenn | 96 | 3.00% | −2.95% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1128 | 35.21% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3204 | 25.08% | −12.57% |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
St. Michael's Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Naeem Akhtar | 1,673 | 49.03% | −9.04% |
| | Socialist Alternative | Dave Nellist | 1,469 | 43.05% | +12.73% |
| | Conservative | Christian Michael Cliffe | 243 | 7.12% | −3.3% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 204 | 5.98% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3413 | 21.19 | −5.48% |
| | Labour gain from Socialist Alternative | Labour gain from Socialist Alternative | Swing | | |
Upper Stoke Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Kamran Asif Caan | 2024 | 57.85% | −0.84% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Russell David Field | 682 | 19.49% | +1.00% |
| | Conservative | Denise Beech | 275 | 7.86% | −3.90% |
| | Green | John Halpin | 213 | 6.09% | +2.41% |
| | BNP | John Hurren | 156 | 4.46% | +2.26% |
| | Socialist Alternative | Paul Smith | 120 | 3.43% | +1.23% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1342 | 38.35% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3499 | 26.00% | −7.00% |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Wainbody Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Anthony Blundell | 1540 | 42.09% | −1.49% |
| | Labour | Martin Patrick Hartnett | 1214 | 33.19% | −0.74% |
| | UKIP | Mark Taylor | 449 | 12.27% | +5.53% |
| | Green | Danny Foulstone | 210 | 5.74% | −1.25% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Napier Penlington | 172 | 4.70% | −2.59% |
| | Socialist Alternative | Dan Crowter | 54 | 1.48% | 0.00% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 326 | 8.91% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3659 | 28.45% | −16.55% |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Westwood Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Maya Ali | 1418 | 41.73% | −5.15% |
| | Conservative | Marcus Edgar Lapsa | 1346 | 39.61% | +1.13% |
| | Green | Merle Gering | 183 | 5.39% | −0.86% |
| | BNP | Darren Thomas | 165 | 4.86% | −0.63% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Greg Judge | 145 | 4.27% | N/A |
| | Socialist Alternative | Jim Donnelly | 122 | 3.59% | +1.55% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 72 | 2.19% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3398 | 25.65% | −10.35% |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Whoberley Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jayne Elisabeth Innes | 1693 | 49.37% | −1.08% |
| | Conservative | Roger Maurice James Bailey | 1014 | 29.57% | +2.15% |
| | Green | Rachel Adshead | 320 | 9.33% | +2.83% |
| | Socialist Alternative | Richard Groves | 206 | 6.01% | +3.86% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Brian Rees Lewis | 160 | 4.67% | −1.14% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 679 | 19.80% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3429 | 27.34% | −13.57% |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Woodlands Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Steven Peter Thomas | 1853 | 47.35% | +4.39% |
| | Conservative | Heather Johnson | 1534 | 39.20% | +2.14% |
| | Green | Dan Gower | 222 | 5.67% | +2.16% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jacqueline Bridget Basu | 192 | 4.91% | −5.41% |
| | Socialist Alternative | Sunara Begum | 82 | 2.10% | +1.27% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 319 | 8.15% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3913 | 29.36% | −11.54% |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Wyken Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Robert Richard Thay | 1888 | 53.82% | +0.42% |
| | Conservative | Susanna Dixon | 1146 | 32.67% | −2.72% |
| | Independent | Adrian Roll | 203 | 5.79% | +1.57% |
| | Green | Cathy Wattebot | 160 | 4.56% | +0.05% |
| | Socialist Alternative | Jodie Hannis | 89 | 2.54% | +0.06% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 742 | 21.15% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3508 | 26.65% | −11.95% |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |