# Surrey County Council elections

Surrey County Council is elected every four years and was made in 1889 under the Local Government Act 1888. Since 1965 this council has had one of two statuses as to its body of councillors: no overall political control, or overall Conservative party control.

## Political context

Its area was significantly altered in 1965, taking much of its north into Greater London and adding an area forming one present district from Middlesex which was dissolved. To accommodate this, councillors elected in 1961 had their three year-term extended for an extra year and the April 1964 election took place in 1965.
Since 1974 all Surrey areas have had district/borough councils providing a second tier of services (see the Local Government Act 1972) replacing Urban Districts and Rural Districts.
Approximately a third of the population elect a further more localised third tier of local government to civil parishes such as Farnham, Claygate and Horley.
Major services provided include social services, minerals strategy and permissions, waste planning and substantial elements of transport (excluding railways) and education. The county has no grammar schools (which tend to have less local authority control) however academies and free schools in the 21st century have been set up in Surrey meaning a lower proportion of schools are run by the authority than in the 20th century.

### Composition since 1965
## Council elections

* 1977 Surrey County Council election
* 2009 Surrey County Council election
* 2013 Surrey County Council election
* 2017 Surrey County Council election
* 2021 Surrey County Council election
* 2025 Surrey County Council election
1965 Election :
| Party | Seats |
| Conservative | 57 |
| Labour | 8 |
| Residents Association/Independent | 6 |
| Liberal | 1 |
1967 Election :
| Party | Seats |
| Conservative | 64 |
| Residents Association/Independent | 5 |
| Labour | 3 |
| Liberal | 0 |
1970 Election :
| Party | Seats |
| Conservative | 64 |
| Labour | 4 |
| Residents Association/Independent | 3 |
| Liberal | 1 |
1973 Election :
| Party | Seats |
| Conservative | 46 |
| Labour | 12 |
| Liberal | 9 |
| Residents Association/Independent | 5 |
1977 Election :
| Party | Seats |
| Conservative | 68 |
| Residents Association/Independent | 3 |
| Labour | 2 |
| Liberal | 0 |
The number of electoral divisions on Surrey County Council was increased to 76, in time for the 1981 election.
1981 Election :
| Party | Seats |
| Conservative | 61 |
| Labour | 7 |
| Residents Association/Independent | 5 |
| Liberal | 3 |
1985 Election :
| Party | Seats |
| Conservative | 52 |
| SDP-Liberal Alliance | 12 |
| Labour | 7 |
| Residents Association/Independent | 5 |
1989 Election :
| Party | Seats |
| Conservative | 56 |
| Social & Liberal Democrats | 9 |
| Labour | 7 |
| Residents Association/Independent | 4 |
1993 Election :
| Party | Seats |
| Conservative | 34 |
| Liberal Democrats | 29 |
| Labour | 8 |
| Residents Association/Independent | 5 |
1997 Election :
| Party | Seats |
| Conservative | 47 |
| Liberal Democrats | 17 |
| Labour | 6 |
| Residents Association/Independent | 6 |
2001 Election :
| Party | Seats |
| Conservative | 51 |
| Liberal Democrats | 13 |
| Labour | 6 |
| Residents Association/Independent | 6 |
The number of electoral divisions on Surrey County Council was increased from 76 to 80, in time for the 2005 election.
2005 Election :
| Party | Seats |
| Conservative | 58 |
| Liberal Democrats | 12 |
| Residents Association/Independent | 8 |
| Labour | 2 |
2009 Surrey County Council election
2009 Election :
| Party | Seats |
| Conservative | 56 |
| Liberal Democrats | 13 |
| Residents Association/Independent | 10 |
| Labour | 1 |
2013 Surrey County Council election
The number of electoral divisions on Surrey County Council was increased from 80 to 81, in time for the 2013 election.
2013 Election :
| Party | Seats |
| Conservative | 58 |
| Liberal Democrats | 9 |
| Residents Association/Independent | 9 |
| UKIP | 3 |
| Labour | 1 |
| Green | 1 |
2017 Surrey County Council election
2017 Election :
| Party | Seats |
| Conservative | 61 |
| Liberal Democrats | 9 |
| Residents Association/Independent | 9 |
| Green | 1 |
| Labour | 1 |
2021 Surrey County Council election
2021 Election :
| Party | Seats |
| Conservative | 47 |
| Residents Association/Independent | 16 |
| Liberal Democrats | 14 |
| Green | 2 |
| Labour | 2 |

## County result maps

* 2013 results map
* 2017 results map
* 2021 results map

## By-election results
### 1997-2001

Dorking Rural By-Election 7 May 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | | 1,930 | 55.3 | +4.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 1,245 | 35.7 | −1.8 |
| | Labour | | 312 | 8.9 | −3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 685 | 19.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,487 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 3.2 | |
Addlestone By-Election 6 May 1999 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | | 2,428 | 59.1 | +9.3 |
| | Labour | | 1,678 | 40.9 | +7.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 750 | 18.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,106 | 32.3 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 0.8 | |
Waverley West By-Election 28 October 1999 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | | 1,904 | 52.1 | +8.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 1,629 | 44.5 | −6.1 |
| | Labour | | 123 | 3.4 | −2.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 278 | 7.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,659 | 31.9 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 7.5 | |
Epsom and Ewell By-Election 18 November 1999 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | | 847 | 38.5 | −31.5 |
| | Conservative | | 736 | 33.7 | +33.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 472 | 21.6 | −8.1 |
| | Labour | | 129 | 5.9 | +5.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 111 | 4.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,184 | 18.9 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | -32.6 | |

### 2001-2005

Stanwell By-Election 20 November 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | | 741 | 40.1 | −9.9 |
| | Conservative | | 729 | 39.4 | +3.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 282 | 15.2 | +6.5 |
| | Independent | | 98 | 5.3 | −0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12 | 0.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,850 | 22.5 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -6.8 | |
Woking West By-Election 4 March 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 1,672 | 57.2 | +9.3 |
| | Conservative | | 1,022 | 34.9 | +4.0 |
| | Labour | | 231 | 7.9 | −13.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 650 | 22.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,925 | 18.0 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +2.6 | |

### 2005-2009

Godalming South Milford & Witley By-Election 15 September 2005 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | | 2,042 | 49.4 | +0.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 1,974 | 47.8 | +6.7 |
| | Labour | | 115 | 2.8 | −6.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 68 | 1.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,131 | 39.6 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -3.3 | |
Ash By-Election 28 July 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Marsha Moseley | 1,547 | 63.3 | +12.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Denise Smith | 898 | 36.7 | +3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 649 | 26.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,445 | 27.7 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.3 | |
Englefield Green By-Election 23 November 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Marisa Heath | 664 | 45.9 | −3.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 317 | 21.9 | −1.5 |
| | UKIP | | 281 | 19.4 | +13.8 |
| | Labour | | 150 | 10.4 | −9.2 |
| | Monster Raving Loony | | 34 | 2.4 | +2.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 347 | 24.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,446 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### 2009-2013

Walton South & Oatlands By-Election 6 May 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Anthony Samuels | 5231 | 65.1 | −0.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Vicki Macleod | 2802 | 34.9 | +9.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2429 | 30.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,033 | 69.4 | +29.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -4.8 | |
Worplesdon 15 July 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nigel Sutcliffe | 1,844 | 53.5 | +5.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Ronald Cragg | 1,286 | 37.3 | +2.4 |
| | Labour | Martin Phillips | 193 | 5.6 | +1.5 |
| | UKIP | Mazhar Manzoor | 78 | 2.3 | −9.8 |
| | Peace | John Hugh Morris | 39 | 1.1 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 558 | 16.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,448 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.4 | |
Cranleigh and Ewhurst By-Election 5 May 2011 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alan Young | 2,830 | 52.5 | −6.1 |
| | Independent | Diane James | 1,093 | 20.3 | +20.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Cole | 933 | 17.3 | −19.0 |
| | Labour | Lynda MacDermott | 532 | 9.9 | +4.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,737 | 32.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,388 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Shalford By-Election 5 May 2011 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Simon Gimson | 3,602 | 66.1 | +8.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Barnes | 1,087 | 20.0 | −2.4 |
| | Labour | Michael Jeram | 701 | 12.9 | +7.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,515 | 46.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,446 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +5.4 | |
St Johns and Brookwood By-Election 19 May 2011 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Linda Kemeny | 1,342 | 48.9 | +5.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christina Judith Liddington | 1058 | 38.6 | −2.8 |
| | Labour | Audrey Janice Worgan | 188 | 6.9 | +3.1 |
| | UKIP | Duncan Clarke | 155 | 5.6 | −6.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 284 | 10.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,749 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Worplesdon By-Election 3 May 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Keith Witham | 2,022 | 53.6 | +0.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Ronald Cragg | 1236 | 32.7 | −4.7 |
| | Labour | Martin Phillips | 517 | 13.7 | +8.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 786 | 20.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,794 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### 2013-2017

Weybridge By-Election 7 May 2015 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ramon Gray | 4,190 | 54.6 | +22.8 |
| | Weybridge Independents | Peter Harman | 1,899 | 24.7 | −0.7 |
| | Labour | Elinor Jones | 967 | 12.6 | +7.5 |
| | UKIP | Joe Branco | 622 | 8.1 | −8.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,291 | 29.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,678 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Epsom West By-Election 19 November 2015 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Karan Persand | 612 | 23.6 | +10.8 |
| | Residents Association | Neil Dallen | 591 | 22.8 | +0.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Julie Morris | 588 | 22.7 | −5.3 |
| | Labour | Kate Chinn | 578 | 22.3 | +2.1 |
| | UKIP | Robert Leach | 168 | 6.5 | −9.7 |
| | Green | Chris Crook | 58 | 2.2 | +2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 21 | 0.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,602 | 24.7 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Staines South and Ashford West By-Election 5 May 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Denise Turner-Stewart | 1,585 | 46.6 | +9.0 |
| | UKIP | Peter Appleford | 695 | 20.4 | −17.4 |
| | Labour | Iain Raymond | 543 | 16.0 | −4.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Bateson | 382 | 11.2 | +7.4 |
| | Green | Andrew McLuskey | 145 | 4.3 | +4.3 |
| | TUSC | Matthew David Clarke | 33 | 1.0 | +1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 890 | 26.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,404 | | |
| | Conservative gain from UKIP | Conservative gain from UKIP | Swing | | |
Farnham South By-Election 18 August 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Ramsdale | 932 | 41.2 | −9.0 |
| | Farnham Residents | Jerry Hyman | 754 | 33.4 | +33.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Joanne Aylwin | 269 | 11.9 | +11.9 |
| | Independent | Mark Westcott | 139 | 6.1 | −10.0 |
| | UKIP | Paul John Chapman | 89 | 3.9 | −12.3 |
| | Labour | Fabian Benjamin Wood | 77 | 3.4 | −3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 178 | 7.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,267 | 22.8 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### 2017-2021

The Byfleets By-Election 6 December 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Amanda Boote | 1,128 | 48.6 | +48.6 |
| | Conservative | Gary Elson | 782 | 33.7 | −7.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ellen Nicholson | 309 | 13.3 | −4.2 |
| | UKIP | Lyn Sage | 101 | 4.4 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 346 | 14.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,320 | 23 | |
| | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Warlingham By-Election 31 January 2019 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Becky Rush | 1,199 | 48.1 | −8.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Charles Lister | 990 | 39.7 | +10.8 |
| | UKIP | Haley Martin Arthur | 176 | 7.1 | −2.9 |
| | Labour | Michael Snowden | 126 | 5.1 | +0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 209 | 8.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,491 | 25 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Haselmere By-Election 2 May 2019 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Nikki Barton | 2,665 | 65.2 | +65.2 |
| | Conservative | Malcolm Carter | 1159 | 28.4 | −22.9 |
| | Labour | Adrian la Porta | 263 | 6.4 | −1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,506 | 36.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,087 | 43 | |
| | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### 2021-2025

Sunbury Common and Ashford Common By-Election 30 November 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Harry Boparai | 735 | 35.9 | +17.1 |
| | Conservative | Naz Islam | 720 | 35.1 | −11.4 |
| | Labour | Khalid Mustafa | 383 | 18.7 | +2.6 |
| | Reform UK | Rory O'Brien | 144 | 7.0 | +2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15 | 0.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,053 | 17 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 14.3 | |
Horsleys By-Election 19 October 2023 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | R4GV | Dennis Booth | 1,095 | 39.3 | −8.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Kennedy | 1,023 | 36.7 | +25.1 |
| | Conservative | Alexander Stewart-Clark | 569 | 20.4 | −17.0 |
| | Labour | John Barnes | 99 | 3.6 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 72 | 2.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,786 | | |
| | R4GV hold | R4GV hold | Swing | | |