# 2021 Colchester Borough Council election

Elections to Colchester Borough Council were held on 6 May 2021. They were originally planned for 7 May 2020, but postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Seventeen members of the council (one-third of the whole) were up for election, one from each of the 17 wards. There were also two additional by-elections in Prettygate and Lexden & Braiswick wards, bringing the total number of elected members to nineteen.

## Result Summary
### Result

2021 Colchester Borough Council election :
| Party | Party | This election | This election | This election | Full council | Full council | Full council | This election | This election | This election |
| Party | Party | Seats | Net | Seats % | Other | Total | Total % | Votes | Votes % | +/− |
| | Conservative | 9 | | 47.7 | 14 | 23 | 45.1 | 23,413 | 44.8 | +9.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 4 | 1 | 21.1 | 8 | 12 | 23.5 | 10,264 | 19.7 | -6.9 |
| | Labour | 4 | | 21.1 | 7 | 11 | 21.6 | 11,763 | 22.5 | +4.8 |
| | Independent | 1 | | 5.3 | 2 | 3 | 5.9 | 912 | 1.7 | -4.6 |
| | Green | 1 | 1 | 5.3 | 1 | 2 | 3.9 | 5,592 | 10.7 | -2.9 |
| | Reform UK | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 266 | 0.5 | New |

## Ward results

The Statement of Nominated Persons was released on 8 April 2021 detailing the persons standing as candidates at the Borough Council election.
Incumbent councillors are marked with an asterisk*

### Berechurch

Berechurch :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dave Harris* | 1,604 | 68.4 | +15.2 |
| | Conservative | Chris Piggott | 470 | 20.0 | +4.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mick Spindler | 193 | 8.2 | −16.4 |
| | Green | John Clifton | 78 | 3.3 | −3.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,134 | 48.4 | +19.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,345 | 31.5 | +2.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,437 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 5.2 | |

### Castle

Castle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Steph Nissen | 1,136 | 37.8 | −18.1 |
| | Conservative | Fabian Green | 976 | 32.5 | +3.3 |
| | Labour | Richard Hill | 574 | 19.1 | +10.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martin Gillingham | 319 | 10.6 | +4.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 160 | 5.3 | −21.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,005 | 37.1 | −3.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,109 | | |
| | Green gain from Liberal Democrats | Green gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 10.7 | |

### Greenstead

Greenstead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Julie Young* | 1,097 | 52.0 | +4.5 |
| | Conservative | Michael Hinton | 600 | 28.4 | +9.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Chantelle-Louise Whyborn | 222 | 10.5 | −3.3 |
| | Green | Kemal Cufoglu | 135 | 6.4 | −1.9 |
| | Reform UK | Kevin Blair | 57 | 2.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 497 | 23.6 | −5.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,111 | 19.3 | −1.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,921 | | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | 2.5 | |
No Independent candidate as previous (-11.2).

### Highwoods

Highwoods :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Gerard Oxford* | 780 | 35.0 | −17.6 |
| | Conservative | Stephen Rowe | 664 | 29.8 | +10.5 |
| | Labour | Jocelyn Law | 401 | 18.0 | +6.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kieron Franks | 188 | 8.4 | −0.8 |
| | Green | Clare Burgess | 135 | 6.4 | −0.9 |
| | Reform UK | Diane Baker | 64 | 2.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 116 | 5.2 | −28.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,228 | 30.3 | +0.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,365 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | 14.1 | |

### Lexden & Braiswick

Lexden & Braiswick (2 seats due to by-election) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Dennis Willetts* | 1,949 | 61.0 | −1.3 |
| | Conservative | Martin Leatherdale | 1,597 | 50.0 | −12.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sandra Culham | 594 | 18.6 | +2.8 |
| | Green | Roger Bamforth | 532 | 16.6 | +2.1 |
| | Labour | Luke Hayes | 396 | 12.4 | +4.9 |
| | Labour | Kayleigh Rippingale-Shaw | 333 | 10.4 | +2.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,200 | 43.3 | +4.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,390 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Marks Tey & Layer

Marks Tey & Layer :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Kevin Bentley* | 1,880 | 67.4 | +2.8 |
| | Labour | John Spademan | 323 | 11.6 | +4.1 |
| | Green | Amy Sheridan | 231 | 8.3 | −6.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mark Hull | 223 | 8.0 | −5.6 |
| | Independent | Neil Gilbranch | 132 | 4.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,557 | 55.8 | +5.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,789 | 34.0 | +1.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,198 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 0.7 | |

### Mersea & Pyefleet

Mersea & Pyefleet :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Jowers* | 2,126 | 69.8 | +39.5 |
| | Green | Peter Banks | 490 | 16.1 | +7.0 |
| | Labour | James Pey | 272 | 8.9 | +1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Susan Waite | 156 | 5.1 | +1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,636 | 53.7 | +52.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,044 | 37.7 | −4.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,068 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 16.3 | |
No Independent (-28.6, -13.5) or UKIP (-7.3) candidates as previous.

### Mile End

Mile End :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martin Goss* | 1,974 | 65.3 | +3.1 |
| | Conservative | Rachel Smith | 583 | 19.3 | −0.6 |
| | Labour Co-op | Pauline Bacon | 328 | 10.8 | +2.2 |
| | Green | Amanda Kirke | 139 | 4.6 | −4.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,391 | 46.0 | +3.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,024 | 32.5 | +3.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,293 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 1.8 | |

### New Town & Christ Church

New Town & Christ Church :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Pam Cox | 1,521 | 43.4 | +11.5 |
| | Conservative | Carla Hales | 887 | 25.3 | +5.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Catherine Spindler | 794 | 22.7 | −13.5 |
| | Green | Bob Brannan | 301 | 8.6 | −3.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 634 | 18.0 | — |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,503 | 35.5 | +2.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,882 | | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 2.8 | |

### Old Heath & The Hythe

Old Heath & The Hythe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Michael Lilley* | 1,376 | 53.3 | +1.3 |
| | Conservative | Rowena Cable | 687 | 26.6 | +5.7 |
| | Green | Andrew Canessa | 282 | 10.9 | −3.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Soban Asghar | 235 | 9.1 | −3.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 689 | 26.7 | −4.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,580 | 29.8 | +2.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,649 | | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | 2.2 | |

### Prettygate

Prettygate (2 seats due to by-election) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sue Lissimore* | 2,136 | 65.7 | +11.6 |
| | Conservative | Leigh Tate | 1,285 | 39.6 | −14.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Loxley | 544 | 16.7 | −5.3 |
| | Labour | Richard Bourne | 513 | 15.8 | +3.3 |
| | Labour | Victoria Weaver | 388 | 11.9 | −0.6 |
| | Green | John Burgess | 350 | 10.8 | −1.2 |
| | Green | Natalie Edgoose | 250 | 7.7 | −4.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,251 | 40.7 | +4.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,994 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Rural North

Rural North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Darius Laws | 2,207 | 64.5 | +3.1 |
| | Green | Sue Bailey | 406 | 11.9 | −3.7 |
| | Labour | Diane Brown | 367 | 10.7 | +3.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | William Brown | 359 | 10.5 | −4.8 |
| | Reform UK | Andrew Phillips | 84 | 2.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,801 | 52.6 | +6.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,423 | 40.2 | +5.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,526 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 3.4 | |

### Shrub End

Shrub End :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lyn Barton* | 819 | 37.0 | −4.6 |
| | Conservative | Angela Linghorn-Baker | 783 | 35.3 | +1.5 |
| | Labour | David McCulloch | 416 | 18.8 | +1.5 |
| | Green | Blake Roberts | 136 | 6.1 | −2.2 |
| | Reform UK | Joe Johnson | 61 | 2.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 36 | 1.7 | −6.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,215 | 27.1 | −0.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,164 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 3.1 | |

### St. Anne's & St. John's

St. Anne's & St. John's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mike Hogg* | 1,241 | 42.0 | −2.4 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Rowe | 1,214 | 41.1 | +1.0 |
| | Labour | Abigail Chambers | 301 | 10.2 | +2.5 |
| | Green | Pam Nelson | 200 | 6.8 | −1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 27 | 0.9 | −3.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,956 | 35.8 | +1.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,248 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 1.7 | |

### Stanway

Stanway :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jeremy Hagon | 1,160 | 46.4 | +12.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Williams | 987 | 39.5 | −13.2 |
| | Labour | Kevin Brown | 245 | 9.8 | +3.7 |
| | Green | John McArthur | 109 | 4.4 | −2.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 173 | 6.9 | — |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,501 | 35.9 | +0.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,972 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 12.9 | |

### Tiptree

Tiptree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Roger Mannion | 1,713 | 72.0 | +7.8 |
| | Labour | John Wood | 288 | 12.1 | −2.7 |
| | Green | Clare Smee | 206 | 8.7 | −2.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jennifer Stevens | 171 | 7.2 | −1.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,425 | 59.9 | +10.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,378 | 32.5 | +3.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,324 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 5.3 | |

### Wivenhoe

Wivenhoe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michelle Burrows | 1,245 | 38.4 | −28.9 |
| | Labour Co-op | Cyril Liddy* | 1,020 | 31.5 | +13.5 |
| | Conservative | Jodie Clark | 496 | 15.3 | +6.9 |
| | Green | Asa Aldis | 480 | 14.8 | +8.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 225 | 6.9 | — |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,241 | 41.9 | +2.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 7,735 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Co-op | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Co-op | Swing | 21.2 | |