# Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council elections

Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council elections are generally held three years out of every four, with a third of the council being elected each time. Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, generally known as Sefton Council, is the local authority for the metropolitan borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. Since the last boundary changes in 2004, 66 councillors have been elected from 22 wards.

## Council elections

| Year | | Conservative | | Labour | | Liberal Democrats‡ | | Independent | Other | Control | Notes |
| 1973 | 37 | 37 | 24 | 24 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 Ratepayers | Conservative | |
| 1975 | 40 | 40 | 22 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 Ratepayers | Conservative | |
| 1976 | 43 | 43 | 21 | 21 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 Ratepayers | Conservative | |
| 1978 | 44 | 44 | 21 | 21 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 Ratepayers | Conservative | |
| 1979 | 41 | 41 | 23 | 23 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 Ratepayers | Conservative | New ward boundaries. |
| 1980 | 39 | 39 | 22 | 22 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 Ratepayers | Conservative | |
| 1982 | 39 | 39 | 20 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4 SDP | Conservative | |
| 1983 | 39 | 39 | 21 | 21 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 SDP | Conservative | |
| 1984 | 36 | 36 | 22 | 22 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 SDP | Conservative | |
| 1986 | 30 | 30 | 24 | 24 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 2 SDP, 1 vacancy | No overall control | |
| 1987 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 24 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 3 SDP | No overall control | |
| 1988 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No overall control | |
| 1990 | 24 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No overall control | |
| 1991 | 22 | 22 | 27 | 27 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No overall control | |
| 1992 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No overall control | |
| 1994 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No overall control | |
| 1995 | 21 | 21 | 29 | 29 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No overall control | |
| 1996 | 13 | 13 | 32 | 32 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No overall control | |
| 1998 | 14 | 14 | 31 | 31 | 23 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | No overall control | |
| 1999 | 15 | 15 | 30 | 30 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No overall control | |
| 2000 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No overall control | New ward boundaries, number of seats reduced from 69 to 66. |
| 2002 | 16 | 16 | 26 | 26 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 3 | No overall control | |
| 2003 | 17 | 17 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 3 | No overall control | |
| 2004 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No overall control | Whole council elected after boundary changes. |
| 2006 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 26 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No overall control | |
| 2007 | 18 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No overall control | |
| 2008 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No overall control | |
| 2010 | 15 | 15 | 23 | 23 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No overall control | |
| 2011 | 14 | 14 | 28 | 28 | 23 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 1 UKIP | No overall control | |
| 2012 | 8 | 8 | 36 | 36 | 20 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 0 | Labour | |
| 2014 | 7 | 7 | 40 | 40 | 17 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 0 | Labour | |
| 2015 | 7 | 7 | 42 | 42 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 1 Independent Conservative, 1 Community action not politics | Labour | |
| 2016 | 6 | 6 | 38 | 38 | 17 | 17 | 4 | 4 | 1 Independent Conservative | Labour | |
| 2018 | 8 | 8 | 43 | 43 | 12 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | Labour | |
| 2019 | 6 | 6 | 43 | 43 | 12 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 2 Formby Residents Action Group | Labour | |
| 2021 | 8 | 8 | 48 | 48 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 Formby Residents Action Group | Labour | |
| 2022 | 7 | 7 | 48 | 48 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 Formby Residents Action Group | Labour | |
| 2023 | 5 | 5 | 51 | 51 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 Lydiate, Maghull, Aintree, and Lunt Community Independent | Labour | |
| 2024 | 4 | 4 | 49 | 49 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 Green Party, 1 vacant seat | Labour | |
* ‡ Liberal Party before 1988.

## Results maps

* 2018 results map
* 2019 results map
* 2021 results map
* 2022 results map
* 2023 results map
* 2024 results map

## By-election results
### 1994-1998

Park By-Election 11 September 1997 (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Blackburn | 1,079 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robbie Fenton | 1,013 | |
| | Labour | | 497 | |
| | Labour | | 479 | |
| | Conservative | | 337 | |
| | Conservative | | 308 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,713 | 13.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | |
Manor By-Election 3 October 1997 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Derek Langley | 924 | 48.6 | −7.8 |
| | Conservative | | 658 | 34.6 | +2.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 190 | 10.0 | −1.4 |
| | Independent | | 128 | 6.7 | +6.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 266 | 14.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,900 | 19.0 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### 1998-2002

Ainsdale By-Election 3 February 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 1,570 | 50.4 | −1.4 |
| | Conservative | | 1,389 | 44.6 | +8.5 |
| | Labour | | 158 | 5.1 | −2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 181 | 5.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,117 | 30.4 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Litherland By-Election 22 February 2001 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Darren Hardy | 900 | 62.8 | −11.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jim Murray | 472 | 33.0 | +7.1 |
| | Socialist Alternative | | 60 | 4.2 | +4.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 428 | 29.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,432 | 17.6 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Manor By-Election 7 June 2001 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Neil Douglas | 3,251 | 53.9 | +11.9 |
| | Conservative | | 1,800 | 29.8 | −11.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 981 | 16.3 | −0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,451 | 24.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,032 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### 2002-2006

Church By-Election 2 March 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Paul Cummins | 806 | 52.4 | +13.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Tonkiss | 431 | 28.0 | −22.8 |
| | BNP | Michael McDermott | 159 | 10.3 | +10.3 |
| | Conservative | Antonio Spatuzzi | 143 | 9.3 | −0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 375 | 24.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,539 | 17.2 | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |

### 2006-2010

Manor By-Election 25 October 2007 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David McIvor | 922 | 40.5 | −7.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Gibson | 769 | 33.8 | +13.4 |
| | Labour | Sue Hanley | 419 | 18.4 | −13.1 |
| | BNP | Michael McDermott | 94 | 4.1 | +4.1 |
| | UKIP | Peter Harper | 71 | 3.1 | +3.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 153 | 6.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,275 | 22.8 | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### 2010-2014

Bootle Derby By-Election 7 November 2013 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Anne Thompson | 903 | 65 |
| | UKIP | Jack Colbert | 293 | 21 |
| | Independent | Juliet Edgar | 97 | 7 |
| | TUSC | Graham Woodhouse | 48 | 3 |
| | Independent | Janice Blanchard | 29 | 2 |
| | Green | Laurence Rankin | 25 | 2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,399 | 15.77 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### 2014-2018

Dukes By-Election 2 November 2017 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Pugh | 1,680 | 56 |
| | Conservative | Ann Pearmain | 790 | 26 |
| | Labour | Frank Hanley | 417 | 14 |
| | UKIP | Terry Durance | 69 | 2 |
| | Green | Nick Senior | 45 | 1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 890 | 30 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,001 | 28.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | |

### 2022-2026

Linacre By-Election 24 November 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dan McKee | 636 | 81.5 | +5.3 |
| | Independent | Ian Smith | 144 | 18.5 | +18.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 492 | 63.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 780 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Netherton and Orrell By-Election 16 February 2023 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tom Spring | 1,001 | 82.5 | +9.7 |
| | Conservative | Katie Burgess | 119 | 9.8 | +2.4 |
| | Independent | Champian (Ian Smith) | 94 | 7.7 | +7.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 882 | 72.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,214 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
A by-election in St. Oswald ward was held on 20 June 2024 following the death of Labour Councillor Paula Spencer, which had left the seat vacant during the year's local election period. The statement of persons nominated was released on 24 May 2024.
St Oswald By-Election 20 June 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Helen Duerden | 828 | 78.2 | −0.4 |
| | Conservative | Katie Burgess | 67 | 6.3 | +0.1 |
| | TUSC | Conor O'Neill | 57 | 5.4 | −2.5 |
| | Green | Lyndsey Doolin | 55 | 5.2 | −2.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Young | 32 | 3.0 | N/A |
| | Workers Party | Ian Smith | 20 | 1.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 761 | 71.9 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,081 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,059 | 13.12 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 1 | 0.1 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 0.25 | |
A by-election in Linacre was held on 4 July 2024 following the resignation of Labour councillor John Fairclough, the same day as the 2024 UK general election. The statement of persons nominated was released on 10 June 2024.
Linacre By-Election 4 July 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jim Conalty | 2,850 | 81.2 | −4.3 |
| | Workers Party | Ian Smith | 460 | 13.1 | New |
| | Conservative | Katie Burgess | 200 | 5.7 | −0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,310 | 68.1 | −9.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,510 | 38.8 | +20.7 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 76 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 8.7 | |
Litherland By-Election 21 November 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Julia Garner | 495 | 43.7 | −30.3 |
| | Green | Jack Colbert | 385 | 34.0 | +27.1 |
| | Reform UK | Darcy Iveson-Berkeley | 141 | 12.4 | +12.4 |
| | Conservative | Katie Burgess | 48 | 4.2 | −0.6 |
| | Workers Party | Ian Smith | 40 | 3.5 | +3.5 |
| | TUSC | Conor O'Neill | 25 | 2.2 | +2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 110 | 9.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,134 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |