# 2023 Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council election

The 2023 Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2023. One third of councillors— 24 out of 72 —on the Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council were elected. The election was held alongside other local elections across the United Kingdom.
The Conservatives retained their majority on the council.

## Background
### History

The Local Government Act 1972 created a two-tier system of metropolitan counties and districts covering Greater Manchester, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, the West Midlands, and West Yorkshire starting in 1974. Dudley was a district of the West Midlands metropolitan county. The Local Government Act 1985 abolished the metropolitan counties, with metropolitan districts taking on most of their powers as metropolitan boroughs. The West Midlands Combined Authority was created in 2016 and began electing the mayor of the West Midlands from 2017, which was given strategic powers covering a region coterminous with the former West Midlands metropolitan county.
Dudley Council has variously been under Labour control, Conservative control and no overall control since it was established. The Conservatives controlled the council from the 2004 election until Labour gained control in the 2012 election. Labour lost overall control in the 2016 election but continued to lead the council until 2017, when the Conservatives led the council, still without a majority. In the 2021 elections, the Conservatives gained a majority on the council. In the most recent elections in 2022, the Conservatives held steady at 46 seats while Labour won 26 seats at the expense of two Independents.
Positions up for election in 2023 were last elected in 2019. In that election the Conservatives won 13 seats and Labour won 11.
In March 2023, the former council leader and mayor of Dudley Anne Millward was deselected. On 17 April 2023, Councillor Mark Westwood reigned from the Conservative Party amid allegations of bullying and harassment against his family.

### Electoral process

The council elects its councillors in thirds, with a third being up for election every year for three years, with no election in the fourth year. The election will take place by first-past-the-post voting, with wards generally being represented by three councillors, with one elected in each election year to serve a four-year term.
All registered electors (British, Irish, Commonwealth and European Union citizens) living in Dudley aged 18 or over will be entitled to vote in the election. People who live at two addresses in different councils, such as university students with different term-time and holiday addresses, are entitled to be registered for and vote in elections in both local authorities. Voting in-person at polling stations will take place from 07:00 to 22:00 on election day, and voters will be able to apply for postal votes or proxy votes in advance of the election.

## Summary
### Election result

2023 Dudley Metropolitan 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 % | +/− |
| | Labour | 13 | 1 | 54.2 | 14 | 27 | 37.5 | 29,061 | 43.8 | +1.4 |
| | Conservative | 11 | 1 | 45.8 | 33 | 44 | 61.1 | 28,165 | 42.4 | –6.2 |
| | Independent | 0 | | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1.39 | 978 | 1.5 | +1.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 0 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3,859 | 5.8 | –0.1 |
| | Green | 0 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3,506 | 5.3 | +4.0 |
| | Reform UK | 0 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 495 | 0.7 | +0.6 |
| | TUSC | 0 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 257 | 0.4 | +0.1 |
| | Libertarian | 0 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 89 | 0.1 | –0.9 |

## Ward results

An asterisk indicates an incumbent councillor.

### Amblecote

Amblecote (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Pete Lee* | 1,341 | 52.1 | −4.5 |
| | Labour | Luke Hamblett | 935 | 36.4 | +2.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ian Flynn | 159 | 6.2 | +0.5 |
| | Green | Adrian Mabe | 125 | 4.9 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 406 | 15.8 | −7.0 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 12 | 0.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,572 | 26.14 | −2.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,839 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Belle Vale

Belle Vale (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Simon Phipps* | 1,636 | 54.1 | +6.6 |
| | Labour | Savannah Southorn | 1,150 | 38.0 | −2.9 |
| | Green | Deanne Brettle | 119 | 3.9 | −2.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sarah Furhuraire | 110 | 3.6 | −2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 486 | 16.1 | +9.5 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 11 | 0.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,026 | 30.2 | −1.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,020 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Brierley Hill

Brierley Hill (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Wayne Little | 1,007 | 44.3 | +4.4 |
| | Labour | Ridha Ahmed* | 927 | 40.8 | −6.2 |
| | Green | Mark Percox | 127 | 5.6 | N/A |
| | Reform UK | Trevor Bunn | 107 | 4.7 | +1.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mollie Priest | 97 | 4.3 | −5.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 80 | 3.5 | +10.6 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 11 | 0.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,276 | 22.6 | −1.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,071 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Brockmoor and Pensnett

Brockmoor and Pensnett (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Karen Westwood | 1,095 | 58.0 | −6.9 |
| | Conservative | Sue Greenaway* | 601 | 31.8 | −3.3 |
| | Reform UK | Austin Ward | 92 | 4.9 | N/A |
| | Green | Lawrence Rowlett | 55 | 2.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tracey Gregg | 34 | 1.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 494 | 26.2 | −3.6 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 11 | 0.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,888 | 19.1 | −4.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,884 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Castle and Priory

Castle and Priory (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Karl Denning | 1,330 | 60.2 | −3.7 |
| | Conservative | Sat Nawabzada | 600 | 27.2 | −8.9 |
| | Green | Ant Dugmore | 114 | 5.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Bramall | 110 | 5.0 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Nicola Fisher | 47 | 2.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 730 | 33.0 | +5.3 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 9 | 0.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,210 | 19.8 | −4.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,161 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Coseley East

Coseley East (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Drake* | 1,130 | 61.8 | −1.7 |
| | Conservative | Richard Tasker | 465 | 25.4 | −10.1 |
| | Green | Sam Oakley | 210 | 11.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 665 | 36.4 | +9.2 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 24 | 1.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,829 | 19.7 | −3.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,284 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Cradley and Wollescote

Cradley and Wollescote (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Richard Body* | 1,061 | 38.7 | −0.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ryan Priest | 1,040 | 37.9 | +7.1 |
| | Conservative | Jason Thorne | 517 | 18.9 | −11.5 |
| | Green | Kash Khan | 89 | 3.3 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Siobhan Friel | 24 | 0.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 21 | 0.8 | −7.2 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 10 | 0.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,738 | 29.0 | −2.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,441 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Gornal

Gornal (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Claire Sullivan | 930 | 35.5 | −30.4 |
| | Independent | Anne Millward* | 705 | 26.9 | N/A |
| | Labour | Mushtaq Hussain | 606 | 23.1 | −11.0 |
| | Reform UK | Nathan Hunt | 176 | 6.7 | N/A |
| | Green | Dan Spear | 99 | 3.8 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Elizabeth Tilly | 95 | 3.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 225 | 8.6 | −23.2 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 11 | 0.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,622 | 26.2 | −2.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,008 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Halesowen North

Halesowen North (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Parmjit Singh Sahota* | 1,637 | 53.6 | –3.3 |
| | Conservative | Jeff Hill | 1,207 | 39.5 | +1.7 |
| | Green | Ash Flavin | 143 | 4.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Abdul Qadus | 56 | 1.8 | –3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 430 | 14.1 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 14 | 0.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,057 | 31.8 | –2.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,613 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Halesowen South

Halesowen South (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alan Taylor* | 1,661 | 53.9 | +5.1 |
| | Labour | Donella Russell | 988 | 32.0 | +7.7 |
| | Green | James Windridge | 209 | 6.8 | –5.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Derek Campbell | 204 | 6.6 | –2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 673 | 21.9 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 22 | 0.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,084 | 32.7 | –3.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,431 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Haley Green and Cradley South

Haley Green and Cradley South (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ian Bevan | 1,408 | 52.7 | –5.0 |
| | Labour | Tony Barnsley | 1,106 | 41.4 | +5.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ethan Stafford | 156 | 5.8 | –0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 302 | 11.6 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 13 | 0.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,683 | 29.7 | –2.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,033 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Kingswinford North and Wall Heath

Kingswinford North and Wall Heath (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Mark Webb | 1,885 | 60.3 | –2.1 |
| | Labour | Michael Mitchell | 894 | 28.8 | –2.2 |
| | Green | Andrew Bennett | 169 | 5.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jonathan Bramall | 154 | 5.0 | –1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 991 | 31.5 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 25 | 0.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,127 | 32.6 | –4.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,592 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Kingswinford South

Kingswinford South (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Miller* | 1,677 | 57.4 | –1.6 |
| | Labour | Simon Daniel | 1,137 | 38.9 | +9.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Saima Furhuraire | 107 | 3.7 | –7.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 540 | 18.5 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 22 | 0.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,943 | 29.8 | –3.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,875 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Lye and Stourbridge North

Lye and Stourbridge North (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mohammed Hanif* | 1,285 | 51.8 | +6.6 |
| | Conservative | Shazad Mahmood | 800 | 32.3 | –3.8 |
| | Green | Naz Ahmed | 207 | 8.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert Johns | 187 | 7.5 | –1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 485 | 19.5 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 18 | 0.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,497 | 27.5 | –4.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,080 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Netherton, Woodside and St. Andrew's

Netherton, Woodside and St. Andrew's (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Qadar Zada* | 1,354 | 63.1 | +1.5 |
| | Conservative | Victoria Faraji | 527 | 24.6 | –13.8 |
| | Green | Mark Binnersley | 265 | 12.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 827 | 38.5 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 19 | 0.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,165 | 21.3 | –3.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,164 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Norton

Norton (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Steve Clark | 1,596 | 46.5 | –7.0 |
| | Labour | Madeleine Cowley | 963 | 28.1 | –3.6 |
| | Green | Stephen Price | 590 | 17.2 | +11.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Sheppard | 174 | 5.1 | –3.5 |
| | Independent | Ken Moore | 107 | 3.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 633 | 18.4 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 9 | 0.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,439 | 37.2 | –1.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,245 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Pedmore and Stourbridge East

Pedmore and Stourbridge East (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ian Kettle* | 1,798 | 53.8 | –1.1 |
| | Labour | Jason Griffin | 1,100 | 32.9 | +1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Simon Hanson | 250 | 7.5 | –3.4 |
| | Green | Catherine Maguire | 197 | 5.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 698 | 20.9 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 27 | 0.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,372 | 36.2 | –1.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,315 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Quarry Bank and Dudley Wood

Quarry Bank and Dudley Wood (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jackie Cowell* | 947 | 50.9 | –0.9 |
| | Conservative | Muhammad Ali | 640 | 34.4 | –5.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Priest | 144 | 7.7 | –0.8 |
| | Green | Pam Archer | 131 | 7.0 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 307 | 16.5 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 19 | 1.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,881 | 19.2 | –4.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,796 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Sedgley

Sedgley (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Matt Dudley | 1,566 | 56.1 | –8.9 |
| | Labour | Joanne Morgan | 845 | 30.3 | –1.5 |
| | Green | Colin Drewery | 160 | 5.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Caroline Benton | 133 | 4.8 | N/A |
| | Independent | Brad Simms | 56 | 2.0 | N/A |
| | Libertarian | Martin Day | 31 | 1.1 | –2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 721 | 25.8 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 16 | 0.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,807 | 30.2 | –2.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,295 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### St James's

St. James's (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Cathryn Bayton* | 1,209 | 53.9 | +7.8 |
| | Conservative | Rab Rana | 912 | 40.6 | –5.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Benjamin France | 124 | 5.5 | –2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 297 | 13.3 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 13 | 0.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,258 | 22.5 | –3.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,036 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### St Thomas's

St Thomas's (2) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Adeela Qayyum | 1,609 | 57.6 | |
| | Labour | Shanella Mughal* | 1,556 | 55.7 | |
| | Conservative | Sajid Hanif | 1,209 | 43.3 | |
| | Conservative | Najeeb Muhammad | 684 | 24.5 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Slim | 190 | 6.8 | |
| | TUSC | Lee Robertson | 186 | 6.7 | |
| | Green | Zia Qari | 155 | 5.5 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 13 | 0.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 29.1 | –2.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Upper Gornal and Woodsetton

Upper Gornal and Woodsetton (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Adam Aston* | 1,308 | 57.1 | +4.9 |
| | Conservative | Lynette Corfield | 871 | 38.1 | –9.7 |
| | Independent | Greg Markowski | 110 | 4.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 437 | 19.0 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 10 | 0.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,299 | 23.6 | –3.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,741 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Wollaston and Stourbridge

Wollaston and Stourbridge (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Andrew Tromans | 1,789 | 48.0 | –1.1 |
| | Conservative | Lisa Clinton | 1,382 | 37.1 | –3.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Bramall | 258 | 6.9 | +0.1 |
| | Green | Andi Mohr | 239 | 6.4 | N/A |
| | Libertarian | Maxim Lowe | 58 | 1.6 | +0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 407 | 10.9 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 8 | 0.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,734 | 37.1 | –3.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,064 | | |
| | Labour Co-op gain from Conservative | Labour Co-op gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Wordsley

Wordsley (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Matt Rogers* | 1,245 | 47.1 | –8.0 |
| | Labour | Sarah Daniel | 1,100 | 41.6 | +4.3 |
| | Reform UK | Bill Harman | 120 | 4.5 | N/A |
| | Green | Jennifer Slater-Reid | 103 | 3.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Elaine Sheppard | 77 | 2.9 | –4.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 145 | 6.5 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 2 | 0.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,647 | 27.3 | –2.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,695 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

## By-elections
### Cradley and Wollescote

Cradley and Wollescote: 3 August 2023 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ryan Priest | 1,321 | 52.4 | +14.5 |
| | Labour | Rachael Gardener | 771 | 30.6 | –8.1 |
| | Conservative | Steve Hill | 353 | 14.0 | –4.9 |
| | Green | Kash Khan | 69 | 2.7 | –0.6 |
| | TUSC | Siobhan Friel | 5 | 0.2 | –0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 550 | 21.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,526 | 26.7 | −2.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,484 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | +11.3 | |

### St James's

St James's: 24 August 2023 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Caroline Reid | 816 | 48.0 | –5.9 |
| | Conservative | Rab Rana | 719 | 42.3 | +1.7 |
| | Independent | Richard Tasker | 84 | 4.9 | +4.9 |
| | Green | Christian Kiever | 50 | 2.9 | +2.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Abdul Qadus | 32 | 1.9 | −3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 97 | 5.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,701 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |