# Weymouth and Portland Borough Council elections

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council in Dorset, England existed from 1974 to 2019. One-third of the council was elected each year, followed by one year where there was an election to Dorset County Council instead. The council was abolished and subsumed into Dorset Council in 2019.

## Political control

The first elections to the council were held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority prior to the district coming into effect the following year. From 1973 until its abolition in 2019 political control of the council was held by the following parties:
| Party in control | Years |
| Labour | 1973–1976 |
| Conservative | 1976–1980 |
| No overall control | 1980–2019 |

### Leadership

The role of mayor was largely ceremonial at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council. Until 2016, the council did not formally appoint a leader of the council. Instead, the chair of the management committee represented the council alongside leaders from other councils, and was frequently called the leader in media coverage. In 2016 the chair of the management committee was given the additional title of leader of the council. The chairs of the management committee from 2002 until the council's abolition in 2019 were:
| Councillor | Party | From | To |
| Anne Thomas | Labour | 2002 | 2004 |
| Brian Ellis | Liberal Democrats | 2004 | 2007 |
| Nigel Reed | Conservative | 2007 | May 2008 |
| Mike Goodman | Conservative | 2008 | 2010 |
| Geoff Petherick | Conservative | 2010 | May 2011 |
| Mike Goodman | Conservative | 2011 | 2014 |
| Mike Byatt | Labour | 2014 | May 2015 |
| Ian Bruce | Conservative | May 2015 | May 2016 |
| Jeff Cant | Conservative | May 2016 | 31 Mar 2019 |

## Party representation

| Date | Election | Election | Election | Election | Election | Election | Full council | Full council | Full council | Full council | Full council | Full council |
| Date | Con | Lab | LD | Ind | UKIP | Gr | Con | Lab | LD | Ind | UKIP | Gr |
| Jun 2004 | 8 | 9 | 14 | 5 | – | – | 8 | 9 | 14 | 5 | – | – |
| May 2006 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | – | – | 11 | 7 | 13 | 5 | – | – |
| Jun 2006 | By-Election: LD to Con | By-Election: LD to Con | By-Election: LD to Con | By-Election: LD to Con | By-Election: LD to Con | By-Election: LD to Con | 12 | 7 | 12 | 5 | – | – |
| May 2007 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 1 | – | – | 14 | 6 | 11 | 5 | – | – |
| Feb 2008 | Death of councillor | Death of councillor | Death of councillor | Death of councillor | Death of councillor | Death of councillor | 14 | 6 | 10 | 5 | – | – |
| May 2008 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 1 | – | – | 16 | 4 | 12 | 4 | – | – |
| 2008 | Defection: Ind to Con | Defection: Ind to Con | Defection: Ind to Con | Defection: Ind to Con | Defection: Ind to Con | Defection: Ind to Con | 17 | 4 | 12 | 3 | – | – |
| 2008 | Defection: LD to Con | Defection: LD to Con | Defection: LD to Con | Defection: LD to Con | Defection: LD to Con | Defection: LD to Con | 18 | 4 | 11 | 3 | – | – |
| Oct 2008 | Defection: LD to Con | Defection: LD to Con | Defection: LD to Con | Defection: LD to Con | Defection: LD to Con | Defection: LD to Con | 19 | 4 | 10 | 3 | – | – |
| Dec 2009 | By-Election: Con to Lab | By-Election: Con to Lab | By-Election: Con to Lab | By-Election: Con to Lab | By-Election: Con to Lab | By-Election: Con to Lab | 18 | 5 | 10 | 3 | – | – |
| May 2010 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | – | – | 18 | 5 | 11 | 2 | – | – |
| May 2011 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | – | – | 17 | 7 | 10 | 2 | – | – |
| May 2011 | Defection: Con to Ind | Defection: Con to Ind | Defection: Con to Ind | Defection: Con to Ind | Defection: Con to Ind | Defection: Con to Ind | 16 | 7 | 10 | 3 | – | – |
| May 2012 | 2 | 6 | 4 | – | – | – | 14 | 11 | 8 | 3 | – | – |
| May 2013 | By-Election: Con to Lab | By-Election: Con to Lab | By-Election: Con to Lab | By-Election: Con to Lab | By-Election: Con to Lab | By-Election: Con to Lab | 13 | 12 | 8 | 3 | – | – |
| May 2014 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 11 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 1 | – |
| Mar 2015 | Defection: Lab to Ind | Defection: Lab to Ind | Defection: Lab to Ind | Defection: Lab to Ind | Defection: Lab to Ind | Defection: Lab to Ind | 11 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 1 | – |
| May 2015 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 14 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 1 | – |
| May 2016 | 1 | 7 | 4 | – | – | 1 | 14 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Dec 2016 | Defection: Con to Gr | Defection: Con to Gr | Defection: Con to Gr | Defection: Con to Gr | Defection: Con to Gr | Defection: Con to Gr | 13 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| May 2017 | By-election: LD to Con | By-election: LD to Con | By-election: LD to Con | By-election: LD to Con | By-election: LD to Con | By-election: LD to Con | 14 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Dec 2017 - May 2018 | By-election: Ind to Con Defection: UKIP to Con By-election: Gr to Con | By-election: Ind to Con Defection: UKIP to Con By-election: Gr to Con | By-election: Ind to Con Defection: UKIP to Con By-election: Gr to Con | By-election: Ind to Con Defection: UKIP to Con By-election: Gr to Con | By-election: Ind to Con Defection: UKIP to Con By-election: Gr to Con | By-election: Ind to Con Defection: UKIP to Con By-election: Gr to Con | 16 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 |

## Council elections

* 1973 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 1976 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 1979 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election (New ward boundaries)
* 1980 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 1982 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 1983 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 1984 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 1986 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 1987 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 1988 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 1990 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 1991 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 1992 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 1994 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 1995 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 1996 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 1998 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 1999 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 2000 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 2002 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 2003 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 2004 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election (New ward boundaries)
* 2006 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 2007 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 2008 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 2010 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 2011 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 2012 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 2014 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 2015 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election
* 2016 Weymouth and Portland Borough Council election (last election before abolition)

## Borough result maps

* 2012 results map
* 2014 results map
* 2015 results map
* 2016 results map

## By-elections
### 1998-2002

Westham North By-Election 4 October 2001 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | | 517 | 49.9 | +19.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 342 | 33.0 | −14.1 |
| | Conservative | | 178 | 17.2 | −5.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 175 | 16.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,037 | 27.7 | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |

### 2002-2006

Wey Valley By-Election 14 October 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Kevin Brookes | 497 | 41.3 | −1.9 |
| | Labour | | 408 | 33.9 | +1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 299 | 24.8 | +0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 89 | 7.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,204 | 44.1 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### 2006-2010

Westham North By-Election 22 June 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ian Bruce | 436 | 35.0 | +11.3 |
| | Labour | | 412 | 33.1 | −5.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ray Banham | 340 | 27.3 | −10.7 |
| | Independent | | 58 | 4.7 | +4.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24 | 1.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 45.5 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
A by-election was held in Wyke Regis ward on 10 December 2009 following the death of councillor Doug Hollings (Conservative).
Wyke Regis By-Election 10 December 2009 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Kate Wheller | 579 | 40.1 | +3.9 |
| | Conservative | Helen Glavin | 486 | 33.7 | −30.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Trefor Morgan | 268 | 18.6 | +18.6 |
| | Citizen's Action Party | Richard Denton-White | 111 | 7.7 | +7.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 93 | 6.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,444 | 33.4 | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### 2010-2014

A by-election was held in Melbombe Regis ward on 16 May 2013 following the death of councillor Peter Farrell (Conservative) in April 2013. Farrell had been elected in May 2012 and so the election was for the period May 2013 to May 2016.
Melbombe Regis By-Election 16 May 2013 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Stewart Pearson | 279 | |
| | Conservative | Andrew Manvell | 258 | |
| | Independent | James Williamson | 204 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephanie Taylor | 170 | |
| | Green | Jonathan Orrell | 143 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 21 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,058 | 21.24 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | |

### 2014-2019

A by-election was held in Wey Valley ward on 20 October 2016 following the resignation of Cory Russell (Conservative).
Wey Valley By-Election 20 October 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tony Ferrari | 475 | 62.3 | +0.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robin Vaughan | 118 | 15.5 | N/A |
| | Labour | Grafton Straker | 96 | 12.6 | −9.8 |
| | Green | James Askew | 74 | 9.7 | −6.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 357 | 46.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 764 | 27.25 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
A by-election was held in Westham East ward on 4 May 2017 following the resignation of councillor Sally Maslin (Liberal Democrats).
Westham East By-Election 4 May 2017 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Mike Byatt | 294 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andreas Scheffler | 270 |
| | Green | Caz Dennett | 260 |
| | Labour | David Joseph Greenhalf | 236 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing |
A by-election was held in Tophill East ward on 8 February 2018 following the resignation of councillor David Hawkins (Independent).
Tophill East By-Election 8 February 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Katharine Garcia | 362 | 46.9 | +16.7 |
| | Labour | Becky Blake | 354 | 45.9 | +23.0 |
| | Green | Sara Harpley | 56 | 7.3 | −5.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8 | 1.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 772 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
A by-election was held in Tophill West ward on 8 February 2018 following the resignation of councillor Jason Webb (Conservative).
Tophill West By-Election 8 February 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Kerry Baker | 511 | 53.8 | +13.7 |
| | Labour | Giovanna Lewis | 356 | 37.5 | −22.4 |
| | Green | Carole Timmons | 82 | 8.6 | +8.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 155 | 16.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 949 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Green councillor Claudia Moore (Weymouth West, elected as a Conservative) resigned from the council on 20 December 2017. The vacancy was originally going to be left to be filled in the scheduled on-third election on 3 May 2018. However, following the government's approval of the Dorset mergers with first elections 2 May 2019, the election was cancelled and the by-election for Weymouth West was called for 3 May 2018.
Weymouth West By-Election 3 May 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Nickinson | 558 | 39.3 | +2.4 |
| | Green | Val Graves | 508 | 35.8 | +16.2 |
| | Labour | David Greenhalf | 354 | 24.9 | −18.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 50 | 3.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,420 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |