# 2019 Lewes District Council election

The 2019 Lewes District Council election was held on 2 May 2019 to elect members of Lewes District Council in England. It took place on the same day as other district council elections in the United Kingdom.
Before the 2019 election, the Council was composed of 20 Conservatives, nine Liberal Democrats, three Greens and nine Independents. To take control of the council, 21 councillors out of 41 would be needed. Although the council remained under no overall control, the Conservatives remained the largest party with 19 councillors. The Green Party won the popular vote.

## Council composition

After the previous election the composition of the council was:
| 24 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Con | LD | G | I | UKIP |
Prior to the election the composition of the council was:
| 20 | 9 | 9 | 3 |
| Con | LD | I | G |
After the election the composition of the council was:
| 19 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 2 |
| Con | G | LD | Lab | I |
Following the elections, a coalition between the Greens, Lib Dems, Labour and two Independent councillors took charge, ending eight years of Conservative administration. Zoe Nicholson, leader of the Greens, became the leader of the council, while James MacCleary, leader of the Lib Dems, became the deputy leader. They alternated holding the roles of leader and deputy leader each year until the following election in 2023.

## Summary
### Election result

2019 Lewes District Council election :
| Party | Candidates | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 41 | 19 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 46.3 | 27.1 | 16,683 | –7.4 |
| Green | 39 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 22.0 | 27.9 | 17,169 | +17.4 |
| Liberal Democrats | 30 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 19.5 | 22.5 | 13,583 | –1.3 |
| Labour | 26 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 7.3 | 10.5 | 6,455 | –0.5 |
| Independent | 11 | 2 | 0 | 1 | | 4.9 | 10.1 | 6,212 | +3.6 |
| UKIP | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 1,261 | –11.6 |

## Ward results

Sitting councillors are marked with an asterisk (*).

### Chailey, Barcombe & Hamsey

Chailey, Barcombe & Hamsey (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sharon Davy * | 706 | 45.2 | |
| | Conservative | Isabelle Linington | 639 | 40.9 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Edward Spain | 389 | 24.9 | |
| | Green | Holly Atkins | 375 | 24.0 | |
| | Green | Brenda Barnes | 343 | 21.9 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael James Percy | 340 | 21.8 | |
| | Labour | Nicholas George Belcher | 129 | 8.3 | |
| | Labour | Jack Curham | 102 | 6.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,580 | 40.3 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Ditchling & Westmeston

Ditchling & Westmeston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tom Jones * | 455 | 47.7 | –19.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Vicky Byrne | 384 | 40.1 | +23.3 |
| | Green | Anthony Shuster | 119 | 12.4 | +1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 71 | 7.4 | –42.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 966 | 47.2 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### East Saltdean & Telscombe Cliffs

East Saltdean & Telscombe Cliffs (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Christine Sandra Robinson | 786 | 37.4 | |
| | Conservative | Ron Maskell * | 747 | 35.5 | |
| | Labour | Laurence O'Connor | 721 | 34.3 | |
| | Conservative | Andy Smith * | 692 | 32.9 | |
| | Conservative | Cathy Smith | 672 | 32.0 | |
| | Green | Helen Thoms | 621 | 29.5 | |
| | Independent | Wayne Colin Botting * | 438 | 20.8 | |
| | Independent | Cathy Neave | 382 | 18.2 | |
| | Independent | David Neave | 328 | 15.6 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Charles Robert Boxer | 316 | 15.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,132 | 37.5 | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative |

### Kingston

Kingston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | William David Meyer | 424 | 51.8 | +7.4 |
| | Conservative | Susan Chowen | 191 | 23.3 | –9.3 |
| | Green | Dirk Campbell | 148 | 18.1 | –4.8 |
| | Labour | David Michael Hallett | 56 | 6.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 233 | 28.4 | +16.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 830 | 51.9 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Lewes Bridge

Lewes Bridge (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Zoe Nicholson | 929 | 50.0 | |
| | Green | Adrian Ross | 810 | 43.6 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Janet Baah | 733 | 39.5 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Tregea Lamb | 609 | 32.8 | |
| | Labour | Matt Kent | 216 | 11.6 | |
| | Labour | Joy Beverley Mercer | 175 | 9.4 | |
| | Conservative | Frances Tufnell | 165 | 8.9 | |
| | Conservative | Colin French | 152 | 8.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,931 | 50.2 | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold |
| | Green gain from Liberal Democrats | Green gain from Liberal Democrats | Green gain from Liberal Democrats | Green gain from Liberal Democrats | Green gain from Liberal Democrats |

### Lewes Castle

Lewes Castle (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Milly Manley | 630 | 42.4 | |
| | Green | Roy Clay | 560 | 37.7 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Oli Henman | 482 | 32.5 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kate Wood | 437 | 29.4 | |
| | Labour | Emily Jane Clarke | 370 | 24.9 | |
| | Labour | Louis Robert Blair | 194 | 13.1 | |
| | Independent | Susan Jean Murray * | 139 | 9.4 | |
| | Conservative | Rosemarie Jeffery | 92 | 6.2 | |
| | Conservative | Karen French | 90 | 6.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,509 | | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold |
| | Green gain from Liberal Democrats | Green gain from Liberal Democrats | Green gain from Liberal Democrats | Green gain from Liberal Democrats | Green gain from Liberal Democrats |

### Lewes Priory

Lewes Priory (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Ruth O'Keeffe * | 2,041 | 58.3 | |
| | Green | Imogen Makepeace | 1,445 | 41.3 | |
| | Green | Matthew Bird | 1,318 | 37.6 | |
| | Green | James Herbert | 1,087 | 31.0 | |
| | Independent | Graham John Mayhew | 930 | 26.6 | |
| | Independent | Stephen Alfred Catlin * | 834 | 23.8 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Joyce Dixon Bell | 597 | 17.1 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kevin James West | 504 | 14.4 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Jan Stechler | 421 | 12.0 | |
| | Labour | Paul Grivell | 227 | 6.5 | |
| | Labour | Trevor Hugh Hopper | 225 | 6.4 | |
| | Labour | Tony Adams | 212 | 6.1 | |
| | Conservative | Jane Slater | 140 | 4.0 | |
| | Conservative | David Charnock | 128 | 3.7 | |
| | Conservative | Tam Large | 85 | 2.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,520 | 58.4 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold |
| | Green gain from Independent | Green gain from Independent | Green gain from Independent | Green gain from Independent | Green gain from Independent |

### Newhaven North

Newhaven North (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Steve Saunders * | 393 | 34.9 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Julie Lynn Carr * | 311 | 27.6 | |
| | Independent | Paula Bridget Woolven | 305 | 27.1 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Charlie Carr | 280 | 24.9 | |
| | Conservative | Tony Bradbury | 269 | 23.9 | |
| | Conservative | Bill Giles | 239 | 21.2 | |
| | Green | Nisha Vesuwala | 118 | 10.5 | |
| | Green | David John Keymer Hoare | 110 | 9.8 | |
| | Labour | Steve Floor | 107 | 9.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,156 | 30.9 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
| | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) |

### Newhaven South

Newhaven South (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Graham Roger Amy * | 751 | 54.1 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christoph David Kurty | 628 | 45.3 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | James Neville MacCleary | 609 | 43.9 | |
| | Labour | Jan Wooding | 322 | 23.2 | |
| | Conservative | Peter Charlton | 261 | 18.8 | |
| | Green | Annabella Ashby | 257 | 18.5 | |
| | Green | Elaine Bolt | 251 | 18.1 | |
| | Conservative | Dave Argent | 215 | 15.5 | |
| | Conservative | Linda Wallraven | 212 | 15.3 | |
| | Green | Martin O'Brien | 210 | 15.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,442 | 28.7 | |
| | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) |
| | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) |
| | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) |

### Newick

Newick :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Roy Burman | 443 | 57.0 | –8.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | James Guy Earl | 156 | 20.1 | –6.7 |
| | Green | Susan Jappie | 135 | 17.4 | +9.4 |
| | Labour | Jo Chamberlain | 56 | 5.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 287 | 36.9 | –1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 792 | 39.5 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Ouse Valley & Ringmer

Ouse Valley & Ringmer (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Johnny Denis | 1,447 | 63.3 | |
| | Green | Emily O'Brien | 1,135 | 49.7 | |
| | Green | Sean Macleod | 1,023 | 44.8 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Chris Bowers | 599 | 26.2 | |
| | Conservative | Richard Turner * | 520 | 22.7 | |
| | Conservative | Clare Herbert | 518 | 22.7 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Victoria Jane Vincent | 504 | 22.0 | |
| | Conservative | David Terry | 498 | 21.8 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Malcolm Lawrence Welsh | 468 | 20.5 | |
| | Labour | Derek Roger Brown | 104 | 4.5 | |
| | Labour | Peter Stephen Hambly | 94 | 4.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,312 | 46.7 | |
| | Green gain from Liberal Democrats | Green gain from Liberal Democrats | Green gain from Liberal Democrats | Green gain from Liberal Democrats | Green gain from Liberal Democrats |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative |

### Peacehaven East

Peacehaven East (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Lynda Margaret Duhigg | 426 | 42.1 | |
| | Labour | Chris Collier | 376 | 37.1 | |
| | Conservative | Nigel David Enever * | 352 | 34.7 | |
| | Labour | Alan Alfred Milliner | 330 | 32.6 | |
| | UKIP | Deborah Holt | 207 | 20.4 | |
| | Green | Sylvie Bouhier | 186 | 18.4 | |
| | Green | Lesley Orr | 164 | 16.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,029 | 25.4 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative |

### Peacehaven North

Peacehaven North (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Phil Davis | 454 | 45.5 | |
| | Conservative | Keira Dawn Rigden | 448 | 44.9 | |
| | Labour | Dawn Paul | 278 | 27.9 | |
| | Green | Katie Hawks | 207 | 20.8 | |
| | UKIP | Ian Buchanan | 193 | 19.4 | |
| | Green | Rikki Begley | 158 | 15.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,004 | 27.0 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Peacehaven West

Peacehaven West (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Joe Miller | 329 | 35.0 | |
| | Conservative | Nicola Kim Papanicolaou | 323 | 34.4 | |
| | Independent | Lyn Mills | 270 | 28.8 | |
| | UKIP | Phil Howson | 233 | 24.8 | |
| | Green | Marisa Guthrie | 222 | 23.6 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Danny Zac Stephenson | 209 | 22.3 | |
| | Green | Debra Vice-Holt | 164 | 17.5 | |
| | Independent | Robbie Robertson * | 152 | 16.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 964 | 25.7 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Plumpton, Streat, East Chiltington & St John (Without)

Plumpton, Streat, East Chiltington & St John (Without) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert Alan Banks | 617 | 65.8 | +21.6 |
| | Conservative | Stephen Morris | 215 | 22.9 | –18.2 |
| | Green | Brendan Carroll | 79 | 8.4 | –6.3 |
| | Labour | Frank David Forman | 27 | 2.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 402 | 42.9 | +39.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 949 | 54.6 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Seaford Central

Seaford Central (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen John Gauntlett * | 575 | 46.0 | |
| | Conservative | Geoff Rutland | 435 | 34.8 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Maggie Wearmouth | 393 | 31.4 | |
| | Labour Co-op | Penny Lower | 371 | 29.7 | |
| | Conservative | Bill Webb | 340 | 27.2 | |
| | Green | Veronica Sanz | 219 | 17.5 | |
| | Green | Johannes Hirn | 204 | 16.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,286 | 33.4 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Seaford East

Seaford East (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Phil Boorman | 651 | 46.6 |
| | Conservative | Julian Peterson * | 631 | 45.2 |
| | Green | Mary De Pleave | 353 | 25.3 |
| | UKIP | Pete Leeming | 332 | 23.8 |
| | UKIP | Eric Woodward | 296 | 21.2 |
| | Green | Steven Guthrie | 265 | 19.0 |
| | Labour Co-op | Alun Gwyn Tlusty-Sheen | 264 | 18.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,418 | 36.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Seaford North

Seaford North (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jim Lord | 505 | 41.7 | |
| | Conservative | Sylvia Lord | 472 | 39.0 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Morag Everden | 400 | 33.1 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nazish Adil | 381 | 31.5 | |
| | Green | Rebecca Francomb | 308 | 25.5 | |
| | Labour | Graham Andrew Coates Lower | 184 | 15.2 | |
| | Green | Rachel Fryer | 169 | 14.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,260 | 31.1 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats |

### Seaford South

Seaford South (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sam Adeniji * | 598 | 42.7 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christine Anne Brett | 588 | 42.0 | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Olivia Honeyman * | 581 | 41.5 | |
| | Conservative | Chris Sumners | 496 | 35.5 | |
| | Labour | Christine Mary Platford | 208 | 14.9 | |
| | Green | Geoffrey Cox | 182 | 13.0 | |
| | Green | Richard Ford | 175 | 12.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,429 | 40.2 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |

### Seaford West

Seaford West (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ian White | 769 | 56.4 | |
| | Conservative | Liz Boorman | 749 | 55.0 | |
| | Green | Zoe Ford | 566 | 41.5 | |
| | Green | Michael McCoy | 365 | 26.8 | |
| | Labour | John Edward Edson | 321 | 23.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,408 | 36.6 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Wivelsfield

Wivelsfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nancy Bikson | 361 | 56.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Iantha Kirkup | 167 | 26.1 | N/A |
| | Green | Patti Broome | 112 | 17.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 194 | 30.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 645 | 32.2 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

## Changes 2019–2023

In March 2020, Sean Macleod resigned from the Green Party, joining the Liberal Democrats in June 2020.

### Seaford East

Seaford East: 6 May 2021 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Turner | 820 | 47.5 | +0.9 |
| | Green | James Meek | 452 | 26.2 | +0.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Pinky Adil | 347 | 20.1 | N/A |
| | Labour Co-op | Ann Biddle | 109 | 6.3 | −12.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 368 | 21.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,728 | 44.76 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Seaford West

Seaford West: 6 May 2021 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Linda Wallraven | 1,028 | 56.3 | −0.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Olivia Honeyman | 401 | 22.0 | N/A |
| | Green | Gemma McFarlane | 277 | 15.2 | −26.3 |
| | Labour | Chris Purser | 120 | 6.6 | −17.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 627 | 34.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,826 | 47.96 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Peacehaven West

Peacehaven West: 12 May 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ciarron Clarkson | 641 | 54.2 | New |
| | Conservative | Katie Sanderson | 477 | 40.4 | +5.4 |
| | Green | Holly Atkins | 32 | 2.7 | −20.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Elizabeth Lee | 32 | 2.7 | −19.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 164 | 13.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,182 | 32.0 | +6.3 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |