# 2023 Malvern Hills District Council election

The 2023 Malvern Hills District Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Malvern Hills District Council in Worcestershire, England. This was on the same day as other local elections in England.
New ward boundaries came into effect for this election, reducing the number of seats on the council from 38 to 31.

## Summary

Prior to the election the council was under no overall control, being led by a coalition of the independents and Greens, led by independent councillor Tom Wells. The Liberal Democrats had also been part of the ruling coalition following the 2019 election, but withdrew from it in 2020. There had also been a split amongst the independent councillors in 2022 which led to the formation of a new group called the Malvern Hills Independents, which subsequently registered itself as a political party with the Electoral Commission.
Following the election the council remained under no overall control. The independents and Greens both increased their numbers of seats, largely at the expense of the Conservatives, and the independent and Green coalition continued to run the council.
The Liberal Democrat group leader prior to the election, Kaleem Aksar, did not stand for re-election. They chose Paul Bennett as their new group leader after the election.

### Election result

2023 Malvern Hills District Council election :
| Party | Candidates | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Independent | 17 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 35.5 | 25.7 | 10,470 | +3.5 |
| Conservative | 26 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 22.6 | 28.3 | 11,538 | –0.6 |
| Green | 12 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 22.6 | 18.2 | 7,394 | +7.2 |
| Liberal Democrats | 21 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 9.7 | 16.3 | 6,635 | –11.3 |
| Malvern Hills Independents | 4 | 3 | | | | 9.7 | 6.8 | 2,759 | N/A |
| Labour | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 4.2 | 1,717 | –2.7 |
| Reform UK | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.5 | 202 | N/A |

## Ward results

The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by Malvern Hills District Council following the close of nominations on 5 April 2023. The results for each ward were as follows, with an asterisk (*) indicating an incumbent councillor standing for re-election.

### Alfrick, Leigh & Rushwick

Alfrick, Leigh & Rushwick (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | MH Independents | Sarah Rouse* | 1,030 | 71.0 |
| | MH Independents | Peter Whatley* | 992 | 68.4 |
| | Conservative | Paul Selway-Swift | 300 | 20.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Linda Hardwick | 239 | 16.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,451 | 37.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,902 | |
| | MH Independents win (new seat) | MH Independents win (new seat) | MH Independents win (new seat) | MH Independents win (new seat) |
| | MH Independents win (new seat) | MH Independents win (new seat) | MH Independents win (new seat) | MH Independents win (new seat) |

### Baldwin

Baldwin (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Pamela Cumming* | 905 | 62.6 | –15.0 |
| | Conservative | Paul Cumming* | 902 | 62.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jamie Cramp | 436 | 30.2 | +7.8 |
| | Green | Seyi Latunde-Dada | 382 | 26.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,445 | 37.7 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,833 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Barnards Green

Barnards Green (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Green | Mark Driscoll | 786 | 36.5 |
| | Green | Malcolm Victory | 772 | 35.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Mead | 755 | 35.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Clive Fletcher | 596 | 27.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Pete Benkwitz | 521 | 24.2 |
| | Conservative | Ian Hopwood | 463 | 21.5 |
| | Conservative | Julie Maclusky | 423 | 19.7 |
| | Independent | Adrian Vines | 376 | 17.5 |
| | Labour | Louise Lowton | 369 | 17.2 |
| | Labour | Iain Dawson | 307 | 14.3 |
| | Independent | Nick Houghton | 296 | 13.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,151 | 33.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,488 | |
| | Green win (new seat) | Green win (new seat) | Green win (new seat) | Green win (new seat) |
| | Green win (new seat) | Green win (new seat) | Green win (new seat) | Green win (new seat) |
| | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) | Liberal Democrats win (new seat) |

### Broadheath

Broadheath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Daniel Walton* | 511 | 76.8 | +25.5 |
| | Conservative | Carl Fordington | 131 | 19.7 | –10.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Chris Sandys | 23 | 3.5 | –14.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 380 | 57.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 666 | 42.3 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,539 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Castlemorton, Welland & Wells

Castlemorton, Welland & Wells (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | John Gallagher* | 864 | 48.1 |
| | Independent | Christine Wild | 727 | 40.4 |
| | Conservative | Jill Campbell | 587 | 32.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Eva Fielding | 550 | 30.6 |
| | Conservative | Marc Bayliss | 489 | 27.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,798 | 42.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,230 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Great Malvern

Great Malvern (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Beverley Nielsen* | 798 | 50.4 |
| | Independent | Cynthia Palmer* | 726 | 45.8 |
| | Conservative | Hannah Campbell | 491 | 31.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jed Marson | 458 | 28.9 |
| | Conservative | James Jarvis | 425 | 26.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,584 | 40.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,915 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Hallow & Holt

Hallow & Holt :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Dean Clarke* | 495 | 59.4 |
| | Conservative | Mel Fordington | 264 | 31.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Elaine Drage | 74 | 8.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 231 | 27.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 836 | 37.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,221 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Kempsey

Kempsey (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | David Harrison* | 917 | 67.3 | –15.9 |
| | Independent | John Michael* | 665 | 48.8 | –30.9 |
| | Conservative | Ian Daly | 548 | 40.2 | +28.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Drage | 218 | 16.0 | +7.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,362 | 34.5 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,946 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### Lindridge

Lindridge :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Douglas Godwin* | 479 | 64.9 | –3.6 |
| | Green | Mary-Louise Thompson | 159 | 21.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | John O'Loghlen | 100 | 13.6 | –17.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 320 | 43.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 745 | 35.4 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,103 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Link

Link (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Kwai Chan* | 589 | 28.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Neville Mills* | 568 | 27.7 | –10.2 |
| | Green | Fran Victory | 563 | 27.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Danielle Bennett | 527 | 25.7 | –19.0 |
| | Conservative | David Watkins | 504 | 24.6 | –1.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Clifford Hobbs | 467 | 22.8 | –14.2 |
| | Conservative | Karen Hanks | 442 | 21.6 | –3.7 |
| | Labour | Susan Dalley | 437 | 21.3 | +3.1 |
| | Labour | Christopher Burrows | 429 | 20.9 | +4.1 |
| | Independent | Clive Hooper | 305 | 14.9 | N/A |
| | Independent | Anne Robinson | 285 | 13.9 | N/A |
| | Reform UK | Richard Case | 141 | 6.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,050 | 36.0 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,701 | | |
| | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats | Independent gain from Liberal Democrats |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats 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 |

### Longdon

Longdon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Jennie Watkins | 461 | 60.3 | –1.8 |
| | Green | Tim Kershaw | 161 | 21.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Liz Smith | 143 | 18.7 | –19.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 300 | 39.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 767 | 39.6 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,938 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Martley

Martley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Barbara Jones-Williams* | 504 | 58.7 | –13.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Bateman | 197 | 22.9 | N/A |
| | Independent | George Wilesmith | 105 | 12.2 | N/A |
| | MH Independents | Matthew Oliver | 53 | 6.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 307 | 35.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 864 | 37.1 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,327 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Pickersleigh

Pickersleigh :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Bennett* | 212 | 45.5 | –5.8 |
| | Conservative | David Chambers | 104 | 22.3 | –2.1 |
| | Labour | Owen Walters | 84 | 18.0 | –6.3 |
| | Independent | Caroline Bovey* | 66 | 14.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 108 | 23.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 470 | 23.4 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,011 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 1.9 | |

### Powick & the Hanleys

Powick & the Hanleys (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Tom Wells* | 1,461 | 78.9 |
| | Independent | Kathy Wells* | 1,283 | 69.3 |
| | Conservative | Sebastian Barbour | 365 | 19.7 |
| | Conservative | Oliver Watkins | 250 | 13.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rachel Aksar | 158 | 8.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,851 | 43.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,303 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Tenbury

Tenbury (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | MH Independents | Lesley Brunton* | 684 | 57.1 | N/A |
| | Conservative | John Willmott | 605 | 50.5 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Paul Owen | 367 | 30.6 | N/A |
| | Green | Peter Jones | 331 | 27.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,198 | 33.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,626 | | |
| | MH Independents gain from Conservative | MH Independents gain from Conservative | MH Independents gain from Conservative | MH Independents gain from Conservative | MH Independents gain from Conservative |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Upper Howsell

Upper Howsell :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Green | Jules Wood* | 335 | 54.8 |
| | Conservative | Surbjit Brierley | 146 | 23.9 |
| | Labour | Jan Blazak | 91 | 14.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Will Chaundy | 39 | 6.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 189 | 30.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 615 | 28.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,176 | |
| | Green win (new seat) | Green win (new seat) | Green win (new seat) | Green win (new seat) |

### Upton & Ripple

Upton & Ripple (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Green | Martin Allen* | 1,172 | 71.4 |
| | Conservative | Jeremy Owenson | 608 | 37.1 |
| | Conservative | Andrew Waddell | 463 | 28.2 |
| | Green | Rebecca Rollinson | 459 | 28.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Liz Mills | 143 | 8.7 |
| | Reform UK | Doug Guest | 61 | 3.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,641 | 42.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,912 | |
| | Green win (new seat) | Green win (new seat) | Green win (new seat) | Green win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### West

West (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Natalie McVey* | 1,152 | 74.3 | +2.3 |
| | Green | John Raine* | 1,122 | 72.3 | –4.5 |
| | Conservative | Jennie Kelly | 312 | 20.1 | +0.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Whitehead | 211 | 13.6 | –1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,551 | 37.6 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,128 | | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold |