# 2015 Rother District Council election

The 2015 Rother District Council election took place on 7 May 2015 to elect members of Rother District Council in East Sussex, England. The whole council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.

## Background

At the last election in 2011 the Conservatives remained in control of the council with 27 councillors, while the Liberal Democrats took 5 seats, independents 4 seats and the Labour Party won 2 seats. By the time of the 2015 election three of the Conservative councillors for Bexhill had resigned from the Conservatives to sit as independents. Deirdre Williams and Paul Lendon left the party in July 2012 and then in May 2014 Joanne Gadd also became an independent councillor.

## Election result

The Conservatives increased their majority on the council after winning 31 seats, up from 24 before the election. This came at the expense of the independents who were reduced in number from seven to four. The Liberal Democrats also dropped three seats to have two councillors, with the group leader Kevin Dixon defeated by 65 votes in Battle. The Labour group leader Sam Souster was also defeated in Rye, leaving the party with only one councillor.
Rother local election result 2015 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 31 | 7 | 0 | +7 | 81.6 | 48.8 | 39,720 | -4.4% |
| Independent | 4 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 10.5 | 12.2 | 9,910 | +3.8% |
| Liberal Democrats | 2 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 5.3 | 13.2 | 10,720 | -7.8% |
| Labour | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 2.6 | 15.2 | 12,340 | -0.6% |
| UKIP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8.7 | 7,105 | +8.7% |
| Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.9 | 1,556 | +0.3% |

## Ward results

Battle Town (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kathryn Field | 1,481 | | |
| | Conservative | Martin Noakes | 1,199 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kevin Dixon | 1,134 | | |
| | Labour | Andrew Shepherd | 469 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,283 | 69.9 | +21.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Bexhill Central (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Joy Hughes | 824 | | |
| | Conservative | Abul Azad | 735 | | |
| | Labour | Paul Courtel | 709 | | |
| | Labour | Ruairi McCourt | 603 | | |
| | UKIP | Michael Phillips | 558 | | |
| | Independent | Paul Plim | 355 | | |
| | Independent | Mark Plews | 347 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Tunbridge | 226 | | |
| | Independent | Andrew Crotty | 79 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,436 | 63.2 | +25.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Bexhill Collington (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Tony Mansi | 1,309 | | |
| | Independent | Doug Oliver | 1,220 | | |
| | Conservative | Michael Ensor | 973 | | |
| | Conservative | Colin Darker | 847 | | |
| | UKIP | Alison Phillips | 417 | | |
| | Green | John Gray | 282 | | |
| | Labour | Kate Bird | 280 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,328 | 78.1 | +20.6 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
Bexhill Kewhurst (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Brian Kentfield | 1,675 | | |
| | Conservative | Martin Kenward | 1,281 | | |
| | UKIP | Lynne Hehir | 957 | | |
| | Labour | Yvonne Cleland | 663 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,576 | 71.1 | +19.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Bexhill Old Town (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gillian Johnson | 618 | | |
| | Conservative | Jacqueline Potts | 611 | | |
| | UKIP | James Taylor | 510 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Vivienne Bond | 383 | | |
| | Labour | Roger McCarthy | 367 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Diane Smith | 262 | | |
| | Green | Linda Hills | 229 | | |
| | Independent | Saleh Uddin | 222 | | |
| | Independent | Sandy Melvin | 219 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,421 | 65.6 | +22.9 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Bexhill Sackville (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ian Hollidge | 742 | | |
| | Conservative | Patrick Douart | 709 | | |
| | Independent | Deirdre Williams | 680 | | |
| | Independent | Yolanda Laybourne | 626 | | |
| | UKIP | Sheila Allen-Rodgers | 563 | | |
| | Labour | Paul Theaker | 543 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,863 | 64.6 | +18.7 |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Bexhill Sidley (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Maurice Watson | 702 | | |
| | Conservative | Jimmy Carroll | 694 | | |
| | Conservative | Becky Bowley | 644 | | |
| | Labour | Alan Bearne | 619 | | |
| | UKIP | Barry Last | 573 | | |
| | Independent | Helen Bridger | 304 | | |
| | Independent | Keith Bridger | 261 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,797 | 57.1 | +18.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Bexhill St. Marks (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Stuart Earl | 1,312 | | |
| | Conservative | Thomas Graham | 1,148 | | |
| | Independent | Joanne Gadd | 808 | | |
| | Conservative | Brett Mclean | 671 | | |
| | UKIP | Andrew Ellis | 608 | | |
| | Labour | Timothy Fox | 318 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,865 | 74.0 | +19.3 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
Bexhill St. Michaels (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Charles Clark | 1,134 | | |
| | Conservative | Simon Elford | 789 | | |
| | UKIP | Richard Corner | 613 | | |
| | Independent | Laura Fermor | 499 | | |
| | Labour | Conor Hill | 410 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,445 | 63.3 | +20.8 |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Bexhill St. Stephens (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Carroll | 914 | | |
| | Conservative | Bridget George | 884 | | |
| | UKIP | Pat Lee | 754 | | |
| | Labour | Richard Sage | 563 | | |
| | Independent | Paul Lendon | 535 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Graham Martin-Royle | 379 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,029 | 66.9 | +25.7 |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Brede Valley (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Carl Maynard | 1,818 | | |
| | Conservative | Jonathan Johnson | 1,685 | | |
| | Labour | Elaine Lee | 455 | | |
| | Labour | Cheryl Creaser | 443 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ian Stone | 428 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert Wakeford | 228 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,057 | 74.2 | +25.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Crowhurst :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gary Curtis | 771 | 49.2 | −2.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tracy Dixon | 307 | 19.6 | −17.5 |
| | Labour | Brian Basham | 260 | 16.6 | +5.4 |
| | UKIP | Tony Smith | 228 | 14.6 | +14.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 464 | 29.6 | +15.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,566 | 75.3 | +22.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Darwell (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Emily Rowlinson | 1,419 | | |
| | Conservative | Eleanor Kirby-Green | 1,213 | | |
| | UKIP | Eddie Smith | 574 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mary Varrall | 564 | | |
| | Green | Andrew Wedmore | 510 | | |
| | Labour | Christopher Husbands | 347 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,627 | 68.7 | +20.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Eastern Rother (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sally-Ann Hart | 1,441 | | |
| | Conservative | Paul Osborne | 1,392 | | |
| | Labour | Nick Warren | 705 | | |
| | Labour | Paul Carey | 694 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rachel Hills | 332 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,564 | 71.4 | +21.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Ewhurst and Sedlescombe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tony Ganly | 1,131 | 75.7 | −1.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Angus Gilloughley | 363 | 24.3 | +1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 768 | 51.4 | −3.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,494 | 72.5 | +20.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Marsham (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Roger Bird | 1,421 | | |
| | Conservative | Christopher Saint | 1,271 | | |
| | Labour | Bob Ball | 718 | | |
| | Labour | Johnathan Lee | 679 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Derek Greenup | 308 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gill Stone | 204 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,601 | 77.5 | +23.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Rother Levels (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Martin Mooney | 1,566 | | |
| | Conservative | Ian Jenkins | 1,372 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Susan Schlesinger | 792 | | |
| | UKIP | Ian Slora | 750 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,480 | 74.2 | +22.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Rye (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Ampthill | 1,108 | | |
| | Conservative | Gennette Stevens | 1,019 | | |
| | Labour | Sam Souster | 886 | | |
| | Labour | Ray Prewer | 656 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sonia Holmes | 377 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,046 | 68.0 | +17.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
Salehurst (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sue Prochak | 1,318 | | |
| | Conservative | Graham Browne | 1,184 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Hardy | 1,063 | | |
| | Conservative | Gaynor Gough | 850 | | |
| | Labour | Bob Collins | 251 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,666 | 72.9 | +21.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Ticehurst and Etchingham (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Elliston | 1,560 | | |
| | Conservative | Mary Barnes | 1,541 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | George Hearn | 571 | | |
| | Green | Don Nicholls | 535 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,207 | 73.5 | +23.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

## By-elections between 2015 and 2019
### Battle Town by-election

A by-election was held in Battle Town on 16 July 2015 after the resignation of Conservative councillor Martin Noakes due to ill health. The seat was gained for the Liberal Democrats by Kevin Dixon with a 409-vote majority over Conservative Hazel Sharman.
Battle Town by-election 16 July 2015 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kevin Dixon | 751 | 57.8 | +10.8 |
| | Conservative | Hazel Sharman | 342 | 26.3 | −11.8 |
| | UKIP | Tony Smith | 107 | 8.2 | +8.2 |
| | Labour | Timothy MacPherson | 100 | 7.7 | −7.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 409 | 31.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,300 | 32.4 | −37.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Collington by-election

A by-election was held in Collington on 27 October 2016 after the resignation of independent councillor Tony Mansi for health reasons. The seat was won by independent candidate Deirdre Earl-Williams.
Collington by-election 27 October 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Deirdre Earl-Williams | 818 | 60.0 | +60.0 |
| | Conservative | Andrew Burton | 393 | 28.8 | −1.0 |
| | Labour | Sara Watson | 87 | 6.4 | −2.2 |
| | UKIP | Michael Phillips | 66 | 4.8 | −8.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 425 | 31.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,364 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Darwell by-election

A by-election was held in Darwell on 27 October 2016 after the resignation of Conservative councillor Emily Rowlinson. The seat was won by Conservative candidate John Barnes.
Darwell by-election 27 October 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Barnes | 359 | 43.5 | +1.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mary Varrall | 259 | 31.4 | +14.9 |
| | Labour | Antonia Berelson | 79 | 9.6 | −0.6 |
| | Green | Andrew Wedmore | 69 | 8.4 | −6.5 |
| | UKIP | Edward Smith | 60 | 7.3 | −9.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 100 | 12.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 826 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### St Marks by-election

A by-election was held in St Marks on 10 January 2019 after the death of independent councillor Stuart Earl. The seat was won by independent candidate Kathy Harmer.
St Marks by-election 10 January 2019 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Kathy Harmer | 1,000 | 60.7 | +60.7 |
| | Conservative | Gino Forte | 521 | 31.6 | −2.3 |
| | Labour | John Walker | 79 | 4.8 | −4.6 |
| | UKIP | John Zipser | 48 | 2.9 | −15.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 479 | 29.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,648 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |