# 2023 Dover District Council election

The 2023 Dover District Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Dover District Council in Kent, England. This was the same day as other local elections.

## Summary

The council was under Conservative majority control prior to the election. Labour won a majority of the seats at the election, giving them control of the council for the first time in twenty years. The Labour group leader, Kevin Mills, was appointed leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 17 May 2023.

### Election result

2023 Dover District Council election :
| Party | Candidates | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 31 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 53.1 | 40.7 | 22,011 | +11.7 |
| Conservative | 32 | 14 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 43.8 | 37.8 | 20,449 | –5.9 |
| Independent | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 3.1 | 5.1 | 2,749 | –0.5 |
| Liberal Democrats | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 6.4 | 3,474 | –1.6 |
| Green | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 9.1 | 4,929 | –2.4 |
| Heritage | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.4 | 230 | N/A |
| Reform UK | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.4 | 205 | N/A |

## Ward results

The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by Dover District Council following the close of nominations on 5 April 2023. The results for each ward were as follows:

### Alkham and Capel-le-Ferne

Alkham and Capel-le-Ferne :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Martin Hibbert* | 428 | 49.7 | –2.4 |
| | Labour | Bettine Walters | 274 | 31.8 | +20.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Howard Evans | 160 | 18.6 | –17.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 154 | 17.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 879 | 33.1 | –0.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,659 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 11.3 | |

### Buckland

Buckland (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Kevin Mills* | 692 | 61.7 | +20.6 |
| | Labour | Charlotte Zosseder* | 615 | 54.8 | +17.0 |
| | Conservative | Jane Carrole | 373 | 33.2 | +1.6 |
| | Conservative | Paul Reynolds | 350 | 31.2 | +3.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,122 | 21.2 | –2.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,288 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Aylesham, Eyethorne and Shepherdswell

Aylesham, Eyethorne and Shepherdswell (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Charles Woodgate* | 1,423 | 54.1 | +17.5 |
| | Labour | Jamie Pout | 1,410 | 53.6 | +13.7 |
| | Labour | Maria Mamjan | 1,260 | 47.9 | +13.0 |
| | Conservative | Mary Ann Richardson | 630 | 23.9 | –12.4 |
| | Conservative | Roger Livesey | 599 | 22.8 | –8.6 |
| | Conservative | Arun Matthew | 593 | 22.5 | N/A |
| | Independent | Derek Garrity | 531 | 20.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Barbara Sim | 319 | 12.1 | N/A |
| | Independent | Graham Armstrong | 288 | 10.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,631 | 30.4 | –0.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,669 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent |

### Dover Downs and River

Dover Downs and River (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Beaney* | 845 | 40.6 | –9.4 |
| | Conservative | Mark Rose* | 761 | 36.6 | –10.5 |
| | Labour | Ben Cosin | 680 | 32.7 | +6.3 |
| | Green | Ashley Tanton | 526 | 25.3 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Penelope James | 525 | 25.2 | –2.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Adrian Walker-Smith | 383 | 18.4 | –4.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,080 | 39.1 | +4.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,323 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Eastry Rural

Eastry Rural (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nick Kenton* | 776 | 41.4 | –6.1 |
| | Conservative | Steve Manion* | 698 | 37.2 | –8.2 |
| | Green | Peter Findley | 645 | 34.4 | –10.7 |
| | Green | Sarah Gleave | 615 | 32.8 | N/A |
| | Labour | David Pestell | 380 | 20.3 | –10.5 |
| | Labour | Geoff Hack | 369 | 19.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Cheri Pennington | 103 | 5.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,875 | 39.1 | +4.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,792 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Guston, Kingsdown and St. Margaret's-at-Cliffe

Guston, Kingsdown and St. Margaret's-at-Cliffe (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Martin Bates* | 960 | 40.1 | –12.0 |
| | Conservative | Oliver Richardson* | 941 | 39.3 | –2.8 |
| | Green | John Lonsdale | 758 | 31.7 | +7.8 |
| | Labour | Maggie Cosin | 690 | 28.8 | +9.4 |
| | Labour | Brynley Hawkins | 604 | 25.3 | +10.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Gosling | 262 | 11.0 | N/A |
| | Heritage | Sylvia Laidlow-Petersen | 230 | 9.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,392 | 41.3 | +2.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,788 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Little Stour and Ashstone

Little Stour and Ashstone (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Trevor Bartlett* | 1,103 | 54.4 | –3.5 |
| | Conservative | Martin Porter | 864 | 42.6 | –11.3 |
| | Labour | John Featherstone | 428 | 21.1 | +7.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Russell Timpson | 401 | 19.8 | +3.9 |
| | Labour | Gillian Weaver | 360 | 17.8 | N/A |
| | Green | Jenny Mathlin | 353 | 17.4 | –8.9 |
| | Green | June Sharpe | 289 | 14.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,027 | 35.5 | –2.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,717 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Maxton and Elms Vale

Maxton and Elms Vale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Michael Nee | 398 | 40.7 | +0.1 |
| | Independent | Graham Wanstall | 288 | 29.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Callum Warriner | 193 | 19.7 | –25.0 |
| | Green | Nick Shread | 100 | 10.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 110 | 11.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 994 | 33.7 | +4.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,948 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |

### Middle Deal

Middle Deal (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Stacey Blair | 1,128 | 56.8 | +24.9 |
| | Labour | David Cronk* | 1,035 | 52.1 | +15.2 |
| | Conservative | Trevor Bond* | 710 | 35.8 | –3.4 |
| | Conservative | Susan Davenport | 563 | 28.3 | –4.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christine Headley | 252 | 12.7 | +1.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,986 | 35.5 | +5.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,593 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Mill Hill

Mill Hill (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Helen Williams* | 1,074 | 55.6 | +15.5 |
| | Labour | Jeff Loffman | 1,018 | 52.7 | +15.2 |
| | Conservative | David Hawkes* | 519 | 26.8 | –3.2 |
| | Green | Christine Oliver | 496 | 25.7 | –3.1 |
| | Conservative | Chris Burwash | 472 | 24.4 | –1.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,933 | 32.8 | +2.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,890 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### North Deal

North Deal (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Dan Parks | 1,359 | 58.3 | +20.7 |
| | Labour | Sue Beer* | 1,357 | 58.2 | +15.8 |
| | Conservative | Peter Jull* | 896 | 38.5 | –0.7 |
| | Conservative | John Morgan | 729 | 31.3 | –6.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,330 | 40.8 | +3.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,705 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Sandwich

Sandwich (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Mark Moorhouse | 945 | 45.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Daniel Friend* | 823 | 40.0 | –2.8 |
| | Conservative | Harry Sampson | 701 | 34.1 | –8.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martyn Pennington | 442 | 21.5 | +3.5 |
| | Labour | Paul Louis | 336 | 16.3 | –0.7 |
| | Labour | Martin Garside | 333 | 16.2 | +1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,058 | 39.1 | –1.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,263 | | |
| | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### St. Radigund's

St. Radigund's (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Lynne Wright | 464 | 46.5 | +3.7 |
| | Labour | Gordon Cowan | 433 | 43.4 | +11.2 |
| | Independent | James Defriend | 339 | 34.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Andy Calder | 234 | 23.5 | –3.8 |
| | Conservative | Brenda Collins | 233 | 23.4 | –1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 997 | 21.8 | –0.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,578 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Tower Hamlets

Tower Hamlets :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Pamela Brivio* | 465 | 75.1 | +27.9 |
| | Conservative | Ann Jenner | 154 | 24.9 | +4.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 311 | 50.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 634 | 22.3 | –1.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,847 | | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | 11.8 | |

### Town and Castle

Town and Castle (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Susan Hill | 616 | 42.5 | +14.4 |
| | Labour | Edward Biggs* | 600 | 41.4 | +18.5 |
| | Conservative | Richard Jeacock | 423 | 29.2 | –1.1 |
| | Conservative | Samantha Reynolds | 390 | 26.9 | ±0.0 |
| | Green | Beccy Sawbridge | 238 | 16.4 | –4.2 |
| | Independent | Kay Marsh | 207 | 14.3 | N/A |
| | Independent | Ashley Payne | 122 | 8.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lynne O'Donoghue | 83 | 5.7 | N/A |
| | Independent | Brian Philp | 26 | 1.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,451 | 25.4 | –1.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,713 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Walmer

Walmer (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Chris Vinson* | 1,023 | 41.7 | –4.3 |
| | Conservative | Derek Murphy* | 999 | 40.7 | –0.8 |
| | Green | Mike Eddy | 726 | 29.6 | +2.6 |
| | Labour | Amanda Holloway | 685 | 27.9 | +8.6 |
| | Labour | Ben Bano | 656 | 26.7 | +9.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rick Blackwell | 406 | 16.5 | +6.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,454 | 42.7 | +2.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,742 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Whitfield

Whitfield (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Roger Knight | 748 | 47.9 | –8.5 |
| | Conservative | Jim Back* | 718 | 46.0 | –5.2 |
| | Labour | Claire Hill | 462 | 29.6 | +7.9 |
| | Labour | Ruth Harris-Small | 407 | 26.1 | +7.5 |
| | Reform UK | Max McGillivray | 205 | 13.1 | N/A |
| | Green | Steph O'Connor | 183 | 11.7 | –4.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Bob Hope | 138 | 8.8 | –7.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,560 | 30.0 | +0.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,209 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |