# 2023 Swale Borough Council election

The 2023 Swale Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Swale Borough Council in Kent, England. This was on the same day as other local elections across England.
The council was under no overall control prior to the election. The Conservatives were the largest party, but the council was being run by a rainbow coalition of all the other main parties, led by Mike Baldock of local party the Swale Independents. The council remained under no overall control after the election, and Labour overtook the Conservatives to become the largest party. A new coalition of Labour, the Swale Independents and Greens formed. The new Labour group leader, Tim Gibson, was appointed leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 17 May 2023, with Mike Baldock becoming deputy leader.

## Summary
### Election result

2023 Swale Borough Council election :
| Party | Candidates | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 31 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 31.92% | 24.43% | 13,343 | 1.03% |
| Conservative | 44 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 25.53% | 30.58% | 16,703 | 3.42% |
| Swale Ind. | 15 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 23.4% | 17.3% | 9,449 | 2.8% |
| Liberal Democrats | 22 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10.64% | 13.05% | 7,127 | 3.35% |
| Green | 13 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6.38% | 8.65% | 4,722 | 2.95% |
| Independent | 7 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 2.13% | 4.21% | 2,301 | 0.39% |
| Reform UK | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0% | 1.04% | 569 | New |
| Heritage | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0.44% | 240 | New |
| Monster Raving Loony | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0.3% | 161 | 0.31% |

## Ward results

The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by Swale Borough Council following the close of nominations on 4 April 2023. The results for each ward were as follows:

### Abbey

Abbey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Hannah Perkin* | 918 | 63.2 | +18 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Chris Williams | 807 | 55.6 | +18 |
| | Labour | Trevor Payne | 314 | 21.6 | +4 |
| | Conservative | Jay Brown | 276 | 19.0 | +1 |
| | Labour Co-op | Frances Rehal | 261 | 18.0 | +4 |
| | Conservative | Melanie Regan-Brown | 244 | 16.8 | ±0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,452 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |

### Bobbing, Iwade and Lower Halstow

Bobbing, Iwade & Lower Halstow (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Swale Ind. | Lloyd Chapman | 501 | 39.3 | −20 |
| | Conservative | Rog Clark* | 483 | 37.9 | −1 |
| | Labour | Olufemi Olukoya | 401 | 31.5 | +11 |
| | Conservative | Gareth Randall | 343 | 26.9 | −3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Marc Wilson | 267 | 21.0 | N/A |
| | Green | Carol Goatham | 236 | 18.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,274 | | |
| | Swale Ind. hold | Swale Ind. hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Borden and Grove Park

Borden & Grove Park (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Swale Ind. | Mike Baldock* | 1,030 | 71.5 | −8 |
| | Swale Ind. | Ann Cavanagh | 728 | 50.5 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Nicholas Hampshire* | 424 | 29.4 | −5 |
| | Conservative | Conor Dobbs | 262 | 18.2 | N/A |
| | Labour | Martin Singer | 184 | 12.8 | −15 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,441 | | |
| | Swale Ind. hold | Swale Ind. hold | Swing | | |
| | Swale Ind. gain from Conservative | Swale Ind. gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Boughton and Courtenay

Boughton & Courtenay (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Rich Lehmann | 1,123 | 61.9 | +22 |
| | Green | Alastair Gould* | 1,122 | 61.9 | +18 |
| | Conservative | Piers Baker | 392 | 21.6 | −8 |
| | Conservative | Oliver Lane | 346 | 19.1 | −1 |
| | Swale Ind. | Jeff Tutt | 278 | 15.3 | −18 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sonia Fox | 102 | 5.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ida Linfield | 77 | 4.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 730 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,814 | | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | | |

### Chalkwell

Chalkwell :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Charlie Miller | 298 | 55.3 | −13.0 |
| | Conservative | Richard Allsep | 173 | 32.1 | +0.4 |
| | Green | Hannah Temple | 68 | 12.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 539 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### East Downs

East Downs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Terry Thompson | 423 | 45.9 | +28.7 |
| | Conservative | David Simmons* | 389 | 42.2 | −3.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Fisher | 110 | 11.9 | +3.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 922 | | |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Swale Ind. | Richard Palmer* | 943 | 58.8 | −4 |
| | Swale Ind. | Chris Palmer | 879 | 54.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Alan Horton* | 513 | 32.0 | −4 |
| | Conservative | Asha Saroy | 336 | 20.9 | −12 |
| | Labour | Margaret Cooper | 279 | 17.4 | ±0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,605 | | |
| | Swale Ind. hold | Swale Ind. hold | Swing | | |
| | Swale Ind. gain from Conservative | Swale Ind. gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Homewood

Homewood (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Simon Clark* | 511 | 38.2 | −26 |
| | Labour | Shelley Cheesman | 483 | 36.2 | −35 |
| | Swale Ind. | Jason Clinch | 395 | 29.6 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Danielle Hoynes | 343 | 25.7 | ±0 |
| | Conservative | John Wright | 340 | 25.4 | −3 |
| | Heritage | Thomas Lee | 240 | 18.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Frances Stennings | 166 | 12.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,336 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Kemsley

Kemsley (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Swale Ind. | Derek Carnell* | 476 | 47.7 | −2 |
| | Labour | Ashley Wise | 357 | 35.8 | +12 |
| | Conservative | Sue Gent | 356 | 35.7 | +6 |
| | Conservative | Mike Dendor* | 322 | 32.3 | −6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tony Clark | 236 | 23.7 | +6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 997 | | |
| | Swale Ind. hold | Swale Ind. hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Milton Regis

Milton Regis (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Anthony Winckless* | 674 | 65.4 | +13 |
| | Labour | Angelica Valls | 559 | 54.2 | +18 |
| | Swale Ind. | Stephen Davey* | 303 | 29.4 | −7 |
| | Conservative | David Danaher | 186 | 18.0 | −2 |
| | Conservative | Stuart Williams | 166 | 16.1 | +2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,031 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Swale Ind. | Labour gain from Swale Ind. | Swing | | |

### Minster Cliffs

Minster Cliffs (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Swale Ind. | Tom Nundy | 656 | 40.5 | −12 |
| | Conservative | Andy Booth | 561 | 34.6 | ±0 |
| | Conservative | Ken Ingleton* | 554 | 34.2 | −2 |
| | Conservative | Hollie Bolitho | 466 | 28.7 | −10 |
| | Independent | Richard Darby* | 457 | 28.2 | −25 |
| | Labour | Libby Tucker | 396 | 24.4 | +7 |
| | Green | Josie Galvin | 276 | 17.0 | −6 |
| | Reform UK | Will Fotheringham-Bray | 163 | 10.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,621 | | |
| | Swale Ind. gain from Independent | Swale Ind. gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Murston

Murston (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Swale Ind. | James Hall* | 593 | 57.7 | +1 |
| | Labour | Mark Last | 397 | 38.6 | +15 |
| | Conservative | Ann Hampshire* | 211 | 20.5 | −4 |
| | Conservative | Glen Le Grys | 171 | 16.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alexander Stennings | 139 | 13.5 | +4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mary Zeng | 127 | 12.4 | N/A |
| | Green | Miriam Layton | 119 | 11.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,028 | | |
| | Swale Ind. hold | Swale Ind. hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Priory

Priory :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Henderson | 394 | 54.6 | +3.8 |
| | Conservative | Andy Culham | 174 | 24.1 | −5.0 |
| | Labour | Rob Crayford | 98 | 13.6 | +1.9 |
| | Green | Sonia Jackson | 55 | 7.6 | +0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 721 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Queenborough and Halfway

Queenborough & Halfway (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ashley Shiel | 603 | 40.6 | +7 |
| | Conservative | Peter Marchington* | 586 | 39.5 | −7 |
| | Conservative | Mike Whiting | 522 | 35.2 | −19 |
| | Labour | Donna Boakes | 508 | 34.2 | +4 |
| | Conservative | Bailey Allison | 498 | 33.5 | −11 |
| | Labour | Jordan Hartley | 462 | 31.1 | N/A |
| | Swale Ind. | Lorraine St. John | 293 | 19.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Linda Brinklow | 227 | 15.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,485 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Roman

Roman (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tim Gibson* | 652 | 58.6 | +1 |
| | Labour | Karen Watson | 535 | 48.1 | −5 |
| | Conservative | Mark Quinton | 300 | 27.0 | −14 |
| | Conservative | Alfred Okotie | 266 | 23.9 | −7 |
| | Green | Debra Blacklock | 167 | 15.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rosemary Madgwick | 134 | 12.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,113 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Sheerness

Sheerness (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Angela Harrison* | 727 | 52.9 | +9 |
| | Labour | Hayden Brawn | 612 | 44.5 | +6 |
| | Labour | Dolley White | 573 | 41.7 | +6 |
| | Conservative | Patricia Rogers | 394 | 28.7 | +6 |
| | Independent | Lee McCall* | 382 | 27.8 | −18 |
| | Reform UK | Jeffrey Williams | 205 | 14.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,374 | | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Sheppey Central

Sheppey Central (3 seas) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Swale Ind. | Elliott Jayes* | 794 | 51.7 | −10 |
| | Conservative | Peter Neal* | 409 | 26.6 | −1 |
| | Conservative | Mark Tucker | 389 | 25.3 | −5 |
| | Labour | Ian Edworthy | 362 | 23.6 | +3 |
| | Conservative | Oliver Eakin | 360 | 23.4 | +3 |
| | Labour | Alan Henry | 333 | 21.7 | N/A |
| | Independent | Peter MacDonald* | 298 | 19.4 | −11 |
| | Green | Sam Banks | 200 | 13.0 | −10 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Edward Currie | 200 | 13.0 | N/A |
| | Monster Raving Loony | Mad Mike Young | 161 | 10.5 | −9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,537 | | |
| | Swale Ind. hold | Swale Ind. hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Sheppey East

Sheppey East (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Lee-Anne Moore | 347 | 34.8 | +2 |
| | Conservative | Tara Noe | 315 | 31.6 | +3 |
| | Labour | Matt Wheatcroft | 226 | 22.7 | +7 |
| | Independent | Pat Sandle | 215 | 21.6 | N/A |
| | Independent | Gaynor Bidgood | 191 | 19.2 | N/A |
| | Green | David Walton | 129 | 13.0 | N/A |
| | Reform UK | Mini Nissanga* | 108 | 10.8 | −26 |
| | Independent | Bill Tatton* | 103 | 10.3 | −31 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 996 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Independent | Conservative gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Reform UK | Conservative gain from Reform UK | Swing | | |

### St Ann's

St Ann's (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Carole Jackson* | 846 | 48.4 | +7 |
| | Labour | Kieran Golding | 765 | 43.7 | +7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Charles Gibson | 448 | 25.6 | −4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Josh Rowlands | 444 | 25.4 | −1 |
| | Conservative | Ben Fisher | 398 | 22.8 | −11 |
| | Conservative | Frankie O'Brien | 363 | 20.8 | −8 |
| | Reform UK | Seb Arrowsmith-Brown | 93 | 5.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,749 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Teynham and Lynsted

Teynham & Lynsted (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Lloyd Brown* | 764 | 54.1 | +12 |
| | Conservative | Julien Speed | 666 | 47.1 | +14 |
| | Green | Janet Bott | 506 | 35.8 | +17 |
| | Labour | Georgina Jessiman | 344 | 24.3 | +7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dorothee Barker | 135 | 9.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Carol Morris | 113 | 8.0 | −1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,413 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### The Meads

The Meads :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Hunt* | 395 | 68.2 | +12.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Shaun Wakelen | 184 | 31.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 579 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Watling

Watling (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ben Martin* | 1,009 | 51.7 | −7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Claire Martin | 830 | 42.5 | −14 |
| | Conservative | Jack Goodenough | 496 | 25.4 | −5 |
| | Conservative | Jess Valentine | 465 | 23.8 | −3 |
| | Labour | Robert Newman | 350 | 17.9 | +4 |
| | Labour | James Scott | 300 | 15.4 | N/A |
| | Green | Oliver Heyen | 298 | 15.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,952 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### West Downs

West Downs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Monique Bonney* | 655 | 75.3 | −11.6 |
| | Conservative | Margaret Benford | 155 | 17.8 | +4.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kris Barker | 60 | 6.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 870 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Woodstock

Woodstock (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Swale Ind. | Sarah Stephen* | 830 | 53.8 |
| | Swale Ind. | Paul Stephen* | 750 | 48.6 |
| | Conservative | Lee Burgess | 584 | 37.9 |
| | Labour | James Beer | 328 | 21.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,542 | |
| | Swale Ind. hold | Swale Ind. hold | Swing | |
| | Swale Ind. hold | Swale Ind. hold | Swing | |

## By-elections
### Minster Cliffs

Minster Cliffs by-election, 14 September 2023 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Swale Ind. | Peter MacDonald | 395 | 35.8 |
| | Labour | Edward Baldwin | 339 | 30.7 |
| | Conservative | Oliver Eakin | 331 | 30.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ernest Currie | 39 | 3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 56 | 5.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,104 | 17.9 |
| | Swale Ind. gain from Conservative | Swale Ind. gain from Conservative | Swing | |
The Minster Cliffs by-election was triggered by the death of Conservative councillor Ken Ingleton in July 2023.

### Abbey

Abbey by-election: 14 December 2023 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Charles Gibson | 435 | 44.8 |
| | Green | Carol Goatham | 173 | 17.8 |
| | Labour | Rob Crayford | 172 | 17.7 |
| | Conservative | Andy Culham | 154 | 15.9 |
| | Reform UK | William Fotheringham-Bray | 36 | 3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 262 | 27.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 970 | 24.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,105 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | |
Abbey by-election triggered by the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Williams

### Priory

Priory: 3 September 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alex Eyre | 316 | 42.5 | –12.1 |
| | Reform UK | Jess Valentine | 200 | 26.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Jack Goodenough | 153 | 20.6 | –3.5 |
| | Labour | John Griffin | 74 | 10.0 | –3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 116 | 15.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 745 | 29.3 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,543 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
Priory by-election triggered by the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Michael Henderson.

### Murston

Murston: 21 November 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Swale Ind. | Carrie Pollard | 269 | 34.5 | –6.1 |
| | Labour | Rakel Eseku | 229 | 29.4 | +2.2 |
| | Reform UK | Ian Bobbett | 139 | 17.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Mariusz Bencych | 116 | 14.9 | +0.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alexander Stennings | 26 | 3.3 | –6.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 40 | 5.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 779 | | |
| | Swale Ind. hold | Swale Ind. hold | Swale Ind. hold | Swale Ind. hold | Swale Ind. hold |
Murston by-election triggered by the disqualification of Swale Independents councillor James Hall.

### Milton Regis

Milton Regis: 19 December 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Reform UK | Kieran Mishchuk | 272 | 33.9 | N/A |
| | Swale Ind. | Tom Lee | 208 | 25.9 | –0.2 |
| | Labour | Nicola Nelson | 200 | 24.9 | –33.1 |
| | Conservative | Islay Walker | 99 | 12.3 | –3.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Marc Wilson | 23 | 2.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 64 | 8.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 802 | | |
| | Reform UK gain from Labour | Reform UK gain from Labour | Reform UK gain from Labour | Reform UK gain from Labour | Reform UK gain from Labour |
Milton Regis by-election triggered by the resignation of Labour councillor Angelica Valls.