# 2023 Wokingham Borough Council election

The 2023 Wokingham Borough Council election took place on Thursday 4 May 2023, to elect members of Wokingham Borough Council in Berkshire, England. This was on the same day as other local elections across England. One third of the council, 18 seats, was up for election.
Prior to the election the council was under no overall control. The Conservatives were the largest party but had lost control following the 2022 election to the "Wokingham Partnership" – a group comprising the Liberal Democrats, Labour and two independent councillors, led by Liberal Democrat leader, Clive Jones. At the 2023 election, the council remained under no overall control, but the Liberal Democrats overtook the Conservatives to become the largest party. At the subsequent annual council meeting on 18 May 2023, Clive Jones stood down as leader of the council, being replaced by new Liberal Democrat leader Stephen Conway.
The composition of the council before the election was as follows:
| 23 | 3 | 2 | 26 |
| LD | LAB | IND | CON |
After the election, the composition of the council became:
| 26 | 5 | 1 | 22 |
| LD | LAB | IND | CON |

## Election Summary

2023 Wokingham Borough Council election :
| Party | Candidates | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Liberal Democrats | 17 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 48.1 | 41.3 | 18,104 | 1.3 |
| Conservative | 18 | 22 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 40.7 | 36.6 | 16,058 | -0.3 |
| Labour | 18 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9.2 | 16.3 | 7,166 | -1.6 |
| Green | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.9 | 1,268 | -0.2 |
| Independent | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.7 | 727 | 0.5 |
| Women's Equality | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.4 | 179 | 0.4 |
| Heritage | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 84 | 0.2 |
There were a total of 43,802 votes cast with a total of 216 spoiled ballots.

## Ward results

Sitting councillors are marked with an asterisk (*).

### Barkham

Barkham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ian Pittock | 705 | 46.7 | +4.3 |
| | Conservative | George Evans | 581 | 38.5 | −11.1 |
| | Labour | Annette Medhurst | 107 | 7.1 | −0.9 |
| | Independent | Roderick Stephens | 76 | 5.0 | +5.0 |
| | Green | Asad Feroz | 40 | 2.7 | +2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 124 | 8.2 | +1.0 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 1509 | 99.5 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 7 | 0.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1516 | 40.6 | +7.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +7.7 | |

### Bulmershe & Whitegates

Bulmershe & Whitegates :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tony Skuse | 1,058 | 40.3 | −10.8 |
| | Conservative | Sagar Patel | 958 | 36.5 | +1.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sheila Jordan | 375 | 14.3 | +6.4 |
| | Green | Samuel Langlois | 235 | 8.9 | +3.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 100 | 3.8 | −11.9 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 2626 | 99.4 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 15 | 0.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2641 | 38.2 | −4.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -5.9 | |

### Coronation

Coronation :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alison Swaddle* | 1,120 | 61.5 | −1.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paddy Power | 359 | 19.7 | +2.4 |
| | Labour | Ian Hills | 190 | 10.4 | −2.1 |
| | Green | Emma Hamilton | 152 | 8.3 | +0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 761 | 41.8 | −2.8 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 1821 | 99.6 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 7 | 0.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1828 | 43.65 | −1.83 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -1.9 | |

### Emmbrook

Emmbrook :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rachel Bishop-Firth* | 1,865 | 57.1 | −3.3 |
| | Conservative | James Pett | 888 | 27.2 | −2.2 |
| | Labour | Alwyn Jones | 255 | 7.8 | +1.8 |
| | Green | Lauren Seymour | 156 | 4.8 | +0.6 |
| | Heritage | Stephen Priest | 84 | 2.6 | +2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 977 | 29.93 | −0.7 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 3248 | 99.5 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 16 | 0.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3264 | 42.69% | +0.13 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | -0.5 | |

### Evendons

Evendons :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Adrian Mather* | 1,579 | 53.2 | −11.2 |
| | Conservative | Martin Jeater | 910 | 30.6 | +3.6 |
| | Labour | Timothy Lloyd | 279 | 9.3 | +3.8 |
| | Women's Equality | Louise Timlin | 179 | 6.0 | +6.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 669 | 22.5 | −14.8 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 2947 | 99.2 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 23 | 0.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2970 | 42.23% | +0.13 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | -7.4 | |

### Hawkedon

Hawkedon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Mickleburgh* | 1,269 | 49.8 | −12.8 |
| | Conservative | Vishal Srinivasan | 962 | 37.8 | +13.6 |
| | Labour | Mark Craske | 307 | 12.0 | −1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 307 | 12.0 | −5.1 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 2538 | 99.7 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 8 | 0.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2546 | 37.81% | +2.68 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | -13.2 | |

### Hillside

Hillside :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Caroline Smith* | 1,346 | 44.6 | −9.5 |
| | Conservative | Moses Iyengunmwena | 1,319 | 43.7 | +7.3 |
| | Labour | Evan Ainsworth | 347 | 11.5 | +0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 27 | 0.9 | −13.2 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 3012 | 99.7 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 8 | 0.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3020 | 37.81% | −9.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | -8.4 | |

### Loddon

Loddon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Abdul Loyes* | 1,136 | 41.5 | +1.8 |
| | Labour | Majid Nagra | 1,091 | 39.8 | +5.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alexander Heap | 480 | 17.5 | −10.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 45 | 1.64 | −3.36 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 2707 | 99.0 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 28 | 1.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2735 | 36.27% | +3.46 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -1.6 | |

### Maiden Erlegh

Maiden Erlegh :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Newton | 1,318 | 45.0 | −5.8 |
| | Conservative | Tim Holton | 1,191 | 40.7 | +9.6 |
| | Labour | Nagi Nagella | 396 | 13.5 | −4.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 127 | 4.3 | −15.5 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 2905 | 99.2 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 22 | 0.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2927 | 43.78% | −0.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | -7.7 | |

### Norreys

Norreys :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Marie-Louise Weighill | 1,349 | 42.4 | −11.3 |
| | Conservative | Mike Townend | 1,169 | 36.8 | +2.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Matteo Fumagalli | 639 | 20.0 | +11.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 180 | 5.7 | −13.8 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 3157 | 99.3 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 23 | 0.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3180 | 37.74% | −4.48% |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | -6.9 | |

### Shinfield North

Shinfield North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Andrew Gray | 366 | 46.4 | +7.4 |
| | Conservative | Parry Batth* | 308 | 39.0 | −2.8 |
| | Independent | Tony Johnson | 69 | 8.8 | +8.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dominic Rider | 45 | 5.7 | −13.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 58 | 7.4 | +4.6 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 788 | 100% |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 0 | 0% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 788 | 32.56% | +2.6 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +5.1 | |

### Shinfield South

Shinfield South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Catherine Glover | 1,047 | 32.9 | −12.3 |
| | Conservative | Dave Edmonds | 1,012 | 31.8 | −9.0 |
| | Independent | Jim Frewin* | 582 | 18.3 | +18.3 |
| | Labour | Sarah Bell | 399 | 12.5 | −1.5 |
| | Green | Thomas Blomley | 132 | 4.1 | +4.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 35 | 1.1 | −3.4 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 3172 | 99.7 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 11 | 0.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3183 | 34.09% | −0.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Swing | -15.3 | |

### Sonning

Sonning :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Michael Firmager* | 656 | 59.7 | +0.9 |
| | Green | Merv Boniface | 257 | 23.4 | +4.4 |
| | Labour | Philipa Hills | 181 | 16.5 | +6.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 399 | 36.3 | −3.5 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 1094 | 99.6 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 4 | 0.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1098 | 43.03% | −3.03 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -1.7 | |

### South Lake

South Lake :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Laura Blumenthal* | 999 | 51.4 | +10.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Carol Jewel | 715 | 36.8 | −11.5 |
| | Labour | Ann Dally | 217 | 11.2 | 0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 284 | 14.6 | +7.1 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 1931 | 99.4 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 12 | 0.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1943 | 45.73% | 0.27 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +11.0 | |

### Twyford

Twyford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Conway* | 1,979 | 84.1 | +13.5 |
| | Conservative | Grant Woolner | 273 | 11.6 | −12.0 |
| | Labour | Caroline Hill | 93 | 4.0 | −0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1706 | 72.6 | +25.7 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 2345 | 99.7 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 6 | 0.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2351 | 51.77% | −2.23 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +12.7 | |

### Wescott

Wescott :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jane Ainslie | 1,172 | 53.6 | +9.4 |
| | Conservative | David Lee | 700 | 32.0 | −10.4 |
| | Labour | Alex Freeney | 160 | 7.3 | −4.8 |
| | Green | Dave Chapman | 150 | 6.9 | +6.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 472 | 21.6 | +19.9 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 2182 | 99.7 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 6 | 0.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2188 | 39.65% | −3.35 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +9.9 | |

### Winnersh

Winnersh :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Fishwick* | 1,643 | 60.6 | −3.2 |
| | Conservative | Anthony Pollock | 682 | 25.1 | +0.2 |
| | Labour | Alan Murungi | 231 | 8.5 | +1.4 |
| | Green | Stephen Lloyd | 146 | 5.4 | +1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 961 | 35.4 | −3.5 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 2702 | 99.6 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 10 | 0.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2712 | 34.74% | +0.39 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | -1.7 | |

### Wokingham Without

Wokingham Without :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jordan Montgomery | 1,568 | 53.8 | +12.9 |
| | Conservative | Christopher Bowring* | 1,194 | 41.0 | −7.0 |
| | Labour | Rona Noble | 140 | 4.8 | −2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 374 | 12.8 | +6.6 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 2902 | 99.7 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 10 | 0.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2912 | 46.11% | +11.76 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +9.9 | |

## Council Membership by party after each election 2010–2023

Election results 2010–2023 :
| Party | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| | Conservative | 43 | 45 | 43 | 44 | 47 | 47 | 42 | 31 | 31 | 26 | 22 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 11 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 16 | 18 | 23 | 26 |
| | Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| | Other parties | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 54 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 54 |