# 2023 Folkestone and Hythe District Council election

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

## Summary

The Green Party won the most seats, with the Conservatives falling into third place behind Labour. The leader of the council prior to the election, Conservative councillor David Monk, lost his seat.
Following the election a coalition of the Greens and Liberal Democrats formed a minority administration, with Green councillor Jim Martin being appointed the new leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 24 May 2023.

### Election result

2023 Folkestone and Hythe District Council election :
| Party | Candidates | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Green | 17 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 36.7 | 31.0 | 20,218 | +5.8 |
| Labour | 21 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 33.3 | 20.9 | 13,631 | +2.1 |
| Conservative | 30 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 16.7 | 27.8 | 18,137 | –8.6 |
| Liberal Democrats | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | | 6.7 | 11.3 | 7,353 | ±0.0 |
| Independent | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6.7 | 6.4 | 4,204 | +2.4 |
| Reform UK | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 1.3 | 823 | N/A |
| Foundation | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.9 | 608 | +0.3 |
| Socialist (GB) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.2 | 126 | +0.1 |
| UKIP | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 124 | –3.4 |

## Ward results

The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by Folkestone and Hythe District Council following the close of nominations on 5 April 2023.

### Broadmead

Broadmead :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Belinda Walker | 454 | 39.5 | +17.1 |
| | Conservative | Kieran Leigh | 448 | 39.0 | –20.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Stokes | 246 | 21.4 | +3.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6 | 0.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,163 | 37.4 | +5.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,106 | | |
| | Labour Co-op gain from Conservative | Labour Co-op gain from Conservative | Swing | 18.8 | |

### Cheriton

Cheriton (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Rebecca Shoob* | 1,219 | 41.0 | +7.0 |
| | Green | Polly Blakemore | 1,078 | 36.3 | N/A |
| | Green | Mike Blakemore | 1,018 | 34.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Dhan Gurung | 691 | 23.3 | –11.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Gane* | 690 | 23.2 | +1.8 |
| | Labour | Paul Bingham | 624 | 21.0 | –5.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Roger West | 610 | 20.5 | +2.6 |
| | Conservative | Rory Love | 566 | 19.1 | –12.8 |
| | Conservative | John Collier* | 556 | 18.7 | –12.7 |
| | Labour | Jane Darling | 531 | 17.9 | –8.4 |
| | Labour | Charles Bain Smith | 522 | 17.6 | –5.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,971 | 31.6 | +4.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,405 | | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative |

### East Folkestone

East Folkestone (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jackie Meade* | 1,098 | 53.6 | +21.9 |
| | Labour | Connor McConville* | 1,030 | 50.3 | +21.9 |
| | Labour | Adrian Lockwood | 962 | 47.0 | +14.5 |
| | Green | Marianne Brett | 548 | 26.8 | +1.2 |
| | Conservative | Jeanne Brinton | 477 | 23.3 | –4.4 |
| | Conservative | Ema Deba | 435 | 21.2 | –4.3 |
| | Conservative | Sheila Reed | 434 | 21.2 | +1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Danielle Anson | 419 | 20.5 | +1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,048 | 24.8 | +1.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,262 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Folkestone Central

Folkestone Central (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Laura Davison* | 1,211 | 48.4 | +15.9 |
| | Labour | Abena Akuffo-Kelly | 1,058 | 42.3 | +13.6 |
| | Labour | Liz McShane | 981 | 39.2 | +11.2 |
| | Conservative | Claire Beresford | 659 | 26.3 | –5.5 |
| | Conservative | Stephen James | 647 | 25.9 | –3.6 |
| | Conservative | Dylan Jeffrey | 616 | 24.6 | –3.2 |
| | Green | Clive Hawkins | 545 | 21.8 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Matthew Horrox | 301 | 12.0 | –9.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alison Pemberton | 285 | 11.4 | –9.3 |
| | Independent | Bryan Rylands | 260 | 10.4 | –5.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Aston Mannerings | 239 | 9.6 | –8.9 |
| | Socialist (GB) | Max Hess | 81 | 3.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,501 | 30.5 | +2.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 8,212 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative |

### Folkestone Harbour

Folkestone Harbour (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Bridget Chapman | 695 | 47.2 | +19.2 |
| | Labour | Nicola Keen* | 681 | 46.3 | +17.8 |
| | Foundation | Mary Lawes | 372 | 25.3 | –1.9 |
| | Foundation | Frank McKenna | 236 | 16.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Glyn Hibbert | 230 | 15.6 | –4.7 |
| | Conservative | Richard Moffatt | 210 | 14.3 | –4.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tom McNeice | 198 | 13.5 | –4.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Adam Rowledge | 121 | 8.2 | N/A |
| | Socialist (GB) | Andy Thomas | 45 | 3.1 | –1.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,471 | 30.0 | +2.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,897 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Hythe

Hythe (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Anita Jones | 2,971 | 67.9 | +7.1 |
| | Green | Jim Martin* | 2,930 | 66.9 | +5.9 |
| | Green | Rich Holgate | 2,826 | 64.6 | +9.3 |
| | Conservative | Malcolm Dearden | 989 | 22.6 | –4.9 |
| | Conservative | David Owen | 946 | 21.6 | –4.8 |
| | Conservative | Ben Potter | 888 | 20.3 | –5.8 |
| | Reform UK | David Turner | 440 | 10.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,377 | 47.8 | +1.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,165 | | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold |

### Hythe Rural

Hythe Rural (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | John Wing* | 1,103 | 59.7 | +14.3 |
| | Green | Jeremy Speakman | 1,055 | 57.1 | +5.6 |
| | Conservative | John Gabris | 482 | 26.1 | –2.6 |
| | Conservative | Michael Lyons | 471 | 25.5 | –1.3 |
| | Labour | Edward Le Fanu | 229 | 12.4 | +3.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,847 | 36.7 | –1.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,030 | | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold |

### New Romney

New Romney (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Paul Thomas | 680 | 35.1 | N/A |
| | Independent | David Wimble* | 653 | 33.7 | –14.3 |
| | Conservative | Patricia Rolfe* | 501 | 25.9 | –3.1 |
| | Conservative | Laurie Glover | 400 | 20.7 | –6.4 |
| | Green | Malcolm Watkinson | 317 | 16.4 | –3.6 |
| | Labour | Paul Carey | 315 | 16.3 | –5.4 |
| | Independent | John Davies | 246 | 12.7 | N/A |
| | Reform UK | Wendy Nevard | 181 | 9.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Hugh Robertson-Ritchie | 111 | 5.7 | –6.3 |
| | Independent | John Houston | 72 | 3.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,935 | 32.7 | –3.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,910 | | |
| | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

### North Downs East

North Downs East (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Stephen Scoffham | 1,127 | 38.8 | +8.4 |
| | Green | James Butcher | 988 | 34.0 | +8.9 |
| | Conservative | David Godfrey* | 920 | 31.6 | –17.0 |
| | Green | Doug Wade | 903 | 31.1 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Stuart Peall* | 896 | 30.8 | –15.4 |
| | Conservative | David Monk* | 849 | 29.2 | –15.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lynne Beaumont | 542 | 20.8 | –2.2 |
| | Labour | Nicola Hayden | 524 | 18.0 | +5.3 |
| | Labour | Lucy McGirr | 482 | 16.6 | +4.1 |
| | Independent | Philip Martin* | 419 | 14.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,907 | 32.2 | +2.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,035 | | |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### North Downs West

North Downs West (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Elaine Martin | 932 | 42.7 | +9.4 |
| | Conservative | Jennifer Hollingsbee* | 882 | 40.4 | +3.1 |
| | Conservative | Laszlo Dudas | 704 | 32.2 | –9.4 |
| | Labour | Senet Yohannes | 521 | 23.9 | +12.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Chani Sanger | 510 | 23.4 | +2.5 |
| | Reform UK | Gavin Braine | 202 | 9.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,183 | 40.6 | –3.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,380 | | |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Romney Marsh

Romney Marsh (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Liz Grant | 647 | 31.6 | +5.7 |
| | Labour Co-op | Tony Cooper | 534 | 26.1 | +14.4 |
| | Conservative | Tony Hills* | 532 | 26.0 | +3.3 |
| | Independent | Andy Weatherhead | 491 | 24.0 | N/A |
| | Labour | Tony Goode | 481 | 23.5 | +10.8 |
| | Independent | Ian Meyers* | 451 | 22.1 | N/A |
| | Green | Jenni Hawkins | 357 | 17.5 | –6.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Neil Matthews | 161 | 7.9 | –3.3 |
| | Independent | Douglas Young | 60 | 2.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,045 | 34.4 | –5.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,938 | | |
| | Conservative gain from UKIP | Conservative gain from UKIP | Conservative gain from UKIP | Conservative gain from UKIP | Conservative gain from UKIP |
| | Labour Co-op gain from UKIP | Labour Co-op gain from UKIP | Labour Co-op gain from UKIP | Labour Co-op gain from UKIP | Labour Co-op gain from UKIP |

### Sandgate and West Folkestone

Sandgate and West Folkestone (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tim Prater* | 1,408 | 74.6 | +18.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gary Fuller* | 1,190 | 63.1 | +13.7 |
| | Labour | Sarah Danby | 316 | 16.7 | +2.4 |
| | Conservative | Paul Jones | 314 | 16.6 | −11.9 |
| | Conservative | Dylan Moody | 261 | 13.8 | −13.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1887 | 42.6 | +3.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,434 | | |
| | 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 |

### Walland and Denge Marsh

Walland and Denge Marsh (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Clive Goddard* | 868 | 44.1 | −1.1 |
| | Conservative | Alan Martin | 618 | 31.4 | −12.7 |
| | Independent | Peter Webb | 406 | 20.6 | N/A |
| | Labour | Chrissie Cooper | 382 | 19.4 | +6.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Suzanne Piper | 322 | 16.4 | −0.1 |
| | Green | Ross Carter | 301 | 15.3 | −5.4 |
| | Independent | Kim Rye | 269 | 13.7 | N/A |
| | Independent | Jack Glass | 197 | 10.0 | N/A |
| | UKIP | Leonard Laws | 124 | 6.3 | −17.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,968 | 32.1 | +1.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 6,133 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |