# 2023 Thanet District Council election

The 2023 Thanet District Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Thanet District 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, being led by Conservative councillor Ash Ashbee. Labour won a majority of the seats. Ash Ashbee lost her seat. Labour group leader Rick Everitt was appointed leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 18 May 2023.

## Summary

The overall results were:

### Election result

2023 Thanet District Council Election :
| Party | Candidates | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 56 | 30 | 11 | 1 | 10 | 53.6 | 40.4 | 29,134 | +9.8 |
| Conservative | 51 | 17 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 30.4 | 32.4 | 23,402 | -5.7 |
| Green | 30 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8.9 | 15.8 | 11,418 | -0.3 |
| Thanet Independents | 14 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 5.4 | 6.7 | 4,854 | -3.1 |
| Independent | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 1.8 | 3.2 | 2,302 | -1.1 |
| Liberal Democrats | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 1.1 | 767 | -4.7 |
| Reform UK | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.4 | 288 | N/A |

## Candidates

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

### Beacon Road

Beacon Road (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jenny Matterface | 694 | 60.5 | +26.4 |
| | Labour | Joanne Bright | 620 | 54.0 | +20.8 |
| | Conservative | Charlie Leys* | 311 | 27.1 | −3.3 |
| | Independent | Aram Rawf* | 184 | 16.0 | −18.1 |
| | Conservative | Barbara Young | 176 | 15.3 | −19.3 |
| | Green | Tina Gull | 99 | 8.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,148 | 34 | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Birchington North

Birchington North (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Kup** | 908 | 64.2 | +1.8 |
| | Conservative | Reece Pugh | 873 | 61.7 | +5.4 |
| | Thanet Ind. | David Hart | 384 | 10.9 | N/A |
| | Thanet Ind. | Simon Day* | 382 | 27.0 | −35.4 |
| | Labour | Colin Brown | 379 | 26.8 | +5.9 |
| | Green | Lucy Williams | 328 | 23.2 | −12.5 |
| | Labour | Mario Portelli | 262 | 18.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,415 | 43 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
George Kup was a sitting councillor in Birchington South

### Birchington South

Birchington South (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Phil Fellows* | 814 | 53.3 | +7.4 |
| | Conservative | Linda Wright* | 726 | 47.6 | +0.3 |
| | Conservative | Emma Dawson | 699 | 45.8 | +0.3 |
| | Labour | Colin Harvey | 336 | 22.0 | +3.0 |
| | Labour | David Ross | 336 | 22.0 | N/A |
| | Independent | Paul Holton | 273 | 17.9 | N/A |
| | Thanet Ind. | Glyn Parry | 269 | 17.6 | N/A |
| | Labour | Anne Reszetniak | 269 | 17.6 | N/A |
| | Green | Terry Macdonald | 256 | 16.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,526 | 30 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Bradstowe

Bradstowe (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Rusiecki | 525 | 41.0 | −5.9 |
| | Conservative | Jill Bayford* | 524 | 40.9 | −9.5 |
| | Green | Steve Roberts | 510 | 39.8 | +13.4 |
| | Labour | Kay Dark | 329 | 25.7 | +0.6 |
| | Labour | Meg Harvey | 326 | 25.4 | +3.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert Stone | 149 | 11.6 | −5.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,282 | 40 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Central Harbour (Ramsgate)

Central Harbour (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Raushan Ara* | 1,157 | 60.4 | +12.4 |
| | Green | Becky Wing* | 936 | 48.9 | +8.5 |
| | Green | Tricia Austin* | 852 | 44.5 | N/A |
| | Labour | Diane Heath | 743 | 38.8 | −7.6 |
| | Labour | Gita Sahni | 712 | 37.2 | +7.8 |
| | Conservative | John Penny | 297 | 15.5 | −2.8 |
| | Conservative | Andrew Chard | 281 | 14.7 | −2.3 |
| | Conservative | Toby Taylor | 279 | 14.6 | +0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,915 | 31 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Green gain from Labour | Green gain from Labour | Swing | | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | | |

### Cliffsend & Pegwell

Cliffsend & Pegwell (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Brenda Rogers* | 571 | 40.5 | −4.3 |
| | Conservative | John Davis | 516 | 36.6 | −4.6 |
| | Green | Vitas Bowyer | 374 | 26.5 | +4.4 |
| | Green | Tim Spencer | 329 | 23.3 | N/A |
| | Labour | Peter Heath | 278 | 19.7 | +1.2 |
| | Labour | Laurie Hudson | 265 | 18.8 | +3.1 |
| | Independent | Grahame Birchall | 223 | 15.8 | −3.4 |
| | Thanet Ind. | Beryl Harrison | 135 | 9.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert Wright | 45 | 3.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,409 | 35 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Cliftonville East

Cliftonville East (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Barry Manners | 985 | 54.2 | −10.9 |
| | Conservative | Marc Rattigan | 912 | 50.2 | −7.4 |
| | Conservative | Cedric Towning* | 852 | 46.9 | −5.8 |
| | Labour | Donald Challinger | 586 | 32.2 | +7.4 |
| | Green | Jessica Lauren | 541 | 29.8 | N/A |
| | Labour | Barbara McCulloch | 534 | 29.4 | +6.7 |
| | Labour | Barry Lewis | 511 | 28.1 | +7.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,818 | 35 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Cliftonville West

Cliftonville West (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alan Currie* | 972 | 61.3 | +14.9 |
| | Labour | Heather Keen* | 901 | 56.8 | +13.8 |
| | Labour | Harry Scobie* | 872 | 55.0 | +12.4 |
| | Green | Matt Shoul | 560 | 35.3 | +7.0 |
| | Conservative | Nickie Holding | 278 | 17.5 | +1.8 |
| | Conservative | Avril Towning | 270 | 17.0 | +3.6 |
| | Conservative | Ross Holding | 246 | 15.5 | +0.1 |
| | Thanet Ind. | Gary-Paul Derriman | 170 | 10.7 | −10.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,585 | 27 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Dane Valley

Dane Valley (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ruth Duckworth* | 754 | 59.1 | +26.9 |
| | Labour | Jack Packman | 719 | 56.4 | +27.6 |
| | Labour | Martin Boyd | 709 | 55.6 | +25.0 |
| | Conservative | Mike Smith | 336 | 26.4 | −3.5 |
| | Green | Chris Newman | 333 | 26.1 | N/A |
| | Thanet Ind. | David Wallin* | 296 | 23.2 | −23.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,275 | 24 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Thanet Ind. | Labour gain from Thanet Ind. | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Thanet Ind. | Labour gain from Thanet Ind. | Swing | | |

### Eastcliff

Eastcliff (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Helen Crittenden* | 811 | 59.4 | +14.4 |
| | Labour | Corinna Huxley* | 775 | 56.7 | +14.2 |
| | Labour | Steve Albon* | 741 | 54.2 | +7.7 |
| | Green | Tony Uden | 445 | 32.6 | −6.7 |
| | Conservative | Peter Sindin | 304 | 22.3 | +2.8 |
| | Conservative | Gerry O'Donnell | 291 | 21.3 | +2.0 |
| | Conservative | Morgan Harris | 290 | 21.2 | +3.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,366 | 25 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Garlinge

Garlinge (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Thanet Ind. | John Worrow | 581 | 53.6 | +19.2 |
| | Thanet Ind. | John Dennis* | 509 | 47.0 | +1.0 |
| | Conservative | Kerry Boyd* | 253 | 23.4 | −16.3 |
| | Labour | Maria Castellina | 239 | 22.1 | +4.3 |
| | Labour | Stephen Fenning | 199 | 18.4 | +2.4 |
| | Green | Bernard Kirkham | 108 | 10.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,083 | 29 | |
| | Thanet Ind. hold | Thanet Ind. hold | Swing | | |
| | Thanet Ind. gain from Conservative | Thanet Ind. gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Kingsgate

Kingsgate (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Alan Munns | 366 | 49.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Robert Bayford | 241 | 32.8 | −34.6 |
| | Labour | Howard Green | 128 | 17.4 | −15.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 735 | 42 | |
| | Independent gain from Conservative | Independent gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Margate Central

Margate Central (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Helen Whitehead* | 504 | 60.1 | +6.8 |
| | Labour | Robert Yates* | 481 | 57.3 | +7.4 |
| | Green | Alanna McGill-Tagg | 245 | 29.2 | +10.0 |
| | Conservative | Barry Millen | 154 | 18.4 | +3.5 |
| | Independent | John Finnegan | 138 | 16.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 839 | 22 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Nethercourt

Nethercourt (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Anne-Marie Nixey* | 574 | 50.7 | +6.6 |
| | Labour | David Green | 547 | 48.3 | +12.7 |
| | Conservative | Michael Crees | 299 | 26.4 | −4.4 |
| | Conservative | Seth Stephenson | 261 | 23.1 | −4.0 |
| | Green | Michelle Thomas | 221 | 19.5 | −2.1 |
| | Reform UK | James Hose | 195 | 17.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,132 | 32 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Newington

Newington (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Pat Moore | 414 | 59.0 | +4.8 |
| | Labour | Rick Everett* | 393 | 56.0 | +8.0 |
| | Conservative | Trevor Shonk* | 214 | 30.5 | +5.8 |
| | Conservative | Ben Harris | 194 | 27.6 | +3.8 |
| | Green | Phil Shotton | 94 | 13.4 | −14.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 702 | 19 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Northwood

Northwood (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jim Driver | 563 | 46.4 | +15.1 |
| | Labour | Will Scobie | 554 | 45.6 | +14.6 |
| | Labour | Debra Owen-Hughes | 553 | 45.6 | +16.7 |
| | Conservative | Keith Clark | 312 | 25.7 | +3.5 |
| | Conservative | David Spicer | 282 | 23.2 | +5.5 |
| | Conservative | Sandra Spicer | 278 | 22.9 | +5.4 |
| | Thanet Ind. | Stuart Piper* | 270 | 22.2 | −21.3 |
| | Thanet Ind. | Lynda Piper* | 264 | 21.7 | −20.0 |
| | Thanet Ind. | Christina Collins | 230 | 18.9 | −16.9 |
| | Green | Mike White | 119 | 9.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,214 | 25 | |
| | Labour gain from Thanet Ind. | Labour gain from Thanet Ind. | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Thanet Ind. | Labour gain from Thanet Ind. | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Thanet Ind. | Labour gain from Thanet Ind. | Swing | | |

### Salmestone

Salmestone (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Katie Pope | 491 | 53.9 | +22.0 |
| | Labour | Leo Britcher | 470 | 51.6 | +22.5 |
| | Conservative | Lisa Shearer | 328 | 36.0 | +9.0 |
| | Green | Fi O'Connor | 214 | 23.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 911 | 23 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Sir Moses Montefiore

Sir Moses Montefiore (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Pat Makinson* | 452 | 41.5 | +3.2 |
| | Labour | Tony Ovenden | 449 | 41.2 | +3.8 |
| | Green | Clara Gibson | 377 | 34.6 | N/A |
| | Green | Andy Stevens | 350 | 32.1 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Marion Astley | 250 | 22.9 | −2.6 |
| | Conservative | Daphne Sharp | 222 | 20.4 | −3.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,090 | 31 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### St Peters

St Peters (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Mike Garner* | 849 | 46.3 | +6.3 |
| | Conservative | Paul Moore | 664 | 36.2 | −9.7 |
| | Green | Kevin Pressland | 664 | 36.2 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Roy Dexter* | 614 | 33.5 | −13.2 |
| | Conservative | Ahsan Ashfaq | 595 | 32.4 | −7.3 |
| | Labour | Jason Evers | 470 | 25.6 | −4.3 |
| | Labour | David Cooper | 440 | 24.0 | −3.7 |
| | Labour | Mathew Thomas | 381 | 20.8 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gail Banks | 215 | 11.7 | −7.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,834 | 34 | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Thanet Villages

Thanet Villages (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sam Bambridge** | 733 | 44.5 | +7.5 |
| | Conservative | Abi-Leigh Barlow | 672 | 40.8 | +5.9 |
| | Green | Abi Smith* | 658 | 40.0 | +5.3 |
| | Green | Andy Isbister | 522 | 31.7 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Karina Pugh | 520 | 31.6 | +4.9 |
| | Green | Thea Barrett | 496 | 30.1 | N/A |
| | Labour | Jane Hetherington | 266 | 16.2 | +3.3 |
| | Labour | Sue Gyde | 247 | 15.0 | N/A |
| | Labour | Maggie Nash | 225 | 13.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Deborah Holmes | 130 | 7.9 | −25.0 |
| | Independent | Andy Local | 130 | 7.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,646 | 27 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | | |
Sam Bambridge was a sitting councillor in Westgate-on-Sea

### Viking

Viking (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Roopa Farooki | 863 | 39.6 | +9.6 |
| | Labour | Kristian Bright | 786 | 36.0 | +10.4 |
| | Conservative | John Nichols | 786 | 36.0 | −2.0 |
| | Conservative | Michael Bridges | 783 | 35.9 | −1.0 |
| | Labour | Elvira Orhan | 700 | 32.1 | N/A |
| | Independent | Ruth Brackstone Bailey* | 657 | 30.1 | −7.1 |
| | Conservative | Horace Shrubb | 636 | 29.1 | −7.8 |
| | Green | Will Jarman | 450 | 20.6 | −8.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Banks | 228 | 10.4 | −3.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,182 | 39 | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Independent | Labour gain from Independent | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Westbrook

Westbrook (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Elysa D'Abbro | 451 | 44.5 | +21.2 |
| | Labour | John Edwards | 385 | 38.0 | +16.0 |
| | Conservative | Ash Ashbee* | 382 | 37.7 | −5.4 |
| | Conservative | David Parsons | 283 | 27.9 | −17.0 |
| | Green | Ken Watkins | 162 | 16.0 | −11.3 |
| | Thanet Ind. | Mark Bray | 160 | 15.8 | N/A |
| | Reform UK | Amelia Randall | 93 | 9.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,013 | 31 | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Westgate-on-Sea

Westgate-on-Sea (3 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Thanet Ind. | Bertie Braidwood* | 789 | 47.2 | +10.4 |
| | Conservative | Matthew Scott* | 576 | 34.4 | −3.3 |
| | Labour | David Donaldson | 525 | 31.4 | +10.1 |
| | Conservative | Jane Ashbee-Welch | 483 | 28.9 | −6.3 |
| | Labour | Nicola Morgan | 468 | 28.0 | +6.5 |
| | Thanet Ind. | Peter Evans | 415 | 24.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Roger Smythe | 364 | 21.8 | −9.3 |
| | Independent | Thomas King | 331 | 19.8 | N/A |
| | Green | Sarah Jarman | 326 | 19.5 | −8.2 |
| | Labour | Paul Upex | 325 | 19.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,673 | 31 | |
| | Thanet Ind. hold | Thanet Ind. hold | Swing | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |