# 2023 Ipswich Borough Council election

The 2023 Ipswich Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Ipswich Borough Council in Suffolk, England. This was on the same day as other local elections in England.
Labour retained control of the council. The incumbent leader of the council, David Ellesmere, had announced ahead of the election that he would not continue as leader after the election. He was replaced as Labour group leader by Neil MacDonald, who formally took over as leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 17 May 2023.

## Summary
### Election result

2023 Ipswich Borough Council election :
| Party | Party | This election | This election | This election | Full council | Full council | Full council | This election | This election | This election |
| Party | Party | Seats | Net | Seats % | Other | Total | Total % | Votes | Votes % | +/− |
| | Labour | 12 | 1 | 75.0 | 21 | 33 | 68.8 | 13,740 | 43.0 | –3.8 |
| | Conservative | 3 | 1 | 18.8 | 7 | 10 | 20.8 | 10,930 | 34.2 | –0.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 1 | | 6.3 | 2 | 3 | 6.3 | 3,742 | 11.7 | +1.5 |
| | Independent | 0 | | 0.0 | 2 | 2 | 4.2 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| | Green | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 3,405 | 10.7 | +2.6 |
| | Reform UK | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 73 | 0.2 | N/A |
| | Heritage | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 45 | 0.1 | N/A |
| | ADF | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 35 | 0.1 | ±0.0 |

## Ward results

The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by Ipswich Borough Council following the close of nominations on 4 April 2023.

### Alexandra

Alexandra :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jane Riley | 1,049 | 41.3 | –12.5 |
| | Conservative | Sachin Karale | 768 | 30.3 | +5.9 |
| | Green | Tom Wilmot | 610 | 24.0 | +8.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sophie Williams | 111 | 4.4 | –1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 281 | 11.0 | –18.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,555 | 32.7 | +2.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 9.2 | |

### Bixley

Bixley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Pope | 1,205 | 49.9 | –1.4 |
| | Labour | Paul Anderson | 795 | 33.1 | +0.8 |
| | Green | Stephanie Cullen | 239 | 9.9 | +0.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lisa Wichert | 164 | 6.8 | –0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 410 | 17.0 | –2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,413 | 42.4 | +2.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 1.1 | |

### Bridge

Bridge :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Philip Smart | 843 | 50.4 | +0.4 |
| | Conservative | John Downie | 505 | 30.2 | –3.6 |
| | Green | Adria Pittock | 232 | 13.9 | +3.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kelly Turner | 93 | 5.6 | ±0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 338 | 20.2 | +7.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,677 | 25.5 | –1.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 2.0 | |

### Castle Hill

Castle Hill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Erion Xhaferaj | 772 | 38.4 | –8.8 |
| | Labour | Barry Studd | 628 | 31.3 | –1.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martin Pakes | 443 | 22.1 | +1.7 |
| | Green | Sarah Welbourne | 166 | 8.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 144 | 7.1 | –7.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,017 | 35.1 | –0.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 3.9 | |

### Gainsborough

Gainsborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Martin Cook | 974 | 54.2 | +2.2 |
| | Conservative | Albert Demaj | 602 | 33.5 | –5.3 |
| | Green | Robert Young | 150 | 8.3 | +1.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Conrad Packwood | 71 | 4.0 | +1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 372 | 20.6 | +7.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,802 | 29.4 | –3.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 3.8 | |

### Gipping

Gipping :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Gardiner | 869 | 54.9 | –3.0 |
| | Conservative | Sian Gubb | 438 | 27.7 | –0.6 |
| | Green | Lee Morris | 193 | 12.2 | +3.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Henry Williams | 83 | 5.2 | ±0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 431 | 27.0 | –2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,594 | 25.2 | –1.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 1.2 | |

### Holywells

Holywells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Catherine Frost | 1,037 | 46.4 | –1.9 |
| | Conservative | Liz Harsant | 909 | 40.6 | +3.5 |
| | Green | Rory Richardson-Todd | 171 | 7.6 | –3.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert Chambers | 120 | 5.4 | +2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 128 | 5.7 | –5.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,247 | 38.8 | ±0.0 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 2.7 | |

### Priory Heath

Priory Heath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mohammed Muhith | 915 | 49.2 | –4.4 |
| | Conservative | Thomas McNie | 601 | 32.3 | –0.6 |
| | Green | Andy Patmore | 188 | 10.1 | +2.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Trevor Powell | 155 | 8.3 | +2.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 314 | 16.8 | –3.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,871 | 28.0 | –1.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 1.9 | |

### Rushmere

Rushmere :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Kelvin Cracknell | 1,113 | 47.5 | –6.0 |
| | Conservative | Stephen Ion | 794 | 33.9 | +0.6 |
| | Green | Rachel Morris | 234 | 10.0 | +3.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lucy Drake | 200 | 8.5 | +2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 319 | 13.5 | –6.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2355 | 38.2 | –1.0 |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | 3.3 | |

### Sprites

Sprites :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jenny Smith | 769 | 46.9 | –2.1 |
| | Conservative | Michael Scanes | 618 | 37.7 | –6.1 |
| | Green | Martin Hynes | 97 | 5.9 | –1.4 |
| | Reform UK | Stuart Allen | 73 | 4.5 | N/A |
| | Heritage | Terences Charles | 45 | 2.7 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robin Whitmore | 38 | 2.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 151 | 9.2 | +4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1643 | 32.4 | –1.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 2.0 | |

### St. John's

St. John's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Kanthasamy Elavalakan | 1,064 | 45.8 | –2.4 |
| | Conservative | Tim Buttle | 736 | 31.7 | –0.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Giles Turner | 301 | 13.0 | +2.5 |
| | Green | Judith Rook | 220 | 9.5 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 328 | 14.1 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,333 | 33.6 | –2.8 |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | 0.9 | |

### St. Margaret's

St. Margaret's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Timothy Lockington | 1,559 | 53.3 | –5.7 |
| | Conservative | Laura Allenby | 625 | 21.4 | +2.6 |
| | Labour | Sheila Handley | 486 | 16.6 | +1.5 |
| | Green | Kirsty Wilmot | 257 | 8.8 | +1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 934 | 31.8 | –8.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,934 | 45.7 | –0.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 4.2 | |

### Stoke Park

Stoke Park :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nathan Wilson | 814 | 46.2 | +1.7 |
| | Labour | Chu Man | 711 | 40.4 | –6.2 |
| | Green | Barry Broom | 128 | 7.3 | +3.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gerald Pryke | 74 | 4.2 | +0.8 |
| | ADF | Sandra Sparrow | 35 | 2.0 | +0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 103 | 5.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,771 | 34.4 | –0.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 4.0 | |

### Westgate

Westgate :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Julian Gibbs | 872 | 53.6 | –0.8 |
| | Conservative | Debbie Richards | 394 | 24.2 | –1.5 |
| | Green | John Mann | 222 | 13.6 | +2.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martin Hore | 140 | 8.6 | –0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 478 | 29.2 | +0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,636 | 25.9 | –1.0 |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | 0.4 | |

### Whitehouse

Whitehouse :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Lucinda Trenchard | 765 | 52.3 | –6.3 |
| | Conservative | Stephen Lark | 439 | 30.0 | –0.9 |
| | Green | Ned Harrison | 182 | 12.4 | +1.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Immo Weichert | 78 | 5.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 326 | 22.1 | –5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,476 | 23.0 | –2.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 2.7 | |

### Whitton

Whitton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gary Forster | 850 | 47.5 | –6.1 |
| | Conservative | James Harding | 710 | 39.7 | +1.2 |
| | Green | Jason Williams | 116 | 6.5 | +2.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nicholas Jacob | 112 | 6.3 | +2.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 140 | 7.8 | –7.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,796 | 29.4 | –3.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 3.7 | |