# 2023 Mid Suffolk District Council election

The 2023 Mid Suffolk District Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Mid Suffolk District Council in Suffolk, England. This was on the same day as other local elections across England.

## Summary

Ahead of the election the council was identified as a target for the Green Party. The council had been under no overall control since the previous election in 2019, and the Conservatives had retained minority control only with the support of the independent councillor and the chair's casting vote. At the 2019 election in the Stowmarket St Peters ward the Conservative candidate had only won by a single vote.
The Green Party launched their local election campaign in Stowmarket on 5 April 2023.
The council has become highly increasingly closely fought in recent years, partly due to local opposition to large-scale housing development and concerns of damage to the rural environment.
The Greens won majority control following the election, and the Conservative leader of the council, Suzie Morley, lost her seat. It was the first time in the Green Party's history that they had taken majority control of a council. The Green group leader, Andy Mellen, was formally appointed leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 22 May 2023.

## Overall result

The overall results were:
2023 Mid Suffolk District Council election :
| Party | Candidates | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Green | 29 | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 70.6 | 56.8 | 23,274 | +22.8 |
| Conservative | 27 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 17.6 | 28.0 | 11,457 | –12.6 |
| Liberal Democrats | 13 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11.8 | 10.9 | 4,451 | –6.8 |
| Labour | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 3.6 | 1,490 | –0.3 |
| Reform UK | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.7 | 303 | New |

## Ward results

The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by Mid Suffolk District Council following the close of nominations on 5 April 2023. The results were as follows, with an asterisk (*) indicating an incumbent councillor standing for re-election.

### Bacton

Bacton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Andy Mellen* | 745 | 75.5 | +10.6 |
| | Conservative | John Davie-Thornhill | 207 | 21.0 | –14.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Appleton | 35 | 3.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 538 | 54.5 | +24.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 992 | 42.8 | +5.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,317 | | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | 12.5 | |

### Battisford and Ringshall

Battisford & Ringshall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Dan Pratt* | 608 | 68.6 | +11.5 |
| | Conservative | David Whybrow | 226 | 25.5 | –17.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Payne | 52 | 5.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 382 | 43.1 | +39.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 888 | 35.8 | +4.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,482 | | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | 14.5 | |

### Blakenham

Blakenham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Adrienne Marriott | 434 | 55.5 | +3.8 |
| | Conservative | Steven Wells | 348 | 44.5 | +15.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 86 | 9.0 | –14.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 792 | 26.8 | –1.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,956 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 6.0 | |

### Bramford

Bramford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Caston* | 395 | 54.3 | –3.3 |
| | Green | Emma Buckmaster | 201 | 27.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Attila Borzak | 132 | 18.1 | –24.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 194 | 27.0 | +11.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 732 | 34.3 | +3.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,134 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 3.3 | |

### Chilton (Stowmarket)

Chilton (Stowmarket) (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Terence Carter* | 1,062 | 71.7 | +23.4 |
| | Green | David Napier | 998 | 67.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Vikash Mantha | 426 | 28.8 | –19.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,481 | 30.1 | +4.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,923 | | |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold |

### Claydon and Barham

Claydon & Barham (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | David Penny | 708 | 42.9 | +2.8 |
| | Conservative | John Whitehead* | 654 | 39.6 | –13.8 |
| | Green | Benjamin MacKinnon | 624 | 37.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Nick Gowrley | 572 | 34.6 | –16.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martin Wheatley | 223 | 13.5 | –17.0 |
| | Labour | Terence Wilson | 185 | 11.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Poulson | 144 | 8.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,651 | 35.3 | +4.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,682 | | |
| | 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 |

### Combs Ford (Stowmarket)

Combs Ford (Stowmarket) (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Keith Scarff* | 1,059 | 70.1 | +31.6 |
| | Green | Miles Row | 1,029 | 68.1 | +37.4 |
| | Conservative | Kieren Lathangue-Clayton | 672 | 44.5 | +13.8 |
| | Reform UK | David Card | 250 | 16.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,511 | 32.5 | +2.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,648 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |
| | Green gain from Independent | Green gain from Independent | Green gain from Independent | Green gain from Independent | Green gain from Independent |

### Debenham

Debenham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Teresa Davis | 684 | 61.9 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Henry Dobell | 421 | 38.1 | –32.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 263 | 23.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,108 | 45.0 | +8.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,463 | | |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative |

### Elmswell and Woolpit

Elmswell & Woolpit (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Sarah Mansel* | 1,583 | 76.7 | +17.1 |
| | Green | Jen Overett | 1,358 | 65.8 | +11.0 |
| | Conservative | Jason Duggan | 623 | 30.2 | –12.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,065 | 37.2 | +2.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,558 | | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold |

### Eye

Eye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Lucy Elkin | 693 | 70.2 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Kev Crispin | 294 | 29.8 | –23.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 399 | 40.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 995 | 44.2 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,249 | | |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative |

### Fressingfield

Fressingfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Lavinia Hadingham* | 546 | 51.5 | –3.3 |
| | Green | Colin MacKinnon | 515 | 48.5 | +26.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 31 | 3.0 | –30.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,071 | 44.7 | +4.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,397 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 15.0 | |

### Gislingham

Gislingham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Rowland Warboys* | 792 | 71.5 | +22.7 |
| | Conservative | Anne-Marie Hogan | 315 | 28.5 | –12.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 477 | 43.0 | +34.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,122 | 42.8 | +1.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,622 | | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | 17.4 | |

### Haughley, Stowupland and Wetherden

Haughley, Stowupland & Wetherden (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Rachel Eburne* | 1,407 | 80.2 | +2.0 |
| | Green | Janet Pearson | 1,210 | 69.0 | –4.2 |
| | Conservative | Lesley Canham | 425 | 24.2 | +4.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,754 | 36.0 | –4.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,866 | | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold |

### Hoxne and Worlingworth

Hoxne & Worlingworth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Matthew Hicks* | 509 | 51.2 | –7.7 |
| | Green | Charlie Meyer | 287 | 28.9 | +8.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Steve Card | 97 | 9.8 | –2.1 |
| | Labour | Stephen Nixon | 92 | 9.3 | +0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 222 | 22.3 | –15.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 994 | 42.6 | +1.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,334 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 8.3 | |

### Mendlesham

Mendlesham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Andrew Stringer* | 816 | 79.1 | +7.1 |
| | Conservative | Paul Allen | 215 | 20.8 | –7.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 601 | 58.2 | +14.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,032 | 41.6 | –7.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,479 | | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | +7.1 | |

### Needham Market

Needham Market (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Ross Piper | 943 | 53.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Terry Lawrence | 673 | 37.9 | –25.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sylvie Watson | 636 | 35.9 | –24.4 |
| | Conservative | Kay Oakes | 564 | 31.8 | –1.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,774 | 34.4 | +6.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,160 | | |
| | Green gain from Liberal Democrats | Green gain from Liberal Democrats | Green gain from Liberal Democrats | Green gain from Liberal Democrats | Green gain from Liberal Democrats |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold |

### Onehouse

Onehouse :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | John Matthissen* | 534 | 58.6 | +3.0 |
| | Conservative | James Spencer | 283 | 31.0 | +1.6 |
| | Labour | Rob Davies | 87 | 9.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 251 | 27.5 | +1.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 912 | 39.3 | +0.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,318 | | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | 0.7 | |

### Palgrave

Palgrave :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Tim Weller | 536 | 51.9 | +10.0 |
| | Conservative | Tim Passmore | 444 | 43.0 | –15.1 |
| | Reform UK | Evan Heasley | 53 | 5.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 92 | 9.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,034 | 43.8 | +6.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,360 | | |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Swing | 12.6 | |

### Rattlesden

Rattlesden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nicky Willshere | 694 | 65.4 | +2.0 |
| | Conservative | Stephen Gerrish | 351 | 33.1 | +7.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 343 | 32.3 | +5.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,061 | 42.5 | +1.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,497 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 2.7 | |

### Rickinghall

Rickinghall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gilly Morgan | 466 | 53.0 | −9.4 |
| | Labour | Bob Caley | 395 | 44.9 | +7.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 71 | 8.1 | −15.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 879 | 36.7 | +1.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,396 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -9.4 | |

### St Peters (Stowmarket)

St Peters (Stowmarket) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Ollie Walters | 589 | 73.7 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Richard Stevens | 210 | 26.3 | –23.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 379 | 47.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 808 | 35.5 | +9.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,275 | | |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative |

### Stonham

Stonham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Nicholas Hardingham | 615 | 59.5 | +26.5 |
| | Conservative | Suzie Morley* | 419 | 40.5 | –3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 196 | 19.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,045 | 45.2 | +5.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,313 | | |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Swing | 15.0 | |

### Stow Thorney (Stowmarket)

Stow Thorney (Stowmarket) (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Colin Lay | 662 | 59.3 | +14.0 |
| | Green | James Patchett | 525 | 47.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Steve Runciman | 359 | 32.2 | −19.6 |
| | Labour | Will Howman | 280 | 25.1 | −0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1116 | 26.5 | +4.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,209 | | |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold | Green hold |

### Stadbroke and Laxfield

Stadbroke & Laxfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Anders Linder | 441 | 46.7 | −21.5 |
| | Green | Gemma Whitehouse | 263 | 27.9 | N/A |
| | Labour | Paul Theaker | 155 | 16.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | James Fawcett | 82 | 8.7 | −30.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 178 | 18.9 | −16.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 944 | 37.1 | −1.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,546 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 21.5 | |

### Thurston

Thurston (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | David Bradbury | 1,288 | 34.7 | −10.9 |
| | Green | Austin Davies* | 1,224 | 33.0 | +5.7 |
| | Conservative | Harry Richardson* | 716 | 19.3 | −20.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Oliver Hurdwell | 190 | 5.1 | −7.7 |
| | Labour | Philip Cockell | 164 | 4.4 | −4.1 |
| | Labour | Jean Staff | 132 | 3.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3714 | 40.6 | +5.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,193 | |
| | 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 |

### Walsham-le-Willows

Walsham-le-Willows :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Richard Winch | 775 | 68.5 | +43.7 |
| | Conservative | Philippa Wilding | 356 | 31.5 | −19.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 419 | 37.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1140 | 42.7 | +9.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,672 | | |
| | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

## Changes 2023-2027
### By-elections
#### Chilton

Chilton by-election: 2 May 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Lorraine Baker | 589 | 47.2 | –24.2 |
| | Conservative | Steven Runciman | 375 | 30.0 | +1.4 |
| | Labour | William Howman | 285 | 22.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 214 | 17.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,255 | 25.0 | –5.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,021 | | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | 12.8 | |

#### Thurston

Thurston by-election: 24 September 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Harold Richardson | 579 | 49.2 | +18.4 |
| | Green | Oscar Barrick-Cook | 518 | 44.0 | –11.4 |
| | Labour | Nathan Hope | 79 | 6.7 | +1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 61 | 5.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,182 | 21.0 | –19.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 5,628 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Green | Conservative gain from Green | Swing | 14.9 | |