# Central (Liverpool ward)

Central was an electoral division of Liverpool City Council in the Liverpool Riverside Parliamentary constituency.

## Background

The ward was created for the 2004 municipal elections from the former Abercromby, Everton and Smithdown wards.
The ward boundaries followed the River Mersey, Princes Parade, William Jessop Way, Waterloo Road, Paisley Street, Great Howard Street, Leeds Street, Byrom Street, Hunter Street, Islington, Brunswick Road, Low Hill, Kensington, Jubilee Drive, Belltower Lane to behind Jubilee Drive, Edge Lane, Irvine Street, Mason Street, Grinfield Street, Smithdown Lane, Falkner Street, Grove Street, Myrtle Street, Hardman Street, Leece Street, Renshaw Street, Ranelagh Street, Hanover Street, Canning Place, Salthouse Quay, and Hartley Quay.
It contained the majority of the city centre but also includes Kensington Fields in the Kensington district to the east and the Marybone/Holy Cross community in the Vauxhall district. The ward includes the longstanding city centre community around the Bullring, as well as many new city centre apartments. Furthermore, the ward contains the Pier Head and the two larger universities; the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University.
The population at the 2011 census was 20,340, and at the 2021 census was 24,849.
In 2004 Central was the city's most marginal ward, largely due to the intervention of the hard left Liverpool Labour Community Party, however the ward solely returned Labour Party councillors. The May 2008 local elections saw Labour take 62% of the vote.
The 2011 vote was effected by the controversy involving the Liberal Democrat candidate, Daniel Bradley, who is the son of former Liverpool City Council Leader Warren Bradley, when Daniel disclosed that he had not signed the candidate paper which his father had witnessed.
Cllr Maria Toolan resigned from the Labour Party, weeks before the 2023 elections, after failing to be selected as a Labour candidate, and subsequently stood for the Liverpool Community Independents Party in City Centre North ward.
The ward was dissolved in 2023 and was distributed mostly into the City Centre North and Brownlow Hill wards, with parts in the Canning, City Centre South, Everton West Kensington & Fairfield and Waterfront South wards.

## Councillors

| Election | Councillor | Councillor | Councillor |
| 2004 | Nick Small (Lab) | Sharon Sullivan (Lab) | Richard White (Lab) |
| 2006 | Nick Small (Lab) | Sharon Sullivan (Lab) | Richard White (Lab) |
| 2007 | Nick Small (Lab) | Sharon Sullivan (Lab) | Richard White (Lab) |
| 2008 | Nick Small (Lab) | Sharon Sullivan (Lab) | Christine Banks (Lab) |
| 2010 | Nick Small (Lab) | Sharon Sullivan (Lab) | Christine Banks (Lab) |
| 2011 | Nick Small (Lab) | Sharon Sullivan (Lab) | Christine Banks (Lab) |
| 2012 | Nick Small (Lab) | Sharon Sullivan (Lab) | Christine Banks (Lab) |
| 2014 | Nick Small (Lab) | Sharon Sullivan (Lab) | Christine Banks (Lab) |
| 2015 | Nick Small (Lab) | Sharon Sullivan (Lab) | Christine Banks (Lab) |
| 2016 | Nick Small (Lab) | Sharon Sullivan (Lab) | Christine Banks (Lab) |
| 2018 | Nick Small (Lab) | Sharon Sullivan (Lab) | Christine Banks (Lab) |
| 2019 | Nick Small (Lab) | Maria Toolan (Lab) | Christine Banks (Lab) |
| 2021 | Nick Small (Lab) | Maria Toolan (Lab) | Christine Banks (Lab) |
indicates seat up for re-election after boundary changes.
indicates seat up for re-election.
indicates change in affiliation.
indicates seat up for re-election after casual vacancy.

## Election results
### Elections of the 2020s

Liverpool City Council Municipal Elections 2021: 6th May 2021 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Christine Banks | 1,209 | 57.03 | 3.10 |
| | Green | Martyn Paul Madeley | 498 | 23.49 | 1.12 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Helen Margaret Dietz | 194 | 9.15 | 0.32 |
| | Conservative | Katie Maria Burgess | 135 | 6.37 | 0.27 |
| | SDP | Keenan Reece Clough | 51 | 2.41 | |
| | Liberal | Bethan Hazel Williams | 33 | 1.56 | 0.18 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 711 | 33.54 | 4.22 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,170 | 16.56 | 0.53 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,104 | | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 50 | 2.30 | 1.26 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -2.11 | |

### Elections of the 2010s

Liverpool City Council Municipal Elections 2019: 2nd May 2019 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Maria Toolan | 914 | 60.13 | 7.81 |
| | Green | Jayne Louise Stephanie Clough | 340 | 22.37 | 10.77 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sam Buist | 144 | 9.47 | 1.89 |
| | Conservative | Lee David Berry | 101 | 6.64 | 0.88 |
| | Liberal | Bethan Hazel Williams | 21 | 1.38 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 574 | 37.76 | 18.58 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,536 | 16.03 | 0.07 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,585 | | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 16 | 1.04 | 0.85 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -9.29 | |
Liverpool City Council Municipal Elections 2018: 3rd May 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Nick Small | 1,066 | 67.94 | 1.57 |
| | Green | Jayne Louise Stephanie Clough | 182 | 11.60 | 4.73 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Greg Howard | 119 | 7.58 | 2.14 |
| | Conservative | Lee David Berry | 118 | 7.52 | 1.79 |
| | Independent | James Leadbeater | 84 | 5.35 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 884 | 56.34 | 8.35 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,572 | 16.10 | 8.46 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,766 | | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 3 | 0.19 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 1.58 | |
Liverpool City Council Municipal Elections 2016: 5th May 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Christine Banks | 1,213 | 69.51 | 9.17 |
| | Green | Robbie Coyne | 285 | 16.33 | 3.04 |
| | Conservative | Lee David Berry | 100 | 5.73 | 8.91 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jacqueline Elaine Wilson | 95 | 5.44 | n/a |
| | Liberal | James Robert Dykstra | 52 | 2.98 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 928 | 53.18 | 12.21 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,762 | 16.76 | 32.20 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +6.11 | |
Liverpool City Council Municipal Elections 2015: 7th May 2015 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Sharon Sullivan | 3,128 | 60.34 | 2.77 |
| | Green | Rachael Joanne Blackman | 1,004 | 19.37 | 0.30 |
| | Conservative | Lee Berry | 759 | 14.64 | 6.75 |
| | UKIP | Jamie Sanderson | 199 | 3.84 | 3.94 |
| | TUSC | Priyanga Jeyanayagam | 94 | 1.81 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,124 | 40.97 | 3.07 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,181 | 48.96 | 35.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Liverpool City Council Municipal Elections 2014: 22nd May 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Nick Small | 1,208 | 63.11 | 8.34 |
| | Green | Hannah Ellen Clare | 365 | 19.07 | 7.10 |
| | Conservative | Lee Berry | 151 | 7.89 | 1.01 |
| | UKIP | Tony Power | 149 | 7.78 | n/a |
| | Liberal | Michele Leigh Williams | 41 | 2.14 | 0.62 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 843 | 44.04 | 14.83 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,914 | 13.86 | 1.42 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -7.72 | |
Liverpool City Council Municipal Elections 2012: 3rd May 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Christine Banks | 1,164 | 71.45 | 1.02 |
| | Green | Simeon Daniel Hart | 195 | 11.97 | 2.67 |
| | Conservative | Lee David Berry | 145 | 8.90 | 0.49 |
| | TUSC | Daren Andrew Ireland | 80 | 4.91 | n/a |
| | Liberal | James Robert Dykstra | 45 | 2.76 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 969 | 58.87 | 1.26 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1646 | 12.44 | 1.26 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -0.83 | |
Liverpool City Council Municipal Elections 2011: 5th May 2011 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Sharon Sullivan | 1,348 | 70.43 | 17.61 |
| | Green | Fiona Margaret McGill Coyne | 178 | 9.30 | 3.21 |
| | Conservative | Lee David Berry | 161 | 8.41 | 2.13 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Daniel Bradley | 144 | 7.52 | 20.94 |
| | English Democrat | Steven Greenhalgh | 83 | 4.34 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,170 | 60.13 | 35.78 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,914 | 15.43 | 16.89 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +19.28 | |
Liverpool City Council Municipal Elections 2010: Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Nick Small | 2,054 | 52.82 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Marbrow | 1,107 | 28.46 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Roberts | 410 | 10.54 |
| | Green | Fiona Coyne | 237 | 6.09 |
| | Liberal | John Aaron Gannon | 81 | 2.08 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 947 | 24.35 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,889 | 32.32 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Elections of the 2000s

Liverpool City Council Municipal Elections 2008: Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Christine Banks | 722 | 61.45 |
| | Liberal Democrats | James Peter Murray | 157 | 13.36 |
| | Green | Michael Sean Cotgreave | 134 | 11.40 |
| | Conservative | Gregg Andrew Watson | 118 | 10.04 |
| | Liberal | Lisa Gaskell | 44 | 3.74 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1175 | 9.59 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
Liverpool City Council Municipal Elections 2007: Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Sharon Sullivan | 713 | 50.21 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gary Millar | 432 | 30.42 |
| | Green | Robert Smith | 125 | 8.80 |
| | Conservative | Mark Andrew Cotterell | 120 | 8.45 |
| | Liberal | Lisa Gaskell | 30 | 2.11 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,420 | 11.80 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
Liverpool City Council Municipal Elections 2006: Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Nick Small | 719 | 53.30 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Twigger | 395 | 29.28 |
| | Green | Peter Andrew Edward Cranie | 104 | 7.71 |
| | Conservative | Mark Andrew Cottrell | 102 | 7.56 |
| | Liberal | Karl Justin Prescott | 29 | 2.15 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,349 | 12.00 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
After the boundary change of 2004 the whole of Liverpool City Council faced election. Three Councillors were returned at this election.
Liverpool City Council Municipal Elections 2004: Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Richard White | 580 | | |
| | Labour | Sharon Sullivan | 577 | | |
| | Labour | Nick Small | 515 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alison Campbell | 497 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Roscoe | 479 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Curry | 459 | | |
| | Liverpool Labour | George Knibb | 324 | | |
| | Liverpool Labour | Marie Whitty | 278 | | |
| | Green | Faye Griffiths | 223 | | |
| | Green | Peter Cranie | 191 | | |
| | Green | Alexander Rodkin | 141 | | |
| | Conservative | Diane Watson | 74 | | |
| | Liberal | Stephen Houghland | 28 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1649 | 16.13 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
* italics denotes the sitting Councillor • bold denotes the winning candidate