# 2007 Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council election

The 2007 Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 3 May 2007 to elect members of Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council in the West Midlands, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Labour Party stayed in overall control of the council.
After the election, the composition of the council was:
* Labour 51
* Conservative 10
* Liberal Democrat 6
* British National Party 4
* Vacant 1

## Campaign

Before the election Labour ran the council with 50 councillors, compared to 12 for the Conservatives, 5 Liberal Democrats, 4 British National Party and 1 independent. Labour defended 19 of the seats being contested, with the other parties hoping to make gains from Labour.
The British National Party put up 15 candidates, aiming to build on the 3 gains they had made in the 2006 election. The party campaigned on immigration, housing and crime and were hoping to take all 3 seats in Princes End ward for the first time anywhere in the United Kingdom. However the British National Party was accused of "distortion and lies" by Labour and the Conservatives described the British National Party's councillors as an "embarrassment".
In the last couple of days before polling day, the council sent an advertising van around the area to remind voters about the election.

## Election result

The results saw the Labour party easily stay in control of the council, with the Labour leader of the council describing the results as "remarkable". Labour gained one seat from the Conservatives in St Pauls ward to move to 51 seats after winning 20 of the seats contested. The Conservatives also lost a seat in Yew Tree to the Liberal Democrats. They meant both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats won 2 seats each in the election, with the Conservatives dropping to 10 seats and the Liberal Democrats going up to 6.
The British National Party failed to win any seats, staying on 4 councillors, coming closest to victory in Princes End where they were 20 votes behind Labour. A further seat was vacant after independent councillor Alan Burkitt was automatically disqualified after having been given a suspended sentence.
Sandwell Local Election Result 2007 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 20 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 83.3 | 45.1 | 34,616 | +0.9% |
| Conservative | 2 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 8.3 | 27.3 | 20,947 | +0.2% |
| Liberal Democrats | 2 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 8.3 | 11.2 | 8,639 | -3.8% |
| BNP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15.2 | 11,646 | +2.8% |
| Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.7 | 504 | +0.3% |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 379 | -0.3% |
| Red and Green Alliance Party | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 66 | +0.1% |

## Ward results

Abbey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Steven Elling | 1,835 | 54.5 | +5.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Nikel | 810 | 24.0 | +2.6 |
| | Conservative | Ewart Johnson | 725 | 21.5 | −8.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,025 | 30.4 | +11.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,370 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Blackheath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Robert Price | 1,341 | 42.8 | −1.4 |
| | Conservative | Debbie Elwell | 1,027 | 32.8 | −13.7 |
| | BNP | Ryan Brigdale | 633 | 20.2 | +20.2 |
| | Green | Aldo Mussi | 132 | 4.2 | +4.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 314 | 10.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,133 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Bristnall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mary Griffin | 1,255 | 45.2 | −4.7 |
| | Conservative | Terry Grainger | 1,149 | 41.3 | +4.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sandra Berisford | 375 | 13.5 | 0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 106 | 3.8 | −9.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,779 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Charlemont with Grove Vale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Anne Hughes | 1,460 | 37.5 | −11.1 |
| | Labour | Ralph Perkins | 970 | 24.9 | +3.9 |
| | BNP | Arthur Copson | 788 | 20.3 | +20.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martin Roebuck | 671 | 17.3 | −5.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 490 | 12.6 | −12.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,889 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Cradley Heath and Old Hill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ann Shackleton | 1,483 | 45.1 | −7.9 |
| | Conservative | Alan Nugent | 989 | 30.1 | −16.9 |
| | BNP | Martin Phillips | 584 | 17.8 | +17.8 |
| | Green | Theresa Yates | 230 | 7.0 | +7.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 494 | 15.0 | +9.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,286 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Friar Park :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Joy Edis | 1,168 | 41.7 | −6.2 |
| | BNP | Scott Dale | 868 | 31.0 | +31.0 |
| | Conservative | Barry Nelson | 620 | 22.1 | −16.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dorothy Brayshaw | 145 | 5.2 | −8.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 300 | 10.7 | +1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,801 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Great Barr with Yew Tree :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Keith Allcock | 1,207 | 32.5 | +1.0 |
| | Labour | Steve Melia | 955 | 25.7 | +0.8 |
| | BNP | Terry Lewin | 807 | 21.7 | −3.5 |
| | Conservative | Margaret Macklin | 747 | 20.1 | +1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 252 | 6.8 | +0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,716 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Great Bridge :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Allen | 1,417 | 45.3 | +6.6 |
| | BNP | Jenny Howells | 941 | 30.1 | −15.0 |
| | Conservative | Mac Beckley | 528 | 16.9 | +16.9 |
| | Independent | Raymond Crawford | 138 | 4.4 | +4.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Philip Roberts | 104 | 3.3 | −13.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 476 | 15.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,128 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Greets Green and Lyng :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gurchuran Sidhu | 1,448 | 47.5 | +1.0 |
| | BNP | Gordon Howells | 764 | 25.0 | −2.5 |
| | Conservative | Elaine Fitzpatrick | 620 | 20.3 | +3.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dot Jones | 218 | 7.1 | −1.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 684 | 22.4 | +3.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,050 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Hateley Heath :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Yvonne Davies | 1,591 | 48.7 | +3.6 |
| | BNP | Alice Dale | 964 | 29.5 | −0.9 |
| | Conservative | Stephanie Page | 444 | 13.6 | +2.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Mitchener | 270 | 8.3 | −5.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 627 | 19.2 | +4.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,269 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Langley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Martin Prestidge | 1,453 | 47.3 | +7.5 |
| | Conservative | Ronald Griffiths | 729 | 23.7 | −0.8 |
| | BNP | David Howells | 666 | 21.7 | −5.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Allcock | 226 | 7.4 | −0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 724 | 23.6 | +11.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,074 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Newton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martyn Smith | 1,327 | 42.3 | −0.6 |
| | Labour | David Hosell | 1,075 | 34.3 | +0.6 |
| | Conservative | Valerie Ward | 733 | 23.4 | 0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 252 | 8.0 | −1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,135 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Oldbury :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Elaine Giles | 2,041 | 64.4 | −0.1 |
| | Conservative | Abdul Qayyum | 1,129 | 35.6 | +8.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 912 | 28.8 | −8.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,170 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Old Warley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Trevor Crumpton | 1,572 | 45.8 | +6.8 |
| | Conservative | David Hadley | 1,401 | 40.8 | −2.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Reed | 462 | 13.4 | −3.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 171 | 5.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,435 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Princes End :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Raymond Howes | 898 | 35.7 | −4.8 |
| | BNP | Karen Parkes | 878 | 34.9 | −8.6 |
| | Conservative | Beatrice Owen | 498 | 19.8 | +3.8 |
| | Independent | June Newell | 241 | 9.6 | +9.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 20 | 0.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,515 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Rowley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Barbara Price | 1,511 | 52.1 | −4.0 |
| | Conservative | Chris Kelly | 760 | 26.2 | −17.7 |
| | BNP | John Salvage | 489 | 16.9 | +16.9 |
| | Green | Vicky Dunn | 142 | 4.9 | +4.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 751 | 25.9 | +13.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,902 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
St Pauls :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Patricia Davies | 2,378 | 60.8 | +7.3 |
| | Conservative | Nahim Rubani | 1,534 | 39.2 | +5.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 844 | 21.6 | +1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,912 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Smethwick :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Keith Davies | 1,611 | 53.6 | −8.1 |
| | Conservative | Bhervinder Singh | 810 | 26.9 | +26.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Roger Prior | 587 | 19.5 | −11.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 801 | 26.6 | −4.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,008 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Soho and Victoria :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Roger Horton | 1,697 | 55.6 | −9.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Shamim Ahmed | 982 | 32.2 | +8.3 |
| | Conservative | Victoria Barnett | 305 | 10.0 | +10.0 |
| | Red and Green Alliance Party | Shari Temochin | 66 | 2.2 | +2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 715 | 23.4 | −18.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,050 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Tipton Green :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Syeda Khatun | 1,667 | 47.1 | +11.4 |
| | BNP | Steven Parkes | 1,024 | 28.9 | −4.7 |
| | Conservative | Gaz Khan | 581 | 16.4 | −14.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ronald Hackett | 266 | 7.5 | +7.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 643 | 18.2 | +16.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,538 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Tividale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Hinton | 1,309 | 41.6 | +5.6 |
| | BNP | Sharon Butler | 938 | 29.8 | −7.2 |
| | Conservative | Robert Lawrence | 567 | 18.0 | +0.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Diane Gorton | 333 | 10.6 | +1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 371 | 11.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,147 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Wednesbury North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Elaine Costigan | 1,559 | 55.9 | −5.7 |
| | Labour | Tony Mallam | 726 | 26.0 | −0.5 |
| | BNP | Derrick Dale | 504 | 18.1 | +18.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 833 | 29.9 | −5.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,789 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Wednesbury South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Turton | 1,365 | 40.7 | +1.3 |
| | Conservative | Michael Middleton | 996 | 29.7 | +3.9 |
| | BNP | Mark Paskin | 798 | 23.8 | −4.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Bob Smith | 198 | 5.9 | −1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 369 | 11.0 | −0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,357 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
West Bromwich Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Bawa Dhallu | 1,850 | 55.3 | +1.2 |
| | Conservative | Robert White | 1,036 | 31.0 | +17.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jarnail Sandhu | 458 | 13.7 | −18.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 814 | 24.3 | +2.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,344 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |