# 2002 Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council election

The 2002 Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 2 May 2002 to elect members of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council in the West Midlands, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.

## Campaign

Before the election the Conservatives held 29 seats, compared to 14 for Labour and 8 for the Liberal Democrats, with 17 seats being contested in the election. The Conservatives had held a majority on the council since gaining 4 seats at the 2000 election.
Issues in the election included a proposed development by Asda in Shirley, the fate of the Accident and Emergency department at Solihull hospital and new housing developments. Labour also wanted to address a north-south divide in the council area and opposed any transfer of council housing from council control.

## Election result

The results saw the Conservatives stay in control of the council with 29 of the 51 seats after only 2 seats changed parties. A couple of former councillors returned to the council, the former Labour leader of the council Michael Corser in Chelmsley Wood and Liberal Democrat June Gandy in Shirley East.
Solihull Local Election Result 2002 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 52.9 | 49.2 | 24,309 | -9.7% |
| Labour | 5 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 29.4 | 23.7 | 11,741 | +5.5% |
| Liberal Democrats | 3 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 17.6 | 27.1 | 13,390 | +4.5% |
This result had the following consequences for the total number of seats on the council after the elections :
| Party | Party | Previous council | New council |
| | Conservatives | 29 | 29 |
| | Labour | 14 | 13 |
| | Liberal Democrat | 8 | 9 |
| Total | Total | 51 | 51 | 51 |
| Working majority | Working majority | 7 | 7 |

## Ward results

Bickenhill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jim Ryan | 2,013 | 54.2 | +27.0 |
| | Conservative | Joan Allsopp | 1,491 | 40.1 | −25.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Douglas Hogg | 210 | 5.7 | −1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 522 | 14.1 | −24.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,714 | 35.7 | +4.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +26.4 | |
Castle Bromwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Beryl Kellie | 1,940 | 65.4 | −9.3 |
| | Labour | James Moore | 722 | 24.3 | +6.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Knight | 306 | 10.3 | +3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,218 | 41.0 | −15.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,968 | 31.8 | +1.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -7.8 | |
Chelmsley Wood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Michael Corser | 900 | 62.2 | +8.4 |
| | Conservative | Robert Courts | 350 | 24.2 | −9.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Bernard Wright | 197 | 13.6 | +0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 550 | 38.0 | +17.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,447 | 19.6 | +4.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +8.8 | |
Elmdon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Kenneth Hawkins | 1,330 | 44.7 | −13.3 |
| | Labour | Sheila Brookes | 1,221 | 41.1 | +5.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Barbara Harber | 423 | 14.2 | +7.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 109 | 3.7 | −19.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,974 | 37.7 | −0.5 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | -9.5 | |
Fordbridge :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jacqueline Moore | 722 | 61.3 | +12.6 |
| | Conservative | Michael Robinson | 314 | 26.7 | −8.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Hayes | 142 | 12.1 | −3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 408 | 34.6 | +21.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,178 | 19.8 | +5.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +10.7 | |
Kingshurst :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jeffrey Potts | 830 | 63.3 | +16.5 |
| | Conservative | Graham Juniper | 351 | 26.8 | −7.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jennifer Wright | 131 | 10.0 | +3.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 479 | 36.5 | +23.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,312 | 23.8 | +0.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +11.9 | |
Knowle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Diana Holl-Allen | 2,106 | 65.3 | −8.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nigel Dyer | 693 | 21.5 | +5.1 |
| | Labour | Patricia Harrop | 427 | 13.2 | +3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,413 | 43.8 | −13.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,226 | 36.9 | +1.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -6.6 | |
Lyndon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert Reeves | 1,583 | 65.4 | +7.2 |
| | Conservative | Gary Allport | 478 | 19.7 | −9.1 |
| | Labour | Catherine Connan | 360 | 14.9 | +1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,105 | 45.6 | +16.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,421 | 31.8 | +3.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +8.1 | |
Meriden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Lea | 2,369 | 69.6 | +0.6 |
| | Labour | Jonathan Maltman | 561 | 16.5 | −0.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Whitlock | 475 | 14.0 | +0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,808 | 53.1 | +1.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,405 | 36.0 | +3.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.5 | |
Olton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Windmill | 2,192 | 61.8 | +11.0 |
| | Conservative | Patricia Handslip | 1,078 | 30.4 | −12.3 |
| | Labour | Eric Collins | 277 | 7.8 | +1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,114 | 31.4 | +23.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,547 | 38.6 | +2.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +11.6 | |
Packwood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Kenneth Meeson | 2,627 | 60.7 | +4.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Eric Widger | 1,417 | 32.8 | −6.3 |
| | Labour | Florence Nash | 281 | 6.5 | +1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,210 | 28.0 | +11.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,325 | 37.9 | −3.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +5.4 | |
Shirley East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | June Gandy | 2,028 | 57.1 | +14.2 |
| | Conservative | Brian Burgess | 1,242 | 35.0 | −16.3 |
| | Labour | Kevin Raven | 279 | 7.9 | +2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 786 | 22.1 | +13.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,549 | 39.1 | +0.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +15.2 | |
Shirley South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Evans | 2,023 | 54.3 | −13.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Roger Gemmell | 1,031 | 27.7 | +13.2 |
| | Labour | Barney McElholm | 673 | 18.1 | +0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 992 | 26.6 | −22.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,727 | 28.7 | +2.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -13.1 | |
Shirley West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Lewis | 1,487 | 54.1 | −8.9 |
| | Labour | Arthur Harper | 681 | 24.8 | +1.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anthony Verduyn | 581 | 21.1 | +7.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 806 | 29.3 | −10.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,749 | 30.4 | +0.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -5.4 | |
Silhill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sheila Pittaway | 2,145 | 61.7 | −6.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Brenda Chapple | 819 | 23.5 | +3.3 |
| | Labour | Marcus Bennion | 514 | 14.8 | +2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,326 | 38.1 | −9.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,478 | 35.3 | +1.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -4.6 | |
Smith's Wood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Hugh Hendry | 887 | 65.1 | +10.1 |
| | Conservative | Daniel Kettle | 297 | 21.8 | −11.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Keith Brown | 179 | 13.1 | +0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 590 | 43.3 | +21.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,363 | 18.4 | +3.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +10.5 | |
St Alphege :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Kathleen Wild | 2,681 | 66.1 | −8.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christine Reeves | 983 | 24.2 | +8.2 |
| | Labour | James Burman | 393 | 9.7 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,698 | 41.9 | −16.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,057 | 37.1 | +2.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -8.4 | |

## By-elections between 2002 and 2003

Shirley West by-election 13 March 2003 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Howard Allen | 1,179 | 54.9 | +33.8 |
| | Conservative | Joan Allsopp | 777 | 36.2 | −17.9 |
| | Labour | Arthur Harper | 192 | 8.9 | −15.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 402 | 18.7 | −10.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,148 | 23.8 | −6.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +25.8 | |