# 2000 Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council election

The 2000 Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2000 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 gained overall control of the council from no overall control.

## Campaign

Solihull was a top target for the Conservatives in the 2000 local elections with the party needing 2 gains to win an overall majority. Among the councillors defending seats in the election were the Conservative leader of the council in Castle Bromwich ward and the Labour group leader.
The Conservatives campaigned on promises to protect the green belt and carefully manage the council's finances, while the national party's hard line on asylum seekers was also seen by the party as helping in the election. Labour defended its strongholds in the north of the council area, pledging to target spending on addressing social problems in an area with high unemployment.

## Election result

The results saw the Conservatives win a majority of 5 on the council to have majority control for the first time since 1991. Solihull also became the first metropolitan borough with a Conservative majority since the mid-1990s. The Conservative gained Elmdon from the Labour party, Packwood and Shirley East from the Liberal Democrats and Shirley South where an independent councillor stood down at the election. Meanwhile, the Labour group leader Mick Corser lost the election in Bickenhill after having been deselected in his previous ward of Fordbridge. Overall turnout in the election was 30.1%, a rise from 28.3% in 1999.
The Labour party blamed the threatened closure of the Longbridge plant for a disappointing performance in the election, while the Conservatives put their success down to local campaigning and the national issue of pensions only going up by 75 pence. Following the election the former deputy group leader Hugh Hendry was elected as the new leader of the Labour group.
Solihull Local Election Result 2000 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 11 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 64.7 | 58.9 | 27,601 | +7.9% |
| Labour | 4 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 23.5 | 18.2 | 8,524 | -5.3% |
| Liberal Democrats | 2 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 11.8 | 22.6 | 10,608 | -2.9% |
| Independent Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 158 | +0.3% |
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 | 24 | 28 |
| | Labour | 15 | 14 |
| | Liberal Democrat | 11 | 9 |
| | Independent Ratepayers & Residents | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 51 | 51 | 51 |
| Working majority | Working majority | -3 | 5 |

## Ward results

Bickenhill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Sleigh | 2,070 | 66.0 | +7.4 |
| | Labour | Michael Corser | 854 | 27.2 | −7.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Linda Whitlock | 213 | 6.8 | +0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,216 | 38.8 | +15.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,137 | 31.5 | +1.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +7.5 | |
Castle Bromwich :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Richards | 2,149 | 74.7 | +11.7 |
| | Labour | Florence Nash | 518 | 18.0 | −11.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Knight | 211 | 7.3 | −0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,631 | 56.7 | +22.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,878 | 30.4 | +1.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +11.4 | |
Chelmsley Wood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alfred Hill | 630 | 53.8 | −12.7 |
| | Conservative | Graham Juniper | 391 | 33.4 | +9.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jennifer Wright | 149 | 12.7 | +3.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 239 | 20.4 | −22.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,170 | 15.5 | −0.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -11.2 | |
Elmdon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Wild | 1,782 | 58.0 | +5.3 |
| | Labour | Ann Littley | 1,085 | 35.3 | −1.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anthony Verduyn | 208 | 6.8 | −3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 697 | 22.7 | +6.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,075 | 38.2 | +4.8 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +3.4 | |
Fordbridge :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Frederick Nash | 436 | 48.7 | −17.4 |
| | Conservative | Graham White | 319 | 35.6 | +10.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Hayes | 140 | 15.6 | +6.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 117 | 13.1 | −28.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 895 | 14.6 | −0.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -14.1 | |
Kingshurst :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Andrew Montgomerie | 608 | 46.8 | −14.6 |
| | Conservative | Martin Diggins | 443 | 34.1 | +5.0 |
| | Independent Labour | Brian Carter | 158 | 12.2 | +12.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christine Reeves | 89 | 6.9 | −2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 165 | 12.7 | −19.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,298 | 22.9 | +2.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -9.8 | |
Knowle :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Leslie Kyles | 2,306 | 73.4 | +4.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Eric Widger | 514 | 16.4 | +1.3 |
| | Labour | Kevin Foster | 320 | 10.2 | −5.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,792 | 57.1 | +4.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,140 | 35.3 | +3.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.7 | |
Lyndon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Irene Chamberlain | 1,297 | 58.2 | −1.5 |
| | Conservative | Alan Vincent | 643 | 28.8 | +4.5 |
| | Labour | Michael Weale | 290 | 13.0 | −3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 654 | 29.3 | −6.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,230 | 28.6 | −0.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | -3.0 | |
Meriden :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Bell | 2,061 | 69.0 | +4.7 |
| | Labour | Jonathan Maltman | 508 | 17.0 | −4.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Whitlock | 417 | 14.0 | −0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,553 | 52.0 | +8.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,986 | 32.3 | +2.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.4 | |
Olton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Norman Davies | 1,734 | 50.8 | −4.8 |
| | Conservative | Patricia Handslip | 1,456 | 42.7 | +6.4 |
| | Labour | Gerald Cooke | 221 | 6.5 | −1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 278 | 8.2 | −11.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,411 | 35.9 | +0.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | -5.6 | |
Packwood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Andrzej Mackiewicz | 2,515 | 56.1 | +9.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert Reeves | 1,752 | 39.1 | −9.4 |
| | Labour | Margaret Brittin | 218 | 4.9 | −0.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 763 | 17.0 | +15.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,485 | 41.1 | +2.4 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | +9.4 | |
Shirley East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Neill Watts | 1,861 | 51.3 | +6.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | June Gandy | 1,556 | 42.9 | −2.1 |
| | Labour | Philip Knowles | 212 | 5.8 | −4.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 305 | 8.4 | +7.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,629 | 39.0 | +4.4 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | +4.4 | |
Shirley South :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Rosemary Worsley | 2,325 | 67.3 | +4.1 |
| | Labour | James Burman | 626 | 18.1 | −3.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Douglas Hogg | 502 | 14.5 | −0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,699 | 49.2 | +7.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,453 | 26.2 | +1.4 |
| | Conservative gain from Independent Ratepayers | Conservative gain from Independent Ratepayers | Swing | +3.7 |
Shirley West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ian Hillas | 1,694 | 63.0 | +12.1 |
| | Labour | David George | 617 | 22.9 | −10.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Susan Reeve | 379 | 14.1 | −2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,077 | 40.0 | +22.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,690 | 29.5 | +0.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +11.0 | |
Silhill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Hogarth | 2,325 | 67.7 | +13.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Barbara Harber | 692 | 20.2 | −12.6 |
| | Labour | Marcus Bennion | 416 | 12.1 | −0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,633 | 47.6 | +26.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,433 | 33.7 | +0.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +13.0 | |
Smith's Wood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Graham Craig | 605 | 55.0 | −10.4 |
| | Conservative | Daniel Kettle | 361 | 32.8 | +9.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sandra Oakes | 135 | 12.3 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 244 | 22.2 | −19.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,101 | 14.5 | +0.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -9.8 | |
St Alphege :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Nicholas Worley | 2,900 | 74.7 | +4.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Brenda Chapple | 620 | 16.0 | −1.4 |
| | Labour | Irma Shaw | 360 | 9.3 | −2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,280 | 58.8 | +5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,880 | 34.5 | −4.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.7 | |

## By-elections between 2000 and 2002

Shirley East by-election 28 September 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Brian Burgess | 1,194 | 49.0 | −2.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | June Gandy | 1,116 | 45.8 | +2.9 |
| | Labour | James Burman | 128 | 5.3 | −0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 78 | 3.2 | −5.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,438 | 26.1 | −12.9 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | -2.6 | |