# 2008 Swale Borough Council election

The 2008 Swale Borough Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Swale Borough Council in Kent, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.
After the election, the composition of the council was:
* Conservative 26
* Labour 9
* Independent 7
* Liberal Democrats 5

## Background

16 of the 47 seats on the council were contested in 2008, with the Conservatives defending 9 seats, the Liberal Democrats 4 seats and Labour 3 seats. A total of 53 people contested the election and as well as candidates from the main political parties, there were also 2 candidates from Sheppey First standing on the Isle of Sheppey and 2 candidates from Faversham First contesting wards in Faversham.

## Election result

The Conservative majority on the council was increased by one seat after gaining three seats, but also losing two seats. Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats had a net loss of one seat, while Sheppey First gained a seat.
The Conservatives picked up two seats from the Liberal Democrats in Minster Cliffs and St Michaels and one seat from Labour in Queenborough and Halfway. However the Liberal Democrats took one seat from the Conservatives in Davington Priory, while Sheppey First also gained a seat from the Conservatives in Sheppey Central.
Swale local election result 2008 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 10 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 62.5 | 45.5 | 9,681 | +4.5% |
| Liberal Democrats | 3 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 18.8 | 18.0 | 3,827 | +5.1% |
| Labour | 2 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 12.5 | 23.7 | 5,044 | +0.9% |
| Sheppey First | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 1,341 | -11.9% |
| Faversham First | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.5 | 959 | +4.5% |
| Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.1 | 226 | +0.0% |
| Monster Raving Loony | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.7 | 156 | +0.2% |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 | 57 | -2.5% |

## Ward results

Abbey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Anita Walker | 512 | 37.3 | −7.1 |
| | Labour | Trevor Payne | 367 | 26.7 | −4.3 |
| | Faversham First | Jenny Gurney | 311 | 22.7 | +22.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Martin Bellis | 182 | 13.3 | −3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 145 | 10.6 | −2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,372 | 35.4 | −1.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Boughton and Courtenay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Andrew Bowles | 1,112 | 70.7 | +4.0 |
| | Labour | Fran Rehal | 234 | 14.9 | −1.2 |
| | Green | Timothy Valentine | 226 | 14.4 | −0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 878 | 55.9 | +5.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,572 | 37.4 | +1.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Chalkwell :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ghlin Whelan | 577 | 44.9 | −3.0 |
| | Conservative | Derek Carnell | 538 | 41.9 | +12.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Spurling | 170 | 13.2 | −1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 39 | 3.0 | −15.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,285 | 33.9 | −2.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Davington Priory :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Henderson | 495 | 58.2 | +58.2 |
| | Conservative | John Winlow | 235 | 27.6 | −38.1 |
| | Labour | Brenda Chester | 121 | 14.2 | −20.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 260 | 30.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 851 | 44.3 | +7.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
East Downs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Colin Prescott | 683 | 77.6 | +0.7 |
| | Labour | Catherine Read | 197 | 22.4 | −0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 486 | 55.2 | +1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 880 | 41.4 | −4.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Iwade and Lower Halstow :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ben Stokes | 613 | 58.5 | +17.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dave Manning | 266 | 25.4 | −11.8 |
| | Labour | Ruth Walker-Grice | 168 | 16.0 | −5.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 347 | 33.1 | +28.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,047 | 34.7 | −9.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Kemsley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Susan Gent | 855 | 65.6 | +3.9 |
| | Labour | Martin McCusker | 296 | 22.7 | −0.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | June Hammond | 153 | 11.7 | −3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 559 | 42.9 | +4.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,304 | 26.4 | −1.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Milton Regis :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Elvie Lowe | 428 | 37.5 | +6.3 |
| | Labour | Tony Winckless | 370 | 32.4 | −9.3 |
| | Conservative | Michael Dendor | 240 | 21.0 | +3.1 |
| | Independent | Andrew Crayford | 57 | 5.0 | −0.4 |
| | Monster Raving Loony | Sheikh Mihand | 46 | 4.0 | +0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 58 | 5.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,141 | 32.8 | −1.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Minster Cliffs :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Adrian Crowther | 827 | 46.4 | +24.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mike Brown | 559 | 31.4 | +27.4 |
| | Labour | Libby Tucker | 286 | 16.0 | +7.2 |
| | Monster Raving Loony | 'Mad' Mike Young | 110 | 6.2 | +4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 268 | 15.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,782 | 31.5 | −6.3 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Murston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dave Banks | 552 | 58.0 | +10.7 |
| | Conservative | Patricia Martin | 230 | 24.2 | +2.3 |
| | Labour | Ken Rowles | 169 | 17.8 | −13.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 322 | 33.9 | +17.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 951 | 24.9 | −2.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Queenborough and Halfway :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Paul Hayes | 737 | 40.0 | +7.0 |
| | Labour | Jackie Constable | 618 | 33.5 | −7.1 |
| | Sheppey First | Amanda Elliott | 489 | 26.5 | +0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 119 | 6.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,844 | 33.5 | −1.2 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
Roman :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mike Haywood | 633 | 58.2 | +10.3 |
| | Conservative | Mike Whiting | 324 | 29.8 | −4.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anne Jenkins | 131 | 12.0 | −6.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 309 | 28.4 | +14.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,088 | 29.7 | −5.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Sheppey Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Sheppey First | Paul Sturdgess | 852 | 50.9 | +5.6 |
| | Conservative | Andy Booth | 568 | 33.9 | +2.1 |
| | Labour | David Sargent | 254 | 15.2 | +0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 284 | 17.0 | +3.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,674 | 27.5 | −0.3 |
| | Sheppey First gain from Conservative | Sheppey First gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
St Ann's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Mark Baldock | 582 | 41.0 | −9.3 |
| | Faversham First | Findlay MacDonald | 378 | 26.6 | +26.6 |
| | Labour | Paul Durkin | 306 | 21.5 | +2.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Evans | 154 | 10.8 | −12.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 204 | 14.4 | −12.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,420 | 35.6 | 0.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
St Michael's :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Derek Conway | 665 | 45.5 | +7.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Brenda Hammond | 566 | 38.8 | −8.0 |
| | Labour | Christine Truelove | 229 | 15.7 | +0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 99 | 6.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,460 | 36.7 | −0.6 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
Watling :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Simmons | 960 | 59.3 | −7.4 |
| | Faversham First | Tracey Smith | 270 | 16.7 | +16.7 |
| | Labour | Philip Dangerfield | 219 | 13.5 | −1.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Hurd | 171 | 10.6 | −7.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 690 | 42.6 | −5.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,620 | 40.3 | −2.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

## By-elections between 2008 and 2010
### Minster Cliffs

A by-election was held in Minster Cliffs on 25 September 2008 after the resignation of Sheppey First councillor Chris Boden. The seat was gained for the Conservatives by Andy Booth with a majority of 221 votes over Sheppey First candidate Ray Adams.
Minster Cliffs by-election 25 September 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Andy Booth | 549 | 48.0 | +1.6 |
| | Sheppey First | Ray Adams | 328 | 28.7 | +28.7 |
| | Labour | Libby Tucker | 204 | 17.8 | +1.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dave Manning | 63 | 5.5 | −25.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 221 | 19.3 | +4.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,144 | 19.8 | −11.7 |
| | Conservative gain from Sheppey First | Conservative gain from Sheppey First | Swing | | |

### Sheerness East

A by-election was held in Sheerness East on 25 September 2008 after the resignation of Sheppey First councillor Gemma Wray. The seat was gained by Labour candidate David Sargent with a majority of 149 votes over Liberal Democrat Colin Howe.
Sheerness East by-election 25 September 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Sargent | 326 | 38.5 | +6.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Colin Howe | 177 | 20.9 | +10.0 |
| | Conservative | Martin Goodhew | 173 | 20.4 | −1.8 |
| | Sheppey First | Mark Rogers | 171 | 20.2 | −14.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 149 | 17.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 847 | 23.1 | −3.8 |
| | Labour gain from Sheppey First | Labour gain from Sheppey First | Swing | | |

### Teynham and Lynsted

A by-election was held in Teynham and Lynsted on 2 October 2008 after the death of Conservative councillor John Disney. The seat was held by Conservative Trevor Fentiman with a majority of 274 votes over Labour candidate Ken Rowles.
Teynham and Lynsted by-election 2 October 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Trevor Fentiman | 463 | 63.4 | +3.3 |
| | Labour | Ken Rowles | 189 | 25.9 | −1.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Brenda Hammond | 78 | 10.7 | −1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 274 | 37.5 | +5.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 730 | 17.6 | −16.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |