# 2011 Swindon Borough Council election

The 2011 Swindon Borough Council election took place on 5 May 2011 to elect members of Swindon Unitary Council in Wiltshire, 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 38
* Labour 17
* Liberal Democrat 4

## Background

Before the election the Conservatives controlled the council with 40 seats, compared to 15 for Labour and 4 for the Liberal Democrats. 20 of the 59 seats were being contested, with the winners only serving for one year as the 2012 election would see every seat being contested after boundary changes. Since the 2010 election Labour had gained Moredon in a by-election and had the independent, former Conservative, councillor Steve Wakefield of Toothill and Westlea ward join the party, both in November 2010.
During the campaign both the national Labour leader Ed Miliband and the Labour Shadow Works and Pensions Secretary Liam Byrne visited Swindon to support the local party.

## Election result

The results saw the Conservatives stay in control of the council with 38 seats, but lose 2 seats to Labour, who moved to 17 seats. Labour gained the seats of St Philip and Walcot from the Conservatives, while coming close in Eastcott against the Liberal Democrats and in Covingham and Nythe, Dorcan and Freshbrook and Grange Park, which were held by the Conservatives. The Labour victory in Walcot defeated the Conservative cabinet member Peter Mallinson, with the winning candidate Ellen Osa becoming the first female black councillor in Swindon. Overall turnout at the election was 38.26%, ranging from a high of 46.08% in Highworth to a low of 29.62% in Parks.
The outgoing leader of the Labour group, Derique Montaut, said the results meant that "For Labour it builds us up to a situation where we are moving up to 2012 and taking control of the council". However the Conservative leader of the council, Ron Bluh, said that while "It obviously wasn't one of the better nights", the seats lost had been the "two most marginal seats" and "so there's no great surprise".
Following the election Jim Grant was elected as the new leader of the Labour group on the council, defeating Mark Dempsey and Bob Wright.
Swindon Local Election Result 2011 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Conservative | 10 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 50.0 | 41.4 | 23,985 | -1.1% |
| Labour | 9 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 45.0 | 38.8 | 22,486 | +8.3% |
| Liberal Democrats | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.0 | 10.1 | 5,863 | -11.7% |
| UKIP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6.0 | 3,464 | +4.0% |
| Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.1 | 1,243 | +1.0% |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.4 | 805 | +1.2% |
| BNP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 73 | -1.8% |
| SDP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 33 | +0.1% |

## Ward results

Abbey Meads :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Stoddart | 2,610 | 60.4 | +5.2 |
| | Labour | Mark Viner | 1,109 | 25.6 | +5.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Aneta Golebiewska | 368 | 8.5 | −13.2 |
| | UKIP | Gary Belben | 237 | 5.5 | +2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,501 | 34.7 | +1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,324 | 31.3 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -0.3 | |
Central :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Derique Montaut | 1,829 | 64.9 | +12.1 |
| | Conservative | Paul Gregory | 471 | 16.7 | −9.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gary Porter | 213 | 7.6 | −7.5 |
| | Green | Robert Heritage | 155 | 5.5 | +2.5 |
| | UKIP | Eleanor Pomagalski | 95 | 3.4 | +3.4 |
| | Independent | Karsten Evans | 55 | 2.0 | +0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,358 | 48.2 | +21.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,818 | 34.3 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +10.6 | |
Covingham and Nythe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Emma Faramarzi | 1,354 | 43.2 | −1.3 |
| | Labour | Peter Watts | 1,205 | 38.4 | +7.5 |
| | UKIP | Corinna Allen | 352 | 11.2 | +3.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Ward | 224 | 7.1 | −9.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 149 | 4.8 | −8.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,135 | 44.3 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -4.4 | |
Dorcan :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Andrew Albinson | 1,366 | 47.5 | +6.1 |
| | Labour | Gerard Meheran | 1,193 | 41.5 | +10.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Clive Hooper | 166 | 5.8 | −8.3 |
| | Green | Simon Smith | 152 | 5.3 | +3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 173 | 6.0 | −4.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,877 | 43.4 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -2.1 | |
Eastcott :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nicola Sewell | 1,213 | 39.3 | −6.5 |
| | Labour | Christopher Watts | 1,091 | 35.4 | +9.5 |
| | Conservative | David Gould | 501 | 16.2 | −7.0 |
| | Green | John Hughes | 185 | 6.0 | +0.9 |
| | UKIP | Vincent Pomagalski | 94 | 3.0 | +3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 122 | 4.0 | −16.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,084 | 38.2 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | -8.0 | |
Freshbrook and Grange Park :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Michael Dickinson | 1,320 | 45.0 | −1.3 |
| | Labour | Neil Heavens | 1,046 | 35.7 | +8.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Heidi Teague | 331 | 11.3 | −15.2 |
| | UKIP | John Lenton | 237 | 8.1 | +8.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 274 | 9.3 | −9.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,934 | 39.3 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -4.8 | |
Gorse Hill and Pinehurst :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Ballman | 1,257 | 59.7 | +16.3 |
| | Conservative | Wendy Welch | 474 | 22.5 | −5.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Lynda Barber | 179 | 8.5 | −10.7 |
| | UKIP | Robin Tingey | 122 | 5.8 | +5.8 |
| | BNP | Reginald Bates | 73 | 3.5 | −5.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 783 | 37.2 | +21.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,105 | 30.3 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | -10.9 | |
Haydon Wick :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Claire Ellis | 1,766 | 55.5 | +5.7 |
| | Labour | Timothy Page | 947 | 29.8 | +3.6 |
| | UKIP | Edmund Gerrard | 259 | 8.1 | +3.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Pajak | 209 | 6.6 | −12.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 819 | 25.7 | +2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,181 | 40.6 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.0 | |
Highworth :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alan Bishop | 1,662 | 54.7 | +7.5 |
| | Labour | Hazel Beaumont | 951 | 31.3 | +3.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jennifer Shorten | 249 | 8.2 | −12.4 |
| | Green | Andrew Day | 179 | 5.9 | +1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 711 | 23.4 | +3.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,041 | 46.1 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.8 | |
Moredon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jennifer Millin | 1,142 | 43.8 | +9.0 |
| | Conservative | Toby Elliott | 1,091 | 41.8 | +2.4 |
| | UKIP | Kathleen Webb | 237 | 9.1 | +9.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tracy Ockley | 137 | 5.3 | −13.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 51 | 2.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,607 | 35.2 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +3.3 | |
Old Town and Lawn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Fionuala Foley | 2,249 | 53.1 | +3.7 |
| | Labour | Cindy Matthews | 1,040 | 24.5 | +5.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Joan Mortimer | 446 | 10.5 | −13.2 |
| | Green | Denis Harrison | 261 | 6.2 | +1.8 |
| | UKIP | Noel Gardner | 243 | 5.7 | +2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,209 | 28.5 | +2.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,239 | 44.4 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -0.9 | |
Parks :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Fay Howard | 1,115 | 53.7 | +10.6 |
| | Conservative | Timothy Swinyard | 383 | 18.4 | −8.6 |
| | UKIP | Terence Hayward | 193 | 9.3 | +2.7 |
| | Independent | Graham Cherry | 179 | 8.6 | +8.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Catherine Smith | 100 | 4.8 | −9.8 |
| | Green | David Miles | 75 | 3.6 | +1.9 |
| | SDP | Stephen Halden | 33 | 1.6 | +1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 732 | 35.2 | +19.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,078 | 29.6 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +9.6 | |
Penhill :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Paul Baker | 737 | 52.3 | +17.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Trevor Smith | 393 | 27.9 | −11.6 |
| | Conservative | Jaki Fairbrother | 217 | 15.4 | −4.1 |
| | Independent | Caroline Dollery | 61 | 4.3 | +4.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 344 | 24.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,408 | 31.8 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +14.2 | |
Shaw and Nine Elms :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Garry Perkins | 1,424 | 52.0 | −2.2 |
| | Labour | Michael Heal | 769 | 28.1 | +5.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | James Farr | 344 | 12.6 | −11.0 |
| | UKIP | Robert Feal-Martinez | 200 | 7.3 | +7.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 655 | 23.9 | −6.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,737 | 38.8 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -4.0 | |
St Margaret :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Russell Holland | 1,609 | 51.5 | +3.9 |
| | Labour | Nigel Chalk | 1,046 | 33.5 | +3.7 |
| | UKIP | Margaret Thompson-Watt | 269 | 8.6 | +8.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Deborah King | 199 | 6.4 | −16.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 563 | 18.0 | +0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,123 | 38.5 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.1 | |
St Philip :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Joseph Tray | 1,540 | 49.8 | +9.5 |
| | Conservative | Paul Findlow | 1,207 | 39.0 | −2.4 |
| | UKIP | Peter Thompson-Watt | 228 | 7.4 | +7.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ann Richards | 119 | 3.8 | −14.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 333 | 10.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,094 | 42.9 | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +5.9 | |
Toothill and Westlea :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Stephen Wakefield | 978 | 42.8 | +16.8 |
| | Conservative | Daniel Bissex | 946 | 41.4 | −19.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Shepherd | 140 | 6.1 | −7.1 |
| | UKIP | Tiffany Pomagalski | 122 | 5.3 | +5.3 |
| | Green | Marilyn Harrison | 97 | 4.2 | +4.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 32 | 1.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,283 | 39.9 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +18.0 | |
Walcot :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ellen Osa | 1,063 | 48.9 | +10.6 |
| | Conservative | Peter Mallinson | 768 | 35.3 | −10.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kathleen McCarthy | 204 | 9.4 | −6.1 |
| | Green | Jennifer Miles | 139 | 6.4 | +6.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 295 | 13.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,174 | 38.8 | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +10.7 | |
Western :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Des Moffatt | 1,692 | 58.1 | +14.7 |
| | Conservative | John Haines | 752 | 25.8 | −5.1 |
| | UKIP | Gregory Heathcliffe | 262 | 9.0 | +9.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Geoffrey King | 208 | 7.1 | −10.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 940 | 32.3 | +19.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,914 | 34.6 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +9.9 | |
Wroughton and Chiseldon :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Wayne Crabbe | 1,815 | 47.8 | −4.3 |
| | Labour | Geraint Day | 736 | 19.4 | −5.2 |
| | Independent | William Hurst | 510 | 13.4 | +13.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Victor Godman | 421 | 11.1 | −12.2 |
| | UKIP | Susan Cassell | 314 | 8.3 | +8.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,079 | 28.4 | +0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,796 | 45.8 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.4 | |