# 2012 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election

The 2012 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council in England. This election was held on the same day as other local elections.
Overall, Labour gained seven seats at the expense of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats and gained overall control of the council, with a majority of eight.
After the election, the composition of the council was:
| Party | Seats | ± |
| Labour | 37 | 7 |
| Conservative | 22 | 5 |
| Liberal Democrat | 7 | 2 |

## Election results
### Overall election result

Overall result compared with 2011.
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election result, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Votes | Votes | Votes |
| Party | Party | Stood | Elected | Gained | Unseated | Net | % of total | % | No. | Net % |
| | Labour | 22 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 59.1 | 44.6 | 38,455 | 0.8 |
| | Conservative | 22 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 31.8 | 30.6 | 26,426 | 3.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 16 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 9.1 | 10.9 | 9,375 | 1.6 |
| | UKIP | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 7.4 | 6,378 | 2.4 |
| | Green | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 5.9 | 5,064 | 1.1 |
| | Independent | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | | 0.0 | 0.4 | 364 | 0.3 |
| | TUSC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.2 | 130 | N/A |
| | BNP | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.1 | 61 | N/A |

### Changes in council composition

Prior to the election the composition of the council was:
| 30 | 27 | 9 |
| Lab | Con | LD |
After the election the composition of the council was:
| 37 | 21 | 7 |
| Lab | Con | LD |

## Ward results

Results compared directly with the last local election in 2011.

### Bebington

Bebington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Christina Muspratt | 2,572 | 53.8 | 2.9 |
| | Conservative | Sheila Clarke | 1,513 | 31.6 | 0.4 |
| | UKIP | Hilary Jones | 386 | 8.1 | 0.2 |
| | Green | Michael Harper | 173 | 3.6 | 0.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Faulkner | 40 | 2.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,059 | 22.2 | 3.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,886 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 40.4 | 7.8 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 1.7 | |

### Bidston and St James

Bidston and St James :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jim Crabtree | 1,992 | 78.2 | 1.2 |
| | Conservative | Peter Dawson | 179 | 7.0 | 3.0 |
| | UKIP | Helen Romnes | 136 | 5.3 | 0.3 |
| | Green | Colin Dignam-Gill | 85 | 3.3 | New |
| | Independent | John Brace | 82 | 3.2 | New |
| | Liberal Democrats | Roy Wood | 73 | 2.9 | 2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,813 | 71.2 | 1.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,817 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 26.0 | 3.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 0.9 | |

### Birkenhead and Tranmere

Birkenhead and Tranmere :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jean Stapleton | 1,474 | 49.7 | 4.1 |
| | Green | Pat Cleary | 1,215 | 41.0 | 6.1 |
| | UKIP | David Martin | 99 | 3.3 | 0.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Allan Brame | 61 | 2.1 | 0.9 |
| | BNP | Joe Killen | 61 | 2.1 | New |
| | Conservative | June Cowin | 54 | 1.8 | 2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 259 | 8.7 | 10.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,527 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 31.2 | 2.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 5.1 | |

### Bromborough

Bromborough :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Steve Niblock | 2,292 | 64.8 | 6.9 |
| | Conservative | Kathryn Hodson | 466 | 13.2 | 3.3 |
| | UKIP | Timothy Pass | 298 | 8.4 | 3.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Penelope Golby | 296 | 8.4 | 8.7 |
| | Green | Percy Hogg | 187 | 5.3 | 1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,826 | 51.6 | 10.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,969 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 32.4 | 9.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 5.4 | |

### Clatterbridge

Clatterbridge :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Cherry Povall | 2,220 | 47.0 | 0.3 |
| | Labour | Phillip Brightmore | 1,623 | 34.4 | 3.2 |
| | UKIP | Roger Jones | 370 | 7.8 | 3.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Simon Thomson | 337 | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| | Green | Jim McGinley | 174 | 3.7 | 0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 597 | 12.6 | 2.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,640 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 40.7 | 9.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 1.5 | |

### Claughton

Claughton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Davies | 2,367 | 65.6 | 5.3 |
| | Conservative | Barbara Sinclair | 575 | 15.9 | 6.1 |
| | UKIP | Bethan Williams | 304 | 8.4 | 2.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Teggin | 187 | 5.2 | 1.9 |
| | Green | Cathy Page | 177 | 4.9 | 0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,792 | 49.7 | 11.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,054 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 32.7 | 6.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 5.7 | |

### Eastham

Eastham :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Phillip Gilchrist | 2,151 | 50.2 | 6.7 |
| | Labour | Mike Thompson | 1,539 | 36.0 | 1.6 |
| | Conservative | Kevin Sharkey | 315 | 7.4 | 9.5 |
| | UKIP | Laurence Jones | 219 | 5.1 | |
| | Green | Jackie Smith | 55 | 1.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 612 | 14.3 | 5.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,964 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 39.2 | 4.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 2.6 | |

### Greasby, Frankby and Irby

Greasby, Frankby and Irby :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tony Cox | 1,820 | 37.3 | 1.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Reisdorf | 1,277 | 26.1 | 0.5 |
| | Labour | Lee Rushworth | 1,159 | 23.7 | 0.2 |
| | UKIP | Derek Snowden | 421 | 8.6 | 3.3 |
| | Green | Rachel Markey | 208 | 4.3 | 1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 543 | 11.2 | 1.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,485 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 42.6 | 10.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 0.5 | |

### Heswall

Heswall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter Johnson | 2,766 | 62.7 | 2.2 |
| | Labour | Audrey Moore | 785 | 17.8 | 0.6 |
| | UKIP | David Scott | 413 | 9.4 | 4.4 |
| | Green | Barbara Burton | 261 | 5.9 | 1.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | David Tyrrell | 186 | 4.2 | 2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,981 | 44.9 | 1.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,926 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 40.5 | 12.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 0.8 | |

### Hoylake and Meols

Hoylake and Meols :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Hale | 2,134 | 53.6 | 3.3 |
| | Labour | Alan Milne | 1,056 | 26.5 | 1.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Joseph McDowell | 187 | 4.7 | 3.3 |
| | Green | Yvonne McGinley | 334 | 8.4 | 1.5 |
| | UKIP | George Robinson | 274 | 6.9 | 4.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,078 | 27.1 | 4.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,327 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 38.8 | 10.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 2.2 | |

### Leasowe and Moreton East

Leasowe and Moreton East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Anita Leech | 2,094 | 51.0 | 4.4 |
| | Conservative | Ian Lewis | 1,776 | 43.3 | 7.8 |
| | UKIP | Catherine Williams | 144 | 3.5 | 0.1 |
| | Green | Cynthia Stonall | 89 | 2.2 | 1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 318 | 7.7 | 12.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,466 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 39.3 | 2.5 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 6.1 | |

### Liscard

Liscard :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Janette Williamson | 1,882 | 49.9 | 4.2 |
| | Conservative | James Keeley | 1,261 | 33.4 | 2.4 |
| | UKIP | Lynda Williams | 400 | 10.6 | 6.2 |
| | Green | Kenneth Peers | 230 | 6.1 | 3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 621 | 16.5 | 1.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,991 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 34.5 | 7.8 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 0.9 | |

### Moreton West and Saughall Massie

Moreton West and Saughall Massie :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Chris Blakeley | 2,269 | 57.4 | 6.9 |
| | Labour | Karl Greaney | 1,369 | 34.6 | 5.1 |
| | UKIP | Susan Whitham | 223 | 5.6 | 1.2 |
| | Green | Perle Sheldricks | 95 | 2.4 | 0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 900 | 22.8 | 12.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,655 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 37.2 | 4.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 6.0 | |

### New Brighton

New Brighton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Robert Gregson | 1,908 | 52.8 | 3.2 |
| | Conservative | Sue Taylor | 1,032 | 28.5 | 6.7 |
| | UKIP | Bill Duffey | 366 | 10.1 | 4.6 |
| | Green | James Brady | 309 | 8.5 | 2.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 876 | 24.3 | 9.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,669 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 34.0 | 8.8 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 5.0 | |

### Oxton

Oxton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Pat Williams | 2,026 | 45.8 | 6.0 |
| | Labour | Matthew Patrick | 1,763 | 39.8 | 2.6 |
| | UKIP | Philip Grittiths | 258 | 5.8 | 0.9 |
| | Conservative | Tina McDonnell | 232 | 5.2 | 8.4 |
| | Green | Elisabeth Heydon | 149 | 3.4 | 1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 263 | 6.0 | 3.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,140 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 39.9 | 3.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 1.7 | |

### Pensby and Thingwall

Pensby and Thingwall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Michael Sullivan | 1,406 | 32.8 | 0.7 |
| | Conservative | Tom Anderson | 1,217 | 28.4 | 8.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Damien Cummins | 1,079 | 25.2 | 1.5 |
| | UKIP | Janet Davison | 394 | 9.2 | 5.4 |
| | Green | Allen Burton | 190 | 4.4 | 0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 189 | 4.4 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,462 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 41.1 | 7.7 |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 4.6 | |

### Prenton

Prenton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tony Norbury | 2,061 | 53.9 | 2.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Frank Doyle | 895 | 23.4 | 2.9 |
| | Conservative | Cyrus Ferguson | 357 | 9.3 | 5.0 |
| | UKIP | James Bradshaw | 313 | 8.2 | 3.1 |
| | Green | Mark Mitchell | 200 | 5.2 | 2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,166 | 30.5 | 5.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,595 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 36.2 | 6.9 |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | 2.8 | |

### Rock Ferry

Rock Ferry :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Bill Davies | 1,941 | 70.7 | 0.6 |
| | Conservative | Barbara Poole | 202 | 7.4 | 5.0 |
| | UKIP | Ann Flynn | 195 | 7.1 | 0.4 |
| | TUSC | Morag Reid | 130 | 4.7 | New |
| | Green | Joy Hogg | 115 | 4.2 | 0.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Brian Hall | 85 | 3.1 | 2.4 |
| | Independent | Jim Pritchard | 76 | 2.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,739 | 63.3 | 4.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,564 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 28.7 | 2.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 2.2 | |

### Seacombe

Seacombe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Salter | 1,996 | 74.8 | 10.4 |
| | UKIP | Christopher Wellstead | 278 | 10.4 | 1.7 |
| | Conservative | Ann Lavin | 258 | 9.7 | 10.9 |
| | Green | Timothy Denton | 135 | 5.1 | 1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,718 | 64.4 | 20.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,338 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 25.9 | 5.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 10.3 | |

### Upton

Upton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Sylvia Hodrien | 2,504 | 59.6 | 2.0 |
| | Conservative | Denis Knowles | 948 | 22.6 | 7.6 |
| | UKIP | Patricia Lamb | 381 | 9.1 | 4.6 |
| | Green | Lesley Hussenbux | 205 | 4.9 | 1.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alan Davies | 164 | 3.9 | 0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,556 | 37.0 | 9.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,171 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 34.6 | 6.5 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 4.8 | |

### Wallasey

Wallasey :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Leah Fraser | 2,652 | 56.1 | 6.9 |
| | Labour | Alan Hannaford | 1,590 | 33.6 | 3.8 |
| | UKIP | Ian Watson | 276 | 5.8 | 1.4 |
| | Green | Janet Wright | 208 | 4.4 | 0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,062 | 22.5 | 10.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,863 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 40.0 | 5.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 5.4 | |

### West Kirby and Thurstaston

West Kirby and Thurstaston :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Watt | 2,180 | 51.9 | 1.1 |
| | Labour | Louise Reecejones | 1,082 | 25.8 | 0.3 |
| | Green | Shirley Johnson | 270 | 6.4 | 1.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Cresswell | 231 | 5.5 | 3.6 |
| | UKIP | Frank Whitham | 230 | 5.5 | 1.3 |
| | Independent | Charles Barnes | 206 | 4.9 | 2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,098 | 26.1 | 1.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,276 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 40.9 | 10.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 0.7 | |

## Changes between 2012 and 2014
### Leasowe and Moreton East by-election 2013

By-election, 17 January 2013: Leasowe and Moreton East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ian Lewis | 1,620 | 50.5 | 7.2 |
| | Labour | Pauline Daniels | 1,355 | 42.2 | 8.8 |
| | UKIP | Susan Whitham | 148 | 4.6 | 1.1 |
| | TUSC | Mark Halligan | 31 | 1.0 | New |
| | Liberal Democrats | Daniel Clein | 28 | 0.9 | New |
| | Green | Jim McGinley | 28 | 0.9 | 1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 265 | 8.3 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,551 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 30.5 | 8.8 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | 8.0 | |

### Heswall by-election 2013

By-election, 17 January 2013: Heswall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Kathryn Hodson | 1,254 | 58.8 | 3.9 |
| | UKIP | David Scott | 460 | 21.6 | 12.2 |
| | Labour | Mike Holliday | 289 | 13.6 | 4.2 |
| | Green | Barbara Burton | 110 | 5.2 | 0.7 |
| | TUSC | Greg North | 19 | 0.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 794 | 37.2 | 7.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,855 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 19.7 | 20.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 3.9 | |

### Pensby and Thingwall by-election 2013

By-election, 28 February 2013: Pensby and Thingwall :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Phillip Brightmore | 1,411 | 38.5 | 5.7 |
| | Conservative | Sheila Clarke | 868 | 23.7 | 4.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Damien Cummins | 834 | 22.7 | 2.5 |
| | UKIP | Jan Davison | 426 | 11.6 | 2.4 |
| | Green | Allen Burton | 74 | 2.0 | 2.4 |
| | English Democrat | Neil Kenny | 53 | 1.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 543 | 14.8 | 10.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,487 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 35.0 | 6.1 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 5.2 | |

### Upton by-election 2013

By-election, 24 October 2013: Upton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Matthew Patrick | 1,954 | 65.4 | 5.8 |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Gubb | 762 | 25.5 | 2.9 |
| | Green | Jim McGinley | 143 | 4.8 | 0.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alan Davies | 130 | 4.3 | 0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,192 | 39.9 | 2.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,154 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,031 | 24.9 | 9.7 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 21 | 0.7 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 1.5 | |

### Other changes

| Date | Ward | Name | Previous affiliation | Previous affiliation | New affiliation | New affiliation | Circumstance |
| 30 April 2013 | Pensby and Thingwall | Mark Johnston | | Liberal Democrats | | Independent | Resigned. |