# 2012 Cambridge City Council election

Elections for Cambridge City Council (in Cambridge, England) were held on Thursday 3 May 2012. One third of the council was up for election and the Liberal Democrats lost overall control of the council, to No Overall Control.

## Election result

2012 Cambridge City Council election :
| Party | Party | This election | This election | This election | Full council | Full council | Full council | This election | This election | This election |
| Party | Party | Seats | Net | Seats % | Other | Total | Total % | Votes | Votes % | +/− |
| | Liberal Democrats | 4 | 4 | 28.6 | 17 | 21 | 50.0 | 7,560 | 26.1 | +0.7 |
| | Labour | 8 | 4 | 57.1 | 10 | 18 | 42.9 | 12,353 | 42.7 | +7.2 |
| | Conservative | 1 | 1 | 7.1 | 0 | 1 | 2.4 | 4,464 | 15.4 | -6.1 |
| | Green | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | 2.4 | 2,925 | 10.1 | -5.5 |
| | Independent | 1 | | 7.1 | 0 | 1 | 2.4 | 925 | 3.2 | +2.8 |
| | Cambridge Socialists | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 457 | 1.6 | N/A |
| | UKIP | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 129 | 0.4 | -0.1 |
| | United People's Party | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 105 | 0.4 | N/A |
The Liberal Democrats retained control of the council, with the casting vote of the Mayor, though they lost a majority. The overall turnout was 32.2%,

## Ward results

Note: in results where, in previous elections, two seats were up for election the party share of the vote is based on an average for those candidates who stood for that particular party in the election.
Unless stated otherwise, changes in party vote is in comparison with the 2011 Cambridge City Council election results.

### Abbey ward

Councillor Margaret Wright retired her Abbey seat. William Birkin was aiming to retain the vacated seat for the Greens.
Cambridge City Council Elections 2012: Abbey ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Richard Johnson | 963 | 54.4 | +12.6 |
| | Green | William Birkin | 423 | 23.9 | −7.6 |
| | Conservative | Timothy Haire | 219 | 12.4 | −4.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christopher Brown | 165 | 9.3 | −1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 540 | 30.5 | +20.2 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 16 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1770 | 26.3 | −11.2 |
| | Labour gain from Green | Labour gain from Green | Swing | +10.1 | |

### Arbury ward

Councillor Mike Todd-Jones was defending his Arbury seat for the Labour and Co-operative Party.
Cambridge City Council Elections 2012: Arbury ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mike Todd-Jones | 1,322 | 59.9 | +19.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rhodri James | 417 | 18.9 | −12.5 |
| | Conservative | Ali Meftah | 237 | 10.7 | −3.1 |
| | Green | Stephen Lawrence | 232 | 10.5 | −1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 905 | 41.0 | +31.9 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 21 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2208 | 32.7 | −15.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +16.0 | |

### Castle ward

Councillor John Hipkin was defending his Castle seat as an independent candidate. Changes in vote is in comparison to 2008, when John Hipkin's seat was last contested.
Cambridge City Council Elections 2012: Castle ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | John Hipkin | 925 | 49.5 | +10.5 |
| | Labour | Ashley Walsh | 330 | 17.7 | +7.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alan Levy | 275 | 14.7 | −17.7 |
| | Conservative | Nikesh Pandit | 173 | 9.3 | −2.4 |
| | Green | Jack Toye | 164 | 8.8 | +2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 595 | 31.9 | +25.3 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 5 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1867 | | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | +1.6 | |

### Cherry Hinton ward

Councillor Robert Dryden was defending his Cherry Hinton seat for Labour.
Cambridge City Council Elections 2012: Cherry Hinton ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Robert Dryden | 1556 | 73.2 | +22.8 |
| | Conservative | Angela Ozturk | 385 | 18.1 | −11.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Keith Edkins | 185 | 8.7 | +1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1171 | 55.1 | +35.4 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 16 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2126 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +17.1 | |

### Coleridge ward

Councillor George Owers was defending his Coleridge seat for Labour, having gained it in a 2010 by-election.
Cambridge City Council Elections 2012: Coleridge ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | George Owers | 1228 | 59.6 | +12.7 |
| | Conservative | Sam Barker | 422 | 20.5 | −9.8 |
| | Green | Shaun Esgate | 228 | 11.1 | −1.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Thomas Yates | 183 | 8.9 | −1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 806 | 39.1 | +22.5 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 10 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2061 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +11.3 | |

### East Chesterton ward

Councillor Roman Znajek retired his East Chesterton seat. Tony Morris was aiming to retain the vacated seat for the Liberal Democrats.
Cambridge City Council Elections 2012: East Chesterton ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Margery Abbott | 1,012 | 47.4 | +9.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tony Morris | 438 | 20.5 | −10.4 |
| | Conservative | Kevin Francis | 317 | 14.8 | −1.7 |
| | Green | Peter Pope | 241 | 11.3 | +0.6 |
| | UKIP | Peter Burkinshaw | 129 | 6.0 | +2.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 574 | 26.9 | +19.4 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 10 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2137 | | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | +9.7 | |

### King's Hedges ward

Councillor Neil McGovern was defending his King's Hedges seat for the Liberal Democrats.
Cambridge City Council Elections 2012: King's Hedges ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Nigel Gawthorpe | 827 | 48.4 | +8.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Neil McGovern | 576 | 33.7 | +1.4 |
| | Conservative | Annette Karimi | 199 | 11.7 | −5.6 |
| | United People's Party (UK) | Ian Tyes | 105 | 6.2 | +0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 251 | 14.7 | +7.0 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 12 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1707 | | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | +3.5 | |

### Market ward

Councillor Tim Bick was defending his Market seat for the Liberal Democrats.
Cambridge City Council Elections 2012: Market ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tim Bick | 615 | 35.6 | +7.6 |
| | Labour | Noel Kavanagh | 505 | 29.3 | +4.6 |
| | Green | Brett Hughes | 349 | 20.2 | −4.0 |
| | Conservative | Edward Turnham | 257 | 14.9 | −8.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 110 | 6.4 | +3.1 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 13 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1726 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +1.5 | |

### Newnham ward

Councillor Sian Reid was defending her Newnham seat for the Liberal Democrats.
Cambridge City Council Elections 2012: Newnham ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sian Reid | 917 | 44.5 | +9.3 |
| | Labour | Sarah Cain | 641 | 31.1 | +4.2 |
| | Conservative | Andre Beaumont | 263 | 12.8 | −9.3 |
| | Green | Billy Aldridge | 241 | 11.7 | −4.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 276 | 13.4 | +5.1 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 14 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2062 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +2.6 | |

### Petersfield ward

Councillor Gail Marchant-Daisley was defending her Petersfield seat for Labour.
Cambridge City Council Elections 2012: Petersfield ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Gail Marchant-Daisley | 1036 | 56.6 | +7.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Zoe O'Connell | 322 | 17.6 | −3.9 |
| | Green | Sandra Billington | 263 | 14.4 | −3.0 |
| | Conservative | Pater Patrick | 209 | 11.4 | −0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 714 | 39.0 | +11.6 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 10 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1830 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +5.8 | |

### Queen Edith's ward

Councillor Amanda Taylor was defending her Queen Edith's seat for the Liberal Democrats.
Cambridge City Council Elections 2012: Queen Edith's ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Sue Birtles | 1048 | 38.9 | +18.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Amanda Taylor | 963 | 35.7 | −5.4 |
| | Conservative | Richard Jeffs | 513 | 19.0 | −6.9 |
| | Green | Martin Lawson | 172 | 6.4 | −6.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 121 | 4.5 | −10.7 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 14 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2696 | | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | +12.2 | |

### Romsey ward

Councillor Catherine Smart was defending her Romsey seat for the Liberal Democrats.
Cambridge City Council Elections 2011: Romsey ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Catherine Smart | 1020 | 41.4 | +12.3 |
| | Labour | Rachel Eckersley | 813 | 33.0 | −0.3 |
| | Cambridge Socialists | Tom Woodcock | 457 | 18.5 | +18.5 |
| | Conservative | Philip Salway | 175 | 7.1 | −4.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 207 | 8.4 | +4.2 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 15 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2465 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | +6.3 | |

### Trumpington ward

Councillor Salah Al Bander was defending his Trumpington seat for the Liberal Democrats.
Cambridge City Council Elections 2012: Trumpington ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Shapour Meftah | 723 | 36.6 | +4.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Salah Al Bander | 644 | 32.6 | −3.5 |
| | Labour | Kenny Latunde-Dada | 321 | 16.3 | −1.2 |
| | Green | Ceri Galloway | 287 | 14.5 | −0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 79 | 4.0 | +0.4 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 8 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1975 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | +4.2 | |

### West Chesterton ward

Councillor Ian Nimmo-Smith retired his West Chesterton seat. Mike Pitt was aiming to retain the vacated seat for the Liberal Democrats.
Cambridge City Council Elections 2012: West Chesterton ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mike Pitt | 840 | 36.7 | −1.8 |
| | Labour | Mike Sargeant | 751 | 32.8 | +5.6 |
| | Conservative | James Strachan | 372 | 16.3 | −1.8 |
| | Green | Oliver Perkins | 325 | 14.2 | −1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 89 | 3.9 | −7.4 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 14 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2288 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | -3.7 | |

## By-elections
### Abbey

A by-election was called due to the resignation of incumbent Green Party councillor Adam Pogonowski.
Abbey: 2 May 2013 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Roberts | 878 | 51.4 | −3.0 |
| | Green | Oliver Perkins | 336 | 19.7 | −4.2 |
| | Conservative | Eric Barrett-Payton | 284 | 16.6 | +4.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Marcus Streets | 209 | 12.2 | −3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 542 | 31.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,707 | | |
| | Labour gain from Green | Labour gain from Green | Swing | 0.6 | |