# 2008 Oxford City Council election

Elections for Oxford City Council were held on Thursday 1 May 2008. As Oxford City Council is elected by halves, one seat in each of the 24 wards is up for election.
Overall turnout was 32.6%, down from 35.8% in 2006. The lowest turnout (20.8%) was in St Mary's ward and the highest (46.1%) in Marston.

## Results

Oxford Local Election Result 2008 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 12 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 50.0 | 34.6 | 11,882 | +4.5 |
| Liberal Democrats | 8 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 33.3 | 22.8 | 7,857 | −8.6 |
| Green | 3 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 12.5 | 16.9 | 5,824 | −3.9 |
| Ind. Working Class | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 1,329 | −0.1 |
| Conservative | 0 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0 | 20.2 | 6,960 | +8.2 |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.6 | 537 | +0.5 |
Note: three Independents stood in 2008, compared with two in 2006.
This result has the following consequences for the total number of seats on the Council after the elections:
| Party | Party | Previous council | Staying councillors | Seats up for election | Election result | New council |
| | Labour | 19 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 23 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 15 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 16 |
| | Green | 8 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| | Independent Working Class | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| | Conservatives | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| | Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 48 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 48 |

## Results by ward
### Barton and Sandhills

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Patrick Murray | 528 | 34.3 | −5.5 |
| | Labour | Andrew Lomas | 524 | 34.0 | −0.6 |
| | Conservative | Timothy Hamer | 406 | 26.4 | +11.9 |
| | Green | Raymond Hitchins | 82 | 5.3 | +0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1546 | 32.1 | −3.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Blackbird Leys

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Val Smith | 647 | 54.3 | +5.9 |
| | Ind. Working Class | Lee Cole | 417 | 35.0 | −8.4 |
| | Conservative | Gareth Jennings | 79 | 6.6 | +6.6 |
| | Green | Sue Tibbles | 28 | 2.4 | 0.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ian Bearder | 20 | 1.7 | −4.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1192 | 29.5 | −0.2 |
| | Labour gain from Ind. Working Class | Labour gain from Ind. Working Class | Swing | | |

### Carfax

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Brown | 375 | 35.7 | +5.4 |
| | Conservative | Paul Sargent | 284 | 27.1 | +4.6 |
| | Green | Claudia Fitzherbert | 208 | 19.8 | −12.8 |
| | Labour | Sarah Hutchinson | 182 | 17.3 | +2.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1059 | 24.5 | −0.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Note that Paul Sargent won the Carfax seat in the 2004 elections for the Liberal Democrats, but crossed the floor to the Conservatives in 2007. So when comparing to the 2004 elections, the Liberal Democrats hold.

### Churchill

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Mark Lygo | 588 | 41.7 | –4.7 |
| | Ind. Working Class | Claire Kent | 375 | 26.6 | +3.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Bonney | 227 | 16.1 | +4.4 |
| | Conservative | Gordon Bell | 172 | 12.2 | –0.1 |
| | Green | Eliza Hilton | 47 | 3.3 | –3.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1412 | 30.9 | +2.7 |
| | Labour gain from Ind. Working Class | Labour gain from Ind. Working Class | Swing | | |

### Cowley

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Bryan Keen | 692 | 48.2 | +16.2 |
| | Conservative | Judith Harley | 250 | 17.4 | +17.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Susan Gonzalez | 224 | 15.6 | −22.0 |
| | Green | Alyson Duckmanton | 180 | 12.5 | −5.1 |
| | Independent | Paul Garraway | 91 | 6.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1440 | 32.9 | −6.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Cowley Marsh

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Saj Malik | 773 | 51.4 | +13.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tony Brett | 447 | 29.7 | −0.1 |
| | Green | Lilian Sherwood | 153 | 10.2 | −8.3 |
| | Conservative | Martin Young | 131 | 8.7 | −5.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1512 | 33.8 | +5.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Note that Saj Malik won the Cowley Marsh seat in the 2004 elections for the Liberal Democrats, but crossed the floor to Labour in 2007. So when comparing to the 2004 elections, Labour gain from the Liberal Democrats.

### Headington

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ruth Wilkinson | 564 | 35.4 | −23.4 |
| | Conservative | Chris Clifford | 548 | 34.4 | +16.7 |
| | Labour | Van Coulter | 266 | 16.7 | +3.3 |
| | Green | Jill Haas | 215 | 13.5 | +3.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1598 | 39.6 | +1.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Headington Hill and Northway

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Maureen Christian | 485 | 36.3 | +5.7 |
| | Conservative | Marc Borja | 448 | 33.6 | +7.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jock Coats | 320 | 24.0 | −10.3 |
| | Green | Mary Livingstone | 82 | 6.1 | −2.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1340 | 31.2 | −4.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Hinksey Park

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Oscar Van Nooijen | 871 | 52.2 | +6.6 |
| | Green | Deborah Glass Woodin | 391 | 23.4 | −6.0 |
| | Conservative | Simon Mort | 222 | 13.3 | +2.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Joe Chick | 185 | 11.1 | −3.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1666 | 36.0 | −5.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Note: ±% figures are calculated with respect to the results of the by-election of 27 July 2006.

### Holywell

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nathan Pyle | 481 | 45.4 | −3.3 |
| | Conservative | Alexander Stafford | 239 | 22.5 | +8.2 |
| | Green | Chip Sherwood | 196 | 18.5 | −5.4 |
| | Labour | Kieran Hutchinson Dean | 144 | 13.6 | +0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1072 | 26.9 | −2.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Green | Liberal Democrats gain from Green | Swing | | |

### Iffley Fields

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Elise Benjamin | 858 | 54.7 | |
| | Labour | Mike Rowley | 447 | 28.5 | |
| | Conservative | Nick Carter | 159 | 10.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1568 | 38.6 | −1.5 |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | | |

### Jericho and Osney

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Colin Cook | 907 | 53.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Adrian Rosser | 301 | 17.6 |
| | Conservative | Alexander Penny | 216 | 12.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1706 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Littlemore

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | John Tanner | 639 | 50.7 |
| | Conservative | Yvonne Lowe | 313 | 24.8 |
| | Green | Fionn Stevenson | 173 | 13.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Neil Fawcett | 136 | 10.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1261 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Lye Valley

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Bob Timbs | 741 | 60.0 | +7.2 |
| | Conservative | John Lowe | 258 | 20.9 | +10.8 |
| | Green | John Kentish | 126 | 10.2 | +5.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dave White | 110 | 8.9 | −23.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1235 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
Note: ±% figures are calculated with respect to the results of the by-election of 21 September 2006.

### Marston

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Beverley Hazell | 732 | 34.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Caroline van Zyl | 544 | 25.6 |
| | Independent | Michael Haines | 437 | 20.6 |
| | Conservative | Duncan Hatfield | 302 | 14.2 |
| | Green | Alistair Morris | 108 | 5.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2123 | |
| | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | |

### North

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal Democrats | Clark Brundin | 463 | 37.2 |
| | Conservative | Frances Kennett | 378 | 30.3 |
| | Green | Merlyn Lyons | 221 | 17.7 |
| | Labour | Sue Ledwith | 184 | 14.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1246 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | |

### Northfield Brook

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Ind. Working Class | Stuart Craft | 537 | 45.3 |
| | Labour | Richard Stevens | 471 | 39.7 |
| | Conservative | Mary Jones | 78 | 6.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Beatrice Morlin | 56 | 4.7 |
| | Green | Kate Prendergast | 44 | 3.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1186 | |
| | Ind. Working Class hold | Ind. Working Class hold | Swing | |

### Quarry and Risinghurst

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Laurence Baxter | 786 | 37.6 |
| | Conservative | Tia MacGregor | 622 | 29.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Roz Smith | 585 | 28.0 |
| | Green | Donald O'Neal | 86 | 4.1 |
| | Independent | Pat Mylvaganam | 9 | 0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2088 | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | |
Note that Tia MacGregor won the Quarry and Risinghurst seat in the 2004 elections for the Liberal Democrats, but crossed the floor to the Conservatives in 2007. So when comparing to the 2004 elections, Labour gain from the Liberal Democrats.

### Rose Hill and Iffley

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Edward Turner | 751 | 54.8 |
| | Conservative | Siddo Deva | 230 | 16.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Catherine Bearder | 207 | 15.1 |
| | Green | Larry Sanders | 182 | 13.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1370 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### St Clement's

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Green | Nuala Young | 558 | 48.6 |
| | Labour | Altaf Hussain | 280 | 24.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Matthew Dieppe | 158 | 13.8 |
| | Conservative | Elizabeth Mills | 152 | 13.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1148 | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | |

### St Margaret's

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gwynneth Royce | 469 | 33.4 | −16.6 |
| | Green | Chris Goodall | 390 | 27.8 | 0.0 |
| | Conservative | Vernon Porter | 378 | 26.9 | +10.1 |
| | Labour | James Fry | 168 | 12.0 | +6.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1407 | 32.6 | −10.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### St Mary's

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Green | Matt Morton | 488 | 57.1 |
| | Labour | David Green | 180 | 21.1 |
| | Conservative | Carolyn Holder | 99 | 11.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Julia Goddard | 87 | 10.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 854 | |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | |

### Summertown

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stuart McCready | 747 | 44.2 | +1.9 |
| | Conservative | Clara Bantry White | 424 | 25.1 | +4.5 |
| | Green | Sarah Pethybridge | 349 | 20.7 | −8.9 |
| | Labour | Scott Seamons | 169 | 10.0 | +2.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1699 | 35.5 | −5.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Wolvercote

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Gotch | 623 | 34.1 | −11.3 |
| | Conservative | Joanne Bowlt | 572 | 31.3 | +7.7 |
| | Green | Mary Franklin | 377 | 20.6 | −3.2 |
| | Labour | Michael Taylor | 255 | 14 | +6.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1831 | 40.3 | −4.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

## Sources

* Election results, from Oxford City Council