# 2016 Plymouth City Council election

The 2016 Plymouth City Council election took place on 5 May 2016 to elect members of Plymouth City Council in England. The Conservatives gained one seat from Labour, resulting in both parties having twenty-seven members of the council. A coalition of Conservative and UKIP members took overall control of the Council, having thirty members in total and a working majority.

## Background

Plymouth City Council held local elections on 5 May 2016 along with councils across the United Kingdom as part of the 2016 local elections. The council elects its councillors in thirds, with a third being up for election every year for three years, with no election in the fourth year. Councillors defending their seats in this election were previously elected in 2012. In that election, twelve Labour candidates and seven Conservative candidates were elected.
Ahead of this election, the council was under no overall control with Labour running a minority administration. The party had the largest number of seats, but was one seat short of a majority.
The election was also contested by the Plymouth Independents, a new political party formed by former UKIP members. The party won no seats, and has subsequently been dissolved having contested no further elections.

## Overall results

Plymouth City Council Election 2016 :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
| Labour | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 57.9 | 36.5 | 21,394 | 7.1 |
| Conservative | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 42.1 | 35.5 | 20,797 | 5.3 |
| UKIP | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 16.3 | 9,577 | 4.3 |
| Liberal Democrats | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 4.4 | 2,553 | 1.4 |
| Plymouth Independents | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 3.1 | 1,790 | New |
| Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 2.5 | 1,454 | 0.9 |
| TUSC | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 1.8 | 1,033 | 1.7 |
Note: All changes in vote share are in comparison to the corresponding 2012 election.
At the previous election the composition of the council was:
| 28 | 26 | 3 |
| Labour | Conservative | UKIP |
After the election the composition of the council was:
| 27 | 27 | 3 |
| Labour | Conservative | UKIP |

## Ward results

Asterisks denote sitting councillors seeking re-election.

### Budshead

Budshead 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Jon Taylor* | 1,373 | 39.9 | 6.0 |
| | Conservative | Charlotte Bladen | 1,283 | 37.3 | 1.6 |
| | UKIP | Gordon Miller | 585 | 17.0 | 1.7 |
| | Green | Joshua Pope | 99 | 2.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Roger Mitchell | 75 | 2.2 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Andrew White | 29 | 0.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 90 | 2.6 | 4.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 2.2 | |

### Compton

Compton 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Ball* | 1,536 | 49.0 | 8.6 |
| | Labour | John Petrie | 894 | 28.5 | 1.0 |
| | Green | Colin Trier | 261 | 8.3 | 1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Steven Guy | 217 | 6.9 | 4.4 |
| | Plymouth Independents | Grace Stickland | 161 | 5.1 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Nigel Buckley | 65 | 2.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 642 | 20.5 | 7.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 3.8 | |

### Devonport

Devonport 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Kate Taylor* | 1,315 | 46.2 | 5.8 |
| | Conservative | Sandy Borthwick | 630 | 22.1 | 4.5 |
| | UKIP | Michael Ellison | 615 | 21.6 | 2.9 |
| | Green | Andrew Pratt | 101 | 3.6 | 1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Fleur Ball | 92 | 3.2 | 3.8 |
| | Plymouth Independents | Scott Wardle | 55 | 1.9 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Simon Gomery | 37 | 1.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 685 | 24.1 | 10.2 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 5.1 | |

### Efford and Lipson

Efford and Lipson 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Brian Vincent* | 1,757 | 60.7 | 4.4 |
| | Conservative | George Davis | 561 | 19.4 | 3.1 |
| | Plymouth Independents | Terry Luscombe | 336 | 11.6 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Hannah Marie Lewis | 130 | 4.5 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rafiqul Mazed | 109 | 3.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1196 | 41.3 | 7.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 3.8 | |

### Eggbuckland

Eggbuckland 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Heath Cook | 1,523 | 41.0 | 3.2 |
| | Labour | Paul McNamara | 1,023 | 27.5 | 12.0 |
| | UKIP | Hugh Davies | 833 | 22.4 | 0.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Simpson | 123 | 3.3 | N/A |
| | Plymouth Independents | Chris Treise | 107 | 2.9 | N/A |
| | Green | Sam Down | 84 | 2.3 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Lesley Duncan | 22 | 0.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 500 | 13.5 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | 7.6 | |

### Ham

Ham 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Tina Tuohy* | 1,271 | 45.0 | 13.6 |
| | UKIP | Stuart Charles | 687 | 24.3 | 1.1 |
| | Conservative | Dean Seddon | 592 | 20.9 | 2.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Matthew Radmore | 127 | 4.5 | N/A |
| | Plymouth Independents | Jason Shopland | 87 | 3.1 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Ryan Aldred | 63 | 2.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 584 | 20.7 | 14.7 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 7.4 | |

### Honicknowle

Honicknowle 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Pete Smith* | 1,261 | 42.3 | 13.8 |
| | UKIP | Nikki Bale | 966 | 32.4 | 6.7 |
| | Conservative | Sally Walker | 582 | 19.5 | 6.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Dylan Morris | 88 | 3.0 | N/A |
| | Plymouth Independents | Carl Evans | 56 | 1.9 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Joshua Gray | 28 | 0.9 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 295 | 9.9 | 20.5 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 10.2 | |

### Moor View

Moor View 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Chris Mavin | 1,220 | 37.3 | 14.1 |
| | Conservative | Bethan Roberts | 1134 | 34.7 | 6.9 |
| | UKIP | Philip Partridge | 654 | 20.0 | 2.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Bray | 126 | 3.9 | 0.3 |
| | Plymouth Independents | Arthur Watson | 111 | 3.4 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Keith Low | 27 | 0.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 86 | 2.6 | 21.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 10.5 | |

### Peverell

Peverell 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Tony Carson | 1,582 | 42.2 | 4.8 |
| | Labour | Jeremy Goslin | 1,314 | 35.0 | 0.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Charlotte Radmore | 337 | 9.0 | 3.6 |
| | Plymouth Independents | Peter Brooksbank | 253 | 6.7 | N/A |
| | Green | Wendy Miller | 223 | 5.9 | 2.2 |
| | TUSC | Justin Pollard | 42 | 1.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 268 | 7.1 | 4.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 2.0 | |

### Plympton Chaddlewood

Plympton Chaddlewood 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Samantha Leaves | 786 | 50.2 | 6.0 |
| | UKIP | Jonathan Frost | 376 | 24.0 | 1.8 |
| | Labour | Connor Smart | 373 | 23.8 | 6.2 |
| | TUSC | Teresa Stuart | 33 | 2.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 410 | 26.1 | 12.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 3.9 | |

### Plympton Erle

Plympton Erle 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ian Darcy* | 1,105 | 48.6 | 10.6 |
| | Labour | Janet Denise Wise | 731 | 32.1 | 0.9 |
| | Plymouth Independents | Peter Endean | 205 | 9.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christianne Pollock | 130 | 5.7 | 4.8 |
| | TUSC | Louise Alldridge | 103 | 4.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 374 | 16.4 | 9.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 4.8 | |

### Plympton St Mary

Plympton St Mary 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Andrea Loveridge | 2,318 | 68.0 | 23.3 |
| | Labour | Roger Williams | 883 | 25.9 | 4.1 |
| | TUSC | Tom Nally | 209 | 6.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1435 | 42.1 | 27.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 13.7 | |

### Plymstock Dunstone

Plymstock Dunstone 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Kevin Wigens* | 1,594 | 45.1 | +1.2 |
| | UKIP | David Salmon | 1,037 | 29.4 | 3.1 |
| | Labour | Dena Rafati | 585 | 16.6 | 7.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sima Davarian-Dehsorkhe | 253 | 7.2 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Roxy Castell | 63 | 1.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 557 | 15.8 | +4.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 2.1 | |

### Plymstock Radford

Plymstock Radford 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Michael Leaves* | 1,441 | 41.0 | +3.1 |
| | UKIP | John Wheeler | 1,077 | 30.6 | +0.8 |
| | Labour | Vince Barry | 664 | 18.9 | 8.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jeffrey Hall | 158 | 4.5 | 0.5 |
| | Green | Connor Clarke | 154 | 4.4 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Thomas Sloman | 22 | 0.6 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 364 | 10.4 | +2.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 1.2 | |

### Southway

Southway 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Lorraine Parker* | 1,223 | 36.1 | 15.2 |
| | Conservative | Rebecca Smith | 1,135 | 33.5 | +6.6 |
| | UKIP | Bill Wakeham | 645 | 19.0 | 2.8 |
| | Plymouth Independents | Natasha Squires | 224 | 6.6 | N/A |
| | Green | Daniel Sheaff | 76 | 2.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Storm Norman | 56 | 1.7 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Nik Brookson | 30 | 0.8 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 88 | 2.6 | 21.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 10.9 | |

### St Budeaux

St Budeaux 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Darren Winter | 1,186 | 42.8 | 18.2 |
| | UKIP | Margaret Storer | 659 | 23.8 | +3.9 |
| | Conservative | Dan Bothwick | 598 | 21.6 | +5.8 |
| | Plymouth Independents | Adam Duffield | 115 | 4.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Luscombe | 102 | 3.7 | +0.4 |
| | Green | Stan Beal | 81 | 2.9 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Aaron Smith | 28 | 1.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 527 | 19.0 | 22.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 11.1 | |

### St Peter and the Waterfront

St Peter and the Waterfront 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Ian Tuffin* | 1,263 | 41.3 | 8.4 |
| | Conservative | Karen Thurston | 844 | 27.6 | 0.1 |
| | UKIP | John Smith | 503 | 16.4 | +1.2 |
| | Green | Jessica Horner | 209 | 6.8 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Hugh Janes | 174 | 5.7 | 1.7 |
| | TUSC | Bob Brice | 66 | 2.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 419 | 13.7 | 8.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 4.2 | |

### Stoke

Stoke 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Sam Davey* | 1,645 | 49.5 | +3.0 |
| | Conservative | Andrew Ford | 964 | 29.0 | 6.0 |
| | UKIP | Ramon Fereday | 506 | 15.2 | +2.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Helen Guy | 209 | 6.3 | +0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 681 | 20.5 | +9.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 4.5 | |

### Sutton and Mount Gould

Sutton and Mount Gould 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Eddie Rennie* | 1,413 | 48.8 | 2.6 |
| | Conservative | Edmund Shillabeer | 589 | 20.3 | 0.2 |
| | UKIP | Jonquil Webber | 434 | 15.0 | +0.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter York | 177 | 6.1 | +1.6 |
| | Green | Daniel van Cleak | 166 | 5.7 | 0.1 |
| | Plymouth Independents | Andy Kerswell | 80 | 2.8 | N/A |
| | TUSC | Louise Parker | 36 | 1.2 | 1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 824 | 28.5 | 2.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 1.2 | |

## Aftermath

After the election, the Conservatives and Labour held twenty-seven seats on the council each, with the other three held by UKIP councillors. Labour group leader Tudor Evans had led the council before the election, but the result cast control of the council into doubt. A coalition between the Conservatives and UKIP took control, with Conservative group leader Ian Bowyer becoming the new leader of the council.