# 2023 Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council election

The 2023 Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Walsall Council in the West Midlands, England. This was on the same day as other local elections. There were 21 of the 60 seats were up for election.
The Conservatives retained their majority on the council. Labour gained one seat which had been held by an independent councillor, although as that councillor had originally been elected as a Labour councillor it was described as a technical gain only.

## Background

Since its creation in 1974, Walsall has varied between the Conservatives and Labour. Between 1973 and 2004, Walsall had been under Labour control from 1973 to 1976, 1980 to 1982, 1988 to 1992, 1995 to 1996, and 1999 to 2000. It was then under Conservative control between 2004 and 2011, before reverting to no overall control and being retaken by the Conservatives in 2019. In the 2022 elections, the Conservatives gained 1 seat with 43.8% of the vote, Labour lost 1 with 45.2%, and the Liberal Democrats received 5.4%.
The seats up for election this year were last elected in 2019. In that election, the Conservatives gained 2 seats with 41% of the vote, and Labour lost 2 seats with 38%. This election also saw the emergence of UKIP, receiving 10.5% of the vote.
Prior to the election, an MRP model released by YouGov predicted that the election in Walsall was 'Too close to call', but Labour was expected to make significant gains. This model had Labour at 51% and the Conservatives at 37%.

## Previous council composition

| After 2022 election | After 2022 election | After 2022 election | Before 2023 election | Before 2023 election | Before 2023 election | After 2023 election | After 2023 election | After 2023 election |
| Party | Party | Seats | Party | Party | Seats | Party | Party | Seats |
| | Conservative | 38 | | Conservative | 38 | | Conservative | 38 |
| | Labour | 20 | | Labour | 19 | | Labour | 20 |
| | Independent | 2 | | Independent | 3 | | Independent | 2 |

## Results

2023 Walsall Metropolitan Borough 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 % | +/− |
| | Conservative | 13 | | 61.9 | 25 | 38 | 63.3 | 22,445 | 46.1 | +2.3 |
| | Labour | 7 | | 38.1 | 13 | 21 | 35.0 | 19,907 | 40.9 | -4.3 |
| | Independent | 0 | | 0.0 | 2 | 2 | 3.3 | 1,259 | 2.6 | -1.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2,275 | 4.7 | -1.2 |
| | Reform UK | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1,518 | 3.1 | +2.3 |
| | Green | 0 | | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1,309 | 2.7 | +2.7 |

## Ward results
### Aldridge Central and South

Aldridge Central and South (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Pard Kaur | 1,889 | 61.21 | 13.61 |
| | Labour | Muhammad Abdul Hafeez Khan | 731 | 23.69 | 6.89 |
| | Green | Guan Khai Chan | 258 | 8.36 | 4.66 |
| | Reform UK | Irene Michelle Sim Sim Yoong-Henery | 181 | 5.87 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,158 | 38.2 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 27 | 0.88 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,086 | 28.19 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Aldridge North and Walsall Wood

Aldridge North and Walsall Wood (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Amanda Kate Parkes | 1,324 | 53.45 | 1.05 |
| | Labour | Michael Anthony Bruce | 777 | 31.37 | |
| | Reform UK | Lesley Ann Lynch | 240 | 9.69 | N/A |
| | Green | Shaun Alardice McKenzie | 128 | 5.17 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 547 | 22.2 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 8 | 0.32 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,477 | 24.7 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Bentley and Darlastonn North

Bentley and Darlaston North (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Saiqa Nasreen | 1,138 | 58.39 | 6.89 |
| | Independent | Stuart Raymond Chapman | 415 | 21.29 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Amarjeet Singh Flora | 350 | 17.96 | 2.66 |
| | Independent | Abdul Kalam | 39 | 2.00 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 723 | 37.10 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 7 | 0.36 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,949 | 20.13 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Birchills-Leamore

Birchills-Leamore (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Gaz Ali | 1,139 | 46.57 | 5.03 |
| | Labour | Elliot Pfebve | 992 | 40.56 | 7.84 |
| | Reform UK | Elaine Ruth Williams | 308 | 12.59 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 143 | 6.01 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 7 | 0.29 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,446 | 22.87 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Blakenall

Blakenall (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Emma Jane Morgan | 747 | 36.93 | 14.47 |
| | Independent | Dave Taylor | 596 | 29.46 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Mushy Khan | 555 | 27.43 | 16.63 |
| | Reform UK | Chris Phipps | 72 | 3.56 | N/A |
| | Green | Andrea Monica Maynard | 53 | 2.62 | 1.28 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 192 | 7.47 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,023 | 20.16 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Bloxwich East

Bloxwich East (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Corin Ann Statham | 957 | 50.88 | 2.22 |
| | Labour | Bob Thomas | 732 | 38.92 | 7.98 |
| | Reform UK | Peggy Coop | 98 | 5.21 | N/A |
| | Green | Susan Webster | 87 | 4.63 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 225 | 11.96 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 7 | 0.37 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,881 | 21.08 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Bloxwich West

Bloxwich West (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Matt Follows | 1,175 | 48.18 | 16.02 |
| | Labour | Michael John Coulson | 950 | 38.95 | 3.15 |
| | Reform UK | Stacey Nicole Timmins | 172 | 7.05 | N/A |
| | Green | Mia Kalogjera | 72 | 2.95 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stuart Ronald Hodges | 66 | 2.71 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 225 | 9.23 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 4 | 0.16 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,439 | 24.83 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Brownhills

Brownhills (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ken Ferguson | 1,117 | 52.84 | 16.24 |
| | Labour Co-op | David Huw Morgan | 848 | 40.11 | 18.41 |
| | Green | Thomas Stephen Powell | 133 | 6.29 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 269 | 12.73 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 16 | 0.76 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,114 | 21.76 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Darlaston South

Darlaston South (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Matt Ward | 1,353 | 74.55 | |
| | Conservative | Pally Samra | 449 | 24.74 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 903 | 49.81 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 13 | 0.72 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,815 | 16.74 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Paddock

Paddock (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Waheed Rasab | 1,854 | 49.64 | 1.66 |
| | Labour | Rishi Sharma | 1,279 | 34.24 | 1.66 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Daniel James Barker | 378 | 10.12 | 4.72 |
| | Independent | David Trevor William Alexander | 209 | 5.60 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 575 | 15.40 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 15 | 0.40 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,735 | 38.23 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Palfrey

Palfrey (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Hajran Bashir | 1,741 | 50.46 | 12.44 |
| | Conservative | Shamim Ahmed | 1,379 | 39.97 | 11.27 |
| | Green | Sadat Hussain | 178 | 5.16 | N/A |
| | Reform UK | Dexter Williams | 129 | 3.74 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 362 | 10.49 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 23 | 0.67 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,450 | 31.43 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Pelsall

Pelsall (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Rose Ann Martin | 1,395 | 59.51 | 3.51 |
| | Labour | Mugabe Reid | 511 | 21.80 | 2.90 |
| | Reform UK | Graham Eardley | 216 | 9.22 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Isaac Ben Crosby | 213 | 9.09 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 884 | 37.71 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 9 | 0.38 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,344 | 26.82 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Pheasey Park Farm

Pheasey Park Farm (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Mike Bird | 1,220 | 56.46 | 2.36 |
| | Labour | Steve Wade | 750 | 34.71 | 10.41 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Matthew George Barker | 170 | 7.87 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 470 | 21.75 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 21 | 0.97 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,161 | 24.73 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Pleck

Pleck (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Khizar Hussain | 1,789 | 76.62 | 1.88 |
| | Conservative | Manju Chamdal Gill | 523 | 22.40 | 0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,266 | 54.22 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 23 | 0.99 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,335 | 22.68 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Rushall-Shefield

Rushall-Shefield (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Lorna Jean Rattigan | 1,173 | 53.05 | 11.55 |
| | Labour | Lee David Jeavons | 1,038 | 46.95 | 16.85 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 135 | 6.1 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,211 | 23.84 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Short Heath

Short Heath (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Poonam Chamdal Gill | 851 | 42.59 | 3.85 |
| | Labour Co-op | Simon Frank Rollason | 779 | 38.85 | 9.26 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Benjamin Aaron Hodges | 361 | 18.01 | 5.96 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 72 | 3.74 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 14 | 0.70 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,005 | 22.84 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### St Matthews

St Matthews (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Farhana Mazhar | 1,654 | 51.16 | 3.26 |
| | Conservative | Mozamil Khan | 950 | 29.39 | 6.51 |
| | Green | Ateeq Akhtar | 400 | 12.37 | 2.87 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mohammed Yaqub | 212 | 6.56 | 0.14 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 704 | 21.77 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 17 | 0.53 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,233 | 29.44 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |

### Streetly

Streetly (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sarah-Jane Cooper | 1,824 | 61.29 | 9.99 |
| | Labour | Robert Sebastian Lipke | 753 | 25.30 | 14.60 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Roger Watts | 289 | 9.71 | 11.09 |
| | Reform UK | Parpui Shaw | 102 | 3.43 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,071 | 35.99 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 8 | 0.27 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,976 | 28.48 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Willenhall North

Willenhall North (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Adam John Hicken | 976 | 45.84 | 0.74 |
| | Labour | Nahid Ahmed | 761 | 35.75 | 14.25 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Leandra Lola Gebrakedan | 376 | 17.66 | 15.74 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 215 | 10.09 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 16 | 0.75 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,129 | 23.16 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Willenhall South

Willenhall South (1) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Natalie Louise Latham | 1,345 | 62.24 | 0.34 |
| | Conservative | Mak Uppal | 584 | 27.03 | 12.07 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Angela Mary Hodges | 210 | 9.72 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 761 | 35.21 | |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 22 | 1.02 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,161 | 18.64 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold | Labour hold |