# 2023 Peterborough City Council election

The 2023 Peterborough City Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect member of Peterborough City Council in Cambridgeshire, England. There were 21 of the 60 seats on the council contested. The election took place alongside other local elections across England.
The council remained under no overall control, being led by a Conservative minority administration.

## Overview

Going into the election, the position of the parties and the number of seats they were defending was:
* Conservative: 6 defences (22 other seats)
* Labour (and Co-operative): 6 defences (6 other seats)
* Liberal Democrat: 4 defences (4 other seats)
* Green: 3 defences (1 other seat)
* Werrington / Peterborough First: 1 defence (3 other seats)
* Independent: 1 defence (1 other seat)
Immediately after the election the position was that the Conservatives had 30 seats, Labour 14, the Liberal Democrats 5, Green 3 and there were 5 independents / Peterborough First.
Two weeks after the elections took place, four councillors, Brian Rush (Stanground South), Peter Hiller (Glinton & Castor), Ray Bisby (Stanground South) and Gavin Elsey (Wittering), left the Conservative Party to join Peterborough First.
In June 2023, after an initial suspension, Councillor Mohammed Farooq (Hargate & Hempsted) quit the Conservative Party, citing a "bullying, toxic culture. He was followed soon after by his son, Councillor Saqib Farooq (Glinton & Castor) and ward-colleague Councillor John Howard.

## Overall results

2023 Peterborough 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 % | +/− |
| | Conservative | 8 | 2 | 38.1 | 22 | 30 | 50.0 | 15,792 | 35.51 | 5.4 |
| | Labour | 6 | | 28.6 | 8 | 14 | 23.3 | 14,278 | 32.11 | 6.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 4 | | 19.0 | 4 | 8 | 13.3 | 5,139 | 11.56 | 3.1 |
| | Green | 2 | 1 | 9.5 | 1 | 3 | 5.0 | 6,282 | 14.13 | 4.4 |
| | Peterborough First | 1 | | 4.8 | 3 | 4 | 6.7 | 1,672 | 3.76 | 0.7 |
| | Independent | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | 1.7 | 1,101 | 2.48 | 1.8 |
| | TUSC | 0 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 73 | 0.16 | NEW |
| | CPA | 0 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 0.12 | NEW |
| | Reform UK | 0 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 80 | 0.18 | NEW |

## Ward results

Asterisks denote incumbent councillors seeking re-election. Unless otherwise noted, the councillors seeking re-election were elected in 2019; changes in vote share are therefore compared to the 2019 election.

### Bretton

UKIP (16.7%) did not contest this election.
Bretton ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Richard James Strangward | 863 | 44.5 | 9.9 |
| | Conservative | Chris Burbage* | 785 | 40.4 | 4.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rohan Cameron Stuart Wilson | 133 | 6.9 | 0.5 |
| | Green | Barry Warne | 81 | 4.2 | 1.5 |
| | Independent | John O'Connor | 79 | 4.1 | NEW |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 78 | 4.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,941 | 29.1 | 0.8 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Central

UKIP (5.1%) did not contest this election.
Central ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Mohammed Jamil* | 1,579 | 62.1 | 6.7 |
| | Conservative | Umar Khan | 509 | 20.0 | 6.9 |
| | Green | Raymond Knight | 203 | 8.0 | 1.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Michael Whittaker | 179 | 7.0 | 1.1 |
| | TUSC | Steve Cawley | 73 | 2.9 | NEW |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,070 | 42.1 | 13.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,543 | 29.8 | 10.9 |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | | |

### Dogsthorpe

Independent Colin Hargreaves (10.7%) and the Veterans and People's Party (5.1%) did not contest this election.
The incumbent, Katia Yurgutene (Labour Co-op) did not seek re-election.
Dogsthorpe ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Katy Jane Cole | 902 | 47.4 | 9.9 |
| | Conservative | Muhammad Ikram | 654 | 34.3 | 26.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sandra Ringler | 152 | 8.0 | 26.4 |
| | Green | Kelsey Jack Brace | 99 | 5.2 |
| | Independent | Robert Bede Petch | 97 | 5.1 | NEW |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 248 | 13.0 | 9.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,904 | 28.2 | 0.8 |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | | |

### East

The Liberal Democrats (9.7%) did not contest this election.
East ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Shabina Asad Qayyum* | 1,618 | 65.6 | 17.3 |
| | Conservative | Ekta Patel | 665 | 27.0 | 6.9 |
| | Green | Luke Chapman | 120 | 4.9 | 3.2 |
| | Independent | Jo Johnson | 62 | 2.5 | NEW |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 953 | 38.7 | 24.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,465 | 33.9 | 1.5 |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | | |

### Eye, Thorney and Newborough

UKIP (14.8%) and SDP (7.9%) did not contest this election.
Eye, Thorney & Newborough ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Steve Allen* | 1,122 | 54.3 | 1.5 |
| | Labour | John Shearman | 587 | 28.4 | 14.7 |
| | Green | Michael Alexander | 244 | 11.8 | 4.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Annie Rose Francis Mary Geraghty | 115 | 5.6 | 2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 535 | 25.9 | 12.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,068 | 28.1 | 5.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Fletton and Stanground

UKIP (16%) did not contest this election.
The incumbent, Jade Seager, was elected in 2022.
Fletton & Stanground ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jade Seager* | 874 | 48.5 | 3.2 |
| | Conservative | Davide Broccoli | 434 | 24.1 | 11.8 |
| | Labour | Angus Ellis | 348 | 19.3 | 6.3 |
| | Green | Danette Lisa O'Hara | 145 | 8.1 | 1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 440 | 24.4 | 11.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,801 | 24.9 | 3.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Fletton and Woodston

UKIP (16%) and Our Nation (1.7%) did not contest this election.
The incumbent was Imtiaz Ali who had defected to the Green Party from Labour.
Fletton & Woodston ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Nick Thulbourn | 732 | 37.4 | 7.1 |
| | Conservative | Andrew Stephen Willey | 720 | 36.8 | 2.9 |
| | Green | Imtiaz Ali* | 406 | 20.8 | 10.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Neil Christopher Walton | 98 | 5.0 | 2.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12 | 0.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,956 | 26.2 | 0.6 |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | | |

### Glinton and Castor

Hiller defected from the Conservatives to Peterborough First less than two weeks after being re-elected.
Glinton & Castor ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Peter John Hiller* | 1,088 | 59.8 | 6.9 |
| | Labour | Sue Farr | 278 | 15.3 | 6.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Claire Biggam Bysshe | 270 | 14.8 | 2.1 |
| | Green | Greg Guthrie | 183 | 10.1 | 1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 810 | 44.5 | 9.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,819 | 35.9 | 2.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Gunthorpe

UKIP (9.3%) and the Green Party (3.6%) did not contest this election.
Gunthorpe ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Sandra Christine Bond* | 1,166 | 49.8 | 5.9 |
| | Conservative | John Philip Peach | 853 | 36.4 | 2.5 |
| | Labour | Madison Challis | 269 | 11.5 | 2.3 |
| | CPA | Tom Rogers | 54 | 2.3 | NEW |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 313 | 13.4 | 3.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,342 | 35.5 | 1.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Hampton Vale

The Green Party (5.4%) did not contest this time.
Hampton Vale ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Chris Wiggin* | 549 | 47.2 | 3.2 |
| | Conservative | Rhys Evans | 402 | 34.5 | 13.1 |
| | Labour | Abdul Mannan | 213 | 18.3 | 4.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 147 | 12.6 | 14.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,164 | 23.0 | 2.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Hargate and Hempsted

Councillor Howard left the Conservative group less than five weeks after being re-elected.
Hargate & Hempsted ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Ian Howard* | 637 | 47.7 | 8.4 |
| | Labour | Timothy Kujiyat | 511 | 38.2 | 20.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rachel Ann Speed | 113 | 8.5 | 26.7 |
| | Green | Michael Robert Whitaker | 75 | 5.6 | 2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 126 | 9.4 | 5.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,336 | 21.0 | 3.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### North

UKIP (9.9%) and the Liberal Democrats (5.3%) did not contest this election.
The incumbent was Ansar Ali who had resigned from the Labour Party.
North ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Asim Mahmood | 1,078 | 42.9 | 10.2 |
| | Independent | Ansar Ali* | 863 | 34.4 | NEW |
| | Conservative | Akim Akim | 393 | 15.6 | 12.7 |
| | Green | Tracey Foreman | 178 | 7.1 | 3.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 215 | 8,6 | 16.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,512 | 35.5 | 4.2 |
| | Labour Co-op gain from Independent | Labour Co-op gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### Orton Longueville

UKIP (16.7%) and the Liberal Democrats (5.7%) did not contest this election.
The incumbent, Heather Skibsted, defected to the Green Party from Labour.
Orton Longueville ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Heather Skibsted* | 868 | 44.0 | 27.5 |
| | Conservative | Aqib Mohammed Farooq | 561 | 28.4 | 1.5 |
| | Labour Co-op | Wendy Mary Smith | 545 | 27.6 | 3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 307 | 15.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,974 | 26.5 | 3.6 |
| | Green gain from Labour | Green gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Orton Waterville

The incumbent, Nicola Day, is Green Party group leader.
Orton Waterville ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Green | Nicola Day* | 1,786 | 69.8 | 5.8 |
| | Conservative | Matthew Jon Bliszczak | 496 | 19.4 | 8.3 |
| | Labour | Oluwaseun Akinyele | 205 | 8.0 | 1.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Vince Carroll | 73 | 2.9 | 0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,290 | 50.4 | 14.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,560 | 36.0 | 3.9 |
| | Green hold | Green hold | Swing | | |

### Park

There were two vacant seats in this ward following the resignation of Shaz Nawaz (elected 2021, Labour).
The incumbent, Ikra Yasin (Labour), did not seek re-election.
Park ward (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Khan Arfan | 1,660 | 47.6 | 5.0 |
| | Conservative | Muhammad Asif | 1,148 | 32.9 | 11.7 |
| | Labour Co-op | Junayd Hussain | 1,024 | 29.3 | 17.4 |
| | Labour | Sabra Yasin | 1,003 | 28.7 | 20.9 |
| | Green | Fiona Radic | 529 | 15.2 | 9.4 |
| | Green | Steve Wilson | 341 | 9.8 | NEW |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ian Hardman | 197 | 5.6 | 0.8 |
| | Reform UK | Sue Morris | 80 | 2.3 | NEW |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 636 | 18.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,490 | 44.6 | 1.7 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour Co-op | Conservative gain from Labour Co-op | Swing | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Paston and Walton

UKIP (15.5%) did not contest this time.
Paston & Walton ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Simon Frederick Barkham* | 836 | 44.9 | 3.1 |
| | Conservative | Alex Rafiq | 597 | 32.0 | 21.5 |
| | Labour | David Powell | 352 | 18.9 | 2.6 |
| | Green | Simon Mayhew | 78 | 4.2 | 0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 239 | 12.8 | 13.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,863 | 25.9 | 3.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### Ravensthorpe

UKIP (12.7%) did not contest this election.
The incumbent, Lucinda Robinson (Labour Co-op), is not seeking re-election.
Ravensthorpe ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Raja Sabeel Ahmed | 1,239 | 48.3 | 11.7 |
| | Labour Co-op | Jason McNally | 872 | 34.0 | 6.7 |
| | Green | Edward Murphy | 363 | 14.2 | 9.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Richard Cham | 91 | 3.5 | 2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 367 | 14.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,565 | 34.4 | 0.4 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Stanground South

UKIP (17.8%) did not contest this election.
Rush defected from the Conservatives to Peterborough First less than two weeks after being re-elected.
Stanground South ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Brian Rush* | 798 | 49.4 | 2.4 |
| | Labour | Harry Lewis | 553 | 34.2 | 11.6 |
| | Green | Stuart Middleton | 165 | 10.2 | 2.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Simon John Garner | 101 | 6.2 | 1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 245 | 15.2 | 9.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,617 | 21.6 | 2.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Werrington

This is the first time Werrington First have contested an election under the "Peterborough First – Werrington Independent" description.
Werrington ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Peterborough First | Judy Fox* | 1,672 | 66.3 | 8.4 |
| | Labour | Rosalind Jones | 332 | 13.2 | 7.3 |
| | Conservative | Hayley Jayne Shelton | 280 | 11.1 | 0.4 |
| | Green | Georgia Wade | 158 | 6.3 | 1.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Simon James Kail | 78 | 3.1 | 0.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,340 | 53.2 | 11.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,520 | 32.8 | 2.1 |
| | Peterborough First hold | Peterborough First hold | Swing | | |

### West

UKIP (10.5%) did not contest this election.
The incumbent, Wayne Fitzgerald, is Leader of the Council.
West ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Wayne Fitzgerald* | 842 | 51.7 | 2.2 |
| | Labour | Lorraine Andison | 414 | 25.4 | 7.7 |
| | Green | Collette Francis | 260 | 16.0 | 7.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Polly Geraghty | 114 | 7.0 | 2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 428 | 26.3 | 9.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,630 | 39.6 | 0.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

## Changes 2023–2024

* Councillors Bisby, Hiller and Rush defected from the Conservatives to Peterborough First just two weeks after the local election in May 2023. Councillor Elsey defected the following day.
* Councillor Mohammed Farooq was suspended by the Conservative Party in May 2023. Despite being re-admitted in June, Cllr (M) Farooq quit the party due to a "bullying, toxic culture - followed by his son, Cllr Saqib Farooq and ward-colleague Cllr John Howard.