# 2007 Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council election

Elections to Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council were held on 3 May 2007 with the exception of the Warley ward which was postponed until 14 June 2007 due to the sudden death of one of the candidates. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control with a minority Conservative administration. The total turnout of the election was 38.01% (51,586 voters of an electorate of 135,729). The winning candidate in each ward is highlighted in bold.
Brighouse Councillor Nick Yates, who had left the Conservative Party in 2006 to become an Independent, joined the Liberal Democrats in the summer of 2007.
The table below summarises the results of the 2007 local government election. Each party is ordered by number of votes registered. 17 of the 51 seats were up for re-election.

## Council results

Percentage change calculated compared to the previous election's results.
Calderdale :
| Party | Party | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Votes | Votes | Votes |
| Party | Party | Stood | Elected | Gained | Unseated | Net | % of total | % | No. | Net % |
| | Conservative | 15 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 41.2 | 28.6 | 15,592 | 0.2 |
| | Labour | 17 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 23.5 | 24.7 | 13,494 | 1.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 17 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 35.3 | 24.6 | 13,424 | 0.5 |
| | BNP | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 10.8 | 5,904 | 0.1 |
| | English Democrat | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 3.5 | 1,891 | 3.5 |
| | Independent | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 1,661 | 6.1 |
| | Green | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2.7 | 1,459 | 0.2 |
| | Respect | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2.1 | 1,147 | 0.2 |

## Council Composition

Prior to the election the composition of the council was:
| 18 | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Conservative | Lib Dem | Labour | Ind | BN | ED |
After the election the composition of the council was:
| 18 | 16 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Conservative | Lib Dem | Labour | Ind | BN | ED |
| Party | Party | Previous council | New council |
| | Conservative | 18 | 18 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 16 | 16 |
| | Labour | 10 | 11 |
| | Independent | 4 | 4 |
| | BNP | 2 | 1 |
| | English Democrat | 1 | 1 |
| Total | Total | 51 | 51 | 51 |

## Ward results

Percentage change calculated compared to the last time these candidates stood for election.

### Brighouse ward

Brighouse ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Joyce Cawthra | 1,274 | 38.5 | −4.7 |
| | Labour | Daniel Alan Coll | 1,023 | 30.9 | +6.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Luke William Wickham | 372 | 11.2 | +2.0 |
| | BNP | Jane Shooter | 361 | 10.9 | +10.9 |
| | English Democrat | Richard Thomas Langford | 282 | 8.5 | +8.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 251 | 7.6 | − |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,312 | 39.15 | −11.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
The incumbent was Joyce Cawthra for the Conservative Party.

### Calder ward

Calder ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | David William O'Neill | 1,331 | 39.1 | +6.4 |
| | Labour | Stewart Brown | 1,254 | 36.8 | +10.8 |
| | Green | Ruby Rose Joy Berridge | 821 | 24.1 | +2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 77 | 2.3 | − |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,406 | 39.14 | −13.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
The incumbent was Michael Taylor for the Liberal Democrats.

### Elland ward

Elland ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Diane Park | 1,318 | 48.7 | +8.5 |
| | Conservative | John Foran | 586 | 21.7 | −4.9 |
| | English Democrat | Michael John Clarke | 408 | 15.1 | +15.1 |
| | Labour | Marion Simone Batten | 393 | 14.5 | −0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 732 | 27.1 | − |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,705 | 33.56 | −7.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
The incumbent was Edgar Waller for the Liberal Democrats.

### Greetland and Stainland ward

Greetland and Stainland ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Joseph Wardhaugh | 1,607 | 53.3 | +6.4 |
| | Conservative | Christian Corkish | 714 | 23.7 | −3.7 |
| | Labour | Pamela Margaret Fellows | 288 | 9.6 | −4.1 |
| | BNP | Paddy Hall | 251 | 8.3 | −5.4 |
| | Green | Mark Richard Mullany | 153 | 5.1 | −6.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 893 | 29.6 | − |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,013 | 36.25 | −9.55 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
The incumbent was Patrick Phillips for the Liberal Democrats.

### Hipperholme and Lightcliffe ward

Hipperholme and Lightcliffe ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Kirton | 1,503 | 45.6 | +3.5 |
| | Independent | Chris O'Connor | 1,073 | 32.5 | +4.0 |
| | Labour | Keith John Butterick | 496 | 15.0 | −8.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Malcolm Graham James | 225 | 6.8 | −1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 430 | 13.0 | − |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,297 | 39.87 | −11.73 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
The incumbent was David Kirton for the Conservative Party.

### Illingworth and Mixenden ward

Illingworth and Mixenden ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Barry Kaye Collins | 1,369 | 42.6 | +12.0 |
| | BNP | Richard Mulhall | 974 | 30.3 | −3.4 |
| | Conservative | John Cecil David Hardy | 612 | 19.0 | −4.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Elder | 178 | 5.5 | −5.2 |
| | Independent | Sean Vincent Loftus | 83 | 2.6 | +2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 395 | 12.3 | − |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,216 | 35.38 | −10.8 |
| | Labour gain from BNP | Labour gain from BNP | Swing | | |
The incumbent was Richard Mulhall for the BNP.

### Luddendenfoot ward

Luddendenfoot ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Hugh Marshall | 1,067 | 33.6 | +1.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Christopher Beacroft-Mitchell | 1,065 | 33.6 | −6.3 |
| | Labour | James Fearon | 611 | 19.3 | −0.3 |
| | BNP | John Derek Gregory | 426 | 13.4 | −4.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2 | 0.1 | − |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,169 | 42.08 | −10.5 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
The incumbent was Jane Brown for the Liberal Democrats.

### Northowram and Shelf ward

Northowram and Shelf ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Roger Laurence Taylor | 1,903 | 53.8 | +2.2 |
| | Labour Co-op | Gary Rae | 788 | 22.3 | +4.7 |
| | BNP | Ann Jackson | 515 | 14.6 | −8.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Alfred Smith | 331 | 9.4 | −1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,115 | 31.5 | − |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,537 | 40.05 | 9.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
The incumbent was Roger Taylor for the Conservative Party.

### Ovenden ward

Ovenden ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Bryan Thomas Raymond Smith | 1,003 | 43.2 | +2.8 |
| | BNP | Chris Godridge | 691 | 29.7 | −0.5 |
| | Conservative | Sally Victoria McCartney | 394 | 17.0 | +3.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert Ward | 235 | 10.1 | −2.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 312 | 13.4 | − |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,323 | 27.91 | −12.9 |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | | |
The incumbent was Bryan Smith for the Labour Party.

### Park ward

Park ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Arshad Mahmood | 1,500 | 35.4 | −4.6 |
| | Respect | Sajid Mehmood | 1,147 | 27.1 | +27.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Shazad Fazal | 1,022 | 24.1 | +7.2 |
| | English Democrat | Shakir Saghir | 567 | 13.4 | +13.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 353 | 8.3 | − |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,236 | 49.45 | −17.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
The incumbent was Arshad Mahmmod for the Labour Party.

### Rastrick ward

Rastrick ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Craig Whittaker | 1,336 | 43.0 | −2.6 |
| | Labour | Ann Martin | 782 | 25.2 | −5.6 |
| | English Democrat | David Vincent Stevenson | 418 | 13.5 | +13.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Cheryl Elizabeth Stovin | 292 | 9.4 | −9.3 |
| | BNP | Katie Jane Gill | 278 | 9.0 | +9.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 554 | 17.8 | − |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,106 | 36.68 | −8.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
The incumbent was John Williamson for the Conservative Party.

### Ryburn ward

Ryburn ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Ernest Thornber | 1,570 | 50.1 | +5.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ashley John Richard Evans | 768 | 24.5 | −1.3 |
| | Labour | John Butterworth | 541 | 17.3 | −10.3 |
| | BNP | John Andrew Greenaway | 256 | 8.2 | +8.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 802 | 25.6 | − |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,135 | 37.23 | −10.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
The incumbent was Robert Thornber for the Conservative Party.

### Skircoat ward

Skircoat ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Alexander Gow | 1,716 | 43.5 | +21.3 |
| | Conservative | John Frank Brearley Ford | 1,301 | 33.0 | −15.0 |
| | Labour | Anne Collins | 449 | 11.4 | −7.7 |
| | BNP | Anthony Shane Bentley | 317 | 8.0 | −4.9 |
| | Green | Simon Christopher Turner | 159 | 4.0 | +4.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 415 | 10.5 | − |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,942 | 42.55 | −9.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
The incumbent was John Ford for the Conservative Party.

### Sowerby Bridge ward

Sowerby Bridge ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Andrew David Feather | 1,054 | 35.7 | +2.4 |
| | Labour Co-op | Dave Draycott | 957 | 32.4 | +7.7 |
| | BNP | Tom Bates | 539 | 18.3 | −1.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Brendan Robert Stubbs | 402 | 13.6 | −4.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 97 | 3.3 | − |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,952 | 37.51 | −8.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
The incumbent was Andrew Feather for the Conservative Party.

### Todmorden ward

Todmorden ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Olwen Jean Arlette Jennings | 1,017 | 32.0 | −7.8 |
| | Conservative | Ian Cooper | 711 | 22.4 | −7.9 |
| | Labour | Jennifer Rosemary Jackson | 698 | 22.0 | −5.8 |
| | BNP | Christian Michael Jackson | 424 | 13.4 | +13.4 |
| | Green | Leo Vincent | 326 | 10.3 | +10.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 306 | 9.6 | − |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,176 | 37.31 | −6.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
The incumbent was Olwen Jennings for the Liberal Democrats.

### Town ward

Town ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Timothy John Swift | 1,342 | 47.8 | +17.9 |
| | Conservative | Chris Pillai | 540 | 19.2 | −3.3 |
| | BNP | Stuart Brian Gill | 537 | 19.1 | −9.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Boje Frederiksen | 226 | 8.0 | −2.6 |
| | English Democrat | David Mounsey | 165 | 5.9 | +5.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 802 | 28.5 | − |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,810 | 33.40 | −12.3 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
The incumbent was Timothy Swift for the Labour Party.

### Warley ward

The election for this ward seat was postponed by the sudden death of the Conservative candidate Richard Maycock. He was replaced by John Foran, who had stood in the Elland ward above. The new election date was held on 14 June 2007.
Warley ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jennifer Pearson | 1,319 | 46.0 | +18.0 |
| | Conservative | John Foran | 418 | 14.6 | −11.2 |
| | Independent | Jenny Carr | 360 | 12.6 | −14.4 |
| | BNP | Julie Ann Baxter | 335 | 11.7 | −8.4 |
| | Labour | Ilyas Najib | 236 | 8.2 | −4.0 |
| | Independent | Adrian Grenville Greenwood | 145 | 5.1 | +5.1 |
| | English Democrat | Faizan Saghir | 51 | 1.8 | +1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 901 | 31.4 | − |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,868 | 34.02 | −17.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
The incumbent was Jennifer Pearson for the Liberal Democrats.