2013 West Sussex County Council election explained

Election Name:2013 West Sussex County Council election
Country:West Sussex
Type:Parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Party Colour:yes
Previous Election:2009 West Sussex County Council election
Previous Year:2009
Next Election:2017 United Kingdom local elections
Next Year:2017
Seats For Election:All 71 seats to West Sussex County Council
Majority Seats:36
Election Date:2 May 2013
Party1:Conservative Party (UK)
Seats1:46
Seat Change1:3
Party2:UKIP
Seats2:10
Seat Change2:8
Party4:Liberal Democrats (UK)
Seats4:8
Seat Change4:10
Party5:Labour Party (UK)
Seats5:6
Seat Change5:3
Map Size:300px
Council control
Posttitle:Council control after election
Before Election:Conservative
After Election:Conservative

The West Sussex County Council election, 2013 took place on 2 May 2013, as part of the 2013 United Kingdom local elections. All 71 electoral divisions were up for election, which returned one county councillor each by first-past-the-post voting for a four-year term of office.[1] At this election, the Conservative Party was seeking to retain overall control of the council, and the Liberal Democrats to maintain their position as the main opposition party.

All locally registered electors (British, Irish, Commonwealth and European Union citizens) who were aged 18 or over on Thursday 2 May 2013 were entitled to vote in the local elections. Those who were temporarily away from their ordinary address (for example, away working, on holiday, in student accommodation or in hospital) were also entitled to vote in the local elections,[2] although those who had moved abroad and registered as overseas electors cannot vote in the local elections. It is possible to register to vote at more than one address (such as a university student who had a term-time address and lives at home during holidays) at the discretion of the local Electoral Register Office, but it remains an offence to vote more than once in the same local government election.[3]

Summary

The Conservative Party, who have controlled control of the council since 1997, retained control with a majority of 10 seats, a loss of three seats compared to the 2009 result.[4] The Conservative Party also retained Imberdown which had been gained due to a defection from the Liberal Democrats.[5]

The United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) won 10 seats to become the official opposition on the council, a net gain of 8 seats. In the intervening period since the last election UKIP gained two seats by defection from the Conservatives, Kingston Buci and Worthing West, UKIP failed to retain either seat.[6] [7] The Liberal Democrats lost 11 seats and gained 1 seat, leaving them with a total of 8 seats. Labour gained 4 seats from the Conservatives, but lost Haywards Heath Town to the Conservative, which Labour had gained by defection from the Liberal Democrats.[5] [8] Labour won a total of 6 seats, all in the Borough of Crawley.

Of the parties that did not gain any representation on the council. only the Green Party contested more than one electoral division. The Green Party lost its only county councillor, who had defected from the Liberal Democrats.[5] [9]

An independent gained Midhurst division from the Conservatives.[10] The Conservative candidate for the Division of Midhurst was forced to resign from the Conservative Party, but did so after the close of nomination and date to withdraw nominations, meaning their name remained on the ballot paper. This was due to comments made regarding the potential admissions policy of a proposed new boarding school in West Sussex.[11]

Election results summary

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Results by electoral division

West Sussex is composed of 7 districts: Adur District, Arun District, Chichester District, Crawley Borough, Horsham District, Mid Sussex District and Worthing Borough. The following results are grouped by district.

Worthing

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: County Council Elections 2 May 2013 . West Sussex County Council. 2013-03-28. 2013-03-28.
  2. Web site: The Representation of the People (Form of Canvass) (England and Wales) Regulations 2006, Schedule Part 1 . Legislation.gov.uk . 13 October 2011 . 18 April 2012.
  3. Web site: I have two homes. Can I register at both addresses? . The Electoral Commission . 5 January 2011 . 15 November 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081115141233/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/faq/voting-and-registration/i-have-two-homes.-can-i-register-to-vote-at-both-addresses . dead .
  4. Web site: (West Sussex section): Tories lose control of East Sussex County Council. BBC News. 4 May 2013.
  5. Web site: West Sussex county councillor resigns. Worthing Herald. 1 March 2014.
  6. Web site: Dear Resident. electionleaflets.org. 1 March 2014.
  7. Web site: Conservative County councillor joins UKIP. West Sussex County Times. 1 March 2014.
  8. Web site: Councillor joins Labour party. Mid Sussex Times. 1 March 2014.
  9. Web site: Worthing councillor joins new political party. Worthing Herald. 1 March 2014.
  10. Web site: Racist row Tory loses Midhurst election. Midhurst and Petworth Observer. 1 March 2014.
  11. Web site: Tory councillor John Cherry resigns over 'openly racist language' after saying 'there are certain nationalities where they are uncertain what this hard work is all about'. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tory-councillor-john-cherry-resigns-over-openly-racist-language-after-saying-there-are-certain-nationalities-where-they-are-uncertain-what-this-hard-work-is-all-about-8581755.html . 1 May 2022 . subscription . live. The Independent. 1 March 2014.