Dartford Borough Council elections

Dartford Borough Council is the local authority for the Borough of Dartford in Kent, England. The council is elected every four years.

## Political control[edit]

The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1973 has been held by the following parties:[1]

Party in control | Years

|

| Labour | 1973–1983
| Conservative | 1983–1995
| Labour | 1995–2003
| No overall control | 2003–2007
| Conservative | 2007–present

### Leadership[edit]

The leaders of the council since 1998 have been:[2]

Councillor | Party | From | To

|
|
|

John Muckle[3] |  | Labour | 1998 | 21 May 2003
Kenneth Leadbeater[4] |  | Conservative | 21 May 2003 | 20 Feb 2006
Jeremy Kite |  | Conservative | 27 Feb 2006 |

## Council elections[edit]

* 1973 Dartford District Council election
* 1976 Dartford Borough Council election (New ward boundaries)[5]
* 1979 Dartford Borough Council election
* 1983 Dartford Borough Council election
* 1987 Dartford Borough Council election (Some new ward boundaries & borough boundary changes also took place)[6]
* 1991 Dartford Borough Council election
* 1995 Dartford Borough Council election (Borough boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same)[7][8]
* 1999 Dartford Borough Council election
* 2003 Dartford Borough Council election (New ward boundaries)[9]
* 2007 Dartford Borough Council election
* 2011 Dartford Borough Council election
* 2015 Dartford Borough Council election
* 2019 Dartford Borough Council election (New ward boundaries)[10]
* 2023 Dartford Borough Council election

## Results maps[edit]

* 2019 results map

## By-election results[edit]

### 1995-1999[edit]

Galley Hill By-Election 27 November 1997  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Residents Association  |  | 245  | 54.8  | +54.8
| Labour |  | 165  | 36.9  | +7.3
| Independent Labour  |  | 20  | 4.5  | -43.8
| Independent Democrat  |  | 17  | 3.8  | +3.8
Majority  | 80  | 17.9  |
Turnout | 447  | 19.0  |
| Residents gain from Independent Labour | Swing |  |
Longfield By-Election 27 November 1997  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative |  | 410  | 45.4  | +9.5
| Residents Association  |  | 314  | 34.8  | +34.8
| Labour |  | 179  | 19.8  | -3.5
Majority  | 96  | 10.6  |
Turnout | 903  | 23.0  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
Maypole By-Election 27 November 1997 (2)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative |  | 407  | 29.1  |
| Conservative |  | 403  | 28.8  |
| Labour |  | 237  | 16.9  |
| Labour |  | 232  | 16.6  |
| Liberal Democrats |  | 122  | 8.7  |
Turnout | 1,401  | 28.0  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |

### 1999-2003[edit]

Greenhithe By-Election 7 June 2001  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Brian Francis  | 794  | 48.4  | +3.4
| Conservative | Shiela East  | 521  | 31.8  | +31.8
| Independent | Wayne Cunningham  | 326  | 19.9  | +19.9
Majority  | 273  | 16.6  |
Turnout | 1,641  |  |
| Labour gain from Residents | Swing |  |
Joyce Green By-Election 21 February 2002  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Matthew Bryant  | 375  | 73.4  | +0.5
| Conservative | Shirley Burton  | 77  | 15.1  | -0.3
| UKIP | Mark Croucher  | 59  | 11.5  | +11.5
Majority  | 298  | 58.3  |
Turnout | 511  | 19.2  |
| Labour hold | Swing |  |
Sutton at Hone and Hawley By-Election 21 February 2002  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Anthony Martin  | 617  | 53.7  | -8.2
| Labour | Stephen de Winton  | 533  | 46.3  | +8.2
Majority  | 84  | 7.4  |
Turnout | 1,150  | 36.2  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |

### 2003-2007[edit]

Longfield, New Barn & Southfleet By-Election 19 June 2003 (3)  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Jeremy Kite  | 1,417  | 22.0  |
| Conservative | (Robert) Alexander Dunn  | 1,393  | 21.6  |
| Conservative | Albert Bassam  | 1,383  | 21.5  |
| Independent | (Mary) Noreen Salway  | 715  | 11.1  |
| Independent | Frederick Grainger  | 402  | 6.3  |
| Independent | Anthony Mack  | 364  | 5.7  |
| Labour | Alistair Jordan  | 326  | 5.1  |
| Liberal Democrats | Sonia Keane  | 168  | 2.6  |
| Liberal Democrats | Andrew Reeves  | 143  | 2.2  |
| Liberal Democrats | Mathias Toth  | 124  | 1.9  |
Turnout | 6,435  | 45.6  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |

This election was scheduled as part of the council elections of 1 May 2003. It was delayed following the death of Bob Dunn (who was standing for re-election), just one week before the ballot.

Heath By-Election 27 July 2006  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Andrew Lloyd  | 637  | 35.1  |
| Labour | Patrick Kelly  | 518  | 28.6  |
| BNP | Kevin Saunders  | 240  | 13.2  |
| UKIP | Robert Wiltshire  | 179  | 9.9  |
| English Democrat | Steven Uncles  | 174  | 9.6  |
| Green | Stuart Jeffery  | 65  | 3.6  |
Majority  | 119  | 6.5  |
Turnout | 1,818  | 37.95  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
Princes By-Election 21 February 2008  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Patrick Kelly  | 592  | 50.2  | +9.8
| Conservative | Jean Shippam  | 348  | 29.5  | +5.2
| English Democrat | Mike Tibby  | 198  | 16.8  | -4.9
| Liberal Democrats | Amanda Martin  | 22  | 1.9  | +1.9
| UKIP | Arnold Tarling  | 19  | 1.6  | -12.1
Majority  | 244  | 20.7  |
Turnout | 1,179  | 27.0  |
| Labour hold | Swing |  |

### 2011-2015[edit]

Castle By-Election 27 September 2012[11] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Paul Cutler  | 191  | 43.02  |
| Labour | Hayley Louisa Reece  | 111  | 25.00  |
| UKIP | Stephen Wilders  | 60  | 13.51  |
| Swanscombe and Greenhithe Residents Association  | Vic Openshaw  | 50  | 11.26  |
| English Democrat | Frances Elizabeth Moore  | 32  | 7.21  |
Majority  | 80  |  |
Turnout | 444  | 26.86  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
Newtown By-election - Thursday 27 June 2013[12] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | David John Baker  | 536  | 45.42  |
| Conservative | Rosanna Marina Currans  | 376  | 31.86  |
| UKIP | Ivan Paul Burch  | 268  | 22.71  |
Majority  | 160  |  |
Turnout | 1180  | 23.01  |
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing |  |

The by-election was held following the resignation of Conservative Cllr Gary Reynolds.

Swanscombe By-Election, 5 December 2013[13] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Steve Jacqueline Doran  | 274  | 29.43  |
| Swanscombe and Greenhithe Residents Association  | Vic Openshaw  | 273  | 29.32  |
| UKIP | Stephen Wilders  | 200  | 21.48  |
| Independent | Richard John Lees  | 146  | 15.68  |
| Conservative | Steven Ronald Jarnell  | 38  | 4.08  |
Majority  | 1  |  |
Turnout | 931  | 17.56  |
| Labour gain from Residents | Swing |  |

The by-election resulted from the death of Swanscombe and Greenhithe Residents Association Cllr Leslie Bobby.

Stone By-Election, 27 March 2014[14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Catherine Stafford  | 426  | 37.7  | -3.8
| Conservative | Stephanie Thredgle  | 397  | 35.1  | -11.0
| UKIP | Jim Moore  | 307  | 27.2  | +27.2
Majority  | 29  | 2.6  |
Turnout | 1,130  |  |
| Labour hold | Swing |  |

The by-election was held following the resignation of Labour Cllr John Adams.[15]

Brent By-Election, 13 November 2014[16] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Rosanna Currans  | 579  | 42.0  | -10.8
| Labour | Mark Maddison  | 482  | 35.0  | -0.7
| UKIP | Shan-E-Din Choycha  | 316  | 22.9  | +22.9
Majority  | 97  | 7.0  |
Turnout | 1,377  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |

The by-election was held following the death of Conservative Cllr Nancy Wightman.[17]

Littlebrook By-Election, 13 November 2014[18] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Daisy Page  | 358  | 47.7  | -7.1
| UKIP | Sonia Keane  | 220  | 29.3  | +29.3
| Conservative | Calvin McLean  | 172  | 22.9  | -1.1
Majority  | 138  | 18.4  |
Turnout | 750  |  |
| Labour hold | Swing |  |

The by-election was held following the death of Labour Cllr John Muckle.[19]

### 2019-2023[edit]

Darenth By-Election, 6 May 2021[20] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Maria Kelly  | 252  | 49.9  | +2.6
| Labour | Bill Cook  | 218  | 43.2  | +11.6
| Reform UK | Howard Bostridge  | 35  | 6.9  | +6.9
Majority  | 34  | 6.7  |
Turnout | 505  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |

The by-election was held following the resignation of Conservative Cllr Ian Armitt.[21]

Wilmington, Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley By-Election, 6 May 2021[22] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Ellenor Palmer  | 1,465  | 73.3  | +22.4
| Labour | Maria Perry  | 445  | 22.3  | +8.8
| Reform UK | Barry Taylor  | 88  | 4.4  | +4.4
Majority  | 1,020  | 51.1  |
Turnout | 1,998  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |

The by-election was held following the resignation of Conservative Cllr Calvin McLean.[23]

Maypole and Leyton Cross By-Election, 27 January 2022[24] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Kyle Stealey  | 334  | 63.1  | -21.1
| Green | Julian Hood  | 76  | 14.4  | +14.4
| Labour | Leah Uwaibi  | 65  | 12.3  | -3.5
| Liberal Democrats | Kyle Marsh  | 54  | 10.2  | +10.2
Majority  | 258  | 48.8  |
Turnout | 529  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |

The by-election was held following the death of Conservative Cllr Ann Allen.[25]

Wilmington, Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley By-Election, 27 January 2022[26] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | George Holt  | 996  | 67.8  | +16.9
| Labour | Maria Perry  | 272  | 18.5  | +5.0
| Liberal Democrats | Jane Hatzimasouras  | 200  | 13.6  | +13.6
Majority  | 724  | 49.3  |
Turnout | 1,468  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |

The by-election was held following the resignation of Conservative Cllr Lucas Reynolds.[27]

Wilmington, Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley By-Election, 9 February 2023[28] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Eddy Lampkin  | 808  | 69.0  | -4.3
| Labour | Jonathan Wynne  | 285  | 24.3  | +2.0
| Green | Julian Hood  | 78  | 6.7  | +6.7
Majority  | 523  | 44.7  |
Turnout | 1,171  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |

The by-election was held following the resignation of Conservative Cllr Ellenor Palmer.

## References[edit]

1. ^ "English local elections 2007: Dartford". BBC News. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
2. ^ "Council minutes". Dartford Borough Council. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
3. ^ Prout, Geoff (18 September 2014). "John Muckle obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
4. ^ "Council leader resigns from post". BBC News. 20 February 2006. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
5. ^ The District of Dartford (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1975
6. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Kent (District Boundaries) Order 1987. Retrieved on 6 November 2015.
7. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Greater London and Kent (County Boundaries) Order 1992. Retrieved on 5 November 2015.
8. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Greater London and Kent (County Boundaries) (Variation) Order 1993. Retrieved on 5 November 2015.
9. ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Dartford (Electoral Changes) Order 2001. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
10. ^ Taylor, Jessica (5 June 2018). "Dartford borough boundary changes finalised for 2019 local elections". News Shopper. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
11. ^ "Election results for Castle, 27 September 2012". committeedmz.dartford.gov.uk. 27 September 2012.
12. ^ "Election results for Newtown, 27 June 2013". committeedmz.dartford.gov.uk. 27 June 2013.
13. ^ "Election results for Swanscombe, 5 December 2013". committeedmz.dartford.gov.uk. 5 December 2013.
14. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Stone Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
15. ^ "By-election results for Stone ward". Kent Online. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
16. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Brent Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
17. ^ "Creative, sporty - so much more than a councillor - tributes paid to Dartford's Nancy Wightman". Kent Online. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
18. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Littlebrook Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
19. ^ Prout, Geoff (18 September 2014). "John Muckle obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
20. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Darenth Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
21. ^ "Parish Council bids a sad farewell to Darenth Ward Member, Ian Armitt". Darenth Parish Council. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
22. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Wilmington, Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
23. ^ Calvin McLean [@calvinmclean] (9 March 2021). "1/2 After 6 years as a councillor at Dartford I stand down tomorrow to take up a politically restricted post at a London local authority. I will really miss being a councillor but will be keeping a close eye on all the goings on,even if I am not able to participate in the banter" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
24. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Maypole and Leyton Cross Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
25. ^ Delaney, Sean (21 October 2021). "Kent County Council chairman and Dartford councillor Ann Allen dies". Kent Online. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
26. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Wilmington, Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
27. ^ Delaney, Sean (21 October 2021). "Conservatives retain three Wilmington by-election seats in Dartford council and Kent County Council". Kent Online. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
28. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Wilmington, Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2022.

## External links[edit]

* Dartford Borough Council

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* See also: Wards
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