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. This was on the same day as other local elections. 21 of the 60 seats were up for election.

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.[1] It was then under Conservative control between 2004 and 2011, before reverting to no overall control and being retaken by the Conservatives in 2019.[2] 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%. [3]

Previous council composition

After 2022 election Before 2023 election[4] After 2023 election
Party Seats Party Seats 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 This election Full council This election
Seats Net Seats % Other Total Total % Votes Votes % +/−
  Conservative 13 Steady 61.9 25 38 63.3 22,445 46.1 +2.3
  Labour 8 Steady 38.1 13 21 35.0 19,907 40.9 -4.3
  Independent 0 Steady 0.0 2 2 3.3 1,259 2.6 -1.4
  Liberal Democrats 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 2,275 4.7 -1.2
  Reform UK 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 1,518 3.1 +2.3
  Green 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 1,309 2.7 +2.7

References

  1. "Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council Election Results 1973-2012" (PDF). Elections Centre. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  2. Coussins, Jordan (3 May 2019). "Walsall Council local elections 2019: Conservatives take control". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  3. English, Patrick (28 April 2023). "Local elections 2023: YouGov MRP predicts Conservative losses in key battleground councils". YouGov. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  4. "Your Councillors by Party". Walsall.gov. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
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