The 2023 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election took place yesterday, Thursday 4 May.
Prior to the local elections, Wirral Council was governed by a minority administration of Labour Councillors.
The move to whole council elections will mean that from this year the council elections will be held once every four years, rather than previously being held in three out of every four years. The change comes after councillors passed a resolution to change to whole council elections.
This is the first election that has seen voter ID implemented. The UK Government introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station.
This new requirement applied for the first time in England at the local elections on Thursday 4 May 2023. From October 2023 it will also apply to UK General elections.
Wirral Council is Merseyside’s most politically diverse, with Labour aiming to regain overall control after running the council with a minority administration since 2019.
But, the Greens could throw a spanner in the works and will be hoping to make further inroads in Labour seats in the more urban areas of Wirral and the Lib Dems have been campaigning hard in some of the Tory heartlands on the more rural and suburban areas on the west side of the M53.
Since it was created in 1973, the council has switched between being controlled by the Labour Party and the Conservatives, as well as being under no overall control.
The LDRS reported that Cllr Janette Williamson, the local authority’s Labour leader, said, “I am really pleased with our performance today, I have to say and we came so close in so many Conservative seats. It’s been a great night for us.”
The LDRS further reported that Cllr Cleary, leader of the Green group said, “We’ve gained new councillors in Bromborough, Bebington and Rock Ferry so we are disappointed about Seacombe but on balance, it’s a massive positive result for us to win in three new wards.”
Following the declarations, Dame Angela Eagle MP (Wallasey) said, “This has been a day of good news up and down the country – Labour is now the largest party in local government for the first time since 2002.
“Today, we’ve taken seven seats from the Tories in the Wirral, and have 13 Labour councillors out of 18 in Wallasey.
“I’m incredibly proud of the volunteers across the Wirral for their hard work in this campaign.
“It’s clear the country is sick and tired of over a decade of Tory incompetence, chaos and neglect. Our deeply out of touch Prime Minister has failed to tackle the cost of living crisis – the country is ready for the better Britain Labour will provide. “
Seat count after the 2023 elections:
The council remains in ‘no overall control’ – Turnout 36%
Party
Seats won
% of votes
Labour
30
41%
Conservative
17
25%
Green Party
13
22%
Liberal Democrats
6
11%
Freedom Alliance
0
< 1%
Independent
0
< 1%
Reform UK
0
< 1%
Yvonne Nolan
0
< 1%
National Housing Party
0
< 1%
Following is a full list of Wirral candidates. • italics denote the sitting councillor before the 2023 elections • bold denotes the winning candidate
Bebington – GRN/GRN/GRN
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Green
Judith Grier
3397
23%
Green
Ed Lamb
3159
22%
Liberal Democrats
Anthony Molyneux
145
1%
Conservative
Nicola Oakley
346
2%
Labour
Kaitlyn Peterson
1261
9%
Labour
Callum Stuart
1138
8%
Conservative
Barry Tunna
298
2%
Conservative
Christine Tunna
274
2%
Green
Jason Walsh
3349
23%
Labour
Robert Ward
1040
7%
Freedom Alliance
Catherine Williams
63
0%
Electorate: 11763. Total Votes: 14470. Turnout: 42.43%
Bidston and St James – LAB/LAB/LAB
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Conservative
Wendy Clements
202
4%
Green
Jayne Clough
247
4%
Freedom Alliance
Malcolm Davis
88
2%
Green
Craig Fitzpatrick
210
4%
Conservative
Jonathon Goldsmith
201
4%
Green
Millie Gorman
231
4%
Labour
Liz Grey
1435
26%
Labour
Brian Kenny
1336
24%
Conservative
Tina McDonnell
215
4%
Labour
Julie McManus
1283
23%
Liberal Democrats
Mike Parsons
125
2%
Electorate: 10620. Total Votes: 5573. Turnout: 19.90%
Birkenhead and Tranmere – GRN/GRN/GRN
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Conservative
Richard Baker
82
1%
Green
Pat Cleary
1856
23%
Labour
Helen Collinson
1034
13%
Freedom Alliance
Catherine Evans
75
1%
Conservative
Ada Lewis
68
1%
Labour
Julienne McGeough
916
11%
Labour
Piara Miah
792
10%
Green
Amanda Onwuemene
1590
20%
Liberal Democrats
Edward Smith
62
1%
Green
Ewan Tomeny
1567
19%
Conservative
Colin Young
60
1%
Electorate: 10516. Total Votes: 8102. Turnout: 27.10%
Bromborough – GRN/GRN/GRN
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Labour
Brenda Ashton
1700
14%
Green
Jo Bird
2497
20%
Conservative
Gillian Byrne
258
2%
Conservative
Des Drury
313
3%
Labour
Finlay Gordon
1531
12%
Conservative
Eleanor Johnson
233
2%
Freedom Alliance
Stephanie McGarry-Gribbin
66
1%
Green
Ruth Molyneux
2133
17%
Green
Keiran Murphy
1994
16%
Labour
Sue Percy
1533
13%
Electorate: 12102. Total Votes: 12258. Turnout: 36.16%
Clatterbridge – CON/CON/CON
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Conservative
Helen Cameron
1952
14%
Green
Dan Gorman
773
6%
Labour
Jenny Holliday
1690
12%
Labour
Michael Holliday
1558
12%
Conservative
Mary Jordan
2042
15%
Green
Jim McGinley
679
5%
Freedom Alliance
Pamela Peacock
84
1%
Conservative
Cherry Povall
2042
15%
Liberal Democrats
Christopher Raymond
521
4%
Green
John Rodgers
611
5%
Labour
Joanne Smith
1576
12%
Electorate: 11204. Total Votes: 13528. Turnout: 42.30%
Claughton – LAB/LAB/LAB
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Conservative
Charles Assa
481
5%
National Housing Party UK
Gary Bergin
149
2%
Green
Susan Braddock
509
5%
Labour
George Davies
2053
22%
Liberal Democrats
David Evans
396
4%
Labour
Stephen Foulkes
1845
20%
Green
Liz Heydon
446
5%
Conservative
Andrew Hodson
502
5%
Green
Perle Sheldricks
320
3%
Conservative
Sheridan Tear-Edmonds
429
5%
Labour
Gillian Wood
1830
20%
Liberal Democrats
Roy Wood
297
3%
Electorate: 11360. Total Votes: 9257. Turnout: 29.40%
Eastham – LDEM/LDEM/LDEM
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Liberal Democrats
Christopher Carubia
2231
20%
Conservative
Denise Crossley-Williams
408
4%
Labour
Melinda Downey
947
9%
Liberal Democrats
Phillip Gilchrist
2421
22%
Conservative
William Harland
324
3%
Green
Joy Hogg
369
3%
Green
Percy Hogg
252
2%
Conservative
Philip Merry
322
3%
Freedom Alliance
Sarah of the House of Blackburn
52
0%
Green
Peter Rand
209
2%
Liberal Democrats
Helen Raymond
1807
16%
Labour
William Smith
807
7%
Labour
Nicole Williams
835
5%
Electorate: 11162. Total Votes: 10984. Turnout: 35.00%
Greasby, Frankby and Irby – LAB/LAB/LAB
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Liberal Democrats
Alan Brighouse
438
3%
Independent
David Burgess-Joyce
193
1%
Green
Miriam Cooke
601
4%
Conservative
Tracy Elzeiny
2078
13%
Freedom Alliance
Rosie Evans
97
1%
Conservative
David Fairbairn
1987
13%
Green
Tom Green
527
3%
Labour
Gail Jenkinson
2740
17%
Conservative
Darren May
1923
12%
Labour
Grahame McManus
2499
16%
Green
Cathy Page
410
3%
Labour
Mark Skillicorn
2219
14%
Electorate: 11520. Total Votes: 15712. Turnout: 47.75%
Heswall – CON/CON/CON
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Labour
Sophia Ballantyne
733
5%
Liberal Democrats
Elizabeth Brame
2150
15%
Conservative
Graham Davies
2171
15%
Conservative
Andrew Hodson
2351
16%
Conservative
Kathryn Hodson
2213
15%
Liberal Democrats
David Jones
1766
12%
Freedom Alliance
Donna Lyons-Whearty
74
1%
Labour
Michael Royden
587
4%
Labour
Jimmy Sergi
544
4%
Liberal Democrats
Philip Waterfield
1983
14%
Electorate: 10887. Total Votes: 14572. Turnout: 47.00%
Hoylake and Meols – CON/CON/CON
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Conservative
Max Booth
2158
16%
Labour
Paul Carney
1560
11%
Green
Fintan Cleary
562
4%
Green
Alix Cockcroft
640
5%
Conservative
Tony Cox
2197
16%
Conservative
Andrew Gardner
2168
16%
Liberal Democrats
Tom Hughes
291
2%
Liberal Democrats
Ian Johnson
260
2%
Labour
Sheila Murphy
1721
13%
Green
Julian Priest
415
3%
Freedom Alliance
Colin Roper
106
1%
Labour
David Sindall
1507
11%
Electorate: 10516. Total Votes: 13585. Turnout: 45.66%
Leasowe and Moreton East – LAB/LAB/LAB
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Conservative
Tracy Blackburn
530
6%
Green
Katie Bristow
334
4%
Conservative
Neil Cartwright
477
5%
Labour
Angie Davies
1959
23%
Green
Michael Dixon
261
3%
Independent
Karl Greaney
642
7%
Labour
Paul Jobson
1688
19%
Labour
Louise Luxon-Kewley
1881
22%
Freedom Alliance
Juliette Mantley
93
1%
Liberal Democrats
Chase Newton
227
3%
Green
Holly Turner
258
3%
Conservative
Jonathan Yongjiang Wang
355
4%
Electorate: 11012. Total Votes: 8705. Turnout: 28.85%
Liscard – LAB/LAB/LAB
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Reform UK
Daniel Bruffell
220
2%
Green
Helen Burnham
541
6%
Conservative
Stephen Dobson
440
5%
Liberal Democrats
Vicky Downie
195
2%
Green
William Gorman
369
4%
Labour
Daisy Kenny
2012
23%
Green
Peter Lageard
324
4%
Labour
James Laing
1826
21%
Conservative
Lesley May
413
5%
Conservative
Jane Owens
502
6%
Freedom Alliance
Lynsey Welsh
107
1%
Labour
Janette Williamson
1865
21%
Electorate: 11280. Total Votes: 8814. Turnout: 28.62%
Moreton West and Saughall Massie –
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Conservative
Colin Baldwin
1901
17%
Conservative
John Bennett
1875
17%
Labour
Mark Cawood
1508
13%
Green
Hilary Cullen
343
3%
Green
Rick Hughes
239
2%
Freedom Alliance
Niamh McGarry-Gribbin
63
1%
Labour
Katherine Stuart
1428
13%
Labour
Maegan Stuart
1358
12%
Liberal Democrats
Christopher Teggin
108
1%
Liberal Democrats
Robert Thompson
80
1%
Green
Jane Turner
294
3%
Reform UK
Paul Whelligan
123
1%
Conservative
Vida Wilson
1908
17%
Electorate: 10693. Total Votes: 11225. Turnout: 37.00%
New Brighton – LAB/LAB/LAB
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Green
Alexandra Badwi
653
6%
Green
Andrew Bennett
618
6%
Freedom Alliance
Dermot Bolger
176
2%
Conservative
Andrew Gilfoyle
598
6%
Liberal Democrats
Charlie Houghton
338
3%
Labour
Tony Jones
2261
21%
Conservative
Ann Lavin
661
6%
Labour
Paul Martin
2109
19%
Conservative
Elizabeth Murphy
544
5%
Labour
Sue Powell-Wilde
2137
20%
Green
Cynthia Stonall
739
7%
Electorate: 11399. Total Votes: 10834. Turnout: 33.88%
Oxton – LDEM/LDEM/LDEM
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Labour
Clint Agard
964
8%
Liberal Democrats
Allan Brame
2689
24%
Labour
Tony Cottier
942
8%
Green
Allan Goode
577
5%
Reform UK
Philip Griffiths
113
1%
Green
Rachel Heydon
535
5%
Liberal Democrats
Stuart Kelly
2592
23%
Conservative
Jon Loach
169
1%
Conservative
Freda Punnen
155
1%
Liberal Democrats
Mike Redfern
2177
19%
Freedom Alliance
Monika Skinner
104
1%
Conservative
Colin Vallance-Owen
153
1%
Green
Alex Wallis
269
2%
Electorate: 10919. Total Votes: 11379. Turnout: 37.60%
Pensby and Thingwall – LAB/LAB/LAB
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Labour
Ann Ainsworth
2118
16%
Green
Allen Burton
550
4%
Conservative
Ivan Camphor
1617
12%
Conservative
Mike Collins
1768
14%
Conservative
Leah Fraser
1582
12%
Green
Marilyn Jones
520
4%
Labour
Richie Pitt
1883
14%
Freedom Alliance
William Parry
93
1%
Green
Mark Reeves
403
3%
Labour
Mike Sullivan
2050
16%
Liberal Democrats
Judith Wolf
444
3%
Electorate: 10423. Total Votes: 13028. Turnout: 44.34%
Prenton – GRN/GRN/GRN
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Labour
John Ainsworth
1246
11%
Conservative
Michael Clements
215
2%
Green
Christopher Cooke
2419
22%
Conservative
Mark Davey-Hayford
172
2%
Freedom Alliance
Lily Evans
82
1%
Conservative
Sibani Ghosh
161
1%
Green
Harry Gorman
2297
21%
Green
Naomi Graham
2227
20%
Labour
Rachel Millard
1144
10%
Liberal Democrats
Jonathan Richardson
105
1%
Liberal Democrats
David Tyrrell
57
1%
Labour
Archie Wood
1012
9%
Electorate: 10871. Total Votes: 11137. Turnout: 35.80%
Rock Ferry – LAB/LAB/GRN
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Conservative
Susan Amyes
190
3%
Labour
Paula Basnett
1525
24%
Liberal Democrats
Frank Doyle
171
3%
Conservative
Margaret Kalil
140
2%
Green
Craig McDonald
1073
17%
Labour
Tony Murphy
1428
22%
Independent
Yvonne Nolan
493
8%
Green
Helen O’Donnell
469
7%
Green
Gareth Rowlands
713
11%
Reform UK
Tony Stanley
131
2%
Conservative
Paul Taylor
141
2%
Electorate: 10262. Total Votes: 6474. Turnout: 24.10%
Seacombe – LAB/LAB/LAB
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Freedom Alliance
Paul Cardin
107
1%
Conservative
Bobby Cartwright
116
1%
Labour
Tom Laing
1755
19%
Conservative
Adele Lumb
106
1%
Liberal Democrats
Anthony Morris
72
1%
Green
Hannah Rapley
1243
14%
Conservative
Evelyn Sorrell
103
1%
Green
Sarah Spoor
1107
12%
Labour
Kaitlin Stuart
1699
18%
Labour
Paul Stuart
1622
18%
Green
Rae Voller
1255
14%
Electorate: 10246. Total Votes: 9185. Turnout: 31.40%
Upton – LAB/LAB/LAB
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Conservative
Johnathan Andrew
649
7%
Labour
Stephen Bennett
2236
22%
Conservative
Andy Brown
600
6%
Freedom Alliance
Debbie Cameron
137
1%
Green
Lily Clough
660
7%
Liberal Democrats
Alan Davies
252
3%
Conservative
Thomas Maxwell
549
6%
Green
Nadia Parsons
340
3%
Labour
Jean Robinson
2140
22%
Green
Tim Watson
458
5%
Labour
Jerry Williams
1920
19%
Electorate: 12297. Total Votes: 9941. Turnout: 28.97%
Wallasey – CON/CON/LAB
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Freedom Alliance
Matthew Chell
93
1%
Liberal Democrats
John Codling
245
2%
Labour
Graeme Cooper
2261
15%
Green
Ryan Davies
290
2%
Green
Moira Gommon
333
2%
Green
Jane Gorman
301
2%
Labour
Brenda Hall
2294
15%
Conservative
Steven Hoey
2238
15%
Conservative
Ian Lewis
2370
16%
Labour
Saul Murphy
2191
14%
Conservative
Lesley Rennie
2391
16%
Liberal Democrats
John Uriel
116
1%
Reform UK
Lynda Williams
89
1%
Electorate: 11551. Total Votes: 15212. Turnout: 46.27%
West Kirby and Thurstaston – CON/CON/CON
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Green
Karen Brenchley
463
4%
Green
Barbara Burton
498
4%
Liberal Democrats
Ross Campbell
469
4%
Liberal Democrats
John Cresswell
670
5%
Conservative
Jeff Green
1859
14%
Conservative
Jenny Johnson
1884
14%
Labour
Paula Kenny
1433
11%
Labour
Mary MacEwan
1388
11%
Conservative
Simon Mountney
1820
14%
Liberal Democrats
Peter Reisdorf
634
5%
Labour
Elizabeth Watkins
1307
10%
Freedom Alliance
Pat Whearty
133
1%
Green
Mark Wilde
493
4%
Electorate: 10254. Total Votes: 13051. Turnout: 44.56%