title: 2019 Swale Borough Council election
text: # 2019 Swale Borough Council election
  
  Elections were held to Swale Borough Council in England as part of the United Kingdom local elections on 2 May 2019.
  
  ## Results summary
  
  2019 Swale Borough Council election :
  
  | Party | Candidates | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Conservative | 45 | 16 | 0 | 16 | 16 | 34.0 | 34.1 | 20,146 | –5.0 |
  | Labour | 30 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 23.4 | 23.7 | 14,022 | +2.2 |
  | Swale Independents | 16 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 21.3 | 20.1 | 11,850 | N/A |
  | Liberal Democrats | 14 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 10.6 | 9.7 | 5,708 | +7.2 |
  | Green | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4.3 | 5.7 | 3,345 | +2.8 |
  | Independent | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | | 4.3 | 4.6 | 2,737 | –0.7 |
  | UKIP | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 611 | –27.3 |
  | Others | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0.0 | 1.1 | 670 | +1.1 |
  
  ## Ward results
  
  ### Abbey
  
  Abbey :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Hannah Perkin | 760 | 45 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Denise Knights | 641 | 38 |
  | | Conservative | James Copland | 297 | 18 |
  | | Conservative | Mark Evans | 285 | 17 |
  | | Labour | Trevor Payne | 280 | 17 |
  | | Labour | Anne Salmon | 228 | 14 |
  | | UKIP | Jess Valentine | 186 | 11 |
  | | Independent | Anita Walker | 167 | 10 |
  | | Green | Phil Wyard | 167 | 10 |
  | | Green | Henry Stanton | 146 | 9 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | |
  | | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | |
  
  ### Bobbing, Iwade & Lower Halstow
  
  Bobbing, Iwade & Lower Halstow :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Swale Ind. | Corrie Woodford | 852 | 59 |
  | | Conservative | Roger Clark | 570 | 39 |
  | | Conservative | Tyrone Ripley | 437 | 30 |
  | | Labour | Paul Hurd | 305 | 21 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
  | | Swale Ind. gain from Conservative | Swale Ind. gain from Conservative | Swing | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Borden & Grove Park
  
  Borden & Grove Park :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Swale Ind. | Mike Baldock | 1,640 | 80 |
  | | Conservative | Nicholas Hampshire | 712 | 35 |
  | | Labour | Geoff Broughton | 581 | 28 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
  | | Swale Ind. gain from UKIP | Swale Ind. gain from UKIP | Swing | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Boughton & Courtenay
  
  Boughton & Courtenay :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Green | Alastair Gould | 915 | 44 |
  | | Green | Tim Valentine | 825 | 40 |
  | | Swale Ind. | Jeff Tutt | 678 | 33 |
  | | Conservative | Andrew Bowles | 621 | 30 |
  | | Conservative | Ian Henderson | 416 | 20 |
  | | Independent | George Bobbin | 287 | 14 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
  | | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Swing | |
  | | Green gain from Conservative | Green gain from Conservative | Swing | |
  
  ### Chalkwell
  
  Chalkwell :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Ghlin Whelan | 397 | 68 |
  | | Conservative | Richard Allsep | 184 | 32 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
  
  ### East Downs
  
  East Downs :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | David Simmons | 424 | 46 |
  | | Swale Ind. | Dave Austin | 161 | 17 |
  | | Green | Angela Stoddart | 159 | 17 |
  | | Labour | Jennifer Reeves | 98 | 11 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Kris Garsed | 81 | 9 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch
  
  Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Swale Ind. | Richard Palmer | 1,135 | 63 |
  | | Conservative | Alan Horton | 641 | 36 |
  | | Conservative | John Wright | 598 | 33 |
  | | Labour | Amy Leggatt | 302 | 17 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
  | | Swale Ind. gain from Conservative | Swale Ind. gain from Conservative | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Homewood
  
  Homewood :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Roger Truelove | 1,166 | 71 |
  | | Labour | Simon Clark | 1,045 | 64 |
  | | Conservative | Gareth Randall | 438 | 27 |
  | | Conservative | Danielle Hoynes | 422 | 26 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
  | | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | |
  
  ### Kemsley
  
  Kemsley :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Swale Ind. | Derek Carnell | 570 | 50 |
  | | Conservative | Michael Dendor | 429 | 38 |
  | | Conservative | Samuel Koffie-Williams | 340 | 30 |
  | | Labour | Andy Cooper | 273 | 24 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Mary Zeng | 204 | 18 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
  | | Swale Ind. gain from Conservative | Swale Ind. gain from Conservative | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Milton Regis
  
  Milton Regis :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Tony Winckless | 635 | 52 |
  | | Labour | Steve Davey | 446 | 36 |
  | | Swale Ind. | Jason Clinch | 434 | 35 |
  | | Conservative | Darryl Brown | 244 | 20 |
  | | Conservative | Sylvia Marin | 171 | 14 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Alexander Stennings | 103 | 8 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
  | | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Minster Cliffs
  
  Minster Cliffs :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Swale Ind. | Richard Darby | 943 | 53 |
  | | Conservative | Ken Pugh | 690 | 39 |
  | | Conservative | Ken Ingleton | 646 | 36 |
  | | Conservative | Andy Booth | 613 | 35 |
  | | Green | Sam Collins | 413 | 23 |
  | | Labour | Tom Nundy | 293 | 17 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
  | | Swale Ind. gain from UKIP | Swale Ind. gain from UKIP | Swing | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Murston
  
  Murston :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Swale Ind. | James Hall | 705 | 57 |
  | | Conservative | Ann Hampshire | 314 | 25 |
  | | Labour | Ashley Wise | 297 | 24 |
  | | Labour | Richard Raycraft | 275 | 22 |
  | | Independent | Stephen Young | 227 | 18 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Rosemary Madgwick | 124 | 10 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
  | | Swale Ind. gain from UKIP | Swale Ind. gain from UKIP | Swing | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Priory
  
  Priory :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Benjamin Martin | 382 | 52 |
  | | Conservative | Andy Culham | 215 | 29 |
  | | Labour | Jennifer Hamilton | 86 | 12 |
  | | Green | Peter Hutchinson | 55 | 7 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Swing | |
  
  ### Queenborough & Halfway
  
  Queenborough & Halfway :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Cameron Beart | 758 | 54 |
  | | Conservative | Pete Marchington | 658 | 47 |
  | | Conservative | Simon Fowle | 626 | 45 |
  | | Labour | Matt Brown | 475 | 34 |
  | | Labour | Mike Rolfe | 423 | 30 |
  | | Centre Progressive | Darren Bullen | 340 | 24 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  | | Conservative gain from UKIP | Conservative gain from UKIP | | |
  
  ### Roman
  
  Roman :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Tim Gibson | 810 | 58 |
  | | Labour | Ken Rowles | 739 | 53 |
  | | Conservative | Sarah Aldridge | 578 | 41 |
  | | Conservative | Dannis McFarlane | 425 | 31 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
  | | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | |
  | | Labour gain from UKIP | Labour gain from UKIP | Swing | |
  
  ### Sheerness
  
  Sheerness :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | Lee McCall | 807 | 46 |
  | | Labour | Angela Harrison | 783 | 44 |
  | | Labour | Mark Ellen | 684 | 39 |
  | | Labour | Nicola Nelson | 630 | 36 |
  | | Conservative | Steve Ritchie | 410 | 23 |
  | | Conservative | Lee-Anne Moore | 326 | 18 |
  | | Conservative | Ian Driscoll | 316 | 18 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
  | | Independent gain from UKIP | Independent gain from UKIP | Swing | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Sheppey Central
  
  Sheppey Central :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Swale Ind. | Elliott Jayes | 1,019 | 62 |
  | | Conservative | Peter MacDonald | 488 | 30 |
  | | Conservative | Pete Neal | 461 | 28 |
  | | Green | Chris Shipley | 383 | 23 |
  | | Labour | Paul Steele | 339 | 21 |
  | | Monster Raving Loony | Mad Mike Young | 330 | 20 |
  | | Conservative | Trudi Nicholls | 325 | 20 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
  | | Swale Ind. gain from UKIP | Swale Ind. gain from UKIP | Swing | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Sheppey East
  
  Sheppey East :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Swale Ind. | Bill Tatton | 472 | 41 |
  | | UKIP | Mini Nissanga | 425 | 37 |
  | | Conservative | Tina Booth | 376 | 33 |
  | | Conservative | Lynd Taylor | 339 | 29 |
  | | Labour Co-op | Gill Smith | 189 | 16 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
  | | Swale Ind. gain from Conservative | Swale Ind. gain from Conservative | Swing | |
  | | UKIP hold | UKIP hold | Swing | |
  
  ### St. Ann's
  
  St. Ann's :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Carole Jackson | 695 | 41 |
  | | Labour | Julian Saunders | 621 | 37 |
  | | Conservative | Mike Cosgrove | 569 | 34 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Kris Barker | 504 | 30 |
  | | Conservative | Nigel Kay | 497 | 29 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Peter Cook | 434 | 26 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
  | | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | |
  | | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | |
  
  ### Teynham & Lynsted
  
  Teynham & Lynsted :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Lloyd Bowen | 640 | 42 |
  | | Conservative | Mike Whiting | 495 | 33 |
  | | Swale Ind. | Hari Johnston | 490 | 32 |
  | | Swale Ind. | Colin Hopper | 419 | 28 |
  | | Green | Janet Bott | 282 | 19 |
  | | Labour | Ambrose Nwodoh | 259 | 17 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Carol Morris | 135 | 9 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  
  ### The Meads
  
  The Meads :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | James Hunt | 355 | 56 |
  | | Swale Ind. | Michael Page | 277 | 44 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Watling
  
  Watling :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Ben Martin | 1,139 | 59 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Eddie Thomas | 1,093 | 57 |
  | | Conservative | Jane Hawkins | 571 | 30 |
  | | Conservative | Geoff Wade | 527 | 27 |
  | | Labour | Gareth Reeves | 271 | 14 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | |
  | | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | |
  
  ### West Downs
  
  West Downs :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | Monique Bonney | 899 | 87 |
  | | Conservative | Christine Coles | 135 | 13 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
  | | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | |
  
  ### Woodstock
  
  Woodstock :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Swale Ind. | Paul Stephen | 1,011 | 28 |
  | | Swale Ind. | Sarah Stephen | 1,004 | 28 |
  | | Conservative | Kane Blackwell | 466 | 13 |
  | | Conservative | Lee Burgess | 424 | 12 |
  | | Independent | Ash Bull | 350 | 10 |
  | | Labour | Shelley Cheesman | 220 | 6 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Brenda Hammond | 61 | 2 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Brian Johnson | 47 | 1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
  | | Swale Ind. gain from Conservative | Swale Ind. gain from Conservative | Swing | |
  | | Swale Ind. gain from Conservative | Swale Ind. gain from Conservative | Swing | |
  
  ## By-elections between 2019 and 2023
  
  ### Sheerness
  
  A by-election was held in Sheerness on 6 May 2021 after the death of Labour councillor Mark Ellen. The seat was gained for the Conservative Party by Oliver Marcus Eakin with a majority of 144 votes over Labour Party candidate Nicola Nelson.
  
  Sheerness by-election 6 May 2021 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Oliver Marcus Eakin | 648 | 41.4 |
  | | Labour | Nicola Nelson | 504 | 32.2 |
  | | Green | Sam Collins | 209 | 13.3 |
  | | Swale Ind. | Dolley Jean White | 201 | 12.8 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 144 | 9.2 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,562 | 19 |
  | | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | |
  
  ### Priory
  
  A by-election was held in Priory Ward on 30 September 2021 after the resignation of Independent councillor Ben A Martin. The seat was gained for the Liberal Democrats by Michael Scott Henderson with a majority of 42 votes over Conservative Party candidate Andy Culham.
  
  Priory by-election 30 September 2021 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Michael Scott Henderson | 215 | 38.0 |
  | | Conservative | Andy Culham | 173 | 30.6 |
  | | Green | Viv Moore | 128 | 22.7 |
  | | Labour | Frances Rehal | 49 | 8.7 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 42 | 7.4 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 565 | 25.8 |
  | | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Swing | |
  
  ## Changes between 2019 and 2023
  
  In October 2020, Cllr Denise Knights (Abbey) and Cllr Ben A Martin (Priory) resigned the Liberal Democrat whip and joined the Independent Group.
  
  Labour councillor Mark Ellen (Sheerness) died suddenly on 18 February 2021. At the consequent by-election on 6 May 2021 the Conservative Party gained the seat. New councillor Oliver Eakin.
  
  In May 2021, Cllr Padmini Nissanga (Sheppey East) left UKIP and joined Reform UK to become their candidate for the Sheppey seat at the 2021 Kent County Council election.
  
  In July 2021, Cllr Richard Darby (Minster Cliffs) and Cllr Bill Tatton (Sheppey East) resigned the Swale Independents Alliance whip and formed a new group, 'Independents First'.
  
  Independent councillor Ben A Martin (Priory) resigned his seat in August 2021. At the consequent by-election on 30 September 2021 the Liberal Democrats gained the seat. New councillor Michael Scott Henderson.
  
  In March 2022, Cllr Peter MacDonald (Sheppey Central) resigned the Conservative whip and joined 'Independents First'.
  
  In April 2022, Cllr Simon Fowle (Queenborough & Halfway) resigned the Conservative whip to sit as an Independent.
  
  In September 2022, Cllr Steve Davey (Milton Regis) resigned the Labour whip and joined the Independent Group.
  
  