title: Canterbury City Council elections
text: # Canterbury City Council elections
  
  Canterbury City Council is the local authority for the City of Canterbury. The council is elected every four years.
  
  ## Political control
  
  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:
  
  | Party in control | Years |
  | - | - |
  | Conservative | 1973–1991 |
  | No overall control | 1991–2005 |
  | Conservative | 2005–2023 |
  | No overall control | 2023–present |
  
  ### Leadership
  
  The role of lord mayor in Canterbury is largely ceremonial. From 1974 to 2002 political leadership was provided by the chair of the policy committee, and if that person's party had a majority of the seats on the council they would also take the title "leader of the council". The role of leader was made a formal appointment in 2002. The leaders (or chairs of the policy committee prior to 2002) have been:
  
  | Councillor | Party | From | To |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | Arthur Porter | Conservative | 1 Apr 1974 | 19 May 1982 |
  | Jim Nock | Conservative | 19 May 1982 | 31 Aug 1986 |
  | Peter Lee | Conservative | 1 Sep 1986 | 10 May 1987 |
  | Jim Nock | Conservative | 21 May 1987 | 9 May 1990 |
  | David Pentin | Conservative | 10 May 1990 | 16 May 1991 |
  | Jackie Hayes | Liberal Democrats | 16 May 1991 | 21 Feb 1994 |
  | Terry Rees | Labour | 11 Apr 1994 | 19 May 1994 |
  | Celia Rigden | Independent | 19 May 1994 | 15 Aug 1994 |
  | Marion Attwood | Conservative | 15 Aug 1994 | 3 Oct 1994 |
  | Iain Douglas | Labour | 3 Oct 1994 | 21 Nov 1994 |
  | Celia Rigden | Independent | 21 Nov 1994 | 7 May 1995 |
  | Peter Wales | Liberal Democrats | 18 May 1995 | 1 Dec 1997 |
  | Martin Vye | Liberal Democrats | 1 Dec 1997 | 20 May 1999 |
  | (rotating chairs between Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat group leaders) | | 20 May 1999 | 8 May 2002 |
  | Alex Perkins | Liberal Democrats | 8 May 2002 | 11 May 2005 |
  | Harry Cragg | Conservative | 11 May 2005 | 16 May 2007 |
  | John Gilbey | Conservative | 16 May 2007 | 10 May 2015 |
  | Simon Cook | Conservative | 20 May 2015 | 5 May 2019 |
  | Rob Thomas | Conservative | 22 May 2019 | 10 Sep 2020 |
  | Ben Fitter-Harding | Conservative | 10 Sep 2020 | 17 May 2023 |
  | Alan Baldock | Labour | 17 May 2023 |
  
  ## Council elections
  
  * 1973 Canterbury City Council election
  * 1976 Canterbury City Council election
  * 1979 Canterbury City Council election (New ward boundaries)
  * 1983 Canterbury City Council election
  * 1987 Canterbury City Council election (City boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same)
  * 1991 Canterbury City Council election
  * 1995 Canterbury City Council election
  * 1999 Canterbury City Council election
  * 2003 Canterbury City Council election (New ward boundaries)
  * 2007 Canterbury City Council election
  * 2011 Canterbury City Council election
  * 2015 Canterbury City Council election (New ward boundaries)
  * 2019 Canterbury City Council election
  * 2023 Canterbury City Council election
  
  ## Result maps
  
  * 2003 results map
  * 2007 results map
  * 2011 results map
  * 2015 results map
  * 2019 results map
  * 2023 results map
  
  ## By-election results
  
  ### 1995-1999
  
  Swalecliffe By-Election 3 April 1997 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Ian Thomas | 564 | 35.1 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | | 552 | 34.4 |
  | | Labour | | 490 | 30.5 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 12 | 0.7 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,606 | 51.0 |
  | | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | |
  
  Gorrell By-Election 25 September 1997 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | | 577 | 44.1 | -12.1 |
  | | Conservative | | 567 | 43.3 | +11.3 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | | 151 | 11.5 | -0.4 |
  | | UKIP | | 14 | 1.1 | +1.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 10 | 0.8 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,309 | | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
  
  Marshside By-Election 25 September 1997 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | | 313 | 49.8 | -13.2 |
  | | Conservative | | 183 | 29.1 | +2.0 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | | 133 | 21.1 | +13.8 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 130 | 20.7 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 629 | | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### 1999-2003
  
  Marshside By-Election 16 March 2000 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Heather Lloyd | 329 | 38.3 | +21.6 |
  | | Conservative | Elizabeth Taylor | 289 | 33.7 | -0.6 |
  | | Labour | Alan Thomas | 241 | 28.1 | -21.0 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 40 | 4.6 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 859 | 44.3 | |
  | | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | | |
  
  Herne By-Election 7 September 2000 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Nigel Oakes | 867 | 37.6 | +5.2 |
  | | Conservative | Alan White | 797 | 34.5 | +9.0 |
  | | Labour | David Hornsby | 344 | 14.9 | -2.6 |
  | | Green | Carol Davis | 187 | 8.1 | -3.0 |
  | | UKIP | John Moore | 112 | 4.9 | +4.9 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 70 | 3.1 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,307 | 26.8 | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
  
  Barton By-Election 7 June 2001 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Michael Northey | 1,184 | 35.4 | -2.3 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Valerie Ainscough | 1,177 | 35.2 | -11.6 |
  | | Labour | Theresa Mawson | 824 | 24.6 | +9.0 |
  | | Green | Steven Dawe | 163 | 4.9 | +4.9 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 7 | 0.2 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,348 | 62.4 | |
  | | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
  
  ### 2003-2007
  
  North Nailbourne By-Election 22 January 2004 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | John Anderson | 544 | 50.9 | -5.3 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Janet Horsley | 478 | 44.7 | +0.9 |
  | | UKIP | John Moore | 26 | 2.4 | +2.4 |
  | | Labour | Paul Todd | 21 | 2.0 | +2.0 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 66 | 6.2 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,069 | 53.0 | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  
  Barton By-Election 7 October 2004 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Michael Northey | 820 | 44.8 | +10.4 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | James Flanagan | 697 | 38.0 | -4.3 |
  | | Green | Keith Bothwell | 145 | 7.9 | +0.9 |
  | | Labour | Laurence Ward | 100 | 5.5 | -5.1 |
  | | Council Tax Payers Party | James Cooper | 70 | 3.8 | -2.0 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 123 | 6.8 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,832 | 31.8 | |
  | | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
  
  West Bay By-Election 5 May 2005 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Vincent McMahan | 1,177 | 37.6 | -13.2 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Kevin Sims | 992 | 31.7 | +13.5 |
  | | Labour | Brian Hunter | 754 | 24.1 | -6.9 |
  | | UKIP | John Moore | 205 | 6.6 | +6.6 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 185 | 5.9 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,128 | 67.5 | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  
  Sturry South By-Election 29 June 2006 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Heather Taylor | 474 | 52.4 | -23.1 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | David Mummery | 318 | 35.1 | +23.3 |
  | | Labour | Andrew Fenyo | 89 | 9.8 | -2.8 |
  | | Independent | John Moore | 24 | 2.6 | +2.6 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 156 | 17.3 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 905 | 41.3 | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### 2007-2011
  
  Barton By-Election 10 July 2008 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Michael Steed | 993 | 51.8 | +9.3 |
  | | Conservative | Mark Evans | 701 | 36.6 | +2.7 |
  | | Green | Keith Bothwell | 121 | 6.3 | +6.3 |
  | | Independent | Blue Cooper | 102 | 5.3 | -0.7 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 292 | 15.2 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,917 | 33.1 | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### 2011-2015
  
  Blean Forest By-Election 20 September 2012 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Ben Fitter | 342 | 44.2 | -7.5 |
  | | Labour | Carol Goldstein | 185 | 23.9 | +23.9 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Dan Smith | 121 | 15.6 | +0.4 |
  | | Green | Russell Page | 64 | 8.3 | -24.8 |
  | | UKIP | Howard Farmer | 38 | 4.9 | +4.9 |
  | | Independent | John Hippisley | 24 | 3.1 | +3.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 157 | 20.3 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 774 | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  
  Seasalter By-Election 2 May 2013 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Louise Morgan | 789 | 38.4 | -21.5 |
  | | UKIP | Howard Farmer | 706 | 34.3 | +34.3 |
  | | Labour | Rachel Goodwin | 427 | 20.8 | -6.7 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Debra Enever | 93 | 4.5 | -8.1 |
  | | TUSC | Eriks Puce | 41 | 2.0 | +2.0 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 83 | 4.0 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,056 | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  
  Seasalter By-Election 19 September 2013 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | UKIP | Mike Bull | 644 | 38.5 | +38.5 |
  | | Conservative | Annette Stein | 522 | 31.2 | -28.7 |
  | | Labour | Rachel Goodwin | 307 | 18.3 | -9.2 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Keith Hooker | 147 | 8.8 | -3.8 |
  | | Green | Russell Page | 54 | 3.2 | +3.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 122 | 7.3 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,674 | | |
  | | UKIP gain from Conservative | UKIP gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
  
  Barham Downs By-Election 14 March 2014 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Michael Sole | 337 | 37.3 | -3.4 |
  | | Conservative | Stuart Walker | 285 | 31.5 | -11.4 |
  | | UKIP | Dave de Boick | 164 | 18.1 | +18.1 |
  | | Labour | David Wilson | 78 | 8.6 | +8.6 |
  | | Green | Pat Marsh | 40 | 4.4 | -12.0 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 52 | 5.8 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 904 | | |
  | | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
  
  ### 2015-2019
  
  Reculver By-Election 5 May 2016 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Ann Taylor | 421 | 39.3 | -31.7 |
  | | UKIP | Mick O'Brien | 306 | 28.6 | +28.6 |
  | | Labour | Simon Warley | 251 | 23.4 | -5.6 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Ann Anderson | 93 | 8.7 | +8.7 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 115 | 10.7 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,071 | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  
  Westgate By-Election 8 June 2017 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Simon Warley | 1,761 | 43.4 | +24.1 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Daniel Prevett | 978 | 24.1 | +0.7 |
  | | Conservative | Luke Whiddett | 929 | 22.9 | -3.8 |
  | | Green | Henry Stanton | 389 | 9.6 | -9.8 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 783 | 19.3 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,057 | | |
  | | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
  
  ### 2019-2023
  
  Chestfield By-Election 19 September 2019 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Ben Fitter-Harding | 728 | 46.0 | -6.5 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Peter Old | 562 | 35.5 | +18.9 |
  | | Labour | Morag Warren | 140 | 8.8 | -6.9 |
  | | Independent | Joe Egerton | 84 | 5.3 | +5.3 |
  | | Green | Nicole David | 68 | 4.3 | -10.9 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 166 | 10.5 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,582 | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  
  Swalecliffe By-Election 6 May 2021 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Mark Dance | 616 | 42.6 | -3.7 |
  | | Green | Keith Bothwell | 527 | 36.5 | +20.6 |
  | | Labour | Craig Potter | 278 | 19.2 | -11.6 |
  | | Independent | Joe Egerton | 24 | 1.7 | +1.7 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 89 | 6.2 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,445 | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  
  Westgate By-Election 6 May 2021 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Pip Hazelton | 842 | 39.2 | +5.4 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Alex Lister | 661 | 30.8 | -6.5 |
  | | Conservative | Jake Warman | 404 | 18.8 | +9.2 |
  | | Green | Terry Thompson | 242 | 11.3 | +2.0 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 181 | 8.4 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,149 | | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
  
  Gorrell By-Election 18 November 2021 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Green | Clare Turnbull | 1,149 | 43.9 | +10.3 |
  | | Labour | Dane Buckman | 803 | 30.7 | -6.0 |
  | | Conservative | Stephen Spencer | 608 | 23.2 | +0.2 |
  | | Workers Party | Colin Gardner | 58 | 2.2 | +2.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 346 | 13.2 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,618 | | |
  | | Green gain from Labour | Green gain from Labour | Swing | | |
  