Wikipedia

2024 Hastings Borough Council election

The 2024 Hastings Borough Council election was held on Thursday 2 May 2024, alongside the other local elections in the United Kingdom being held on the same day. Half of the 32 members of Hastings Borough Council in East Sussex were elected. The council remained under no overall control, but the Green Party made significant gains in their number of seats, becoming the largest party on the council. The Conservatives performed poorly, losing a third of their 2023 share of the vote and half their seats. Reform UK also lost their only seat, which they had gained in May 2023 following a Conservative Councillor switching parties.[3] The Labour group leader, Heather Bishop, lost her seat.[4]

2024 Hastings Borough Council election
← 2022 2 May 2024 (2024-05-02) 2026 →
16 out of 32 seats to Hastings Borough Council
17 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
  Blank Blank Blank
Leader Julia Hilton Heather Bishop[1] n/a[a]
Party Green Labour Independent
Last election 5 seats, 23.5% 15 seats, 42.1% 0 seats, 0.0%
Seats before 4 6 11
Seats won 9 5 0
Seats after 12 8 7
Seat change Increase 8 Increase 2 Decrease 4
Popular vote 9,013 7,724 1,765
Percentage 37.7% 32.4% 7.4%
Swing Increase 14.2% Decrease 9.7% N/A
  Fourth party Fifth party
  Blank Blank
Leader Andy Patmore[2]
Party Conservative Reform UK
Last election 12 seats, 29.6% 0 seats, 0.0%
Seats before 10 1
Seats won 2 0
Seats after 5 0
Seat change Decrease 5 Decrease 1
Popular vote 4,550 345
Percentage 19.1% 1.4%
Swing Decrease 10.5% N/A
Winner of each seat at the 2024 Hastings Borough Council election
Leader before election

Julia Hilton
Green
No overall control

Leader after election

Julia Hilton
Green
No overall control

Prior to the election, the council was being run by a minority coalition of the Green Party and the subset of the independent councillors known as the 'Hastings Independent Group'.[5] Following the election a Green minority administration formed instead.[6]

Background

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Hasting historically been controlled by all 3 major parties. The Conservatives first won a majority in 1976, but lost the council to no overall control in 1980.[7] The Liberal Democrats won control in 1996, with the Conservatives having lost all their seats on the council the previous year.[7] The Labour Party won control of the council 2 years later, and held a majority until 2002, with the Conservatives retaking the council in 2006. Labour gained the council in 2010,[8] and controlled the council until 2022.[9]

In 2022, Labour won 9 seats (down 3) with 42.1% of the vote, the Conservatives won 4 with 29.6%, and the Green Party won 3 (up 3) with 23.5%. Following this election, Labour formed a majority coalition with the Green Party, but later formed a minority administration after the Greens withdrew from the coalition.[10] Labour lost their position as the largest group on the council in December 2023, after the resignation of 8 councillors from Labour and the suspension of another.[11][12] A minority coalition of the Green Party and the 8 who left Labour was then formed, with a Green Party leader.[11]

The seats up for election in 2024 were last contested in 2021; because of the delay of all local elections due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the seats are up for election after 3 years rather than the usual 4. In that election, the Conservatives won 8 seats (up 4) with 40.7% of the vote, Labour won 7 (down 5) with 37.6%, and the Green party won 1 (up 1) with 16.3%

Previous council composition

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After 2022 election Before 2024 election[13] After 2024 election
Party Seats Party Seats Party Seats
Independent 0 Independent 11 Independent 7
Conservative 12 Conservative 10 Conservative 5
Labour 15 Labour 6 Labour 8
Green 5 Green 4 Green 12
Reform UK 0 Reform UK 1 Reform UK 0

Changes:

  • April 2023: Lucian Fernando leaves Conservatives to sit as an independent[14]
  • May 2023: Lucian Fernando (independent) joins Reform UK[3]
  • October 2023: John Rankin leaves Conservatives to sit as an independent[15]
  • December 2023: Paul Barnett, Andy Batsford, John Cannan, Maya Evans, Ali Roark, Nigel Sinden, Mike Turner, and Simon Willis leave Labour to sit as independents;[16][17] Sabina Arthur suspended from Labour[12]
  • January 2024: Claire Carr leaves Green Party to sit as an independent[18]

Summary

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Candidates by party

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Conservative Party (16/16)





Labour Party (16/16)





Green Party (16/16)





Independent (9/16)





Liberal Democrats (8/16)





Reform UK (3/16)





Election result

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2024 Hastings Borough Council election
Party This election Full council This election
Seats Net Seats % Other Total Total % Votes Votes % +/−
  Green 9   8 56.3 3 12 37.5 9,013 37.7 +14.2
  Labour 5   2 31.3 3 8 25.0 7,724 32.4 –9.7
  Independent 0   4 0.0 7 7 21.9 1,765 7.4 N/A
  Conservative 2   5 12.5 3 5 15.6 4,550 19.1 –10.5
  Liberal Democrats 0   0.0 0 0 0.0 479 2.0 –2.7
  Reform UK 0   1 0.0 0 0 0.0 345 1.4 N/A

Ward results

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An asterisk (*) indicates an incumbent councillor.

Ashdown

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Ashdown[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sorrell Marlow-Eastwood* 470 38.5 –11.5
Labour Steve Thorpe 398 32.6 +4.5
Green Daniel Hope 167 13.7 +4.9
Reform UK Thee Kuga 116 9.5 N/A
Liberal Democrats Stephen Milton 69 5.7 –7.6
Majority 72 5.9
Turnout 1,220
Conservative hold Swing  8.0

Baird

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Baird[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Yunis Smith 387 29.0 +21.7
Conservative Liam Atkins 312 23.4 –14.1
Labour Liam Crowter 312 23.4 –28.5
Independent Peter Bailey 289 21.6 N/A
Liberal Democrats Emlyn Jones 35 2.6 –0.7
Majority 75 5.6
Turnout 1,335
Green gain from Conservative Swing  17.9

Braybrooke

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Braybrooke[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Mark Etherington 1,001 56.3 +35.3
Labour Tim Shand 616 34.6 –18.8
Conservative Shelley Bland 161 9.1 –10.9
Majority 385 21.7
Turnout 1,778
Green gain from Independent Swing  27.1

Castle

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Castle[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Becca Horn 1,108 55.7 +14.0
Labour James Thomas 700 35.2 –6.8
Conservative Rob Cooke 181 9.1 –4.3
Majority 408 20.5
Turnout 1,989
Green gain from Independent Swing  10.4

Central St Leonards

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Central St Leonards[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Adele Bates 820 45.4 +1.8
Labour Josh Matthews 541 29.9 –11.7
Independent Steph Warren 275 15.2 N/A
Conservative Craig Andrew 156 8.6 –3.3
Independent Richard Haberkost 15 0.8 N/A
Majority 279 13.5
Turnout 1,807
Green gain from Labour Swing  6.8

Conquest

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Conquest[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Foster* 491 37.3 –11.0
Labour Hugh Nicholson 386 29.3 +2.5
Independent Anna Winston 191 14.5 N/A
Green Tracey Lord 143 10.8 +3.0
Liberal Democrats Stewart Rayment 107 8.1 –9.0
Majority 105 8.0
Turnout 1,318
Conservative hold Swing  6.8

Gensing

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Gensing[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Paula Warne 1,073 57.8 +12.5
Labour Edwina Hughes 602 32.4 –6.8
Conservative Christopher Meaden 183 9.8 –2.2
Majority 471 25.4
Turnout 1,858
Green gain from Labour Swing  9.7

Hollington

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Hollington[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Danuta Kean 395 36.5 –24.5
Independent Maya Evans* 351 32.5 N/A
Conservative Stephen Butterton 261 24.1 –5.2
Green Dulcie Reynolds 74 6.8 –3.0
Majority 44 4.0
Turnout 1,081
Labour gain from Independent

Maze Hill

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Maze Hill[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Darren MacKenzie 590 37.9 +19.0
Labour Mike Southon 397 25.5 –0.2
Conservative Graeme Williams* 380 24.4 –18.7
Reform UK Paul Murphy 83 5.3 N/A
Independent Sarah Buller 68 4.4 N/A
Liberal Democrats Bruce Meredeen 40 2.6 –9.7
Majority 193 12.4
Turnout 1,558
Green gain from Conservative Swing  9.6

Old Hastings

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Old Hastings[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Julia Hilton* 1,123 60.8 +24.3
Labour Jeremy Hicks 536 29.0 –22.0
Conservative Martin Clarke 189 10.2 –2.3
Majority 587 31.8
Turnout 1,848
Green hold Swing  23.2

Ore

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Ore[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Jo Walker 763 57.7 +40.1
Labour Heather Bishop 327 24.7 –18.9
Conservative Roger Streeten 195 14.8 –24.0
Liberal Democrats Robert Wakeford 37 2.8 N/A
Majority 436 33.0
Turnout 1,322
Green gain from Conservative Swing  29.5

Silverhill

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Silverhill[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Billie Barnes 643 40.9 –3.6
Conservative Max Hewitt 393 25.0 –14.8
Green Lesley Arshad 336 21.3 +9.6
Reform UK Lucian Fernando* 146 9.3 N/A
Liberal Democrats Terry Keen 56 3.6 –0.4
Majority 250 15.9
Turnout 1,574
Labour gain from Reform UK Swing  5.6

St Helens

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St Helens[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Whitehill 503 30.9 –18.8
Conservative Peter Pragnell* 456 28.0 –11.4
Independent Jackie Patton 293 18.0 N/A
Green Ollie Hunter 287 17.6 +10.7
Liberal Democrats Bob Lloyd 91 5.6 +1.6
Majority 47 2.9
Turnout 1,630
Labour gain from Conservative Swing  3.7

Tressell

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Tressell[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Natalie Gaimster 817 65.6 +9.7
Labour Anna Sabin 324 26.0 –2.6
Conservative Sue Clarke 104 8.4 –7.0
Majority 493 39.6
Turnout 1,245
Green gain from Independent Swing  6.2

West St Leonards

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West St Leonards[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Trevor Webb 441 38.7 +12.5
Conservative Karl Beaney* 402 35.3 –14.3
Green Marisa McGreevy-Rose 182 16.0 +1.4
Independent Adam Taylor-Foster 70 6.1 N/A
Liberal Democrats Jonathon Stoodley 44 3.9 –5.7
Majority 39 3.4
Turnout 1,139
Labour gain from Conservative Swing  13.4

Wishing Tree

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Wishing Tree[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Helen Kay 603 51.4 –2.3
Conservative Rob Lee 216 18.4 –17.7
Independent Ian Miller 213 18.1 N/A
Green Mike Wharton 142 12.1 +1.9
Majority 387 33.0
Turnout 1,174
Labour hold Swing  7.7

References

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  1. ^ Of the eleven independent councillors prior to the election, eight sat together as the 'Hastings Independent Group' led by Paul Barnett.
  1. ^ Dillon, Rick (27 February 2024). "Chaos in Hastings after surprise Labour split". Sussex Bylines. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  2. ^ Connelley, Chris (21 January 2024). "Coalition Green / Hastings Independents Cabinet draws fire from Labour and Tories". Hastings Online Times. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b Oxburgh, Huw (12 May 2023). "Ex-Conservative councillor in Hastings joins Reform UK Party". Sussex World. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  4. ^ Oxburgh, Huw (3 May 2024). "Hastings Borough Council election results 2024 - council remains in no overall control". Sussex World. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  5. ^ Wright, Charlotte; Lee, Shola (15 December 2023). "Hastings Borough Council: Leader and five other councillors quit Labour". BBC News Online. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  6. ^ McLaughlin, Paul (5 June 2024). "Green takeover, independents frozen out". Hastings Independent. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Hastings Borough Council Election Results 1973-2012" (PDF). Elections Centre. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Election 2010 | Hastings council". BBC News. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Sussex election results 2022: Labour wins control of Worthing for first time". BBC News. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  10. ^ Oxburgh, Huw (21 October 2022). "Labour has new cabinet at Hastings Borough Council after split with Greens". Sussex World. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  11. ^ a b Connelley, Chris (21 January 2024). "Coalition Cabinet draws fire from Labour and Tories". Hastings Online Times. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  12. ^ a b Sullivan, Hugh; McLaughlin, Paul (17 January 2024). "BARNETT'S BLUE MONDAY TURNS GREEN". Hastings Independent Press. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  13. ^ "My Councillors by Party". Hastings Borough Council. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  14. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Happy new local government year". LocalCouncils.co.uk.
  15. ^ McLaughlin, Paul (4 October 2023). "Tory Councillor Jumps Ship". Hastings Independent Press. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  16. ^ Connelley, Chris (17 December 2023). "Labour Cabinet defections rock HBC – more likely to follow". hastingsonlinetimes.co.uk. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  17. ^ Oxburgh, Huw (18 December 2023). "Eighth councillor resigns from Hastings Labour group". Sussex World. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Controversy over Council Cabinet – Carr Quits". Hastings Independent Press. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF). Hastings Borough Council. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
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