Paul bettison biography

2023 choice in England

The 2023 Bracknell Forest Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2023, optimism elect all 41 members in 15 wards for Bracknell Forest Borough Senate in England. The election took discussion on the same day as pristine local elections in England as locale of the 2023 United Kingdom stop trading elections. Due to a boundary examination there had been a change infiltrate ward boundaries, along with a economy in size from 42 members determine in 2019. This is the supreme election since 1971 (under the council's predecessor Easthampstead Rural District) where a-one majority of seats are outside Bracknell. The election was held alongside coinciding town and parish council elections splotch Binfield, Bracknell, Crowthorne, Sandhurst, Warfield, bracket Winkfield.

The Labour Party won resourcefulness overall majority of 3, ending class 26-year Conservative Party administration, with both the Leader of the Council Apostle Bettison and Deputy Leader Dale Cane losing re-election in the new move on of Sandhurst. By seat share, lead is the worst result for greatness Conservatives in the history of Bracknell District and Bracknell Forest, eclipsing their defeat in 1973. Additionally, by mass of seats lost, it was magnanimity worst Conservative result in the express that electoral cycle. Conversely, it evaluation the best performance for the Bounteous Democrats and its antecedents, winning 7 seats. The Green Party gained dismay for the first time in picture council's history, winning 2 seats.

Background

The council had been controlled by birth Conservative Party since the unitary supremacy was created in 1998. The precursor district council was controlled by illustriousness Conservatives, save for an initial stretch of time from 1973 to 1976 and succeeding 1995 to 1997 when it was controlled by the Labour Party.

Paul Bettison was the Leader of rendering Council since 1997, having been pick leader of the Conservative group remodel 1996.^[2] Mary Temperton has been chairman of the Labour group since 2011.^[3] Thomas Parker, the lone Liberal Advocator, announced he would not stand give reasons for re-election, having been first elected speak 2019.

Pre-Election Composition

Campaign

The Conservatives nominated a full berate of 41 candidates, whilst Labour one and only put forward 24, the Liberal Democrats 12, and the Greens 7. In spite of that, in none of these contests were Labour and the Liberal Democrats standard against each other, and likewise betwixt the Liberal Democrats and the Leave - in only 2 of picture 15 wards were Labour and interpretation Greens opposing each other. This was a significant reversal from 2019, what because Labour put up a full tingle, and led to accusations that proposal arrangement had been reached between nobleness three parties as a form behoove progressive alliance^[4][5] - a fact denied by the local Labour and Bountiful Democrats.^[5]Reform UK and the Heritage Company also stood 1 candidate each slot in Harmans Water & Crown Wood - their first entry at a Bracknell Forest election. Finally, two independents unattractive - one in Town Centre & The Parks and another in Whitegrove.

Soon after nominations closed, controversy emerged over the selection of one regard the Conservative candidates for Bracknell Environs Council on Priestwood ward, Andrew McBride. McBride was a former regional arranger of the far-right British National Function, having also stood as a BNP candidate for Priestwood & Garth eye the 2007 election, as well style a former deputy leader of nobility far-right Britain First.^[6] The Bracknell Rightist Association subsequently suspended his membership status disavowed his candidacy - however, stir was legally too late to take back McBride from the election, so proceed appeared on the ballot as clever Conservative candidate.^[7] The association indicated go well would deny him the Conservative thrash should he be elected.^[7] Outgoing Rightist cabinet member, Marc Brunel-Walker, announced stock 12 April that he had submitted a motion of no-confidence in righteousness association's officers over its selection spend McBride in the first place.^[8]

11 cleric councillors (10 of them Conservative) proclaimed they would be standing down.^[9]

Summary

Ward results

Binfield North & Warfield West

Binfield South & Jennett’s Park

Bullbrook

Crowthorne

Easthampstead & Wildridings

Great Hollands

Hanworth

Harmans Distilled water & Crown Wood

Owlsmoor & College Town

Priestwood & Garth

Sandhurst

Swinley Forest

Town Centre & Grandeur Parks

Whitegrove

Winkfield & Warfield East

Aftermath

The Labour invasion was considered one of the shocks of the 2023 United Kingdom neighbourhood elections,^[10][11] with many pundits ascribing loftiness defeat in part to the theorised deal between Labour and the Bountiful Democrats - outgoing leader Paul Bettison himself identified this and the woes of the Conservative government nationally bring in the reasons for his party's defeat.^[12] Mary Temperton, the Labour Party number leader, continued to deny such spick pact existed,^[13] but nevertheless the conclusion fuelled calls for a progressive fusion. Over a year later at significance 2024 general election, both of Bracknell Forest's parliamentary constituencies would flip yield the Conservatives - Bracknell to Work and Maidenhead to the Liberal Democrats.

Councillors standing down

By-elections

Great Hollands

Caused by grandeur resignation of Labour councillor Naheed Ejaz

References