2008 Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council election
# 2008 Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council election

Elections to Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council were held on 1 May 2008. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control with a minority Conservative administration.

On 9 May, about a week after being elected as a Liberal Democrat, Greetland and Stainland Councillor Keith Watson left the Liberal Democrats and joined the Conservative Party.

In 2009 the Skircoat Councillor Geoffrey Wainwright died suddenly. A by-election was held on 2 April 2009. The seat was held by the Conservative Party with John Hardy winning the seat.

In June 2009 Elland Councillor Diane Park quit the Liberal Democrats due to the state of the party in the House of Commons. She continued as an independent.

## Council composition

Prior to the election the composition of the council was:

| 18 | 17 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Conservative | Lib Dem | Labour | Ind | BN | ED |

After the election the composition of the council was:

| 20 | 17 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Conservative | Lib Dem | Labour | Ind | BN | ED |
| Party | Party | Previous council | New council |
| | Conservative | 18 | 20 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 17 | 17 |
| | Labour | 11 | 9 |
| | Independent | 3 | 2 |
| | BNP | 1 | 2 |
| | English Democrat | 1 | 1 |
| Total | Total | 51 | 51 | 51 |

## Ward results

### Brighouse ward

Brighouse ward :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Howard Blagbrough | 1,329 | 40.2 | -3.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Nick Yates | 1,250 | 37.8 | -5.9 |
| | Labour | Ann Martin | 729 | 22.0 | -5.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 79 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,308 | 39.1 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |

The incumbent was Nick Yates for the Liberal Democrats. He had been elected as a Conservative.

### Calder ward

Calder ward :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal Democrats | Janet Mary Battye | 1,188 | 32.1 | 1.2 |
| | Labour Co-op | Janet Lynne Oosthuysen | 1,135 | 30.7 | +4.7 |
| | Conservative | Beverley Anne Carter | 890 | 24.1 | +3.6 |
| | Green | Ruby Rose Joy Berridge | 486 | 13.1 | -13.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 53 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,699 | 41.52 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

The incumbent was Janet Battye for the Liberal Democrats.

### Elland ward

Elland ward :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal Democrats | Pat Allen | 1,203 | 44.0 | -9.4 |
| | Conservative | Christian Corkish | 800 | 29.3 | +2.7 |
| | Labour Co-op | Stewart Brown | 312 | 11.4 | -3.9 |
| | English Democrat | Mick Clarke | 262 | 9.6 | +9.6 |
| | Green | Susan Ann Thomas | 156 | 5.7 | +5.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 403 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,733 | 33.39 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

The incumbent was Pat Allen for the Liberal Democrats.

### Greetland and Stainland ward

Greetland and Stainland ward :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal Democrats | Keith Watson | 1,404 | 45.7 | -1.6 |
| | Conservative | John Frank Brearley Ford | 958 | 31.2 | +3.8 |
| | Labour | Pamela Fellows | 251 | 8.2 | -5.5 |
| | BNP | Michael Hall | 229 | 7.5 | +7.5 |
| | Green | Mark Mullany | 170 | 5.5 | -6.1 |
| | English Democrat | Johnathan Paul Rogan | 59 | 1.9 | +1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 446 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,071 | 36.68 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

The incumbent was Keith Watson for the Liberal Democrats.

### Hipperholme and Lightcliffe ward

Hipperholme and Lightcliffe ward :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Graham Thomas Hall | 2,209 | 68.5 | +21.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jim Souper | 578 | 17.9 | +9.5 |
| | Labour | Susan Press | 438 | 13.6 | -10.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,631 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,225 | 38.44 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

The incumbent was Graham Hall for the Conservative Party

### Illingworth and Mixenden ward

Illingworth and Mixenden ward :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | BNP | Tom Bates | 1,323 | 38.3 | +7.9 |
| | Labour | Judy Gannon | 1,014 | 29.4 | -5.1 |
| | Conservative | Jon Shaw | 796 | 23.1 | -0.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Murray Elder | 193 | 5.6 | -5.1 |
| | Independent | Sean Vincent Loftus | 124 | 3.6 | +3.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 309 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,450 | 37.12 | |
| | BNP gain from Labour | BNP gain from Labour | Swing | | |

The incumbent was Judith Gannon for the Labour Party.

### Luddendenfoot ward

Luddendenfoot ward :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal Democrats | Christine Irene Bampton-Smith | 1,301 | 41.4 | -0.9 |
| | Conservative | Sarah Jane Jennings | 1,016 | 32.3 | -0.3 |
| | Labour | James Edward Fearon | 513 | 16.3 | -3.3 |
| | BNP | John Derek Gregory | 316 | 10.0 | -8.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 285 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,146 | 40.97 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

The incumbent was Christine Bampton-Smith for the Liberal Democrats.

### Northowram and Shelf ward

Northowram and Shelf ward :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Graham Edward Alexander Reason | 1,745 | 49.0 | -4.4 |
| | Labour Co-op | Gary Rae | 524 | 14.7 | -2.9 |
| | Independent | Raymond Pearson | 387 | 10.9 | +10.9 |
| | English Democrat | John William Dowson | 343 | 9.6 | +9.6 |
| | BNP | Chris Godridge | 322 | 9.0 | -14.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Christopher Beacroft-Mitchell | 240 | 6.7 | -4.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,221 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,561 | 40.15 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

The incumbent was Graham Reason for the Conservative Party.

### Ovenden ward

Ovenden ward :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour Co-op | Danielle Sara Eleana Coombs | 847 | 44.8 | +4.1 |
| | BNP | Jane Shooter | 564 | 29.8 | +0.8 |
| | Conservative | John Cecil David Hardy | 479 | 25.3 | +12.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Malcolm Graham James | 248 | 13.1 | +0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 283 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,890 | 25.38 | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | | |

The incumbent was Danielle Coombs for the Labour Party.

### Park ward

Park ward :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mohammad Ilyas | 1,838 | 41.3 | +24.4 |
| | Labour | Mohammed Najib | 1,678 | 37.7 | -2.8 |
| | Conservative | Craig Anthony Stanton | 489 | 11.0 | -23.7 |
| | Independent | Shakar Saghir | 442 | 9.9 | -21.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 160 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,447 | 50.85 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | | |

The incumbent was Mohammed Najib for the Labour Party.

### Rastrick ward

Rastrick ward :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Ann McAllister | 1,546 | 49.0 | +1.0 |
| | Labour Co-op | George Edward Richardson | 666 | 21.1 | -9.6 |
| | English Democrat | David Vincent Stevenson | 516 | 16.4 | +16.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Philip Jeffery | 425 | 13.5 | -5.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 880 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,153 | 37.14 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

The incumbent was Ann McAllister for the Conservative Party.

### Ryburn ward

Ryburn ward :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Geraldine Mary Carter | 1,667 | 54.2 | +7.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ashley John Richard Evans | 908 | 29.5 | +3.7 |
| | Labour | Lesley Anne Sleigh | 502 | 16.3 | -11.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 759 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,077 | 36.05 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

The incumbent was Geraldine Carter for the Conservative Party.

### Skircoat ward

Skircoat ward :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Geoffrey Wainwright | 2,132 | 54.0 | +1.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Pauline Nash | 1,305 | 33.1 | +10.9 |
| | Labour Co-op | Marion Simone Batten | 308 | 7.8 | -11.3 |
| | Green | Viv Smith | 202 | 5.1 | +5.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 827 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,947 | 42.21 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

The incumbent was Geoffrey Wainwright for the Conservative Party.

### Sowerby Bridge ward

Sowerby Bridge ward :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Amanda Louise Byrne | 1,252 | 42.6 | +4.3 |
| | Labour Co-op | Dave Draycott | 864 | 29.4 | +4.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | John Boje Frederiksen | 365 | 12.4 | -5.5 |
| | BNP | Stuart Brian Gill | 357 | 12.1 | -7.7 |
| | English Democrat | Tom Mathieson | 103 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 388 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,941 | 35.73 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

The incumbent was Amanda Byrne for the Conservative Party.

### Todmorden ward

Todmorden ward :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Ian Cooper | 1,048 | 32.5 | +2.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Hilary Alice Myers | 912 | 28.3 | -12.7 |
| | Labour | Steph Booth | 853 | 26.5 | -1.3 |
| | BNP | Christian Michael Jackson | 408 | 12.7 | +12.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 136 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,221 | 37.92 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |

The incumbent was Anne Townley for the Liberal Democrats.

### Town ward

Town ward :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour Co-op | Megan Kathleen Swift | 1,055 | 39.5 | +7.0 |
| | Conservative | Chris Pillai | 649 | 24.3 | +1.8 |
| | BNP | Anthony Bentley | 403 | 15.1 | -13.3 |
| | Independent | Robert Philip Andrew Reynolds | 292 | 10.9 | +10.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Brendan Robert Stubbs | 273 | 10.2 | -0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 406 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,672 | 31.07 | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | | |

The incumbent was Megan Swift for the Labour Party.

### Warley ward

Warley ward :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal Democrats | Robert Pearson | 1,681 | 51.8 | +34.8 |
| | Conservative | Sally Victoria McCartney | 708 | 21.8 | -4.0 |
| | BNP | Paul Wadsworth | 433 | 13.3 | -6.8 |
| | Labour | Anne Collins | 422 | 13.0 | +0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 973 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,244 | 38.05 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Swing | | |

The incumbent was Allen Clegg as an Independent.

## By-elections between 2008 and 2010

### Skircoat ward, 2009

Skircoat By-Election 2 April 2009 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | John Cecil David Hardy | 1,327 | 36.78 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Pauline Nash | 1,209 | 33.51 |
| | Labour | Anne Collins | 274 | 7.59 |
| | Independent | Paul Brannigan | 238 | 6.60 |
| | BNP | Chris Godridge | 235 | 6.51 |
| | Independent | Philip Maxwell Crossley | 229 | 6.35 |
| | Green | Viv Smith | 92 | 2.55 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 118 | 3.28 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,608 | 38.07 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
