2023 Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council election
# 2023 Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council election

The 2023 Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council in Hertfordshire, England. This would be on the same day as other local elections across England.

Prior to the election the Conservatives held a narrow majority of the seats on the council. Out of the sixteen seats up for election, five seats changed party hands, leading to the Conservative Party losing their majority and the council going under no overall control. Whilst the Conservatives remained the largest party after the election, a Liberal Democrat and Labour party coalition subsequently took control of the council.

## Summary

### Election result

2023 Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council election :

| Party | Party | This election | This election | This election | Full council | Full council | Full council | This election | This election | This election |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Party | Party | Seats | Net | Seats % | Other | Total | Total % | Votes | Votes % | +/− |
| | Conservative | 4 | 4 | 25.0 | 18 | 22 | 45.8 | 9017 | 33.6 | -3.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 6 | 2 | 37.5 | 8 | 14 | 29.2 | 6908 | 25.7 | -3.9 |
| | Labour | 6 | 2 | 37.5 | 6 | 12 | 25.0 | 8239 | 30.7 | +0.9 |
| | Green | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2365 | 8.8 | +6.2 |
| | Reform UK | 0 | | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 162 | 0.6 | n/a |

## Results

The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by Welwyn Hatford Borough Council following the close of nominations on 5 April 2023.

### Brookmans Park and Little Heath

Brookmans Park and Little Heath :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Jonathan Boulton* | 1,044 | 61.6 | -3.4 |
| | Labour | Graham Beevers | 308 | 18.2 | -0.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Basford | 204 | 12.0 | -3.9 |
| | Green | William Berrington | 128 | 7.6 | n/a |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 10 | 0.6 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 736 | 43.4 | -2.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1694 | 33.9 | -5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 1.3 | |

### Haldens

Haldens :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | Astrid Scott | 856 | 50.6 | +0.2 |
| | Conservative | Neil Bradbury | 521 | 30.8 | -4.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jason Payne | 175 | 10.3 | -4.0 |
| | Green | Lesley Smith | 131 | 7.7 | n/a |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 8 | 0.5 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 335 | 19.8 | +4.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1691 | 34.5 | -1.4 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 2.4 | |

### Handside

Handside :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michal Siewniak | 1,403 | 55.7 | +0.5 |
| | Conservative | Brian Seeger | 695 | 27.6 | +0.5 |
| | Labour | Mbizo Mpofu | 253 | 10.0 | -1.1 |
| | Green | Philip Hopley | 154 | 6.1 | -3.8 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 16 | 0.6 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 708 | 28.1 | n/a |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2521 | 46.4 | -4.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 0 | |

### Hatfield Central

Hatfield Central :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | Kieran Thorpe | 713 | 57.2 | +4.4 |
| | Conservative | Patrick Short | 276 | 22.2 | -11.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Adam Edwards | 148 | 11.9 | -1.9 |
| | Green | Rody Ribeiro | 102 | 8.2 | n/a |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 7 | 0.6 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 437 | 35.0 | +15.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1246 | 23.1 | -3.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 7.8 | |

### Hatfield East

Hatfield East :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | Cathy Watson | 712 | 39.6 | -4.5 |
| | Conservative | Caron Juggins* | 592 | 32.9 | -5.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Muhammed Joglu | 388 | 21.6 | +11.2 |
| | Green | Ian Gregory | 99 | 5.5 | -1.6 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 9 | 0.5 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 120 | 6.7 | -12.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1800 | 32.9 | 0.0 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 0.5 | |

### Hatfield South West

Hatfield South West :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal Democrats | Helena Goldwater | 659 | 43.5 | -1.9 |
| | Labour | Vaishali Shah | 559 | 36.9 | +5.3 |
| | Conservative | David Perkins | 216 | 14.3 | -5.5 |
| | Green | Antony Henn | 75 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 5 | 0.3 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 100 | 6.6 | -7.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1514 | 27.1 | -1.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | 3.6 | |

### Hatfield Villages

Hatfield Villages :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | Rose Grewal | 707 | 43.9 | -2.3 |
| | Conservative | Phil Kurland | 476 | 29.5 | -10.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Brad Taylor | 289 | 17.9 | +5.0 |
| | Green | Andreas Kukol | 86 | 5.3 | n/a |
| | Reform UK | Pete Whitehead | 48 | 3 | n/a |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 5 | 0.3 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 231 | 14.4 | +9.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1611 | 28.2 | -1.3 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | 4.2 | |

### Hollybush

Hollybush :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | Margaret Birleson* | 723 | 57.7 | -0.1 |
| | Conservative | Abbie Cook | 306 | 24.4 | -7.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Wilson | 113 | 9.0 | -1.7 |
| | Green | Joseph Bristow | 98 | 7.8 | n/a |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 12 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 417 | 33.3 | +7.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1252 | 25.5 | -5.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 3.5 | |

### Howlands

Howlands :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labour | Jill Weston* | 861 | 54.4 | -4.1 |
| | Conservative | Ahmad Chattha | 502 | 31.7 | -2.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Hillary Skoczylas | 103 | 6.5 | -0.5 |
| | Green | Penelope Berrington | 102 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 14 | 0.9 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 359 | 22.7 | -1.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1582 | 30 | -4.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | 0.7 | |

### Northaw and Cuffley

Northaw and Cuffley :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | George Michaelides* | 1,095 | 66.3 | -1.5 |
| | Labour | Sheila Barrett | 255 | 15.4 | -2.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Anthony Green | 151 | 9.1 | -5.5 |
| | Green | Brian Edwards | 139 | 8.4 | n/a |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 11 | 0.7 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 840 | 50.9 | +0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1651 | 35.2 | +1.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 0.4 | |

### Panshanger

Panshanger :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jane Quinton* | 728 | 47.0 | +7.7 |
| | Conservative | Liz McAuliffe | 441 | 28.5 | -5.6 |
| | Labour | Perry Hewitt | 304 | 19.6 | -7.0 |
| | Green | Cheryl Miles | 68 | 4.4 | n/a |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 8 | 0.5 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 287 | 18.5 | +13.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1549 | 35.2 | +0.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 7.4 | |

### Peartree

Peartree :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal Democrats | Simon Goldwater | 582 | 44.2 | -7.6 |
| | Labour | Tom Green | 466 | 35.4 | +2.0 |
| | Conservative | Jeet Dhelaria | 167 | 12.7 | +1.1 |
| | Green | Claudia Ferlisi | 91 | 6.9 | n/a |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 10 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 116 | 8.8 | -9.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1316 | 24.3 | -3.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 4.8 | |

### Sherrards

Sherrards :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal Democrats | Frank Marsh* | 1,020 | 52.9 | -1.5 |
| | Labour | Leo Gilbert | 416 | 21.6 | +7.3 |
| | Conservative | Siva Kumar | 337 | 17.5 | -6.8 |
| | Green | David Cox | 83 | 4.3 | -0.6 |
| | Reform UK | Jack Aaron | 69 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 3 | 0.2 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 604 | 31.3 | +1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1928 | 44.2 | -2.5 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 4.4 | |

### Welham Green and Hatfield South

Welham Green and Hatfield South :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal Democrats | Adrienne Nix | 613 | 37.9 | -7.7 |
| | Conservative | Teresa Travell | 566 | 35.0 | +1.8 |
| | Labour | Linda Mendez | 335 | 20.7 | +3.2 |
| | Green | Ian Nendick | 50 | 3.1 | n/a |
| | Reform UK | Shane Scott | 45 | 2.8 | n/a |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 9 | 0.6 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 57 | 2.9 | -9.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1618 | 31.2 | -0.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 4.8 | |

### Welwyn East

Welwyn East :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Roger Trigg* | 849 | 45.6 | -6.7 |
| | Labour | Alan Chesterman | 571 | 30.6 | +1.7 |
| | Green | Mary Barton | 235 | 12.6 | n/a |
| | Liberal Democrats | Pashang Fatemi | 204 | 10.9 | -8.2 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 12 | 0.6 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 278 | 15.0 | -8.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1871 | 35.7 | -7.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 4.2 | |

### Welwyn West

Welwyn West :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Conservative | Tony Kingsbury* | 934 | 46.9 | -7.5 |
| | Green | Sarah Butcher | 724 | 36.3 | +20.2 |
| | Labour | Daniel Carlen | 200 | 10.0 | -5.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Simon Archer | 128 | 6.4 | -7.7 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 6 | 0.6 | n/a |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 210 | 10.6 | -27.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1992 | 41.3 | +2.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 13.9 | |

## Footnotes

* ↑ The missing 0.5% of total percentage consists of 145 rejected votes across the wards.
* 1 2 3 In 2022 Handside had two seats up for election, so these parties' two candidate's average performance is used in calculating the change.
