1998 Wyre Forest District Council election

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The 1998 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 7 May 1998 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One-third of the council was up for election and the Labour Party stayed in overall control of the council.[1]

After the election, the composition of the council was:

Background[edit]

14 seats were contested at the election with Labour defending 7, the Liberal Democrats 4 and the Conservatives, Liberals and independents 1 seat each.[2] Labour was confident of defending the majority of 10 they held over the other parties before the election.[2]

Election result[edit]

The results saw Labour increase their majority on the council after gaining two seats, one each from an independent and Liberal Democrat.[3] The other change in the election saw the Conservatives gain a seat in Bewdley ward from the Liberal Democrats.[3] Labour attributed their performance to the capable candidates they had stood but were disappointed by the turnout.[4]

Wyre Forest local election result 1998[4][5]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Labour 9 2 0 +2 64.3
  Liberal Democrats 2 0 2 -2 14.3
  Conservative 2 1 0 +1 14.3
  Liberal 1 0 0 0 7.1
  Independent 0 0 1 -1 0

By-elections between 1998 and 1999[edit]

Oldington and Foley Park[edit]

A by-election was held in Oldington and Foley Park after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Adrian Beavis after he was found guilty of false accounting.[6] The seat was gained for Labour by Barry McFarland with a majority of 27 votes over Conservative Justin Tomlinson.[6][7]

Oldington and Foley Park by-election 3 December 1998[6][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Barry McFarland 354 35.8 -6.7
Conservative Justin Tomlinson 327 33.0 +27.3
Liberal Democrats Paul Kendall 309 31.2 -17.5
Majority 27 2.7
Turnout 990 23.3
Labour gain from Liberal Democrats Swing

Chaddesley[edit]

A by-election was held in Chaddesley after the death of Conservative councillor Harry Purcell.[8]

Chaddesley by-election 18 February 1999[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative 490 89.3 +6.4
Labour 59 10.7 -6.4
Majority 431 78.5
Turnout 549 30.6
Conservative hold Swing

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Policy and politics: Local Elections: Analysis: Council poll results". The Guardian. 9 May 1998. p. 16.
  2. ^ a b Smith, Sue (7 April 1998). "Labour confident of retaining majority". Birmingham Mail. p. 25.
  3. ^ a b Probert, Andy (8 May 1998). "Tight grip maintained by Labour". Birmingham Mail. p. 5.
  4. ^ a b Howarth, Jayne (8 May 1998). "Midlands gives Blair thumbs-up". Birmingham Post. p. 3.
  5. ^ "Local Elections results". The Times. 9 May 1998. p. 46.
  6. ^ a b c "Labour Gain In Wyre By-election". Birmingham Post. NewsBank. 4 December 1998.
  7. ^ a b "Local Authority Byelection Results - December 1998". Local Authority Byelection Results. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  8. ^ "Tributes as leading Tory dies". Birmingham Mail. NewsBank. 11 December 1998. p. 4.
  9. ^ "Local Authority Byelection Results - February 1999". Local Authority Byelection Results. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
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