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2004 Rushmoor Borough Council election

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The 2004 Rushmoor Council election took place on 10 June 2004 to elect members of Rushmoor Borough Council in Hampshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council.[1]

After the election, the composition of the council was

Campaign

14 seats were contested in the election–a third of the council–with the Conservatives defending 9, the Liberal Democrats 3 and Labour 2.[3] Apart from candidates from the Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Labour, Green and English Democrat parties[4] which had stood candidates in the 2003 election, there were also 3 members of the British National Party standing in Rushmoor for the first time.[5] They stood in 3 Farnborough wards, Fernhill, Grange and Mayfield.[5]

2 independent candidates also contested the election.[4] Rosemary Possee stood as an independent in Empress ward, where she had previously served as a councillor for the Conservatives before being de-selected, challenging the official Conservative candidate Patricia Hodge.[4] The other independent candidate, taxi driver Roger Watkins, stood in Wellington ward.[6] Watkins was investigated by the police over claims that some signatures on his nomination form had not been made by the voters themselves; however the police concluded there was no problem and Watkins accused his rivals of dirty tricks.[6]

The contest in Heronwood ward also caused controversy after a leaflet from the Conservative candidate Eddie Poole accused the Liberal Democrat candidate Peter Sandy of "bully boy tactics".[3] Sandy complained to council officials over the leaflet, which he described as a slur, but Poole said he stood by the comment.[3]

Election result

The results saw the Conservatives remain in control of the council with 24 of the 42 seats, but the Liberal Democrats did gain 2 to hold 12 seats.[7] One of the gains came in Manor Park where Liberal Democrat George Paparesti returned to the council 2 years after losing his seat in the 2002 election.[8] The other gain came in Heron Wood, which had been regarded as the safest Labour seat on the council, but saw Liberal Democrat Peter Sandy win by 88 votes defeating the Labour mayor of the council Frank Rust.[8] This meant Labour was reduced to just 5 seats on the council, with the party's candidates having finished fourth in 4 Farnborough wards.[8]

No other seats changed parties, but there were close results in St Marks where the Conservatives held the seat by 12 votes over the Liberal Democrats and in Cove and Southwood where the Liberal Democrats held on by 38 votes over the Conservatives.[7] Rosemary Possee failed to win re-election in Empress ward as an independent, being beaten into third place with the Conservatives holding the seat.[7] Overall turnout in the election was 36.5% up from the 31% seen in 2003 and boosted by an 80% increase in postal votes.[7]

The result in Heron Wood caused controversy with the defeated Labour candidate Frank Rust blaming Tony Blair's support for the Iraq War for his defeat.[7] Meanwhile, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Aldershot Gerald Howarth criticised the winning Liberal Democrat Peter Sandy for not attending the count[9] and said that "It’s a pretty poor show. I do not feel he will be an asset to Heronwood".[10] Peter Sandy, who is disabled, said that he had been unable to attend the count as the battery on his wheelchair was flat[8] and he was defended by his fellow Liberal Democrats.[9]

Rushmoor Local Election Result 2004[11][12]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Conservative 8 0 1 -1 57.1 43.7 9,448 -1.1%
  Liberal Democrats 5 2 0 +2 35.7 31.2 6,733 -2.0%
  Labour 1 0 1 -1 7.1 17.5 3,774 +0.0%
  BNP 0 0 0 0 0 2.7 587 +2.7%
  Independent 0 0 0 0 0 2.3 506 -0.1%
  Green 0 0 0 0 0 1.4 296 +0.0%
  English Democrat 0 0 0 0 0 1.2 270 +0.5%

Ward results

Cove & Southwood[8][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats John Matthews 742 47.5 −1.7
Conservative David Thomas 704 45.0 +6.2
Labour Edward Shelton 117 7.5 −1.8
Majority 38 2.4 −8.0
Turnout 1,563 37 +3
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
Empress[8][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Patricia Hodge 886 44.9 −11.3
Liberal Democrats Leola Card 469 23.8 −8.1
Independent Rosemary Possee 434 22.0 +22.0
Labour Christopher Wright 184 9.3 −2.6
Majority 417 21.1 −3.2
Turnout 1,973 44 +6
Conservative hold Swing
Fernhill[8][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Marsh 734 51.1 +0.6
Liberal Democrats Martin Howell 340 23.7 −12.2
BNP Cheryl Glass 203 14.1 +14.1
Labour Martin Coule 159 11.1 −2.5
Majority 394 27.4 +12.8
Turnout 1,436 35 +6
Conservative hold Swing
Grange[8][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stephen Masterson 591 40.9 −11.0
Liberal Democrats Hazel Manning 351 24.3 +8.2
Labour Stella Olivier 302 20.9 −5.0
BNP Janette Pedrick 201 13.9 +13.9
Majority 240 16.6 −9.3
Turnout 1,445 36 +1
Conservative hold Swing
Heron Wood[8][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Peter Sandy 577 38.0 +20.2
Labour Peter Rust 489 32.2 −14.8
Conservative Edmund Poole 454 29.9 −5.3
Majority 88 5.8
Turnout 1,520 34 +7
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing
Knellwood[8][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Taylor 1,043 59.0 +12.6
Liberal Democrats Guy Eaglestone 517 29.2 +5.3
Labour William Tootill 208 11.8 +4.4
Majority 526 29.8 +7.3
Turnout 1,768 44 +5
Conservative hold Swing
Manor Park[8][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats George Paparesti 793 46.1 +4.2
Conservative Andrew Hankins 749 43.6 −1.6
Labour June Smith 177 10.3 −2.6
Majority 44 2.6
Turnout 1,719 39.9 +6.2
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Mayfield[8][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Charles Fraser-Fleming 630 51.4 −6.3
Conservative Deborah Frew 239 19.5 +0.3
BNP Warren Glass 183 14.9 +14.9
Labour Clive Grattan 173 14.1 −9.1
Majority 391 31.9 −2.6
Turnout 1,225 31 +5
Liberal Democrats hold Swing
North Town[8][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Susan Dibble 787 53.6 +12.3
Conservative Eric Neal 421 28.7 −2.5
Liberal Democrats Simon Burfield 163 11.1 −9.7
Green Adam Stacey 98 6.7 +0.0
Majority 366 24.9 +14.8
Turnout 1,469 34 +6
Labour hold Swing
Rowhill[8][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Welch 881 54.3 +0.5
Labour Jill Clark 352 21.7 +3.6
Liberal Democrats Philip Thompson 237 14.6 −7.2
Green Julia Fowler 152 9.4 +3.1
Majority 529 32.6 +0.5
Turnout 1,622 40 +7
Conservative hold Swing
St John's[8][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Peter Moyle 924 61.7 −0.7
Liberal Democrats Margaret Jupp 361 24.1 −13.5
Labour Sean Clarke 212 14.2 +14.2
Majority 563 37.6 +12.9
Turnout 1,497 35 +10
Conservative hold Swing
St Mark's[8][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Nigel Baines 770 45.4 −0.4
Liberal Democrats Alistair Mackie 758 44.7 +1.0
Labour Barry Jones 169 10.0 −0.5
Majority 12 0.7 −1.4
Turnout 1,697 36.9 +5.5
Conservative hold Swing
Wellington[8][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Neil Watkin 453 45.3 −2.3
Labour Alexandra Crawford 291 29.1 +1.5
Liberal Democrats Nickolas Burfield 139 13.9 −4.1
Independent Roger Watkins 72 7.2 +7.2
Green Samantha Stacey 46 4.6 −2.1
Majority 162 16.2 −3.8
Turnout 1,001 23 +4
Conservative hold Swing
West Heath[8][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Linda Neal 656 39.1 −5.7
Conservative Roderick Baulk 599 35.7 −2.2
English Democrat Gary Cowd 270 16.1 +8.1
Labour Philip Collins 154 9.2 −0.2
Majority 57 3.4 −3.5
Turnout 1,679 41 +4
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

References

  1. ^ "Rushmoor council". BBC News Online. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  2. ^ "Elections 2004: Results at a glance". The Guardian. 12 June 2004. p. 10.
  3. ^ a b c "Candidate's leaflet sparks a 'dirty tricks' row". gethampshire. 8 June 2004. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  4. ^ a b c "Deselections no bar to political ambition". ggethampshire. 19 May 2004. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  5. ^ a b "British National Party candidates to stand for three Rushmoor seats". gethampshire. 18 May 2004. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  6. ^ a b "Cabbie vows to win poll". gethampshire. 19 May 2004. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Ousted after seven years". gethampshire. 15 June 2004. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Mayor ousted". Reading Post. 18 June 2004. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
  9. ^ a b "Row over new councillor". gethampshire. 24 June 2004. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
  10. ^ "Shock defeat for the mayor". gethampshire. 15 June 2004. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Election results - 10 June 2004". Rushmoor Borough Council. Archived from the original on 19 October 2007. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  12. ^ "Ballot box". The Times. 12 June 2004. p. 26.
Preceded by
2003 Rushmoor Council election 		Rushmoor local elections Succeeded by
2006 Rushmoor Council election
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