2003 Wyre Forest District Council election

Background

Before the election the council was composed of 21 Health Concern, 7 Conservative, 5 Labour, 5 Liberal, 2 Liberal Democrats and 2 independent councillors. 15 seats were up for election with Health Concern needing to gain one seat to win a majority but the other parties predicted they could make gains instead.{{cite news | first = Sophie | last = Blakemore | title = Election 2003: Health Concern faces tough challenge ; Wyre Forest

Election result

Health Concern suffered a net loss of 2 councillors after losing 3 seats and only gaining 1 in Oldington and Foley Park. Despite the losses Health Concern said that it would continue as a minority administration on the council. The Conservatives strengthened their position as the main opposition on the council after increasing their number of seats to 9 including a shock gain from Labour in Wolverley.

Meanwhile, Labour dropped to only holding 4 seats, their lowest number of seats on the council since the late 1970s and their joint lowest ever. Other changes included 2 gains for the Liberals in Broadwaters and Habberley and Blakebrook, while the Liberal Democrats lost 1 seat but gained another in Aggborough and Spennells.

Voter turnout in the election was down to below 31%, the lowest since 1998, with only 2 wards seeing a turnout of over 35%. This was attributed to the lack of strong issues during the campaign compared to previous elections where controversy over Kidderminster hospital and a planned incinerator increased interest.

|seats % = 33.3 |votes % = 27.1 |plus/minus = +2.0% |seats % = 26.7 |votes % = 27.0 |plus/minus = -2.6% |seats % = 20.0 |votes % = 12.7 |plus/minus = -0.3% |seats % = 13.3 |votes % = 24.1 |plus/minus = -0.7% |seats % = 6.7 |votes % = 8.8 |plus/minus = +2.5% |seats % = 0 |votes % = 0.4 |plus/minus = -0.7%

Ward results

References

References

1. "Local elections". BBC News.
2. (2003-05-02). "Election Results". The Times.
3. Walker, Jonathan. (2003-04-26). "A far cry from three-party polls". [[Birmingham Post]].
4. (August 2019). "Battle is on for district control". [[Malvern Gazette]] }}{{Dead link.
5. Lister, Sam. (2003-05-02). "Independents strike at heart of local politics". The Times.
6. (2003-05-02). "Election round-up". [[Malvern Gazette]].
7. (August 2019). "Health party to go it alone". [[Malvern Gazette]] }}{{Dead link.
8. (August 2019). "Tories aiming to build, on success". [[Malvern Gazette]] }}{{Dead link.
9. (August 2019). "Vow to climb out of trough". [[Malvern Gazette]] }}{{Dead link.
10. (August 2019). "Lowest turnout for five years". [[Malvern Gazette]] }}{{Dead link.
11. "District of Wyre Forest: District Council Election". Political Science Resources.
12. (2003-05-02). "Election results". Financial Times.