2013 West Sussex County Council election

Summary

The Conservative Party, who have controlled the council since 1997, retained control with a majority of 10 seats, a loss of three seats compared to the 2009 result. The Conservative Party also retained Imberdown which had been gained due to a defection from the Liberal Democrats.

The United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) won 10 seats to become the official opposition on the council, a net gain of 8 seats. In the intervening period since the last election UKIP gained two seats by defection from the Conservatives, Kingston Buci and Worthing West, UKIP failed to retain either seat. The Liberal Democrats lost 11 seats and gained 1 seat, leaving them with a total of 8 seats. Labour gained 4 seats from the Conservatives, but lost Haywards Heath Town to the Conservative, which Labour had gained by defection from the Liberal Democrats. Labour won a total of 6 seats, all in the Borough of Crawley.

Of the parties that did not gain any representation on the council. only the Green Party contested more than one electoral division. The Green Party lost its only county councillor, who had defected from the Liberal Democrats.

An independent gained Midhurst division from the Conservatives. The Conservative candidate for the Division of Midhurst was forced to resign from the Conservative Party, but did so after the close of nomination and date to withdraw nominations, meaning their name remained on the ballot paper. This was due to comments made regarding the potential admissions policy of a proposed new boarding school in West Sussex.

Election results summary

|seats % = 64.8 |votes % = 38.4 |plus/minus = -10.00% |seats % = 14.1 |votes % = 29.3 |plus/minus = +20.75% |seats % = 11.3 |votes % = 14.4 |plus/minus = -14.86% |seats % = 8.5 |votes % = 13.9 |plus/minus = +5.42% |seats % = 1.4 |votes % = 1.3 |plus/minus = +0.67% |seats % = 0.0 |votes % = 2.5 |plus/minus = +0.29% |seats % = 0.0 |votes % = 0.05 |plus/minus = -0.02% |seats % = 0.0 |votes % = 0.03 |plus/minus = -1.98% |seats % = 0.0 |votes % = 0.02 |plus/minus = N/A |seats % = 0.0 |votes % = 0.02 |plus/minus = -0.03% |seats % = 0.0 |votes % = 0.01 |plus/minus = N/A |}

Results by electoral division

West Sussex is composed of 7 districts: Adur District, Arun District, Chichester District, Crawley Borough, Horsham District, Mid Sussex District and Worthing Borough. The following results are grouped by district.

[[Adur (district)|Adur]]

[[Arun District|Arun]]

[[Chichester (district)|Chichester]]

[[Crawley]]

[[Horsham (district)|Horsham]]

[[Mid Sussex District|Mid Sussex]]

[[Worthing (district)|Worthing]]

References

References

1. (2013-03-28). "County Council Elections 2 May 2013". West Sussex County Council.
2. (13 October 2011). "The Representation of the People (Form of Canvass) (England and Wales) Regulations 2006, Schedule Part 1". Legislation.gov.uk.
3. "I have two homes. Can I register at both addresses?". The Electoral Commission.
4. "(West Sussex section): Tories lose control of East Sussex County Council". BBC News.
5. "West Sussex county councillor resigns". Worthing Herald.
6. "Dear Resident". electionleaflets.org.
7. "Conservative County councillor joins UKIP". West Sussex County Times.
8. "Councillor joins Labour party". Mid Sussex Times.
9. "Worthing councillor joins new political party". Worthing Herald.
10. "Racist row Tory loses Midhurst election". Midhurst and Petworth Observer.
11. "Tory councillor John Cherry resigns over 'openly racist language' after saying 'there are certain nationalities where they are uncertain what this hard work is all about'". [[The Independent]].