Hull Council election, 2008
Encyclopedia
The 2008 Hull Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Hull City Council
in England
. One third of the council was up for election and the Liberal Democrats retained control of the council with an increased majority from a situation of ruling under no overall control
.
After the election, the composition of the council was
the Liberal Democrats had won an overall majority of 1 but subsequently suffered 2 defections meaning that they went into the 2008 election as a minority administration. In total 81 candidates stood in the 2008 election including 20 each from the Liberal Democrats, Labour
and Conservative
parties. Other candidates standing in the election came from the English Democrats
, Greens
and United Kingdom Independence Party
as well as some independents
candidates. The Liberal Democrats were expected to recover seats in the election which they had lost when councillor
s had defected to sit as independents.
from Labour, as well as Beverley, Boothferry and Derringham wards from independents. Labour did make one gain in St Andrews from an independent and saw their former leader, Colin Inglis, returned to the council in Myton. The Liberal Democrats now controlled 33 seats on the council as compared to 19 for Labour. Overall turnout
in the election was 25.5%.
No elections were held in Bransholme East, Bransholme West and University wards.
Hull City Council
Hull City Council is the governing body for the unitary authority and city of Kingston upon Hull. It was created in 1972 as the successor to the Corporation of Hull, which was also known as Hull Corporation....
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. One third of the council was up for election and the Liberal Democrats retained control of the council with an increased majority from a situation of ruling under no overall control
No overall control
Within the context of local councils of the United Kingdom, the term No Overall Control refers to a situation in which no single party achieves a majority of seats and is analogous to a hung parliament...
.
After the election, the composition of the council was
- Liberal Democrat 33
- LabourLabour Party (UK)The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
19 - N.E.W. Hull IndependentIndependent (politician)In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
3 - ConservativeConservative Party (UK)The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
2 - IndependentIndependent (politician)In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
1 - Non-aligned 1
Campaign
At the 2007 electionHull Council election, 2007
The 2007 Hull Council election took place on 3 May 2007 to elect members of Hull City Council in England. One third of the council was up for election and the Liberal Democrats gained overall control of the council from no overall control...
the Liberal Democrats had won an overall majority of 1 but subsequently suffered 2 defections meaning that they went into the 2008 election as a minority administration. In total 81 candidates stood in the 2008 election including 20 each from the Liberal Democrats, Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
and Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
parties. Other candidates standing in the election came from the English Democrats
English Democrats Party
The English Democrats are an English federalist political party, committed to the formation of a devolved English Parliament with at least the same powers as those granted to the Scottish Parliament. Whilst not supporting English Independence, the English Democrats consider themselves the English...
, Greens
Green Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including...
and United Kingdom Independence Party
United Kingdom Independence Party
The United Kingdom Independence Party is a eurosceptic and right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Whilst its primary goal is the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, the party has expanded beyond its single-issue image to develop a more comprehensive party platform.UKIP...
as well as some independents
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
candidates. The Liberal Democrats were expected to recover seats in the election which they had lost when councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
s had defected to sit as independents.
Election result
The results saw the Liberal Democrats regain a majority on the council after gaining 5 seats. They won Newington and Pickering wardsWards of the United Kingdom
A ward in the United Kingdom is an electoral district at sub-national level represented by one or more councillors. It is the primary unit of British administrative and electoral geography .-England:...
from Labour, as well as Beverley, Boothferry and Derringham wards from independents. Labour did make one gain in St Andrews from an independent and saw their former leader, Colin Inglis, returned to the council in Myton. The Liberal Democrats now controlled 33 seats on the council as compared to 19 for Labour. Overall turnout
Voter turnout
Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election . After increasing for many decades, there has been a trend of decreasing voter turnout in most established democracies since the 1960s...
in the election was 25.5%.
Ward results
No elections were held in Bransholme East, Bransholme West and University wards.