Local government elections in County Durham, England
Darlington Borough Council elections are held every four years. Darlington Borough Council is the local authority for the unitary authority of Darlington in County Durham, England. Until 1 April 1997 it was a non-metropolitan district.
Political control
Elected Councillors | Labour | Conservatives | Liberal Democrats | Greens | Independent | Total |
1973[1] | 28 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 49 |
1976[2] | 15 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 50 |
1979[3] | 29 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 52 |
1983[4] | 27 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 52 |
1987[5] | 24 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 52 |
1991[6] | 29 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 52 |
1995[7] | 35 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 52 |
1996[8] | 36 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 52 |
1999[9] | 35 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 52 |
2003[10] | 35 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 52 |
2007[11] | 29 | 18 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 53 |
2011[12] | 34 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 53 |
2015[13] | 29 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 50 |
2019[14] | 20 | 22 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 50 |
2023[15] | 25 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 50 |
From 1915 to 1974, Darlington was a county borough, independent of any county council.[16] Under the Local Government Act 1972 it had its territory enlarged and became a non-metropolitan district, with Durham County Council providing county-level services.[17][18][19] The first election to the reconstituted borough council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its revised powers on 1 April 1974. On 1 April 1997 the district became a unitary authority, regaining its independence from Durham County Council. Political control of the council since 1973 has been held by the following parties:[20]
Non-metropolitan district
Party in control | Years |
| Labour | 1973–1976 |
| Conservative | 1976–1979 |
| Labour | 1979–1987 |
| No overall control | 1987–1991 |
| Labour | 1991–1997 |
Unitary authority
Party in control | Years |
| Labour | 1997–2019 |
| No overall control | 2019–present |
Leadership
The leaders of the council since 1991 have been:[21]
Councillor | Party | From | To |
John Williams[22] | | Labour | 1991 | 8 May 2011 |
Bill Dixon | | Labour | 19 May 2011 | 19 Jul 2018 |
Steve Harker | | Labour | 19 Jul 2018 | 23 May 2019 |
Heather Scott | | Conservative | 23 May 2019 | 19 May 2022 |
Jonathan Dulston | | Conservative | 19 May 2022 | 4 May 2023 |
Steve Harker | | Labour | 4 May 2023 | |
Council elections
Non-metropolitan district elections
- 1973 Darlington Borough Council election
- 1976 Darlington Borough Council election (Borough boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same)[23]
- 1979 Darlington Borough Council election (New ward boundaries)[24]
- 1983 Darlington Borough Council election
- 1987 Darlington Borough Council election
- 1991 Darlington Borough Council election (Borough boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same)[25]
Unitary authority elections
Results maps
-
2015 results map
-
2019 results map
-
2023 results map
By-election results
1996-1999
Park East By-Election 1 May 1997 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | | 1,844 | 74.0 | -7.4 |
| Conservative | | 648 | 26.0 | +7.4 |
Majority | 1,196 | 48.0 | |
Turnout | 2,492 | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Haughton East By-Election 22 May 1997 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | | 836 | 72.6 | |
| Conservative | | 315 | 27.4 | |
Majority | 521 | 45.2 | |
Turnout | 1,151 | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
North Road By-Election 13 November 1997 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | | 471 | 53.6 | -4.4 |
| Labour | | 326 | 37.1 | -4.9 |
| Conservative | | 81 | 9.2 | +9.2 |
Majority | 145 | 16.5 | |
Turnout | 878 | | |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
1999-2003
Cockerton East By-Election 21 September 2000 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | | 365 | 38.3 | -24.8 |
| Conservative | | 331 | 34.7 | +11.3 |
| Liberal Democrats | | 245 | 19.5 | +19.5 |
| BNP | | 44 | 4.6 | +4.6 |
| Independent | | 28 | 2.9 | -10.5 |
Majority | 34 | 3.6 | |
Turnout | 1,013 | | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
2003-2007
North Road By-Election 19 August 2004 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Frederick Lawton | 789 | 48.5 | +3.6 |
| Labour | Jenny Chapman | 571 | 35.1 | -3.0 |
| Conservative | Ian Galletley | 119 | 7.3 | -2.5 |
| BNP | Nigel Nevison | 87 | 5.3 | -1.9 |
| UKIP | Edward Davies | 61 | 3.7 | +3.7 |
Majority | 218 | 13.4 | |
Turnout | 1,627 | 38.8 | |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Hurworth By-Election 8 September 2005 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Martin Swainston | 527 | 42.2 | +42.2 |
| Conservative | George Lawman | 379 | 30.4 | -48.0 |
| Independent | Julie Jones | 297 | 23.8 | +23.8 |
| Labour | Amanda McEwan | 45 | 3.6 | -7.2 |
Majority | 148 | 2.2 | |
Turnout | 1,248 | 44.2 | |
| Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
College By-Election 2 March 2006 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Ian Galletley | 624 | 47.6 | -9.7 |
| Liberal Democrats | Garry Hinton | 511 | 39.0 | +17.8 |
| Labour | Elaine Hope | 175 | 13.4 | -8.1 |
Majority | 113 | 8.6 | |
Turnout | 1,310 | 42.8 | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
2007-2011
North Road By-Election 13 November 2008 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Anne-Marie Curry | 561 | 50.8 | -4.1 |
| Labour | John Vasey | 262 | 23.7 | +0.0 |
| Conservative | George Jenkinson | 115 | 10.4 | -1.0 |
| BNP | John Hoodless | 106 | 9.6 | -0.3 |
| Independent | Stephen Jones | 60 | 5.4 | +5.4 |
Majority | 299 | 27.1 | |
Turnout | 1,104 | 24.2 | |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Cockerton West By-Election 8 July 2010[28] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Jan Cossins | 388 | 45.1 | +4.0 |
| Liberal Democrats | Brian Jefferson | 347 | 40.3 | +19.4 |
| Conservative | David Davies | 84 | 9.8 | -14.8 |
| BNP | Paul Thompson | 41 | 4.8 | -8.6 |
Majority | 41 | 4.8 | |
Turnout | 860 | 29.3 | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
2011-2015
Harrowgate Hill By-Election 12 April 2012[28] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Gillian Cartwright | 694 | 43.8 | +3.2 |
| Labour | Helen Crumbie | 607 | 38.3 | -21.1 |
| Liberal Democrats | Hilary Allen | 142 | 9.0 | +9.0 |
| UKIP | Daniel Phillip Fairclough | 95 | 6.0 | +6.0 |
| England First | Paul Thompson | 47 | 3.0 | +3.0 |
Majority | 87 | 5.5 | |
Turnout | 1,585 | 33.8 | |
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
Hurworth By-Election 12 April 2012[28] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal Democrats | Martin Swainson | 474 | 43.7 | -12.9 |
| Conservative | Christopher Brownbridge | 436 | 40.2 | +7.9 |
| Labour | Stephen Rose | 144 | 13.3 | +2.1 |
| UKIP | David Davies | 31 | 2.9 | +2.9 |
Majority | 38 | 3.5 | |
Turnout | 1,085 | 36.5 | |
| Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Lascelles By-Election 11 April 2013[28] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Helen Crumbie | 426 | 63.4 | -5.0 |
| Liberal Democrats | Howard Jones | 129 | 19.2 | +19.2 |
| Conservative | Lewis Cairns | 117 | 17.4 | -14.2 |
Majority | 297 | 44.2 | |
Turnout | 672 | 22.6 | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Mowden By-Election 22 May 2014[28] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Pauline Culley | 647 | 40.7 | -28.1 |
| Labour | Jackie Saint | 614 | 38.6 | +7.5 |
| UKIP | Charlotte Bull | 235 | 14.8 | +14.8 |
| Liberal Democrats | Hilary Allen | 93 | 5.9 | +5.9 |
Majority | 33 | 2.1 | |
Turnout | 1,589 | 51.8 | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
2015-2019
Mowden By-Election 16 November 2017[29][30] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Alan Marshall | 652 | 60.7 | +14.4 |
| Labour | Edwin Heslop | 285 | 26.5 | -5.0 |
| Liberal Democrats | Sarah Jordan | 111 | 10.3 | n/a |
| Green | Kathryn Barley | 26 | 2.4 | -4.9 |
Majority | 367 | 34.2 | |
Turnout | 1,074 | 33.7 | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Red Hall and Lingfield By-Election 16 November 2017[29][31] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Sharifah Rahman | 249 | 44.8 | -1.9 |
| Conservative | Jonathan Dulston | 230 | 41.4 | +12.4 |
| Independent | Kevin Brack | 46 | 8.3 | n/a |
| Green | Michael McTimoney | 20 | 3.6 | -8.9 |
| Liberal Democrats | Harry Longmoor | 11 | 2.0 | -9.9 |
Majority | 19 | 3.4 | |
Turnout | 556 | 19.5 | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
Cockerton By-Election 12 July 2018[32] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Edwin Heslop | 555 | 51.0 | +7.9 |
| Conservative | Scott Durham | 239 | 22.0 | -2.8 |
| Liberal Democrats | Charlotte Curry | 104 | 9.6 | -5.5 |
| Independent | Joel Wilks | 93 | 8.5 | n/a |
| For Britain | Kevin Brack | 63 | 5.8 | n/a |
| Green | Terri Hankinson | 34 | 3.1 | -14.0 |
Majority | 316 | 29.0 | |
Turnout | 1,088 | 23.0 | |
| Labour hold | Swing | | |
2019-2023
Hummersknott By-Election 6 May 2021[33] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Jack Sowerby | 971 | 49.9 | +4.7 |
| Green | Thomas Robinson | 809 | 41.6 | +24.4 |
| Labour | John Sloss | 120 | 6.2 | -5.7 |
| Liberal Democrats | Vicky Atkinson | 32 | 1.6 | +1.6 |
| For Britain | Monty Brack | 14 | 0.7 | +0.7 |
Majority | 162 | 8.3 | |
Turnout | 1,946 | | |
| Conservative hold | Swing | | |
Red Hall and Lingfield By-Election 6 May 2021[34] Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | David Willis | 466 | 42.2 | +10.4 |
| Labour | Mandy Porter | 360 | 32.6 | -13.6 |
| Independent | Cheryl Pattison | 201 | 18.2 | +18.2 |
| Green | Mike McTimoney | 38 | 3.4 | -18.6 |
| Liberal Democrats | Scott Wood | 27 | 2.4 | +2.4 |
| For Britain | Janys Gandy | 11 | 1.0 | +1.0 |
Majority | 106 | 9.6 | |
Turnout | 1,103 | | |
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
References
- ^ https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Darlington-1973-1995.pdf.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty |title=
(help) - ^ https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Darlington-1973-1995.pdf.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty |title=
(help) - ^ https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Darlington-1973-1995.pdf.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty |title=
(help) - ^ https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Darlington-1973-1995.pdf.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty |title=
(help) - ^ https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Darlington-1973-1995.pdf.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty |title=
(help) - ^ https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Darlington-1973-1995.pdf.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty |title=
(help) - ^ https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Darlington-1973-1995.pdf.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty |title=
(help) - ^ http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Darlington-1996-2011.pdf.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty |title=
(help) - ^ http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Darlington-1996-2011.pdf.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty |title=
(help) - ^ http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Darlington-1996-2011.pdf.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty |title=
(help) - ^ http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Darlington-1996-2011.pdf.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty |title=
(help) - ^ https://www.darlington.gov.uk/media/3052/le11results.pdf.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty |title=
(help) - ^ "Borough Council Elections 2015".
- ^ "Borough and Parish Elections 2 May 2019".
- ^ "Darlington result - Local Elections 2023". BBC News. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ "Darlington Municipal Borough / County Borough". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 July 2022
- ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 13 August 2022
- ^ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 13 August 2022
- ^ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ "Council minutes". Darlington Borough Council. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ "Ex-Darlington Council leader John Williams dies at 65". BBC News. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ The Darlington and Sedgefield (Areas) Order 1976
- ^ The Borough of Darlington (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1976
- ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Durham and North Yorkshire (County Boundaries) Order 1991. Retrieved on 5 November 2015.
- ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Darlington (Electoral Changes) Order 2001. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
- ^ legislation.gov.uk - The Darlington (Electoral Changes) Order 2014. Retrieved on 3 November 2015.
- ^ a b c d e "Local and Parish elections". Darlington Borough Council. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ^ a b Morris, Joanna (17 November 2017). "Teenage politician Sharifah Rahman wins Darlington by-election to become one of the youngest councillors in the country". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ^ "Declaration of results" (PDF). Darlington Borough Council. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- ^ "Declaration of results" (PDF). Darlington Borough Council. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- ^ "Declaration of results" (PDF). Darlington Borough Council. 13 July 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Hummersknott Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
- ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Red Hall and Lingfield Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
External links
- Darlington Borough Council
- By-election results Archived 29 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine