The 2018 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 3 May 2018 to elect members of Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council in England.[ 5] This election was held on the same day as other local elections .
After the election, the composition of the council was:
Overall election result [ edit ]
Overall result compared with 2016 .
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election result, 2018
Party
Candidates
Votes
Stood
Elected
Gained
Unseated
Net
% of total
%
No.
Net %
Labour
23
12
0
0
54.5
45.5
40,092
0.6
Conservative
23
8
0
0
31.8
35.3
31,122
4.5
Liberal Democrats
22
2
0
0
9.1
10.2
8,993
0.7
Green
23
1
0
0
4.5
8.6
7,545
1.8
TUSC
3
0
0
0
0.0
0.3
239
0.2
UKIP
1
0
0
0
0.0
0.1
107
3.6
Independent
1
0
0
0
0.0
0.1
92
1.1
[ 5] [ n 2]
Results by constituency [ edit ]
Birkenhead constituency [ edit ]
Birkenhead consists of the wards of Bidston and St James , Birkenhead and Tranmere , Claughton , Oxton , Prenton and Rock Ferry .
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Election Results, 2018 (Birkenhead )
Party
Candidates
Votes
Stood
Elected
Gained
Unseated
Net
% of total
%
No.
Net %
Labour
6
4
0
0
66.7
54.7
11,169
1.0
Green
6
1
0
0
16.7
19.2
3,916
6.9
Liberal Democrats
5
1
0
0
16.7
14.1
2,875
2.2
Conservative
6
0
0
0
0.0
11.3
2,307
1.0
TUSC
2
0
0
0
0.0
0.7
150
0.3
[ 5]
Wallasey constituency [ edit ]
Wallasey consists of the wards of Leasowe and Moreton East , Liscard , Moreton West and Saughall Massie , New Brighton , Seacombe and Wallasey .
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Election Results, 2018 (Wallasey )
Party
Candidates
Votes
Stood
Elected
Gained
Unseated
Net
% of total
%
No.
Net %
Labour
6
4
0
0
66.7
52.2
12,201
0.1
Conservative
6
2
0
0
33.3
38.1
8,898
3.5
Green
6
0
0
0
0.0
4.8
1,121
Liberal Democrats
6
0
0
0
0.0
4.0
934
1.6
UKIP
1
0
0
0
0.0
0.5
107
5.1
Independent
1
0
0
0
0.0
0.4
92
N/A
[ 5]
Wirral South constituency [ edit ]
Wirral South consists of the wards of Bebington , Bromborough , Clatterbridge , Eastham , and Heswall .
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Election Results, 2018 (Wirral South )
Party
Candidates
Votes
Stood
Elected
Gained
Unseated
Net
% of total
%
No.
Net %
Labour
5
2
0
0
40.0
40.4
8,803
2.9
Conservative
5
2
0
0
40.0
39.5
8,602
6.8
Liberal Democrats
5
1
0
0
20.0
15.7
3,418
2.1
Green
5
0
0
0
0.0
4.4
966
[ 5]
Wirral West constituency [ edit ]
Wirral West consists of the wards of Greasby, Frankby and Irby , Hoylake and Meols , Pensby and Thingwall , Upton , and West Kirby and Thurstaston .
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Election Results, 2018 (Wirral West )
Party
Candidates
Votes
Stood
Elected
Gained
Unseated
Net
% of total
%
No.
Net %
Conservative
6
4
0
0
60.0
50.0
11,315
6.1
Labour
6
2
0
0
40.0
35.0
7,919
4.0
Liberal Democrats
6
0
0
0
0.0
7.8
1,766
0.7
Green
6
0
0
0
0.0
6.8
1,542
0.6
TUSC
1
0
0
0
0.0
0.4
89
[ 5] [ n 2]
Changes in council composition [ edit ]
Prior to the election the composition of the council was:
↓
38
20
5
1
2
Lab
Con
LD
G
V
After the election the composition of the council was:
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council composition after the 2018 election
Popular vote
Labour
45.5%
Conservative
36.3%
Liberal Democrats
10.2%
Green
8.6%
Others
0.5%
Wards won
Labour
54.5%
Conservative
31.8%
Liberal Democrats
9.1%
Green
4.5%
Others
0.0%
The disproportionality of the 2018 election was 7.49 using the Gallagher Index .
Political Party
Vote Share
Seat Share
Difference
Difference²
Labour
45.46
54.55
9.09
82.63
Conservative
35.29
31.82
3.47
12.04
Liberal Democrat
10.20
9.09
1.11
1.23
Green
8.56
4.55
4.01
16.08
TUSC
0.27
0.00
0.27
0.07
UKIP
0.12
0.00
0.12
0.01
Independent
0.10
0.00
0.10
0.01
TOTAL
112.07
TOTAL /2
56.04
TOTAL
2
{\displaystyle {\sqrt {\frac {\text{TOTAL}}{2}}}}
7.49
[ n 3]
Parties and candidates [ edit ]
Contesting political parties [ edit ]
There were in total 96 candidates (down 7 from 2016).[ 7] As per 2016 , both Labour and The Conservative Party contested all 23 seats up for election. The Green Party also stood 23 (up 2), the Liberal Democrats , 22 (up 3) and TUSC , 3 (down 4). UKIP stood 1 candidate (down 8) with 1 Independent also standing.[ 8]
Labour Party
Wirral Labour's local election campaign was launched on 10 April 2018 at The Engineering College in Monk's Ferry with the help of the Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor , Steve Rotheram .[ 9]
Wirral Labour's key priorities were to protect services; work with the police and social services to clamp down on anti-social behaviour and to work with the Metro Mayor to access funds to improve roads and highways.[ 10]
Wirral Labour received criticism by its own LCF (Local Campaign Forum) for only having one target seat, the Green held ward of Birkenhead and Tranmere .[ 11] Their campaign in Birkenhead included "Super Saturdays", personal attacks against the Green candidate Pat Cleary and suspected Green voting Labour members put on a list and threatened with suspension.[ 11] The Greens held the seat with an increased vote share.[ 12] Other targets were later added.
Conservative Party
The Wirral Conservative's key priorities were to cut spending on consultants and senior directors; abolish country park and coastal area parking charges; scrap the Wirral View newspaper and use the money to reinstate school crossing patrols; scrap plans for food waste bins and instead do more to reduce packaging and plastic waste; ban lending to other councils and scrap plans to build on the Green belt .[ 13] [ 14]
Liberal Democrats
The Wirral Liberal Democrat's key priorities were to focus on getting basic services right; secure grants from the government that will recognise Wirral's needs; give local people a greater say, particularly over the Wirral Growth Company ; "leave nobody out", particularly in the example of health and social services; make sure money from the sale of council assets is put back into the community; better maintain the road network with more 20 mph zones to improve safety and to scrap the Wirral View .[ 14]
Green Party
The Wirral Green Party's key priorities were to clamp down on waste and invest more in "key public services"; scrap the Wirral View newspaper and invest savings made in improving the environment; freeze executive pay and introduce measures to address the "obscene pay gap" between the lowest and highest paid council staff; prioritise key brownfield sites for regeneration and housing to end the threat to Wirral's Green belt ; transform democratic structures to secure "a more inclusive and transparent council in contrast to the rigid closed shop operated by the Labour Party" and to prioritise investment in active travel with pedestrians, cyclists and cleaner air.[ 14]
Other parties
The sole UKIP candidate, Paula Walters , was urged to withdraw her nomination by The Labour Party due to a series of "hate-filled" tweets from an account under her name that compared migrants to terrorists.[ 15]
A Green stake board in Birkenhead and Tranmere
Retiring councillors [ edit ]
Results compared directly with the last local election in 2016 .
[ 27] [ 28]
Bidston and St James [ edit ]
[ 29] [ 30]
Birkenhead and Tranmere [ edit ]
[ 12] [ 31]
[ 32] [ 33]
[ 34] [ 35]
[ 36] [ 37]
[ 38] [ 39] [ 40]
Greasby, Frankby and Irby[ edit ]
[ 41] [ 42] [ 43]
[ 44] [ 45]
[ 46] [ 47] [ 48] [ 49]
Leasowe and Moreton East [ edit ]
[ 50] [ 51]
[ 52] [ 53]
Moreton West and Saughall Massie [ edit ]
[ 54] [ 55]
[ 56] [ 57]
[ 58] [ 59]
Pensby and Thingwall [ edit ]
[ 60] [ 61] [ 62]
[ 63] [ 64] [ 65]
[ 66] [ 67]
[ 68] [ 69]
[ 70] [ 71] [ 72]
[ 73] [ 74] [ 75]
West Kirby and Thurstaston [ edit ]
[ 76] [ 77]
Changes between 2018 and 2019 [ edit ]
Bromborough by-election 2018 [ edit ]
Cllr Warren Ward, elected in 2016 , announced his resignation on 9 July 2018.[ 78] A casual vacancy was announced the next day.[ 79] [ 80]
Outgoing councillor Warren Ward.
[ 40] [ 84] [ 85]
On 20 July, Conservative candidate Des Drury sent a printed letter to nearly 1,200 residents about a planning application being approved for the ex-Bromborough Secondary School site that borders the south of the ward.[ 86] [ 87] The letter mentions a "More than 1,000" signature strong petition opposing the application.[ 88] The lead petitioner, who spoke in front of the planning committee when the application was considered on 19 July, was future Labour candidate Jo Bird.[ 87] This was despite the fact that all 7 Labour councillors on the committee (a majority on the committee as a whole) voted to approve the application.[ 88]
Upton by-election 2018 [ edit ]
Cllr Matthew Patrick, first elected in 2013 , announced his resignation on 21 September 2018.[ 89] He formally resigned on 7 October 2018 with a casual vacancy announced the following day.[ 90] [ 91]
[ 94] [ 95]
On 22 February 2019, Moira McLaughlin was announced as leader of an Independent group composed of the three Labour defections.[ 103]
• italics denote the sitting councillor • bold denotes the winning candidate
^ a b As the only Green on the council prior to the election, Pat Cleary was their de facto group leader.
^ a b % of total refers to % of wards won.
^ Seat share refers to % of wards won.
^ Elected to serve a 4-year term.
^ Elected to serve a 2-year term.
^ "Wirral council Labour group leader Steve Foulkes steps down" . BBC News . 29 March 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2018 .
^ Marles, Leigh (8 May 2017). "Wirral Council Conservative group has a new leader - Jeff Green ousted after 15-year reign" . Wirral Globe . Retrieved 4 July 2018 .
^ Cureton, Stephanie (16 May 2013). "New leader for Wirral Liberal Democrats" . Wirral Globe . Retrieved 4 July 2018 .
^ Murphy, Liam (23 May 2014). "Green party enjoy shock Birkenhead success in Wirral elections" . Liverpool Echo . Retrieved 4 July 2018 .
^ a b c d e f "Election Results by Party, Local election - Thursday, 3rd May 2018" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . 3 May 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Election 2018 Results" . BBC News . 4 May 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018 .
^ Robinson, Eric (April 2018). "Statement of Persons Nominated" (PDF) . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ Houghton, Tom (9 April 2018). "Here are the Wirral Council candidates you can vote for in May's local election" . Wirral Globe . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ Manning, Craig (10 April 2018). "Wirral Council leader Phil Davies launches local election campaign" . Wirral Globe . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Labour is last line of defence against savage Tory cuts" . Wirral Labour Group (Press release). 10 April 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ a b Justice, Julian (17 May 2018). "Pip's Cabinet Kerfuffle" . Wirral Leaks . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ a b "Election results for Birkenhead and Tranmere" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Wirral A5 Choice Graphic" . Wirral Conservatives (Press release). Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ a b c Houghton, Tom (24 April 2018). "What Wirral's main political parties say they will do if they win power in May local elections" . Liverpool Echo . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ Houghton, Tom (22 April 2018). "UKIP council hopeful's 'hate-filled' tweets compared migrants to terrorists" . Liverpool Echo . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Walter Smith" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018 .
^ Jones, Lauren (10 November 2017). "Tributes paid to 'selfless' Wirral Councillor Walter Smith who has passed away" . Wirral Globe. Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Ann McLachlan" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Tracey Pilgrim" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Eddie Boult" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Archived from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor John Hale" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Wirral's longest-serving councillor John Hale retires" . Wirral Globe . 14 March 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Treena Johnson" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Alan Brighouse" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Louise Reecejones" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Archived from the original on 19 September 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Denise Realey" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Election results for Bebington" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Tony Cottier" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Election results for Bidston and St James" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Liz Grey" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Pat Cleary" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Election results for Bromborough" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Irene Williams" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Archived from the original on 21 May 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Election results for Clatterbridge" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Mary Jordan" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Election results for Claughton" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Gillian Wood" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Election results for Eastham" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Chris Carubia" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ a b "Councillor Jo Bird" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Election results for Greasby, Frankby and Irby" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Wendy Clements" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Archived from the original on 21 May 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Andrew Corkhill" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 8 May 2019 .
^ "Election results for Heswall" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Les Rowlands" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Election results for Hoylake and Meols" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Tony Cox" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Andrew Gardner" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Peter Reisdorf" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Election results for Leasowe and Moreton East" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Sharon Jones" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Election results for Liscard" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Janette Williamson" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Election results for Moreton West and Saughall Massie" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Bruce Berry" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Election results for New Brighton" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Christine Spriggs" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Election results for Oxton" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Allan Brame" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Election results for Pensby and Thingwall" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Kate Cannon" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Michael Collins" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 8 May 2019 .
^ "Election results for Prenton" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Christopher Cooke" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 8 May 2019 .
^ "Councillor Samantha Frost" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Election results for Rock Ferry" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Moira McLaughlin" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Election results for Seacombe" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Adrian Jones" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Election results for Upton" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Stuart Whittingham" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Alison Wright" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 26 February 2020 .
^ "Election results for Wallasey" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Lesley Rennie" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Paul Martin" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 19 May 2021 .
^ "Election results for West Kirby and Thurstastion" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Councillor Jeff Green" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ Hughes, Lorna (9 July 2018). "Why young Wirral councillor who took on "grey-haired old men" is stepping down" . Liverpool Echo . Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ Robinson, Eric (10 July 2018). "Notice of casual vacancy in the office of councillor for the Bromborough ward" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018 .
^ Robinson, Eric. "Election of Councillor - Notice of Election for the Bromborough ward" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018 .
^ "New Ferry & Bromborough Labour Party on Twitter" . Twitter . @LabourBromNF. 18 July 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018 .
^ "Des Drury for Bromborough, New Ferry, Port Sunlight, Bromborough Pool and Spital" . Wirral Conservatives . Retrieved 20 July 2018 .
^ "Bromborough By-Election: Vicky Downie the Lib Dem candidate" . Wirral Lib Dems . 22 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018 .
^ "Election results for Bromborough Local by-election - Thursday, 23rd August 2018" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 23 August 2018 .
^ "Councillor Steve Niblock" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2019 .
^ "Residents dismayed after Planning Committee backs Morris Homes plan" . Wirral Conservatives . 20 July 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018 .
^ a b Houghton, Tom (20 July 2018). "Hundreds of homes to be built in Wirral despite major opposition" . Liverpool Echo . Retrieved 23 July 2018 .
^ a b "Update for Residents" (PDF) . Wirral Conservatives . Retrieved 23 July 2018 .
^ Houghton, Tom (21 September 2018). "One of Wirral's most senior politicians has announced he is to stand down" . Liverpool Echo . Retrieved 21 September 2018 .
^ Robinson, Eric (8 October 2018). "Notice of casual vacancy in the office of Councillor for the Upton ward" . Wirral Council . Archived from the original on 29 October 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018 .
^ Robinson, Eric. "Notice of election of a councillor for the Upton ward" . Wirral Council . Archived from the original on 29 October 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2018 .
^ "Wirral West Labour on Twitter" . Twitter . @WWLabour. Retrieved 14 October 2018 .
^ "Emma Sellman (Upton, Woodchurch, Overchurch and Arrowe Park)" . Wirral Conservatives . Retrieved 13 October 2018 .
^ "Election results for Upton Local by-election - Thursday, 22nd November 2018" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018 .
^ "Councillor Jean Robinson" . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council . Retrieved 3 January 2019 .
^ "Wirral councillor quits party blaming hard left 'parasites' " . Labour Uncut. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2018 .
^ Houghton, Tom (25 October 2018). "Senior Labour politician quits party after 40 years citing 'absolute aggression' of 'hard-left clique' " . Liverpool Echo . Retrieved 28 December 2018 .
^ Houghton, Tom (12 February 2019). "Yet ANOTHER top Labour politician quits party - blaming 'hard-left' takeover" . Liverpool Echo . Retrieved 12 February 2019 .
^ Houghton, Tom (4 March 2019). "Labour councillor suspended after 'Jew process' joke" . Liverpool Echo . Retrieved 4 March 2019 .
^ Houghton, Tom (15 March 2019). "Labour councillor who made 'Jew process' joke has suspension lifted" . Liverpool Echo . Retrieved 15 March 2019 .
^ Houghton, Tom (18 March 2019). "Labour Councillor of more than 30 years latest to quit party and slam 'hard-left' takeover" . Liverpool Echo . Retrieved 18 March 2019 .
^ Houghton, Tom (10 April 2019). "Wirral politician booted out of Labour after campaigning for rival party" . Liverpool Echo . Retrieved 10 April 2019 .
^ Houghton, Tom (22 February 2019). "The UK's newest Independent Group has been created by fed-up politicians - right here on Merseyside" . Liverpool Echo . Retrieved 22 February 2019 .