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