2024 Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council election

2024 Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council election
All 72 seats to Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council; 37 seats needed for a majority
Leader before election; Patrick Harley; Conservative	Leader after election ; TBD;

The 2024 Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on Thursday 2 May 2024 to elect all 72 seats to Dudley Council, alongside the other local elections across the United Kingdom being held on the same day.^[1]

Dudley council was previously controlled by the Conservatives, since winning a majority in 2021.

The Conservatives lost control of the council, with no party having an overall majority.^[2]

Background[edit]

History[edit]

The Local Government Act 1972 created a two-tier system of metropolitan counties and districts covering Greater Manchester, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, the West Midlands, and West Yorkshire starting in 1974. Dudley was a district of the West Midlands metropolitan county.^[3] The Local Government Act 1985 abolished the metropolitan counties, with metropolitan districts taking on most of their powers as metropolitan boroughs. The West Midlands Combined Authority was created in 2016 and began electing the mayor of the West Midlands from 2017, which was given strategic powers covering a region coterminous with the former West Midlands metropolitan county.^[4]

Dudley Council has variously been under Labour control, Conservative control and no overall control since it was established. The Conservatives controlled the council from the 2004 election until Labour gained control in the 2012 election. Labour lost overall control in the 2016 election but continued to lead the council until 2017, when the Conservatives led the council, still without a majority. In the 2021 elections, the Conservatives gained a majority on the council, which they have held since.^[5]

In the most recent council election in 2023, the Conservatives won 44 of the 72 seats, one less than prior to the election, while Labour won 27 seats, increasing their membership on the council by 1.^[6]

Two by-elections were held between the 2023 elections and the 2024 elections. The Cradley and Wollescote ward by-election on 3 August 2023, triggered by the death of Labour councillor Richard Body, saw the Liberal Democrats gain their first seat on the council.^[7] The St James's ward by-election on 24 August 2023, triggered by the resignation of Conservative councillor Wayne Sullivan, resulted in the Labour Party gaining the seat.^[8]^[9]

Three councillors changed party affiliation between the 2023 elections and the 2024 elections. In October 2023, Labour councillor Adrian Hughes was suspended by the party following allegations of sexual harassment.^[10]^[11] Conservative councillors Shaun Keasey and Peter Miller quit the party in October 2023 and February 2024 respectively. Keasey cited the Conservative Party's extremity as his reason for resigning from the party, while Miller expressed "disgust" at the party's selection process for the 2024 elections.^[12]^[13] All three councillors have sat as independents on the council since departing their respective parties.

Electoral process[edit]

The council usually elects members in thirds every year except the 4th in a four-year cycle.^[14] However, due to a boundary review of the wards by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, all 72 seats to Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council will be up for election.^[15]^[16]

All registered electors (British, Irish, Commonwealth and European Union citizens) living in Dudley aged 18 or over will be entitled to vote in the election. People who live at two addresses in different councils, such as university students with different term-time and holiday addresses, are entitled to be registered for and vote in elections in both local authorities. Voting in-person at polling stations will take place from 07:00 to 22:00 on election day, and voters will be able to apply for postal votes or proxy votes in advance of the election.

Previous council composition[edit]

After 2023 election			Before 2024 election			After 2024 election
Party		Seats	Party		Seats	Party		Seats
	Conservative	44		Conservative	41		Conservative	34
	Labour	27		Labour	26		Labour	34
	Independent	1		Independent	4		Independent	1
	Liberal Democrats	0		Liberal Democrats	1		Liberal Democrats	3

Changes:

9 May 2023: Richard Body (Labour) dies; by-election scheduled for August 2023.
12 July 2023: Wayne Sullivan (Conservative) resigns; by-election scheduled for August 2023.
3 August 2023: Cradley and Wollescote by-election is won by Ryan Priest; Liberal Democrats gain seat from Labour.
24 August 2023: St James's by-election is won by Caroline Reid; Labour gains seat from Conservatives.
3 October 2023: Shaun Keasey resigns from the Conservative Party due to its "extremity".
24 October 2023: Adrian Hughes is suspended by the Labour Party over sexual harassment allegations.
28 February 2024: Peter Miller resigns from the Conservative Party over "disgust" at the party's local candidate selection process.

Ward Results^[17]^[18][edit]

Amblecote[edit]

Amblecote
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Paul William Bradley	1,754
	Conservative	Pete Lee	1,570
	Conservative	Kamran Razzaq	1,307
	Labour	Erin Charlotte Billingham	1040
	Labour	Harriet Caroline Foster	985
	Labour	Molly Savage	924
	Green	Adrian Norman Mabe	262
	Independent	Glen Wilson	233
	Independent	Maxim Lowe	219
	Liberal Democrats	Mollie Jo Priest	180
Turnout			3170	31.6	+5.46
			Swing
			Swing
			Swing

Belle Vale[edit]

Belle Vale
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Simon Dennis Phipps	1,679
	Conservative	Daniel James Bevan	1,482
	Conservative	Peter William Dobb	1,425
	Labour	Fiona Jane Murray	1289
	Labour	Donella Joy Russell	1247
	Labour	Joseph Eulogio	1211
	Liberal Democrats	Sarah Louise Furhuraire	243
Turnout			3276	33.41	+3.21
			Swing
			Swing
			Swing

Brierley Hill and Wordsley South[edit]

Brierley Hill and Wordsley South
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Adam Davies	1,160
	Conservative	Wayne Little	1,075
	Labour	Matthew James Cook	1,048
	Conservative	Danny Shaw	1020
	Labour	John Ronald Martin	1018
	Labour	Marva Iotha Inniss	905
	Green	Andrew Bennett	330
	Liberal Democrats	Aneesa Nawaz	167
	TUSC	Kevin Carnall	155
	Liberal Democrats	Abdul Qadus	137
Turnout			2672	26.35	+3.74
			Swing
			Swing
			Swing

Brockmoor and Pensnett[edit]

Brockmoor and Pensnett
Party		Votes	%	±%
	Labour
	Labour
	Labour
	Conservative
	Conservative
	Conservative
	Liberal Democrats
Turnout		2322	23.27	+4.16
		Swing
		Swing
		Swing

Castle and Priory[edit]

Castle and Priory
Party		Votes	%	±%
	Labour
	Conservative
	Labour
	Labour
	Conservative
	Conservative



Turnout		2435	25.35	+5.59
		Swing
		Swing
		Swing

Coseley[edit]

Coseley
Party		Votes	%	±%
	Labour
	Labour
	Labour







Turnout		2285	24.37	+4.66
		Swing
		Swing
		Swing

Cradley North and Wollescote[edit]

Cradley North and Wollescote
Party		Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats
	Liberal Democrats
	Liberal Democrats







Turnout		3057	33.41	+4.41
		Swing
		Swing
		Swing

Gornal[edit]

Gornal
Party		Votes	%	±%
	Conservative
	Conservative
	Labour







Turnout		3052	30.45	+4.24
		Swing
		Swing
		Swing

Halesowen North[edit]

Halesowen North
Party		Votes	%	±%
	Labour
	Labour
	Conservative







Turnout		3423	35.39	+3.63
		Swing
		Swing
		Swing

Halesowen South[edit]

Halesowen South
Party		Votes	%	±%
	Conservative
	Conservative
	Conservative







Turnout		3576	37.85	+5.14
		Swing
		Swing
		Swing

Hayley Green and Cradley South[edit]

Hayley Green and Cradley South
Party		Votes	%	±%
	Conservative
	Conservative
	Conservative







Turnout		3158	34.72	+4.99
		Swing
		Swing
		Swing

Kingswinford North and Wall Heath[edit]

Kingswinford North and Wall Heath
Party		Votes	%	±%
	Conservative
	Conservative
	Conservative







Turnout		3768	39.37	+6.75
		Swing
		Swing
		Swing

Kingswinford South[edit]

Kingswinford South
Party		Votes	%	±%
	Conservative
	Conservative
	Conservative







Turnout		3449	34.76	+5.01
		Swing
		Swing
		Swing

Lye and Stourbridge North[edit]

Lye and Stourbridge North
Party		Votes	%	±%
	Labour
	Labour
	Labour







Turnout		3217	33.99	+6.45
		Swing
		Swing
		Swing

Netherton and Holly Hall[edit]

Netherton and Holly Hall
Party		Votes	%	±%
	Labour
	Labour
	Labour







Turnout		2651	25.99	+4.71
		Swing
		Swing
		Swing

Norton[edit]

Norton
Party		Votes	%	±%
	Conservative
	Conservative
	Conservative







Turnout		3830	41.87	+4.67
		Swing
		Swing
		Swing

Pedmore and Stourbridge East[edit]

Pedmore and Stourbridge East
Party		Votes	%	±%
	Conservative
	Conservative
	Conservative







Turnout		3932	42.23	+6.03
		Swing
		Swing
		Swing

Quarry Bank and Dudley Wood[edit]

Quarry Bank and Dudley Wood
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Jackie Cowell	1,190	19.7%
	Labour	Luke Hamblett	1,062	17.58%
	Labour	Ashley Smith	1,039	17.2%







Turnout			2415	24.72	+5.50
			Swing
			Swing
			Swing

Sedgley[edit]

Sedgley
Party		Votes	%	±%
	Conservative
	Conservative
	Independent







Turnout		3545	33.26	+3.09
		Swing
		Swing
		Swing

St James’s[edit]

St James’s
Party		Votes	%	±%
	Labour
	Labour
	Labour







Turnout		2909	28.60	+6.06
		Swing
		Swing
		Swing

St Thomas’s[edit]

St Thomas’s
Party		Votes	%	±%
	Labour
	Labour
	Labour







Turnout		3540	33.24	+4.13
		Swing
		Swing
		Swing

Upper Gornal and Woodsetton[edit]

Upper Gornal and Woodsetton
Party		Votes	%	±%
	Labour
	Labour
	Labour







Turnout		2769	28.15	+4.52
		Swing
		Swing
		Swing

Wollaston and Stourbridge Town[edit]

Wollaston and Stourbridge Town
Party		Votes	%	±%
	Labour
	Labour
	Labour







Turnout		4256	41.96	+4.90
		Swing
		Swing
		Swing

Wordsley North[edit]

Wordsley North
Party		Votes	%	±%
	Conservative
	Conservative
	Labour







Turnout		3170	32.58	+5.28
		Swing
		Swing
		Swing

References[edit]

^ "Types of elections". www.dudley.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
^ ""Dudley Council election results in full: Tories lose control as they end up level with Labour"". Express and Star. 2024-05-03.
^ Local Government in England and Wales: A Guide to the New System. London: HMSO. 1974. p. 7. ISBN 0-11-750847-0.
^ "CONSTITUTION OF THE WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY" (PDF). Retrieved 4 December 2017.
^ Farrington, Dayna. "Full election results from Dudley Council as Conservatives gain power". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
^ "Dudley result - Local Elections 2023". BBC News. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
^ "Dudley Council by-election results". Who Can I Vote For?. Archived from the original on 2 Jan 2024. Retrieved 2 Jan 2024.
^ "Dudley Conservative councillor resigns, triggering by-election". Dudley News. 2023-07-18. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
^ O'Brien, Lisa (2023-08-25). "Labour wins by-election called at Dudley Council". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
^ Smith, Adam (2023-10-24). "Dudley councillor suspended by party over sexual harassment allegation". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
^ "Former Labour councillor says he'll sit as an independent amid suspension drama". Dudley News. 2023-10-30. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
^ Andrews, Mark (2023-10-03). "Tory Dudley councillor quits party, claiming it has become 'extreme'". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
^ "Veteran Tory councillor's shock resignation sparks 'arrogance' row". Stourbridge News. 2024-02-29. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
^ "Composition of Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council". Open Councill Data UK. Archived from the original on 2 Jan 2024. Retrieved 2 Jan 2024.
^ "Local Government Boundary Review". www.dudley.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
^ LGBCE. "Dudley | LGBCE". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
^ "Live Local Election Results 2024".
^ "Local Election 2024 - Count Verification".

[1] "Types of elections". www.dudley.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-01-02.

[2] ""Dudley Council election results in full: Tories lose control as they end up level with Labour"". Express and Star. 2024-05-03.

[guide-3] Local Government in England and Wales: A Guide to the New System. London: HMSO. 1974. p. 7. ISBN 0-11-750847-0.

[4] "CONSTITUTION OF THE WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY" (PDF). Retrieved 4 December 2017.

[5] Farrington, Dayna. "Full election results from Dudley Council as Conservatives gain power". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 2022-03-26.

[6] "Dudley result - Local Elections 2023". BBC News. Retrieved 2024-01-02.

[7] "Dudley Council by-election results". Who Can I Vote For?. Archived from the original on 2 Jan 2024. Retrieved 2 Jan 2024.

[8] "Dudley Conservative councillor resigns, triggering by-election". Dudley News. 2023-07-18. Retrieved 2024-03-23.

[9] O'Brien, Lisa (2023-08-25). "Labour wins by-election called at Dudley Council". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-23.

[10] Smith, Adam (2023-10-24). "Dudley councillor suspended by party over sexual harassment allegation". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-23.

[11] "Former Labour councillor says he'll sit as an independent amid suspension drama". Dudley News. 2023-10-30. Retrieved 2024-03-23.

[12] Andrews, Mark (2023-10-03). "Tory Dudley councillor quits party, claiming it has become 'extreme'". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-23.

[13] "Veteran Tory councillor's shock resignation sparks 'arrogance' row". Stourbridge News. 2024-02-29. Retrieved 2024-03-23.

[:0-14] "Composition of Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council". Open Councill Data UK. Archived from the original on 2 Jan 2024. Retrieved 2 Jan 2024.

[15] "Local Government Boundary Review". www.dudley.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-01-02.

[16] LGBCE. "Dudley | LGBCE". www.lgbce.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-01-02.

[17] "Live Local Election Results 2024".

[18] "Local Election 2024 - Count Verification".

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