2021 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election

Overall election result

Overall result compared with 2019.

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council election result, 2021
Party		Candidates						Votes
		Stood	Elected	Gained	Unseated	Net	% of total	%	No.	Net %
	Labour	23	10	1	3	2	40.9	39.7	34,643	3.9
	Conservative	23	8	1	0	1	36.4	33.3	29,000	1.2
	Green	23	3	3	0	3	13.6	16.0	13,915	0.7
	Liberal Democrats	23	2	0	0		9.1	10.1	8,788	1.5
	Independent	1	0	0	2	2	0.0	0.6	547	0.8
	Reform UK	4	0	0	0		0.0	0.3	249	New
	For Britain	1	0	0	0		0.0	0.1	67	New

^{[14] [n 2]}

Changes in council composition

Prior to the election the composition of the council was:^[15]

After the election the composition of the council was:^[13]

Contesting political parties

Party		Leader	Leader since	Leader's ward	Up for re-election?	Last election		This election
						% of votes	Wards	Defending	Prior Composition[15]
	Labour	Janette Williamson	29 June 2020	Liscard	N	35.8%	10	11	32 / 66
	Conservative	Jeff Green	22 December 2020	West Kirby and Thurstaston	N	32.1%	8	7	22 / 66
	Liberal Democrats	Phil Gilchrist	16 May 2013	Eastham	Y	11.6%	2	2	6 / 66
	Green	Pat Cleary	22 May 2014	Birkenhead and Tranmere	N	16.7%	2	0	2 / 66
	Independent	Moira McLaughlin	22 February 2019[16]	Rock Ferry	N	1.4%	0	2	4 / 66

2020 Candidate selection

In August 2019, incumbent Labour councillor for Prenton Tony Norbury was not approved for candidacy by the Local campaign forum thus was unable to seek re-selection.^[17] Former Prenton councillor Angie Davies, who lost her seat in May to the Green's Chris Cooke, was selected as the new Labour candidate in October.^[18] The Greens are fielding Harry Gorman who was selected in June.^[19][20]

Tom Usher, then youngest member of council and cabinet member for Children and Families, lost a selection contest in his Liscard Labour branch in October to Dave Brennan by 21 votes to 30.^[21] This was criticised by Independent group leader, and former Labour councillor, Moira McLaughlin who perceived Usher as having been "booted out by the hard-left". Liscard labour chair Edwina Doyle dismissed this notion putting the result down to Usher being "a bit younger and less experienced [than Brennan]". In January 2020, he was selected to contest the neighboring, Conservative held, ward of Wallasey.^[22]

Conservative councillor Chris Blakeley died of cancer on 15 January.^[23] A casual vacancy was announced on 6 February with the seat to be filled at the upcoming election when Blakeley's term was due to end.^[24] Simon Mountney, who had served alongside Blakeley as a fellow ward councillor from 2004 to 2014, was selected as the Conservative candidate in March.^[25][26] Though he was replaced by Max Booth the following January after the elections had been rescheduled.^[27] Mountney was later selected to contest the West Kirby and Thurstaston ward.^[28]

The Conservatives posted an appeal for candidates on Twitter on 17 February for wards in the Wallasey and Birkenhead constituencies.^[29]

2021 Candidate selection

Chase Newton was selected as the Lib Dem candidate for Bromborough on 23 July 2020 succeeding Vicky Downie who stood down due to personal reasons.^[30] Downie had been the party's candidate in the ward for the previous three elections.^[31]

Former Labour Councillor Bill Davies resigned his seat in September with a casual vacancy announced on the 7th.^[32]

Conservative councillor Geoffrey Watt died on 24 September 2020 after a short illness.^[33]

Campaign

On 24 February, Leader of the Council Pat Hackett announced he was standing down as both leader and councillor for New Brighton later in the year.^[34] This was, however, to be in July after the election was scheduled.^[35] Hackett was succeeded as Leader of the Labour Group by his deputy Janette Williamson on 29 June 2020.^[4][36] She was voted in as Leader of the Council in a virtual meeting on 28 September.^[1] Hackett later resigned his seat in September.^[37]

A leaked internal Labour report released on 3 March 2020 predicted severe losses for the party at the upcoming local elections across the country.^[38] Wirral, however, was one of only two authorities (the other being Burnley) seen as a possible gain for Labour with Wirral being the only positive prediction under all models used within the report.^[39]

On 13 March it was announced that all elections due to be held in May would be suspended until the following year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[12]

An e-newsletter created by the Oxton Labour Party revealed that it and the rest of the Birkenhead constituency party were not delivering leaflets due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.^[40]

Leader of the Conservative group Ian Lewis resigned on 15 December 2020 citing internal party problems.^[41] Lewis's predecessor Jeff Green was elected leader on 22 December beating controversial Greasby, Frankby and Irby councillor David Burgess-Joyce.^[6]

Results compared directly with the last local election in 2019.

Bebington

Bebington

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Green	Jason Walsh[20]	3,167	59.8	50.2
	Labour	Christina Muspratt[44]	1,536	29.0	21.1
	Conservative	Geoff Jones[52]	529	10.0	14.6
	Liberal Democrats	Vicky Downie	63	1.2	14.6
Majority			1,631	30.8	N/A
Registered electors			11,839
Turnout			5,350	45.2	7.8
Rejected ballots			55	1.0
	Green gain from Labour		Swing	35.7

^[53][54][55]

Bidston and St James

Bidston and St James

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Julie McManus[44]	1,581	69.6	1.9
	Conservative	Tina McDonnell	364	16.0	5.4
	Green	Diane Johnson[56]	205	9.0	6.2
	Liberal Democrats	Mike Parsons	122	5.4	1.1
Majority			1,217	53.6	1.1
Registered electors			10,498
Turnout			2,309	22.0	0.9
Rejected ballots			37	1.6	0.4
	Labour hold		Swing	0.5

^[57][58]

Birkenhead and Tranmere

Birkenhead and Tranmere

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Green	Emily Gleaves[20]	1,765	61.9	4.0
	Labour	Susan Mahoney[18]	897	31.5	0.2
	Conservative	June Cowin	153	5.4	3.1
	Liberal Democrats	Edward Smith	35	1.2	New
Majority			868	30.5	3.7
Registered electors			10,400
Turnout			2,886	27.8	5.4
Rejected ballots			36	1.2	0.4
	Green gain from Labour		Swing	1.9

^[59][60]

Bromborough

Bromborough

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Jo Bird[44]	2,248	61.1	13.1
	Conservative	Anthony Drury	819	22.3	0.6
	Green	Sheena Hatton[56]	318	8.6	4.7
	Liberal Democrats	Chase Newton[30]	295	8.0	9.0
Majority			1,429	38.8	12.5
Registered electors			12,237
Turnout			3,720	30.4	1.6
Rejected ballots			40	1.1
	Labour hold		Swing	6.3

^[61][62]

Clatterbridge

Clatterbridge

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Cherry Povall[47]	2,414	51.8	1.4
	Labour	Christopher Davies[44]	1,426	30.6	1.5
	Green	Jim McGinley[56]	466	10.0	7.6
	Liberal Democrats	Daniel Rogers	357	7.7	New
Majority			988	21.2	2.9
Registered electors			11,305
Turnout			4,707	41.6	1.9
Rejected ballots			44	0.9	0.3
	Conservative hold		Swing	1.5

^[63][64]

Claughton

Claughton

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	George Davies[44]	2,096	60.2	14.4
	Conservative	Rania Elzeiny	608	17.5	1.9
	Green	Liz Heydon[56]	412	11.8	1.4
	Liberal Democrats	Chris Teggin	300	8.6	2.6
	For Britain	Gary Bergin	67	1.9	New
Majority			1,488	42.7	12.5
Registered electors			11,468
Turnout			3,536	30.8	0.3
Rejected ballots			53	1.5	1.0
	Labour hold		Swing	6.3

^[65][66]

Eastham

Eastham

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Phillip Gilchrist[47]	2,497	63.2	8.2
	Labour	Shab Syed[67]	792	20.1	6.9
	Conservative	Paul Connolly	488	12.4	1.8
	Green	Percy Hogg[56]	171	4.3	3.2
Majority			1,705	43.2	15.2
Registered electors			11,069
Turnout			3,972	35.9	2.2
Rejected ballots			24	0.6	0.2
	Liberal Democrats hold		Swing	7.6

^[68][69]

Greasby, Frankby and Irby

Greasby, Frankby and Irby

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Tom Anderson[47]	2,755	54.3	2.0
	Labour	Gail Jenkinson[44]	1,585	31.2	13.6
	Green	Cathy Page[56]	428	8.4	4.3
	Liberal Democrats	Mike Redfern	306	6.0	5.0
Majority			1,170	23.1	11.5
Registered electors			11,593
Turnout			5,119	44.2	3.2
Rejected ballots			45	0.9	0.6
	Conservative hold		Swing	5.8

^[70][71]

Heswall

Heswall

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Kathy Hodson[47]	2,785	56.1	4.0
	Labour	Giuseppe Roberto[44]	1,118	22.5	10.0
	Liberal Democrats	Robert Thompson	535	10.8	2.6
	Green	Barbara Burton[56]	468	9.4	4.7
	Reform UK	Ken Ferguson	60	1.2	New
Majority			1,667	33.6	12.4
Registered electors			10,903
Turnout			5,021	46.1	1.3
Rejected ballots			55	1.1	0.3
	Conservative hold		Swing	6.2

^[72][73]

Hoylake and Meols

Hoylake and Meols

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Andrew Gardner[47]	2,532	52.7	2.4
	Labour	Matt Houghton[44]	1,391	28.9	6.8
	Green	Alix Cockcroft[56]	548	11.4	5.9
	Liberal Democrats	Peter Reisdorf	335	7.0	3.3
Majority			1,141	23.7	4.4
Registered electors			10,575
Turnout			4,850	45.9	2.2
Rejected ballots			44	0.9	0.2
	Conservative hold		Swing	2.2

^[74][75][76]

Leasowe and Moreton East

Leasowe and Moreton East

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Helen Collinson	1,943	54.1	6.2
	Conservative	Debbie Caplin[77]	1,409	39.2	0.4
	Green	Michael Dixon[56]	175	4.9	7.6
	Liberal Democrats	John Mullins	64	1.8	New
Majority			534	14.9	6.6
Registered electors			11,118
Turnout			3,631	32.7	1.1
Rejected ballots			40	1.1
	Labour hold		Swing	3.3

^[78][79]

Liscard

Liscard

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	David Brennan[21]	1,898	56.9	5.9
	Conservative	Jane Owens[77]	875	26.2	8.3
	Green	Perle Sheldricks[56]	271	8.1	2.5
	Liberal Democrats	Sue Arrowsmith	221	6.6	2.8
	Reform UK	Dave Sharp	71	2.1	New
Majority			1,023	30.7	2.4
Registered electors			11,405
Turnout			3,377	29.6	1.3
Rejected ballots			41	1.2	0.2
	Labour hold		Swing	1.2

^[80][81]

Moreton West and Saughall Massie

Moreton West and Saughall Massie

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Max Booth[77]	2,206	56.2	7.2
	Labour	Nicole Williams[82]	1,320	33.6	7.1
	Green	Helen O'Donnell[56]	256	6.5	1.1
	Liberal Democrats	David Tyrrell	84	2.1	0.4
	Reform UK	Paul Whelligan	60	1.5	New
Majority			886	22.6	14.2
Registered electors			10,763
Turnout			3,977	37.0	3.9
Rejected ballots			51	1.3	0.2
	Conservative hold		Swing	7.2

^[83][84]

New Brighton

New Brighton (2)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Tony Jones[44] [n 3]	2,204	55.1	1.9
	Labour	Paul Martin[44] [n 4]	1,835	45.9	11.1
	Conservative	Tony Pritchard[77]	1,230	30.8	13.5
	Conservative	Darren May[77]	923	23.1	5.8
	Green	Moira Gommon[56]	492	12.3	1.4
	Green	Cynthia Stonall[56]	433	10.8	2.9
	Liberal Democrats	Adam Keenan	214	5.4	1.1
	Liberal Democrats	Charlie Smethurst	184	4.6	1.9
Majority			974	23.5	16.2
Registered electors			11,476
Turnout			4,014	35.0	0.3
Rejected ballots			17	0.4
	Labour hold		Swing	8.1
	Labour hold		Swing	—

^[85][86][87]

Oxton

Oxton

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Stuart Kelly[47]	2,311	57.0	2.8
	Labour	Paul Jobson[44]	1,050	25.9	3.7
	Conservative	Phil Merry	328	8.1	3.1
	Green	Judith Grier[56]	306	7.5	New
	Reform UK	Philip Griffiths	58	1.4	New
Majority			1,261	31.1	0.8
Registered electors			11,020
Turnout			37.2	4,097	3.0
Rejected ballots			44	1.1	0.8
	Liberal Democrats hold		Swing	0.5

^[88][89]

Pensby and Thingwall

Pensby and Thingwall

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Ivan Camphor[90]	2,234	48.4	3.6
	Labour	Tim Watson[18]	1,676	36.3	1.6
	Green	Allen Burton[56]	453	9.8	4.4
	Liberal Democrats	Phil Waterfield	257	5.6	0.6
Majority			558	12.1	2.0
Registered electors			10,492
Turnout			4,665	44.5	3.1
Rejected ballots			45	1.0	0.3
	Conservative gain from Independent		Swing	1.0

^[91][92]

Prenton

Prenton

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Green	Harry Gorman[20]	2,235	54.5	9.1
	Labour	Angie Davies[18]	1,441	35.2	3.2
	Conservative	Hilary Jones	336	8.2	3.8
	Liberal Democrats	Lucy Johnson	87	2.1	New
Majority			794	19.4	12.2
Registered electors			10,991
Turnout			4,130	37.6	4.4
Rejected ballots			31	0.8	0.1
	Green gain from Labour		Swing	6.2

^[93][94][95]

Rock Ferry

Rock Ferry

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Clare O'Hagan[18]	1,521	55.7	10.7
	Independent	Stephen Davies[96]	547	20.0	18.5
	Conservative	Nick Hanna	296	10.8	5.2
	Green	Craig McDonald[56]	271	9.9	1.1
	Liberal Democrats	Tom Sutton	95	3.5	New
Majority			974	35.7	29.2
Registered electors			10,269
Turnout			2,779	27.1	1.4
Rejected ballots			49	1.8	1.3
	Labour gain from Independent		Swing	14.6

^[97][98]

Seacombe

Seacombe

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Paul Stuart[44]	1,597	69.6	5.7
	Conservative	Vida Wilson[77]	405	17.7	8.3
	Green	Hilary Cullen[56]	208	9.1	2.4
	Liberal Democrats	Anthony Morris	83	3.6	New
Majority			1,192	52.0	3.3
Registered electors			10,294
Turnout			2,320	22.5	2.1
Rejected ballots			27	1.2	0.5
	Labour hold		Swing	1.6

^[99][100]

Upton

Upton

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Jean Robinson[44]	1,960	55.2	5.8
	Conservative	Emma Sellman[101]	1,017	28.6	2.5
	Green	Lily Clough[56]	432	12.2	5.5
	Liberal Democrats	Alan Davies	143	4.0	2.8
Majority			943	26.5	3.2
Registered electors			12,409
Turnout			3,589	28.9	0.8
Rejected ballots			37	1.0	0.1
	Labour hold		Swing	1.7

^[102][103]

Wallasey

Wallasey

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Ian Lewis[77]	2,567	49.8	2.8
	Labour	Tom Usher[22] [n 5]	2,135	41.4	9.3
	Green	Rachel Heydon[56]	297	5.8	0.6
	Liberal Democrats	John Codling	160	3.1	1.5
Majority			432	8.4	12.1
Registered electors			11,727
Turnout			5,211	44.4	0.8
Rejected ballots			52	1.0	0.7
	Conservative hold		Swing	6.1

^{[104][105][106]}

West Kirby and Thurstaston

West Kirby and Thurstaston

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Simon Mountney[28]	2,650	56.7	1.6
	Labour	Louise Reecejones[107]	1,228	26.3	5.5
	Green	Yvonne McGinley[56]	571	12.2	3.6
	Liberal Democrats	Orod Osanlou	224	4.8	3.5
Majority			1,422	30.4	3.9
Registered electors			10,326
Turnout			4,712	45.6	0.1
Rejected ballots			39	0.8	0.1
	Conservative hold		Swing	2.0

^{[108][109][110]}

Liscard by-election 2021

Cllr Sarah Spoor, first elected in 2018, announced her resignation on 4 June 2021.^[111] A casual vacancy was announced on the 7th.^[112]

By-election, 22 July 2021: Liscard

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	Daisy Kenny[113]	1,137	53.6	3.3
	Conservative	Jane Owens[114]	582	27.4	1.2
	Liberal Democrats	Sue Arrowsmith[113]	201	9.5	2.9
	Green	Edward Lamb[113]	109	5.1	3.0
	Independent	Lynda Williams	68	3.2	New
	For Britain	Gary Bergin	26	1.2	New
Majority			555	26.1	4.6
Registered electors			11,399
Turnout			2,128	18.7	10.9
Rejected ballots			5	0.2	1.0
	Labour hold		Swing	2.3

^[115][116]

Oxton by-election 2021

Cllr Andy Corkhill, first elected in 2019, died of cancer at the age of 36 on 4 October 2021.^[117] A casual vacancy was announced on the 20th.^[118]

By-election, 25 November 2021: Oxton

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Orod Osanlou	1,666	68.3	11.3
	Labour Co-op	Sue Mahoney[119]	460	18.8	7.1
	Conservative	Philip Merry	168	6.9	1.2
	Green	Mary Heydon	147	6.0	1.5
Majority			1,206	49.4	18.3
Registered electors			10,795
Turnout			22.7	2,447	14.5
Rejected ballots			6	0.2	0.9
	Liberal Democrats hold		Swing	9.2

^[120]

Other changes

• 2021 Liverpool City Region mayoral election
• 2021 Merseyside police and crime commissioner election

• italics denote the sitting councillor • bold denotes the winning candidate