← Babergh (all cycles) · 4 May 2023 cohort

Babergh 2023

Local elections held 4 May 2023.

24 ward races

32 seats

22 elected below the proportional quota

68.8% of seats below quota

How to read this page

Each race below shows the share of valid ballots the marginal elected candidate actually won, and compares it to the proportional quota: the share that would be needed to be guaranteed that seat under any proportional voting method (1 seats + 1). For a 1-seat ward the quota is 50%; for 2 seats, 33.3%; for 3 seats, 25%.

Where the actual winning share fell below the quota, we show the gap as points under par — the editorial indictment. Above-par results are just majority mandates and pass without comment. The voting method is the subject of every observation here. Named candidates appear as the public election record requires; the cause being audited is the voting method, not the individuals. See the methodology page for derivations.

If votes were counted by party

Across the 24 wards in this cycle, parties received the vote totals below. The proportional column shows what each party would have won if the 32 seats had been allocated to those vote totals in proportion (how, with caveats). The Δ column is the actual seat count minus the proportional seat count — positive numbers are parties First-Past-the-Post over-represented in this council, negative are parties it under-represented.

Party	Votes	Vote %	Seats won	% of seats	Proportional seats	Proportional %	Δ
Green Party	11,116	31.1%	10	31.3%	10	31.3%	0
Conservative and Unionist Party	8,610	24.1%	7	21.9%	8	25.0%	-1
Independent	5,671	15.9%	9	28.1%	5	15.6%	+4
Liberal Democrats	5,645	15.8%	5	15.6%	5	15.6%	0
Labour Party	4,680	13.1%	1	3.1%	4	12.5%	-3
Total	35,722	100.0%	32	100.0%	32	100.0%	0

Vote share vs seats won

The top bar is each party's share of votes cast in this council. Below, one square per seat, coloured by the party that won it — first the actual First-Past-the-Post result, then what a proportional method would have produced from the same vote totals. Divergence between the bar and the actual grid is the indictment of the method.

Vote share

Actual seats

Proportional seats

Wards in this council

Sorted with the largest gap below the quota first. Click any ward to jump to its full result.

Sudbury South East · 1 seat · won at 28.3% · +21.7 pts below quota
Hadleigh North · 1 seat · won at 33.8% · +16.2 pts below quota
Long Melford · 2 seats · won at 19.9% · +13.4 pts below quota
Great Cornard · 3 seats · won at 12.2% · +12.8 pts below quota
Sudbury North East · 1 seat · won at 37.7% · +12.3 pts below quota
Hadleigh South · 2 seats · won at 21.1% · +12.2 pts below quota
Sudbury North West · 2 seats · won at 21.2% · +12.1 pts below quota
Brett Vale · 1 seat · won at 39.7% · +10.3 pts below quota
Bures St Mary & Nayland · 1 seat · won at 39.8% · +10.2 pts below quota
Sproughton & Pinewood · 2 seats · won at 24.5% · +8.8 pts below quota
Lavenham · 2 seats · won at 24.8% · +8.5 pts below quota
Chadacre · 2 seats · won at 25.5% · +7.9 pts below quota
Ganges · 1 seat · won at 45.9% · +4.1 pts below quota
Stour · 1 seat · won at 46.0% · +4.0 pts below quota
Assington · 1 seat · won at 49.8% · +0.2 pts below quota
Sudbury South West · 1 seat · won at 50.1% · above quota
East Bergholt · 1 seat · won at 52.7% · above quota
Copdock & Washbrook · 1 seat · won at 56.4% · above quota
Orwell · 1 seat · won at 63.4% · above quota
Box Vale · 1 seat · won at 64.0% · above quota
Brantham · 1 seat · won at 77.7% · above quota
Capel St Mary · 1 seat · won at 79.0% · above quota
North West Cosford · 1 seat · won at 83.1% · above quota
South East Cosford · 1 seat · won at 88.9% · above quota

Race results

Sudbury South East · single-seat

Marginal winner 28.3% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +21.7 pts below quota Valid ballots 661

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Osborne, A.	Independent	187	28.3%	Elected
2	Finnigan, D.	Labour Party	172	26.0%
3	Adams, D.	Green Party	136	20.6%
4	Berry-Kilby, P.	Conservative and Unionist Party	117	17.7%
5	Bark, M.	Liberal Democrats	49	7.4%

Electorate 1,911 · Ballots cast 661 · Back to ward index

Hadleigh North · single-seat

Marginal winner 33.8% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +16.2 pts below quota Valid ballots 680

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Dowling, S.	Green Party	230	33.8%	Elected
2	Dawson, S.	Conservative and Unionist Party	199	29.3%
3	McLeod, G.	Independent	101	14.9%
4	Butcher, D.	Liberal Democrats	80	11.8%
5	Kennedy, A.	Labour Party	70	10.3%

Electorate 2,266 · Ballots cast 680 · Back to ward index

Long Melford · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 19.9% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +13.4 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,871

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Nunn, J.	Independent	1,069	37.2%	Elected
2	Malvisi, L.	Independent	571	19.9%	Elected
3	Barrett, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	399	13.9%
4	Gilfillan, F.	Green Party	279	9.7%
5	Fitzmaurice, M.	Labour Party	228	7.9%
6	Chapman, M.	Green Party	201	7.0%
7	Scott, A.	Liberal Democrats	124	4.3%

Electorate 4,993 · Ballots cast 2,871 · Back to ward index

Great Cornard · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 12.2% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +12.8 pts below quota Valid ballots 5,397

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Hendry, R.	Green Party	694	12.9%	Elected
2	Newman, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	660	12.2%	Elected
3	Beer, P.	Conservative and Unionist Party	658	12.2%	Elected
4	Wilson, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	627	11.6%
5	Bishton, E.	Labour Party	545	10.1%
6	Graham, K.	Labour Party	542	10.0%
7	Keane, T.	Labour Party	450	8.3%
8	Boyce, M.	Green Party	438	8.1%
9	James, H.	Green Party	396	7.3%
10	Bark, M.	Liberal Democrats	387	7.2%

Electorate 7,152 · Ballots cast 5,397 · Back to ward index

Sudbury North East · single-seat

Marginal winner 37.7% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +12.3 pts below quota Valid ballots 467

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Owen, A.	Labour Party	176	37.7%	Elected
2	Osborne, J.	Independent	129	27.6%
3	Barrett, S.	Conservative and Unionist Party	79	16.9%
4	Fowles-Smith, J.	Green Party	48	10.3%
5	Evans, G.	Liberal Democrats	35	7.5%

Electorate 2,013 · Ballots cast 467 · Back to ward index

Hadleigh South · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 21.1% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +12.2 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,359

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Carruthers, J.	Green Party	539	22.8%	Elected
2	Grandon, K.	Independent	498	21.1%	Elected
3	Parvu, A.	Green Party	483	20.5%
4	Ferguson, A.	Conservative and Unionist Party	418	17.7%
5	Read, D.	Liberal Democrats	250	10.6%
6	Heath, M.	Labour Party	171	7.2%

Electorate 4,435 · Ballots cast 2,359 · Back to ward index

Sudbury North West · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 21.2% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +12.1 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,534

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Carter, J.	Green Party	800	31.6%	Elected
2	Regester, T.	Green Party	537	21.2%	Elected
3	Younger, N.	Conservative and Unionist Party	348	13.7%
4	Bennett, N.	Liberal Democrats	312	12.3%
5	Stohr, A.	Labour Party	272	10.7%
6	Olyver, M.	Labour Party	265	10.5%

Electorate 4,142 · Ballots cast 2,534 · Back to ward index

Brett Vale · single-seat

Marginal winner 39.7% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +10.3 pts below quota Valid ballots 1,150

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Ward, J.	Independent	457	39.7%	Elected
2	Davis, S.	Conservative and Unionist Party	352	30.6%
3	Lynn, P.	Green Party	158	13.7%
4	Francis, L.	Labour Party	102	8.9%
5	Herbig, B.	Liberal Democrats	81	7.0%

Electorate 2,636 · Ballots cast 1,150 · Back to ward index

Bures St Mary & Nayland · single-seat

Marginal winner 39.8% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +10.2 pts below quota Valid ballots 926

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Reece, I.	Conservative and Unionist Party	369	39.8%	Elected
2	McKenna, P.	Green Party	319	34.4%
3	Welham-Cobb, R.	Liberal Democrats	165	17.8%
4	Freeman, J.	Labour Party	73	7.9%

Electorate 2,242 · Ballots cast 926 · Back to ward index

Sproughton & Pinewood · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 24.5% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +8.8 pts below quota Valid ballots 1,933

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Davies, H.	Liberal Democrats	496	25.7%	Elected
2	Riley, B.	Conservative and Unionist Party	474	24.5%	Elected
3	Cook, M.	Green Party	327	16.9%
4	Manuel, M.	Labour Party	237	12.3%
5	Manuel, G.	Labour Party	223	11.5%
6	Lyall, J.	Green Party	176	9.1%

Electorate 4,511 · Ballots cast 1,933 · Back to ward index

Lavenham · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 24.8% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +8.5 pts below quota Valid ballots 3,402

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Maybury, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	966	28.4%	Elected
2	Clover, P.	Conservative and Unionist Party	844	24.8%	Elected
3	Arthey, C.	Independent	376	11.1%
4	Adam, N.	Liberal Democrats	363	10.7%
5	Moffat, S.	Green Party	355	10.4%
6	Nuttall, S.	Green Party	256	7.5%
7	Worpole, A.	Labour Party	242	7.1%

Electorate 4,499 · Ballots cast 3,402 · Back to ward index

Chadacre · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 25.5% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +7.9 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,796

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Holt, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	748	26.8%	Elected
2	Plumb, S.	Independent	712	25.5%	Elected
3	Carpenter, R.	Green Party	541	19.3%
4	Rodger-Brown, P.	Green Party	314	11.2%
5	Marshall, M.	Labour Party	278	9.9%
6	Schmidt, C.	Liberal Democrats	203	7.3%

Electorate 4,824 · Ballots cast 2,796 · Back to ward index

Ganges · single-seat

Marginal winner 45.9% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +4.1 pts below quota Valid ballots 675

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Davis, D.	Independent	310	45.9%	Elected
2	Rolin, S.	Conservative and Unionist Party	190	28.1%
3	Kennedy, S.	Green Party	67	9.9%
4	Whitney, S.	Labour Party	63	9.3%
5	Woodcraft, P.	Liberal Democrats	45	6.7%

Electorate 1,982 · Ballots cast 675 · Back to ward index

Stour · single-seat

Marginal winner 46.0% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +4.0 pts below quota Valid ballots 974

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	McLaren, M.	Independent	448	46.0%	Elected
2	Wheeler, C.	Green Party	216	22.2%
3	Gilchrist, J.	Liberal Democrats	194	19.9%
4	Wood, T.	Labour Party	116	11.9%

Electorate 2,428 · Ballots cast 974 · Back to ward index

Assington · single-seat

Marginal winner 49.8% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +0.2 pts below quota Valid ballots 908

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Parker, L.	Liberal Democrats	452	49.8%	Elected
2	Sunderland, R.	Conservative and Unionist Party	341	37.6%
3	Aylett, A.	Green Party	115	12.7%

Electorate 2,237 · Ballots cast 908 · Back to ward index

Sudbury South West · single-seat

Marginal winner 50.1% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −0.1 pts Valid ballots 827

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Smith, L.	Green Party	414	50.1%	Elected
2	Rawlinson, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	191	23.1%
3	Cresswell, L.	Labour Party	167	20.2%
4	Welsh, A.	Liberal Democrats	55	6.7%

Electorate 2,215 · Ballots cast 827 · Back to ward index

East Bergholt · single-seat

Marginal winner 52.7% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −2.7 pts Valid ballots 1,036

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Davies, S.	Green Party	546	52.7%	Elected
2	Hinton, J.	Independent	253	24.4%
3	Williams, S.	Conservative and Unionist Party	141	13.6%
4	James, A.	Labour Party	74	7.1%
5	De Banks, L.	Liberal Democrats	22	2.1%

Electorate 2,243 · Ballots cast 1,036 · Back to ward index

Copdock & Washbrook · single-seat

Marginal winner 56.4% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −6.4 pts Valid ballots 1,047

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Busby, D.	Liberal Democrats	591	56.4%	Elected
2	Hudson, C.	Conservative and Unionist Party	309	29.5%
3	Marshall, K.	Green Party	147	14.0%

Electorate 2,663 · Ballots cast 1,047 · Back to ward index

Orwell · single-seat

Marginal winner 63.4% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −13.4 pts Valid ballots 803

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Potter, D.	Green Party	509	63.4%	Elected
2	Janes, C.	Liberal Democrats	191	23.8%
3	Wade, K.	Labour Party	103	12.8%

Electorate 2,129 · Ballots cast 803 · Back to ward index

Box Vale · single-seat

Marginal winner 64.0% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −14.0 pts Valid ballots 1,069

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Hurren, B.	Liberal Democrats	684	64.0%	Elected
2	Topham, F.	Conservative and Unionist Party	180	16.8%
3	Munson, T.	Green Party	154	14.4%
4	Perry, R.	Labour Party	51	4.8%

Electorate 2,313 · Ballots cast 1,069 · Back to ward index

Brantham · single-seat

Marginal winner 77.7% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −27.7 pts Valid ballots 721

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	McCraw, A.	Independent	560	77.7%	Elected
2	Burns, M.	Green Party	101	14.0%
3	Hunter, S.	Labour Party	60	8.3%

Electorate 2,127 · Ballots cast 721 · Back to ward index

Capel St Mary · single-seat

Marginal winner 79.0% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −29.0 pts Valid ballots 804

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Whyman, J.	Liberal Democrats	635	79.0%	Elected
2	Iredale Jaswal, A.	Green Party	169	21.0%

Electorate 2,616 · Ballots cast 804 · Back to ward index

North West Cosford · single-seat

Marginal winner 83.1% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −33.1 pts Valid ballots 770

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Saw, D.	Green Party	640	83.1%	Elected
2	Whyman, M.	Liberal Democrats	130	16.9%

Electorate 2,187 · Ballots cast 770 · Back to ward index

South East Cosford · single-seat

Marginal winner 88.9% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −38.9 pts Valid ballots 912

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Jamieson, L.	Green Party	811	88.9%	Elected
2	Simpson, R.	Liberal Democrats	101	11.1%

Electorate 2,152 · Ballots cast 912 · Back to ward index