← Barnsley (all cycles) · 4 May 2023 cohort

Barnsley 2023

Local elections held 4 May 2023.

21 ward races

21 seats

7 elected below the proportional quota

33.3% 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 21 wards in this cycle, parties received the vote totals below. The proportional column shows what each party would have won if the 21 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
Labour Party	20,932	46.1%	15	71.4%	11	52.4%	+4
Liberal Democrats	7,936	17.5%	4	19.0%	4	19.0%	0
Conservative and Unionist Party	6,456	14.2%	0	0.0%	3	14.3%	-3
Independent	4,844	10.7%	2	9.5%	2	9.5%	0
Green Party	2,094	4.6%	0	0.0%	1	4.8%	-1
Reform UK	1,322	2.9%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
Yorkshire Party	918	2.0%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
Social Democratic Party	462	1.0%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition	241	0.5%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
ENG CONST	155	0.3%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
Total	45,360	100.0%	21	100.0%	21	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.

Rockingham · 1 seat · won at 38.9% · +11.1 pts below quota
Darton West · 1 seat · won at 41.4% · +8.6 pts below quota
Kingstone · 1 seat · won at 42.0% · +8.0 pts below quota
Penistone East · 1 seat · won at 42.4% · +7.6 pts below quota
Hoyland Milton · 1 seat · won at 42.7% · +7.3 pts below quota
Penistone West · 1 seat · won at 45.9% · +4.1 pts below quota
Central · 1 seat · won at 46.8% · +3.2 pts below quota
Monk Bretton · 1 seat · won at 50.4% · above quota
Darfield · 1 seat · won at 51.0% · above quota
Old Town · 1 seat · won at 52.0% · above quota
North East · 1 seat · won at 53.4% · above quota
Dodworth · 1 seat · won at 55.2% · above quota
Worsbrough · 1 seat · won at 55.7% · above quota
Royston · 1 seat · won at 58.8% · above quota
Dearne South · 1 seat · won at 59.5% · above quota
Stairfoot · 1 seat · won at 61.5% · above quota
Darton East · 1 seat · won at 64.7% · above quota
Cudworth · 1 seat · won at 69.1% · above quota
Wombwell · 1 seat · won at 69.5% · above quota
Dearne North · 1 seat · won at 72.8% · above quota
St. Helens · 1 seat · won at 74.6% · above quota

Race results

Rockingham · single-seat

Marginal winner 38.9% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +11.1 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,646

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Wray, A.	Independent	1,028	38.9%	Elected
2	Townsend, J.	Labour Party	771	29.1%
3	Highmouch, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	351	13.3%
4	Gregory, B.	Reform UK	277	10.5%
5	Waters, S.	Liberal Democrats	99	3.7%
6	Mayne, T.	Green Party	99	3.7%
7	Fletcher, K.	Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition	21	0.8%

Electorate 8,533 · Ballots cast 2,646 · Back to ward index

Darton West · single-seat

Marginal winner 41.4% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +8.6 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,362

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Cave, T.	Labour Party	978	41.4%	Elected
2	Long, L.	Green Party	690	29.2%
3	Lokkit, B.	Conservative and Unionist Party	302	12.8%
4	Biltcliffe, S.	Yorkshire Party	274	11.6%
5	Bennett, K.	Liberal Democrats	118	5.0%

Electorate 8,777 · Ballots cast 2,362 · Back to ward index

Kingstone · single-seat

Marginal winner 42.0% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +8.0 pts below quota Valid ballots 1,640

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Wright, P.	Liberal Democrats	688	42.0%	Elected
2	Williams, K.	Labour Party	640	39.0%
3	Giles, P.	Green Party	109	6.6%
4	Barnsley, J.	Independent	99	6.0%
5	Haw, R.	Conservative and Unionist Party	71	4.3%
6	Holland, T.	Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition	33	2.0%

Electorate 7,724 · Ballots cast 1,640 · Back to ward index

Penistone East · single-seat

Marginal winner 42.4% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +7.6 pts below quota Valid ballots 3,782

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Burnett, A.	Labour Party	1,603	42.4%	Elected
2	Burkinshaw, S.	Conservative and Unionist Party	1,349	35.7%
3	Waters, A.	Liberal Democrats	486	12.9%
4	Trotman, R.	Green Party	191	5.1%
5	Griffin, A.	Independent	153	4.0%

Electorate 9,647 · Ballots cast 3,782 · Back to ward index

Hoyland Milton · single-seat

Marginal winner 42.7% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +7.3 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,464

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Shepherd, T.	Labour Party	1,052	42.7%	Elected
2	Davies, M.	Reform UK	436	17.7%
3	Toon, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	292	11.9%
4	Northwood, C.	Independent	284	11.5%
5	Lawrence, G.	Liberal Democrats	179	7.3%
6	Heyes, T.	Green Party	148	6.0%
7	Waller, A.	Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition	73	3.0%

Electorate 9,183 · Ballots cast 2,464 · Back to ward index

Penistone West · single-seat

Marginal winner 45.9% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +4.1 pts below quota Valid ballots 3,516

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Greenhough, D.	Liberal Democrats	1,613	45.9%	Elected
2	Nixon, F.	Labour Party	810	23.0%
3	Garratt, R.	Conservative and Unionist Party	623	17.7%
4	Trotman, R.	Green Party	268	7.6%
5	Button-Roberts, P.	Independent	202	5.7%

Electorate 10,055 · Ballots cast 3,516 · Back to ward index

Central · single-seat

Marginal winner 46.8% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +3.2 pts below quota Valid ballots 1,807

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	O'Donoghue, M.	Labour Party	846	46.8%	Elected
2	Bullcock, S.	Yorkshire Party	456	25.2%
3	Wilkinson, C.	Conservative and Unionist Party	176	9.7%
4	Scarfe, C.	Green Party	153	8.5%
5	Paul, R.	Independent	92	5.1%
6	Rogerson, C.	Liberal Democrats	84	4.6%

Electorate 8,713 · Ballots cast 1,807 · Back to ward index

Monk Bretton · single-seat

Marginal winner 50.4% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −0.4 pts Valid ballots 2,096

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Sheard, M.	Labour Party	1,056	50.4%	Elected
2	Stewart, R.	Independent	760	36.3%
3	Larkin, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	182	8.7%
4	Rose, S.	Liberal Democrats	98	4.7%

Electorate 8,894 · Ballots cast 2,096 · Back to ward index

Darfield · single-seat

Marginal winner 51.0% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −1.0 pts Valid ballots 1,788

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Smith, T.	Labour Party	912	51.0%	Elected
2	McKenzie, S.	Reform UK	374	20.9%
3	Harrison, B.	Conservative and Unionist Party	334	18.7%
4	Hulme, S.	Liberal Democrats	168	9.4%

Electorate 7,915 · Ballots cast 1,788 · Back to ward index

Old Town · single-seat

Marginal winner 52.0% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −2.0 pts Valid ballots 2,057

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Newing, J.	Labour Party	1,069	52.0%	Elected
2	Watkinson, C.	Conservative and Unionist Party	313	15.2%
3	Sykes, C.	Independent	263	12.8%
4	Nixon, G.	Green Party	231	11.2%
5	Smith, P.	Liberal Democrats	125	6.1%
6	Dangerfield, S.	Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition	56	2.7%

Electorate 8,587 · Ballots cast 2,057 · Back to ward index

North East · single-seat

Marginal winner 53.4% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −3.4 pts Valid ballots 2,003

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Booker, R.	Labour Party	1,069	53.4%	Elected
2	Archer, R.	Independent	462	23.1%
3	Wilkinson, S.	Conservative and Unionist Party	205	10.2%
4	Devoy, T.	Yorkshire Party	188	9.4%
5	Oldfield, K.	Liberal Democrats	79	3.9%

Electorate 10,180 · Ballots cast 2,003 · Back to ward index

Dodworth · single-seat

Marginal winner 55.2% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −5.2 pts Valid ballots 2,547

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Christmas, S.	Liberal Democrats	1,407	55.2%	Elected
2	Riggs, N.	Labour Party	806	31.6%
3	Ogden, L.	Conservative and Unionist Party	334	13.1%

Electorate 8,374 · Ballots cast 2,547 · Back to ward index

Worsbrough · single-seat

Marginal winner 55.7% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −5.7 pts Valid ballots 2,037

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Lodge, J.	Independent	1,135	55.7%	Elected
2	Holling, S.	Labour Party	633	31.1%
3	Thompson, A.	Conservative and Unionist Party	128	6.3%
4	Calvert, S.	Liberal Democrats	84	4.1%
5	Long, K.	Green Party	57	2.8%

Electorate 7,351 · Ballots cast 2,037 · Back to ward index

Royston · single-seat

Marginal winner 58.8% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −8.8 pts Valid ballots 1,925

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	McCarthy, P.	Labour Party	1,132	58.8%	Elected
2	Fisher, N.	Independent	366	19.0%
3	Barraclough, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	272	14.1%
4	Hood, J.	Liberal Democrats	97	5.0%
5	Barker, J.	Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition	58	3.0%

Electorate 8,748 · Ballots cast 1,925 · Back to ward index

Dearne South · single-seat

Marginal winner 59.5% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −9.5 pts Valid ballots 1,792

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Moore, A.	Labour Party	1,066	59.5%	Elected
2	Jarvis, D.	Social Democratic Party	446	24.9%
3	Jackson, R.	Conservative and Unionist Party	162	9.0%
4	Fielding, L.	Liberal Democrats	81	4.5%
5	Polenceusz, J.	ENG CONST	37	2.1%

Electorate 9,217 · Ballots cast 1,792 · Back to ward index

Stairfoot · single-seat

Marginal winner 61.5% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −11.5 pts Valid ballots 1,746

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Murray, P.	Labour Party	1,073	61.5%	Elected
2	Wilkinson, A.	Conservative and Unionist Party	392	22.5%
3	Kitching, J.	Liberal Democrats	281	16.1%

Electorate 8,923 · Ballots cast 1,746 · Back to ward index

Darton East · single-seat

Marginal winner 64.7% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −14.7 pts Valid ballots 2,625

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Hunt, S.	Liberal Democrats	1,699	64.7%	Elected
2	Wilcockson, T.	Labour Party	770	29.3%
3	Miller, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	156	5.9%

Electorate 8,828 · Ballots cast 2,625 · Back to ward index

Cudworth · single-seat

Marginal winner 69.1% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −19.1 pts Valid ballots 1,646

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Cherryholme, A.	Labour Party	1,137	69.1%	Elected
2	Brook, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	248	15.1%
3	Smith, K.	Green Party	148	9.0%
4	Waters, E.	Liberal Democrats	113	6.9%

Electorate 8,437 · Ballots cast 1,646 · Back to ward index

Wombwell · single-seat

Marginal winner 69.5% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −19.5 pts Valid ballots 2,053

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Eastwood, B.	Labour Party	1,426	69.5%	Elected
2	Cutts, D.	Reform UK	235	11.4%
3	Toon, D.	Conservative and Unionist Party	233	11.3%
4	Green, R.	Liberal Democrats	159	7.7%

Electorate 9,815 · Ballots cast 2,053 · Back to ward index

Dearne North · single-seat

Marginal winner 72.8% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −22.8 pts Valid ballots 1,440

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Morrell, M.	Labour Party	1,048	72.8%	Elected
2	Millner, G.	Conservative and Unionist Party	152	10.6%
3	Spencer, M.	ENG CONST	118	8.2%
4	Evans, B.	Liberal Democrats	106	7.4%
5	Vajda, S.	Social Democratic Party	16	1.1%

Electorate 8,548 · Ballots cast 1,440 · Back to ward index

St. Helens · single-seat

Marginal winner 74.6% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −24.6 pts Valid ballots 1,388

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Wright, N.	Labour Party	1,035	74.6%	Elected
2	Millner, A.	Conservative and Unionist Party	181	13.0%
3	Nicholson, M.	Liberal Democrats	172	12.4%

Electorate 7,925 · Ballots cast 1,388 · Back to ward index