← Reading (all cycles) · 6 May 2021 cohort

Reading 2021

Local elections held 6 May 2021.

16 ward races

17 seats

10 elected below the proportional quota

58.8% 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 16 wards in this cycle, parties received the vote totals below. The proportional column shows what each party would have won if the 17 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	18,247	40.5%	10	58.8%	7	41.2%	+3
Conservative and Unionist Party	14,281	31.7%	4	23.5%	6	35.3%	-2
Green Party	7,395	16.4%	2	11.8%	3	17.6%	-1
Liberal Democrats	4,644	10.3%	1	5.9%	1	5.9%	0
Independent	347	0.8%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
Reform UK	81	0.2%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition	50	0.1%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
The Liberal Party	23	0.1%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
Social Democratic Party	17	0.0%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
Total	45,085	100.0%	17	100.0%	17	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.

Peppard · 2 seats · won at 23.1% · +10.3 pts below quota
Thames · 1 seat · won at 40.9% · +9.1 pts below quota
Katesgrove · 1 seat · won at 41.2% · +8.8 pts below quota
Redlands · 1 seat · won at 41.8% · +8.2 pts below quota
Kentwood · 1 seat · won at 43.3% · +6.7 pts below quota
Minster · 1 seat · won at 44.8% · +5.2 pts below quota
Tilehurst · 1 seat · won at 44.8% · +5.2 pts below quota
Church · 1 seat · won at 46.5% · +3.5 pts below quota
Caversham · 1 seat · won at 47.6% · +2.4 pts below quota
Park · 1 seat · won at 50.6% · above quota
Abbey · 1 seat · won at 51.5% · above quota
Mapledurham · 1 seat · won at 51.5% · above quota
Battle · 1 seat · won at 52.7% · above quota
Whitley · 1 seat · won at 54.8% · above quota
Southcote · 1 seat · won at 55.0% · above quota
Norcot · 1 seat · won at 55.8% · above quota

Race results

Peppard · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 23.1% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +10.3 pts below quota Valid ballots 6,319

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Stanford-Beale J.E.	Conservative and Unionist Party	1,498	23.7%	Elected
2	Mitchell C.E.	Conservative and Unionist Party	1,457	23.1%	Elected
3	Denny J.P.	Labour Party	1,005	15.9%
4	Perry B.A.	Labour Party	765	12.1%
5	Cresswell D.	Green Party	528	8.4%
6	Smart H.J.	Liberal Democrats	378	6.0%
7	De Boiserie P.H.M.	Liberal Democrats	359	5.7%
8	McNamara S.F.	Green Party	248	3.9%
9	Ruane V.J.	Reform UK	81	1.3%

Electorate 7,513 · Ballots cast 6,319 · EC ward code E05002329 · Back to ward index

Thames · single-seat

Marginal winner 40.9% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +9.1 pts below quota Valid ballots 3,820

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Carnell P.A.	Conservative and Unionist Party	1,561	40.9%	Elected
2	McArthur C.S.J.	Labour Party	1,221	32.0%
3	Ramsay J.E.	Liberal Democrats	619	16.2%
4	McNamara D.	Green Party	419	11.0%

Electorate 7,476 · Ballots cast 3,820 · EC ward code E05002332 · Back to ward index

Katesgrove · single-seat

Marginal winner 41.2% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +8.8 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,279

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Williams R.	Labour Party	938	41.2%	Elected
2	Keane L.K.	Green Party	868	38.1%
3	Sow A.D.	Conservative and Unionist Party	344	15.1%
4	McNeill M.	Liberal Democrats	93	4.1%
5	Pascual J.	Independent	36	1.6%

Electorate 7,402 · Ballots cast 2,279 · EC ward code E05002323 · Back to ward index

Redlands · single-seat

Marginal winner 41.8% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +8.2 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,411

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	McElroy D.J.	Green Party	1,009	41.8%	Elected
2	Hornsby-Smith A.	Labour Party	999	41.4%
3	Natarajan S.	Conservative and Unionist Party	319	13.2%
4	Jakeman F.D.	Liberal Democrats	84	3.5%

Electorate 6,646 · Ballots cast 2,411 · EC ward code E05002330 · Back to ward index

Kentwood · single-seat

Marginal winner 43.3% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +6.7 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,710

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Singh D.P.	Labour Party	1,173	43.3%	Elected
2	Fudge N.	Conservative and Unionist Party	1,135	41.9%
3	West A.H.	Green Party	204	7.5%
4	Coster G.	Liberal Democrats	198	7.3%

Electorate 7,361 · Ballots cast 2,710 · EC ward code E05002324 · Back to ward index

Minster · single-seat

Marginal winner 44.8% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +5.2 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,804

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Terry L.	Labour Party	1,256	44.8%	Elected
2	Seville A.N.	Conservative and Unionist Party	904	32.2%
3	Hoskins I.C.	Green Party	352	12.6%
4	Sims B.	Liberal Democrats	292	10.4%

Electorate 7,766 · Ballots cast 2,804 · EC ward code E05002326 · Back to ward index

Tilehurst · single-seat

Marginal winner 44.8% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +5.2 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,716

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	O'Connell M.	Liberal Democrats	1,218	44.8%	Elected
2	Varley J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	944	34.8%
3	Singh I.	Labour Party	412	15.2%
4	Berry-Khan G.	Green Party	113	4.2%
5	Bottom J.	Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition	29	1.1%

Electorate 7,389 · Ballots cast 2,716 · EC ward code E05002333 · Back to ward index

Church · single-seat

Marginal winner 46.5% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +3.5 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,141

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Pearce A.M.E.	Labour Party	995	46.5%	Elected
2	Phelps A.I.	Conservative and Unionist Party	820	38.3%
3	McCann K.E.	Green Party	220	10.3%
4	Cole M.C.	Liberal Democrats	106	5.0%

Electorate 6,893 · Ballots cast 2,141 · EC ward code E05002322 · Back to ward index

Caversham · single-seat

Marginal winner 47.6% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +2.4 pts below quota Valid ballots 3,112

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Davies R.E.	Labour Party	1,480	47.6%	Elected
2	Binge I.	Conservative and Unionist Party	906	29.1%
3	Newman S.A.	Green Party	407	13.1%
4	Ward C.	Liberal Democrats	174	5.6%
5	Fulbrook S.A.	Independent	128	4.1%
6	Skelton D.J.A.	Social Democratic Party	17	0.5%

Electorate 7,411 · Ballots cast 3,112 · EC ward code E05002321 · Back to ward index

Park · single-seat

Marginal winner 50.6% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −0.6 pts Valid ballots 3,226

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	McGonigle B.J.	Green Party	1,631	50.6%	Elected
2	Tarar A.I.T.	Labour Party	1,253	38.8%
3	Jones A.	Conservative and Unionist Party	263	8.2%
4	Dodson C.	Liberal Democrats	79	2.4%

Electorate 7,301 · Ballots cast 3,226 · EC ward code E05013874 · Back to ward index

Abbey · single-seat

Marginal winner 51.5% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −1.5 pts Valid ballots 2,803

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Page T.	Labour Party	1,444	51.5%	Elected
2	Cozens D.J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	689	24.6%
3	Darby H.J.	Green Party	432	15.4%
4	Thompson A.	Liberal Democrats	238	8.5%

Electorate 10,212 · Ballots cast 2,803 · EC ward code E05002319 · Back to ward index

Mapledurham · single-seat

Marginal winner 51.5% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −1.5 pts Valid ballots 1,405

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Ballsdon I.R.N.	Conservative and Unionist Party	724	51.5%	Elected
2	Burden C.	Liberal Democrats	330	23.5%
3	Dembele B.	Labour Party	208	14.8%
4	Smith B.	Green Party	143	10.2%

Electorate 2,520 · Ballots cast 1,405 · EC ward code E05002325 · Back to ward index

Battle · single-seat

Marginal winner 52.7% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −2.7 pts Valid ballots 2,217

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Khan G.M.	Labour Party	1,168	52.7%	Elected
2	Hey M.C.V.	Conservative and Unionist Party	472	21.3%
3	Watchman S.L.	Green Party	308	13.9%
4	Grout J.B.	Liberal Democrats	170	7.7%
5	Awolola Y.	Independent	99	4.5%

Electorate 8,121 · Ballots cast 2,217 · EC ward code E05002320 · Back to ward index

Whitley · single-seat

Marginal winner 54.8% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −4.8 pts Valid ballots 2,421

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Mpofu-Coles A.	Labour Party	1,326	54.8%	Elected
2	Sheppard E.G.	Conservative and Unionist Party	748	30.9%
3	Smith K.	Green Party	156	6.4%
4	Westby I.	Liberal Democrats	107	4.4%
5	Sani B.M.	Independent	84	3.5%

Electorate 9,680 · Ballots cast 2,421 · EC ward code E05002334 · Back to ward index

Southcote · single-seat

Marginal winner 55.0% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −5.0 pts Valid ballots 2,368

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Edwards D.	Labour Party	1,303	55.0%	Elected
2	Kirkby G.V.	Conservative and Unionist Party	814	34.4%
3	Feroz A.	Green Party	166	7.0%
4	Mancuso-Marcello R.G.	Liberal Democrats	85	3.6%

Electorate 6,814 · Ballots cast 2,368 · EC ward code E05002331 · Back to ward index

Norcot · single-seat

Marginal winner 55.8% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −5.8 pts Valid ballots 2,333

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Lovelock J.	Labour Party	1,301	55.8%	Elected
2	Okeyo Z.O.K.	Conservative and Unionist Party	683	29.3%
3	Walkem R.P.	Green Party	191	8.2%
4	Moore J.W.J.	Liberal Democrats	114	4.9%
5	Graham S.A.	The Liberal Party	23	1.0%
6	Adams N.R.	Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition	21	0.9%

Electorate 7,774 · Ballots cast 2,333 · EC ward code E05002327 · Back to ward index