
The2008 Huntingdonshire District Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members ofHuntingdonshireDistrict Council inCambridgeshire,England. One third of the council was up for election and theConservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.[1]
After the election, the composition of the council was:
Before the election the Conservatives controlled the council with 39 seats, compared to 11Liberal Democrats and 2independents.[3] 18 seats were contested at the election by a total of 69 candidates, with the Conservatives defending 14 of the seats.[3][4]
Among thecouncillors who were defending seats were the Conservative leader of the council, Ian Bates, in The Hemingfordsward, and the leader of the Liberal Democrats on the council, Peter Downes inBrampton.[3] Ian Bates was challenged by an independent candidate, Maxine Hay, who had become a road safety campaigner after her son was killed after being hit by a car, with the Liberal Democrat candidate for the seat withdrawing in her favour.[5]
The Liberal Democrats made a net gain of 1 seat to move to 12 councillors at the expense of the Conservatives who remained in control of the council with 38 seats.[6] The Liberal Democrats gained seats inBuckden andHuntingdon East from the Conservatives, but lost a seat back to them inSt NeotsEaton Socon.[6]
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 13 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 72.2 | 52.7 | 16,920 | -5.2% | |
| Liberal Democrats | 4 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 22.2 | 29.9 | 9,593 | -1.5% | |
| Independent | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.6 | 5.2 | 1,681 | +5.2% | |
| Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6.1 | 1,948 | -2.0% | |
| UKIP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.6 | 1,796 | +5.0% | |
| Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.6 | 181 | -0.4% | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | Peter Downes | 1,415 | 57.3 | +6.5 | |
| Conservative | Keith Stukins | 1,007 | 40.8 | −5.3 | |
| Labour | Patrick Kadewere | 49 | 2.0 | −1.2 | |
| Majority | 408 | 16.5 | +11.8 | ||
| Turnout | 2,471 | 52.2 | +0.5 | ||
| Liberal Democratshold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | Terry Clough | 795 | 59.4 | +20.1 | |
| Conservative | Alan Barber | 514 | 38.4 | −18.4 | |
| Labour | Thelma Lomax | 30 | 2.2 | −1.7 | |
| Majority | 281 | 21.0 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 1,339 | 52.9 | +1.1 | ||
| Liberal Democratsgain fromConservative | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Peter Godley | 872 | 46.7 | −3.8 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Graham Wilson | 841 | 45.0 | +2.2 | |
| UKIP | Shirley Reeve | 79 | 4.2 | +4.2 | |
| Labour | Ann Beevor | 76 | 4.1 | −2.5 | |
| Majority | 31 | 1.7 | −6.0 | ||
| Turnout | 1,868 | 40.9 | −2.2 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | Michael Shellens | 1,239 | 47.3 | +9.6 | |
| Conservative | Malcolm Lyons | 1,016 | 38.8 | −10.3 | |
| Labour | Ruth Pugh | 154 | 5.9 | −2.0 | |
| UKIP | Derek Norman | 145 | 5.5 | +5.5 | |
| Green | Angela Mander-Jones | 64 | 2.4 | −2.8 | |
| Majority | 223 | 8.5 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 2,618 | 38.9 | +2.8 | ||
| Liberal Democratsgain fromConservative | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Jeff Dutton | 473 | 47.2 | +11.4 | |
| Liberal Democrats | John Morgan | 300 | 29.9 | −7.8 | |
| Labour | David King | 147 | 14.7 | −5.6 | |
| UKIP | Peter Ashcroft | 83 | 8.3 | +8.3 | |
| Majority | 173 | 17.3 | |||
| Turnout | 1,003 | 26.1 | −1.2 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Kenneth Churchill | 806 | 69.1 | −0.9 | |
| Independent | Frank Owens | 196 | 16.8 | +16.8 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Alan Cummings | 65 | 5.6 | −17.9 | |
| Labour | Chrissy Ellarby | 51 | 4.4 | −2.1 | |
| Green | Sarah Boulton | 49 | 4.2 | +4.2 | |
| Majority | 610 | 52.3 | +5.8 | ||
| Turnout | 1,167 | 48.0 | −0.8 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Phillip Swales | 957 | 46.2 | −11.8 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Malcolm Hollis | 564 | 27.2 | −7.1 | |
| UKIP | Peter Reeve | 452 | 21.8 | +21.8 | |
| Labour | Susan Coomey | 100 | 4.8 | −2.9 | |
| Majority | 393 | 19.0 | −4.8 | ||
| Turnout | 2,073 | 32.5 | +3.9 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Dick Tuplin | 1,023 | 53.1 | +1.6 | |
| Conservative | Vivienne McGuire | 824 | 42.8 | +7.9 | |
| Labour | Kevin Goddard | 79 | 4.1 | +0.3 | |
| Majority | 199 | 10.3 | −6.2 | ||
| Turnout | 1,926 | 38.8 | +0.9 | ||
| Independenthold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Steve Criswell | 1,123 | 63.4 | −2.6 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Tony Hulme | 502 | 28.3 | +0.3 | |
| UKIP | Julian Fairweather | 80 | 4.5 | +4.5 | |
| Labour | Mary Howell | 66 | 3.7 | −2.3 | |
| Majority | 621 | 35.1 | −3.0 | ||
| Turnout | 1,771 | 39.3 | +1.3 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Jason Ablewhite | 864 | 55.2 | −3.0 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Robin Waters | 321 | 20.5 | −9.7 | |
| UKIP | Michael Horwood | 276 | 17.6 | +17.6 | |
| Labour | Angela Richards | 105 | 6.7 | −4.9 | |
| Majority | 543 | 34.7 | +6.6 | ||
| Turnout | 1,566 | 31.3 | +6.4 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | John Davies | 1,231 | 65.8 | +10.3 | |
| Liberal Democrats | David Hodge | 483 | 25.8 | −10.2 | |
| Labour | John Watson | 156 | 8.3 | −0.1 | |
| Majority | 748 | 40.0 | +20.5 | ||
| Turnout | 1,870 | 40.0 | +4.5 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Julie Dew | 464 | 43.1 | −7.2 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Colin Saunderson | 381 | 35.4 | −6.3 | |
| UKIP | Margaret King | 168 | 15.6 | +15.6 | |
| Labour | Ros Trayner | 63 | 5.9 | −2.1 | |
| Majority | 83 | 7.7 | −0.9 | ||
| Turnout | 1,076 | 49.0 | +5.4 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Bob Farrer | 1,132 | 61.1 | +5.1 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Keith Franks | 562 | 30.3 | −8.1 | |
| Labour | David Brown | 92 | 5.0 | −0.6 | |
| Green | Karen How | 68 | 3.7 | +3.7 | |
| Majority | 570 | 30.7 | +13.1 | ||
| Turnout | 1,854 | 34.8 | −2.5 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Mandy Thomas | 911 | 57.5 | +10.8 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Derek Giles | 620 | 39.2 | −8.3 | |
| Labour | Carole Hitchings | 52 | 3.3 | −2.5 | |
| Majority | 291 | 18.4 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 1,583 | 37.8 | +3.9 | ||
| Conservativegain fromLiberal Democrats | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Andrew Hansard | 1,031 | 54.9 | +13.7 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Diana Collins | 666 | 35.4 | −0.6 | |
| Labour | William O'Connor | 182 | 9.7 | +0.5 | |
| Majority | 365 | 19.4 | +14.2 | ||
| Turnout | 1,879 | 25.5 | −4.5 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Ian Bates | 1,412 | 69.1 | +3.3 | |
| Independent | Maxine Hay | 462 | 22.6 | +22.6 | |
| Labour | Jacqueline Gilbert | 168 | 8.2 | +2.9 | |
| Majority | 950 | 46.5 | +9.7 | ||
| Turnout | 2,042 | 43.8 | −1.5 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | Peter Ward | 839 | 46.0 | +9.2 | |
| Conservative | Jill Travener | 787 | 43.2 | −14.8 | |
| UKIP | Lisa Duffy | 138 | 7.6 | +7.6 | |
| Labour | Graeme Watkins | 59 | 3.2 | −2.0 | |
| Majority | 52 | 2.8 | |||
| Turnout | 1,823 | 38.7 | +0.7 | ||
| Liberal Democratshold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | John Watt | 1,496 | 68.3 | −6.6 | |
| UKIP | Robert Brown | 375 | 17.1 | +17.1 | |
| Labour | Margaret Cochrane | 319 | 14.6 | −10.5 | |
| Majority | 1,121 | 51.2 | +1.3 | ||
| Turnout | 2,190 | 28.5 | +0.9 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | ||||
Aby-election was held inRamsey on 2 April 2009 after the death of Conservative councillor Ross Muir.[9] The seat was held for the Conservatives by Andy Monk with a majority of 106 votes over Peter Reeve of theUK Independence Party.[9]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Andy Monk | 626 | 38.1 | −8.1 | |
| UKIP | Peter Reeve | 520 | 31.6 | +9.8 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Robert Mumford | 432 | 26.3 | −0.9 | |
| Labour | Graham Watkins | 67 | 4.1 | −0.7 | |
| Majority | 106 | 6.4 | −12.6 | ||
| Turnout | 1,645 | 25.8 | −6.7 | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | ||||
A by-election was held in Ramsey on 23 July 2009 after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Ray Powell.[11] The seat was gained for the UK Independence Party by Peter Reeve with a majority of 184 votes over the Conservative Angela Curtis.[11]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UKIP | Peter Reeve | 753 | 39.2 | +7.6 | |
| Conservative | Angela Curtis | 569 | 29.6 | −8.5 | |
| Independent | Jeffrey Clarke | 303 | 15.8 | +15.8 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Melanie Allgood | 295 | 15.4 | −10.9 | |
| Majority | 184 | 9.6 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 1,920 | 30.1 | +4.3 | ||
| UKIPgain fromLiberal Democrats | Swing | ||||
A by-election was held in Huntingdon North on 29 October 2009 after Liberal Democrat councillor Sam Kemp resigned from the council.[12] The seat was held for the Liberal Democrats by Trish Shrapnel with a majority of 30 votes over Conservative Laine Kadic, in a seat won by the Conservatives at the last council election in 2008.[12][13]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | Trish Shrapnel | 243 | 32.6 | +2.7 | |
| Conservative | Laine Kadic | 213 | 28.6 | −18.6 | |
| UKIP | Peter Ashcroft | 167 | 22.4 | +14.1 | |
| Labour | Ann Beevor | 123 | 16.5 | +1.8 | |
| Majority | 30 | 4.0 | |||
| Turnout | 746 | 19.0 | −7.1 | ||
| Liberal Democratshold | Swing | ||||
A by-election was held inFenstanton on 25 February 2010 after Conservative councillor Paul Dakers resigned from the council saying that all political parties were hopeless.[14][15] The seat was gained by Liberal Democrat Colin Saunderson from the Conservatives, with a majority of 54 votes.[15]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats | Colin Saunderson | 391 | 51.1 | +4.2 | |
| Conservative | David O'Neill | 337 | 44.1 | −4.1 | |
| Labour | Angela Richards | 37 | 4.8 | −0.1 | |
| Majority | 54 | 7.0 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 765 | 31.0 | −6.7 | ||
| Liberal Democratsgain fromConservative | Swing | ||||