The Labour party had won control of the council in theprevious election in 1995 for the first time and were hopeful of staying in control of the council.[2] They pledged to maintainbus passes for the elderly and press on withCCTV in the town centre.[2] However the Conservatives attacked Labour for having increasedcouncil tax over the last four years, including 9.73% in the last year.[3] A proposed development on the local recreation ground for an arts and leisure centre was a major issue in the campaign, with Labour saying it would be good for Bromsgrove, while the Conservatives pledged to try to save the recreation ground.[3] During the campaign the Conservative party leaderWilliam Hague visited Bromsgrove with the localMember of ParliamentJulie Kirkbride to rally party activists.[2]
Before the election the Conservatives required a 7% swing to gain control of the council, with Bromsgrove seen as a key council in thelocal elections across England.[4][5] A by-election in October 1998 inCatshillward was seen as a good sign for the Conservatives after they gained the seat with a swing of over 25%.[6] In total 80 candidates stood in the election from the Labour party, Conservatives,Liberal Democrats and the Wythall Ratepayers' and Residents' Association.[7] Candidates included seven couples and former Conservative councillors such as Joy Buchby and Nick Psirides. Meanwhile, the only Liberal Democrat councillor, Sandra Docker, stood down at the election.[7]
Just before the election there was controversy over Labour Party leaflets that were sent to pensioners claiming that the Conservatives would abolish free bus passes for pensioners.[8] The Conservatives denied they would end the bus passes and reported Labour to theData Protection Registrar, claiming that confidential council records had been used to send the leaflets to target pensioners, although Labour denied this.[8]
The results in Bromsgrove were one of the first to come in across the country and saw the Conservatives retake control of the council gaining 17 seats.[9] Conservative gains included the Labour leader on the council, Trevor Porter inSidemoor ward,[10] and the council chairman, Trevor Crashley in Whitford ward.[11] The Conservatives also made two wins in Sidemoor ward, where they had never won any seats before, with swings reaching up to 40% in some wards.[10]
Defeated candidates saw a lowturnout and the plans to develop the recreation ground as responsible for their defeats,[11] with the neighbouring Labour MPMichael John Foster blaming the results on local, rather than national, issues.[12] Following the election William Hague visited Bromsgrove again to celebrate the results, both in Bromsgrove and nationally.[13] Overall turnout in the election was 37.4%.[14]
^"How Britain voted: Council Election Results".The Independent. 8 May 1999. p. 12.
^abcSummers, Deborah (21 April 1999). "Hague outsmarts Labour with bacon butty detour".Birmingham Post. p. 4.
^ab"Candidates in battle of the giants Bromsgrove: Tories promise to save the Rec".Birmingham Mail. 9 April 1999. p. 6.
^Frean, Alexandra (5 May 1999). "Tory gains will give Hague little comfort".The Times. p. 9.
^"The armchair guide".The Times. 6 May 1999. p. 17.
^Game, Chris (6 May 1999). "Getting into the swing of parish pump issues Polling today may produce very different results to a General Election, says Chris Game".Birmingham Post. p. 13.
^abSmith, Sue (5 May 1999). "Local election countdown: Bromsgrove".Birmingham Mail. p. 6.
^abSummers, Deborah (5 May 1999). "Tories cry foul over Labour's bus pass scare election leaflets".Birmingham Post. p. 1.
^Frean, Alexandra (7 May 1999). "Tory gains are shot in the arm for party".The Times. p. 5.
^ab"Tories regain Bromsgrove".The Times. 7 May 1999. p. 6.
^abSmith, Sue (7 May 1999). "Tories swept back in big turn-about: Worcestershire".Birmingham Mail. p. 7.
^Woodward, Will (7 May 1999). "Britain's elections:Tories claim gains put them back in business Labour takes comfort from mid-term vote share but lead belies national poll ratings".The Guardian. p. 8.
^Gray, Chris (8 May 1999). "The revival starts here vows Hague".Birmingham Post. p. 1.
Council elections inWorcestershire