(2000 ←) {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} 2002 United Kingdom local elections (→ 2003) {{Short description|2002 UK local government election}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Use British English|date=December 2013}} right|thumb|474px|Map of the results for the 2002 Solihull council election. The '''2002 Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council election''' took place on 2 May 2002 to elect members of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council in the West Midlands, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.<ref name=hold>{{cite news| url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2002/local_elections/126.stm | title = Solihull | access-date = 2010-12-12 | publisher = BBC News}}</ref>
==Campaign== Before the election the Conservatives held 29 seats, compared to 14 for Labour and 8 for the Liberal Democrats, with 17 seats being contested in the election.<ref name=shaky>{{cite news | title = Shaky Labour dreads upset; How the candidates line up for the May 2 council elections | newspaper = Birmingham Mail | page = 8 | date = 2002-04-12 }}</ref> The Conservatives had held a majority on the council since gaining 4 seats at the 2000 election.<ref name=shaky/>
Issues in the election included a proposed development by Asda in Shirley, the fate of the Accident and Emergency department at Solihull hospital and new housing developments.<ref name=shirley>{{cite news | first = Jenny | last = Hudson | title = Local elections 2002: A safe bet Solihull will not be changing, but watch Shirley ; In the second in a series of profiles looking at key areas where local council elections will be held on May 2, Jenny Hudson looks at Solihull | newspaper = Birmingham Post | page = 4 | date = 2002-04-26 }}</ref><ref name=poised>{{cite news | first = Anna | last = Watts | title = Tories poised to stay in control; Mail news focus on tomorrow's local elections | newspaper = Birmingham Mail | page = 5 | date = 2002-05-01 }}</ref> Labour also wanted to address a north-south divide in the council area and opposed any transfer of council housing from council control.<ref name=shirley/><ref name=poised/>
==Election result== The results saw the Conservatives stay in control of the council with 29 of the 51 seats after only 2 seats changed parties.<ref name=blue>{{cite news | first = Anna | last = Watts | title = Local Election Results 2002: True Blue Solihull | newspaper = Birmingham Mail | page = 20 | date = 2002-05-03 }}</ref> A couple of former councillors returned to the council, the former Labour leader of the council Michael Corser in Chelmsley Wood and Liberal Democrat June Gandy in Shirley East.<ref name=blue/>
{{Election summary begin|title = Solihull local election result 2002<ref name=results>{{cite web | url = http://www.solihull.gov.uk/Attachments/ElectionResults2002.pdf | title = Borough Council election | access-date = 2010-12-12 | publisher = Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110516124542/http://www.solihull.gov.uk/Attachments/ElectionResults2002.pdf | archive-date = 16 May 2011 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name=local>{{cite news | title = Election results; Local Election | newspaper = The Times| page = 16 | date = 2002-05-04 }}</ref>}} {{Election summary party| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |seats = 9 |gain = 1 |loss = 1 |net = 0 |seats % = 52.9 |votes % = 49.2 |votes = 24,309 |plus/minus = -9.7% }} {{Election summary party| |party = Labour Party (UK) |seats = 5 |gain = 0 |loss = 1 |net = -1 |seats % = 29.4 |votes % = 23.7 |votes = 11,741 |plus/minus = +5.5% }} {{Election summary party| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |seats = 3 |gain = 1 |loss = 0 |net = +1 |seats % = 17.6 |votes % = 27.1 |votes = 13,390 |plus/minus = +4.5% }} {{Election box end}}
This result had the following consequences for the total number of seats on the council after the elections :<ref name=full>{{cite news | title = Full results | newspaper = Financial Times | page = 7 | date = 2002-05-04 }}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |- ! valign=top colspan="2" style="width: 230px"|Party ! valign=top style="width: 30px"|Previous council ! valign=top style="width: 30px"|New council |- ! style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 3px;" | | Conservatives | 29 | 29 |- ! style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}; width: 3px;" | | Labour | 14 | 13 |- ! style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}; width: 3px;" | | Liberal Democrat | 8 | 9 |- ! colspan=2| Total ! style="text-align: center"| 51 ! colspan=3| 51 |- ! colspan=2| Working majority ! {{Color box|#FFBF00|7|border=darkgray}} ! {{Color box|#FFBF00|7|border=darkgray}} |}
==Ward results==
{{Election box begin | title=Bickenhill<ref name=results/>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Jim Ryan |votes = 2,013 |percentage = 54.2 |change = +27.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Joan Allsopp |votes = 1,491 |percentage = 40.1 |change = -25.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Douglas Hogg |votes = 210 |percentage = 5.7 |change = -1.1 }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 522 |percentage = 14.1 |change = -24.7 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 3,714 |percentage = 35.7 |change = +4.2 }} {{Election box hold with party link | |winner = Labour Party (UK) |swing = +26.4 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Castle Bromwich<ref name=results/>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Beryl Kellie |votes = 1,940 |percentage = 65.4 |change = -9.3 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = James Moore |votes = 722 |percentage = 24.3 |change = +6.3 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = John Knight |votes = 306 |percentage = 10.3 |change = +3.0 }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 1,218 |percentage = 41.0 |change = -15.7 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 2,968 |percentage = 31.8 |change = +1.4 }} {{Election box hold with party link | |winner = Conservative Party (UK) |swing = -7.8 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Chelmsley Wood<ref name=results/>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Michael Corser |votes = 900 |percentage = 62.2 |change = +8.4 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Robert Courts |votes = 350 |percentage = 24.2 |change = -9.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Bernard Wright |votes = 197 |percentage = 13.6 |change = +0.9 }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 550 |percentage = 38.0 |change = +17.6 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 1,447 |percentage = 19.6 |change = +4.1 }} {{Election box hold with party link | |winner = Labour Party (UK) |swing = +8.8 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Elmdon<ref name=results/>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Kenneth Hawkins |votes = 1,330 |percentage = 44.7 |change = -13.3 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Sheila Brookes |votes = 1,221 |percentage = 41.1 |change = +5.8 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Barbara Harber |votes = 423 |percentage = 14.2 |change = +7.4 }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 109 |percentage = 3.7 |change = -19.0 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 2,974 |percentage = 37.7 |change = -0.5 }} {{Election box gain with party link | |winner = Conservative Party (UK) |loser = Labour Party (UK) |swing = -9.5 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Fordbridge<ref name=results/>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Jacqueline Moore |votes = 722 |percentage = 61.3 |change = +12.6 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Michael Robinson |votes = 314 |percentage = 26.7 |change = -8.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Christopher Hayes |votes = 142 |percentage = 12.1 |change = -3.5 }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 408 |percentage = 34.6 |change = +21.5 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 1,178 |percentage = 19.8 |change = +5.2 }} {{Election box hold with party link | |winner = Labour Party (UK) |swing = +10.7 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Kingshurst<ref name=results/>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Jeffrey Potts |votes = 830 |percentage = 63.3 |change = +16.5 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Graham Juniper |votes = 351 |percentage = 26.8 |change = -7.3 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Jennifer Wright |votes = 131 |percentage = 10.0 |change = +3.1 }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 479 |percentage = 36.5 |change = +23.8 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 1,312 |percentage = 23.8 |change = +0.9 }} {{Election box hold with party link | |winner = Labour Party (UK) |swing = +11.9 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Knowle<ref name=results/>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Diana Holl-Allen |votes = 2,106 |percentage = 65.3 |change = -8.1 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Nigel Dyer |votes = 693 |percentage = 21.5 |change = +5.1 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Patricia Harrop |votes = 427 |percentage = 13.2 |change = +3.0 }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 1,413 |percentage = 43.8 |change = -13.3 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 3,226 |percentage = 36.9 |change = +1.6 }} {{Election box hold with party link | |winner = Conservative Party (UK) |swing = -6.6 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Lyndon<ref name=results/>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Robert Reeves |votes = 1,583 |percentage = 65.4 |change = +7.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Gary Allport |votes = 478 |percentage = 19.7 |change = -9.1 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Catherine Connan |votes = 360 |percentage = 14.9 |change = +1.9 }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 1,105 |percentage = 45.6 |change = +16.3 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 2,421 |percentage = 31.8 |change = +3.2 }} {{Election box hold with party link | |winner = Liberal Democrats (UK) |swing = +8.1 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Meriden<ref name=results/>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Peter Lea |votes = 2,369 |percentage = 69.6 |change = +0.6 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Jonathan Maltman |votes = 561 |percentage = 16.5 |change = -0.5 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Peter Whitlock |votes = 475 |percentage = 14.0 |change = +0.0 }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 1,808 |percentage = 53.1 |change = +1.1 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 3,405 |percentage = 36.0 |change = +3.7 }} {{Election box hold with party link | |winner = Conservative Party (UK) |swing = +0.5 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Olton<ref name=results/>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = John Windmill |votes = 2,192 |percentage = 61.8 |change = +11.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Patricia Handslip |votes = 1,078 |percentage = 30.4 |change = -12.3 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Eric Collins |votes = 277 |percentage = 7.8 |change = +1.3 }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 1,114 |percentage = 31.4 |change = +23.2 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 3,547 |percentage = 38.6 |change = +2.7 }} {{Election box hold with party link | |winner = Liberal Democrats (UK) |swing = +11.6 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Packwood<ref name=results/>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Kenneth Meeson |votes = 2,627 |percentage = 60.7 |change = +4.6 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Eric Widger |votes = 1,417 |percentage = 32.8 |change = -6.3 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Florence Nash |votes = 281 |percentage = 6.5 |change = +1.6 }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 1,210 |percentage = 28.0 |change = +11.0 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 4,325 |percentage = 37.9 |change = -3.2 }} {{Election box hold with party link | |winner = Conservative Party (UK) |swing = +5.4 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Shirley East<ref name=results/>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = June Gandy |votes = 2,028 |percentage = 57.1 |change = +14.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Brian Burgess |votes = 1,242 |percentage = 35.0 |change = -16.3 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Kevin Raven |votes = 279 |percentage = 7.9 |change = +2.1 }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 786 |percentage = 22.1 |change = +13.7 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 3,549 |percentage = 39.1 |change = +0.1 }} {{Election box gain with party link | |winner = Liberal Democrats (UK) |loser = Conservative Party (UK) |swing = +15.2 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Shirley South<ref name=results/>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = David Evans |votes = 2,023 |percentage = 54.3 |change = -13.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Roger Gemmell |votes = 1,031 |percentage = 27.7 |change = +13.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Barney McElholm |votes = 673 |percentage = 18.1 |change = +0.0 }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 992 |percentage = 26.6 |change = -22.6 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 3,727 |percentage = 28.7 |change = +2.5 }} {{Election box hold with party link | |winner = Conservative Party (UK) |swing = -13.1 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Shirley West<ref name=results/>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Richard Lewis |votes = 1,487 |percentage = 54.1 |change = -8.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Arthur Harper |votes = 681 |percentage = 24.8 |change = +1.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Anthony Verduyn |votes = 581 |percentage = 21.1 |change = +7.0 }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 806 |percentage = 29.3 |change = -10.7 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 2,749 |percentage = 30.4 |change = +0.9 }} {{Election box hold with party link | |winner = Conservative Party (UK) |swing = -5.4 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Silhill<ref name=results/>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Sheila Pittaway |votes = 2,145 |percentage = 61.7 |change = -6.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Brenda Chapple |votes = 819 |percentage = 23.5 |change = +3.3 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Marcus Bennion |votes = 514 |percentage = 14.8 |change = +2.7 }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 1,326 |percentage = 38.1 |change = -9.5 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 3,478 |percentage = 35.3 |change = +1.6 }} {{Election box hold with party link | |winner = Conservative Party (UK) |swing = -4.6 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Smith's Wood<ref name=results/>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Hugh Hendry |votes = 887 |percentage = 65.1 |change = +10.1 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Daniel Kettle |votes = 297 |percentage = 21.8 |change = -11.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Keith Brown |votes = 179 |percentage = 13.1 |change = +0.8 }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 590 |percentage = 43.3 |change = +21.3 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 1,363 |percentage = 18.4 |change = +3.9 }} {{Election box hold with party link | |winner = Labour Party (UK) |swing = +10.5 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=St Alphege<ref name=results/>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Kathleen Wild |votes = 2,681 |percentage = 66.1 |change = -8.6 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Christine Reeves |votes = 983 |percentage = 24.2 |change = +8.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = James Burman |votes = 393 |percentage = 9.7 |change = +0.4 }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 1,698 |percentage = 41.9 |change = -16.9 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 4,057 |percentage = 37.1 |change = +2.6 }} {{Election box hold with party link | |winner = Conservative Party (UK) |swing = -8.4 }} {{Election box end}}
==By-elections between 2002 and 2003==
{{Election box begin | title=Shirley West by-election 13 March 2003<ref name=swept>{{cite news | first = Paul | last = Dale | title = Solihull election shock as Tories swept aside | newspaper = Birmingham Post | page = 1 | date = 2003-03-15 }}</ref>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Liberal Democrats (UK) |candidate = Howard Allen |votes = 1,179 |percentage = 54.9 |change = +33.8 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Conservative Party (UK) |candidate = Joan Allsopp |votes = 777 |percentage = 36.2 |change = -17.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Labour Party (UK) |candidate = Arthur Harper |votes = 192 |percentage = 8.9 |change = -15.9 }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 402 |percentage = 18.7 |change = -10.6 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes = 2,148 |percentage = 23.8 |change = -6.6 }} {{Election box gain with party link| |winner = Liberal Democrats (UK) |loser = Conservative Party (UK) |swing = +25.8 }} {{Election box end}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{West Midlands elections}} {{United Kingdom local elections, 2002}}
Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council election 2002 Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council election, 2002