1998 Worcester City Council election
{{Short description|English local election}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2019}}
The 1998 Worcester City Council election took place on 7 May 1998 to elect members of Worcester City Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Labour Party stayed in overall control of the council.{{Cite news| title = Policy and politics: Local Elections: Analysis: Council poll results | work = The Guardian | page = 16 | date = 9 May 1998 }}
After the election, the composition of the council was:
- Labour 22
- Conservative 10
- Liberal Democrat 2
- Independent 2
Background
Before the election the council had 22 Labour, 9 Conservative, 3 Liberal Democrat and 1 independent members with 1 seat vacant.{{Cite news| first = Sue | last = Smith | title = Control in the balance: Worcester nominations | work = Birmingham Mail | page = 25 | date = 7 April 1998 }} 13 seats were for up for election with the expectation before the election that no change in control of the council was likely.{{Cite web| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/events/local_elections_98/in_your_area/81412.stm | title = The West Midlands - John Hess | access-date = 3 January 2010 | date = 30 April 1998 | publisher = BBC News Online}}
The run up to the election saw controversy over the mayor Margaret Layland who had admitted to having an affair with her chauffeur.{{Cite news| first = Alistair | last = Keely | title = Husband pays price for mayor's infidelity | work = Birmingham Post | page = 3 | date = 8 May 1998 }} She was suspended by the Labour party but refused to stand down. Her husband Colin Layland, also a councillor, was suspended as well leading to him standing as an independent in St John ward and being opposed by an official Labour party candidate.{{Cite news| first = Andy | last = Probert | title = Tight grip maintained by Labour | work = Birmingham Mail | page = 5 | date = 8 May 1998 }}
Election result
The results saw Labour hold on to their majority on the council after winning 8 of the 13 seats contested. The Conservatives won 3 seats, while the Liberal Democrats and Independents won 1 each. Colin Layland was defeated in St John ward by the Labour candidate.
{{Election summary begin|title = Worcester Local Election Result 1998{{Cite news| title = Local Elections results | work = The Times | page = 46 | date = 9 May 1998 }}{{Cite web | url = http://www.crest.ox.ac.uk/election/econ99tab.htm | title = Local Election Results, 1999 | access-date = 3 January 2010 | publisher = Centre for Research into Elections and Social Trends | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110724053301/http://www.crest.ox.ac.uk/election/econ99tab.htm | archive-date = 24 July 2011 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}}}
{{Election summary party|
|party = Labour Party (UK)
|seats = 8
|gain =
|loss =
|net = -1
|seats % = 61.5
|votes % = 38.5
|votes =
|plus/minus =
}}
{{Election summary party|
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
|seats = 3
|gain =
|loss =
|net = +1
|seats % = 23.1
|votes % = 35.2
|votes =
|plus/minus =
}}
{{Election summary party|
|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
|seats = 1
|gain =
|loss =
|net = -1
|seats % = 7.7
|votes % = 16.9
|votes =
|plus/minus =
}}
{{Election summary party|
|party = Independent (politician)
|seats = 1
|gain =
|loss =
|net = +1
|seats % = 7.7
|votes % =
|votes =
|plus/minus =
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Worcestershire elections}}
{{United Kingdom local elections, 1998}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}