2007 Hull City Council election

Campaign

Before the election the Liberal Democrats had run the council as a minority administration since the 2006 election. However, by the time of the 2007 election they only had 24 seats on the council as compared to 25 for the Labour Party; with 2 Conservatives, 6 in the independent group and 2 other independent councillors making up the council. The Liberal Democrats generally received support from the Conservatives and one of the independent councillors, while Labour usually got support from the independent group. As a result, the election was expected to be close with both main parties hopeful of forming the administration after the election.

All three of the Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservatives parties contested the 19 seats which were up for election. There were also 11 independent, 6 Green, 3 British National Party and 3 United Kingdom Independence Party candidates. An important division between Labour and the Liberal Democrats was over free school meals, with Labour wanting to extend the 3-year long pilot scheme which saw all primary school pupils get free meals. However the Liberal Democrats planned to reintroduce charges for lunches while keeping breakfasts free.

As the Liberal Democrats were only defending 7 seats and had won the most votes in the 2006 election they were optimistic of making gains.{{cite news | title = The wards to watch in Hull

Election result

The results saw the Liberal Democrats gain 6 seats, including 5 from Labour, to hold 30 seats and thus win a majority on the council. The Liberal Democrat gains included all 6 wards which they had been targeting, with the results seen as a reflection on the Labour party nationally. The result was welcomed by the national Liberal Democrat leader, Menzies Campbell, who described the result in Hull as "tremendous".

This was the first time any party had a majority on the council since 2002 and also the first time that the Liberal Democrats had ever won a majority in Hull. Meanwhile, Labour, on 20 seats after the election, were in their worst position on the council for nearly 40 years. Following the election defeat the leader of the Labour group on the council, Ken Branson, stood down as leader and was succeeded by Steve Brady. |seats % = 68.4 |votes % = 46.1 |plus/minus = +2.5 |seats % = 26.3 |votes % = 36.0 |plus/minus = +2.7 |seats % = 5.3 |votes % = 5.4 |plus/minus = -2.0 |seats % = 0.0 |votes % = 7.8 |plus/minus = -3.6 |seats % = 0.0 |votes % = 2.1 |plus/minus = +2.1 |seats % = 0.0 |votes % = 1.3 |plus/minus = -1.2 |seats % = 0.0 |votes % = 1.3 |plus/minus = +1.0

Ward results

No elections were held in Bricknell, Southcoates East, Southcoates West and St Andrews wards.

References

References

1. "Kingston-Upon-Hull". [[BBC News]].
2. (5 May 2007). "Local Elections: Lib Dems vow to make 'a fresh start'". [[Yorkshire Post]].
3. (4 May 2007). "Election 2007 Results". [[The Times]].
4. Mulholland, Hélène. (20 April 2007). "Close race in Hull as turbulent council rebuilds reputation". [[The Guardian]].
5. Nikkah, Roya. (29 April 2007). "Apathy rules as party leaders vie for barometer seat". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
6. (12 April 2007). "Why changes can't come soon enough". [[Hull Daily Mail]].
7. (30 April 2007). "Sowing seeds for a healthy future". [[Hull Daily Mail]].
8. (10 April 2007). "Seats of power in the balance". [[Hull Daily Mail]].
9. (4 May 2007). "Lib Dems take Hull with big swing". [[BBC News]].
10. (4 May 2007). "Historic victory for Lib Dems in Hull". [[Yorkshire Post]].
11. (4 May 2007). "The agony ...". [[Hull Daily Mail]].
12. Morris, Nigel. (4 May 2007). "Blow to party in John Prescott's backyard". [[The Independent]].
13. (4 May 2007). "Now we're really in charge!". [[Hull Daily Mail]].
14. (5 May 2007). "'Majority won't go to our heads'". [[Hull Daily Mail]].
15. (15 May 2007). "Brady enters as Labour's leader". [[Hull Daily Mail]].
16. "Local elections results 2007". Hull City Council.