2003 United Kingdom local elections

The 2003 United Kingdom local elections were held on Thursday 1 May 2003, the same day as the Scottish Parliamentary and the Welsh Assembly elections. There were local elections for all councils in Scotland and in most of England. There were no local elections in Wales, Northern Ireland or London.

The ruling Labour Party lost a considerable 833 seats, while both the main opposition parties, Conservative and Liberal Democrat, polled strongly, with the Conservatives enjoying the largest share of the vote. Labour had now been in government for six years and still had a triple-digit majority, and over the summer of 2003 some opinion polls showed the Conservatives level with Labour. However, these were to be the last of the two local council elections contested by the Conservatives under the leadership of Iain Duncan Smith, who was ousted as leader later in the year and succeeded by Michael Howard due to his unpopularity as leader and doubts about his ability to win a general election.

Fifty-nine councils held electoral pilot schemes to try to boost turnout figures. Schemes included all postal voting, mobile polling stations, alterations to voting hours and various kinds of electronic voting. The most successful in raising turnout was all-postal voting which saw turnout rise to an average of 50%. In comparison, turnout across the whole of England was only 33%.

Results

The Labour Party lost a considerable 833 seats, losing control of councils such as Birmingham and Coventry, both of which the party had controlled for 20 years.

The Conservative Party, who following the elections had the most councillors in the country (ahead of Labour by 601), extended its lead over the Labour party by 1,399 councillors. However, their celebrations were tempered by the resignation of Conservative front bencher Crispin Blunt, who described the party leader, Iain Duncan Smith as a "handicap" and called for him to be replaced.

Party		Councils				Councillors
		Gain	Loss	Change	Total	Gain	Loss	Change	Total
REDIRECT Template:Party name with color			Increase+31	110			Increase+566	4,423
REDIRECT Template:Party name with color			Decrease-28	66			Decrease-833	3,001
REDIRECT Template:Party name with color			Increase+5	28			Increase+193	2,624
REDIRECT Template:Party name with color			Decrease-2	10			Decrease-42	1,142
REDIRECT Template:Party name with color			Decrease-1	1			Decrease-21	182
REDIRECT Template:Party name with color			Steady	2			Steady	84
REDIRECT Template:Party name with color			Steady	0			Increase+9	34
REDIRECT Template:Party name with color			Steady	0			Increase+13	13
REDIRECT Template:Party name with color			Steady	0			Decrease-2	9
REDIRECT Template:Party name with color			Steady	0			Decrease-2	5
REDIRECT Template:Party name with color			Steady	0			Decrease-1	2
	Other	0	0	Steady	0			Decrease-24	107
REDIRECT Template:Party name with color			Decrease-5	123	—	—	—	—

England

Metropolitan boroughs

All 36 English Metropolitan borough councils had one third of their seats up for election.

Council	Previous control		Result		Details
Barnsley	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Birmingham	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Bolton	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Bradford	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Bury	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Calderdale	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Coventry	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Doncaster	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Dudley	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Gateshead	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Kirklees	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Knowsley	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Leeds	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Liverpool	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Manchester	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Newcastle upon Tyne	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
North Tyneside	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Oldham	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Rochdale	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Rotherham	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
St. Helens	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Salford	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Sandwell	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Sefton	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Sheffield	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Solihull	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
South Tyneside	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Stockport	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Sunderland	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Tameside	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Trafford	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Wakefield	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Walsall	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Wigan	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Wirral	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Wolverhampton	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details

Unitary authorities

Whole council

In 27 English Unitary authorities the whole council was up for election.

Council	Previous control		Result		Details
Bath and North East Somerset	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Blackpool ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Bournemouth ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Bracknell Forest ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Brighton & Hove ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Darlington ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
East Riding of Yorkshire ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Herefordshire ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Leicester ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Luton ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Medway ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Middlesbrough ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
North East Lincolnshire ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
North Lincolnshire ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
North Somerset	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Nottingham ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Plymouth ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Poole ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Redcar and Cleveland ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Rutland ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
South Gloucestershire	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Stockton-on-Tees	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Telford and Wrekin ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Torbay ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
West Berkshire ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Windsor and Maidenhead ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
York ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details

‡ New ward boundaries

Third of council

In 13 English Unitary authorities one third of the council was up for election.

Council	Previous control		Result		Details
Bristol	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Derby	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Hartlepool	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Kingston upon Hull	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Milton Keynes	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Portsmouth	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Reading	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Slough	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Southampton	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Southend-on-Sea	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Stoke-on-Trent	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Swindon	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Wokingham	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details

District councils

Whole council

In 150 English district authorities the whole council was up for election.

Council	Previous control		Result		Details
Allerdale	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Alnwick	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Arun ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Ashfield ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Ashford ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Aylesbury Vale ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Babergh ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Berwick-upon-Tweed	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Blaby ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Blyth Valley	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Bolsover ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Boston	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Braintree ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Breckland ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Bridgnorth ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Bromsgrove ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Broxtowe ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Canterbury ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Caradon ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Carrick ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Castle Morpeth	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Castle Point ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Charnwood ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Chelmsford ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Chester-le-Street ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Chesterfield ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Chichester ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Chiltern ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Christchurch ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Copeland	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Corby	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Cotswold ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Dacorum	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Dartford ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Derbyshire Dales ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Derwentside ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Dover ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Durham ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Easington ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
East Cambridgeshire ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
East Devon ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
East Dorset ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
East Hampshire ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
East Hertfordshire	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
East Lindsey	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
East Northamptonshire	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
East Staffordshire ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Eden	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Epsom and Ewell ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Erewash ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Fenland ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Forest Heath ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Forest of Dean ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Fylde ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Gedling ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Gravesham ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Guildford ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Hambleton ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Harborough ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
High Peak ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Hinckley and Bosworth ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Horsham ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Kennet ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Kerrier ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Kettering	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
King's Lynn and West Norfolk ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Lancaster ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Lewes ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Lichfield ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Maldon ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Malvern Hills ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Mansfield ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Melton ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Mendip	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Mid Bedfordshire ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Mid Devon ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Mid Suffolk ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Mid Sussex ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
New Forest ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Newark and Sherwood ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
North Cornwall ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
North Devon ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
North Dorset ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
North East Derbyshire ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
North Kesteven	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
North Norfolk ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
North Shropshire ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
North Warwickshire ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
North West Leicestershire ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
North Wiltshire ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Northampton	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Oadby and Wigston ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Oswestry ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Restormel ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Ribble Valley ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Richmondshire ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Rother ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Rushcliffe ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Ryedale ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Salisbury ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Scarborough ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Sedgefield ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Sedgemoor	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Selby ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Sevenoaks ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Shepway ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
South Bucks ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
South Derbyshire ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
South Hams	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
South Holland	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
South Kesteven	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
South Norfolk ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
South Northamptonshire	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
South Oxfordshire ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
South Ribble ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
South Shropshire ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
South Somerset	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
South Staffordshire ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Spelthorne ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
St Edmundsbury ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Stafford ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Staffordshire Moorlands ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Suffolk Coastal ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Surrey Heath ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Taunton Deane	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Teesdale ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Teignbridge ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Tendring ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Test Valley ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Tewkesbury ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Thanet ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Tonbridge and Malling ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Torridge ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Tynedale	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Uttlesford ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Vale of White Horse ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Vale Royal	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Wansbeck	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Warwick ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Waverley ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Wealden ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Wear Valley ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Wellingborough	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
West Devon ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
West Dorset ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
West Somerset	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
West Wiltshire ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Wychavon ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Wycombe ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Wyre ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details

‡ New ward boundaries

Third of council

In 82 English district authorities one third of the council was up for election.

Council	Previous control		Result		Details
Adur	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Amber Valley	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Barrow-in-Furness	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Basildon	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Basingstoke and Deane	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Bassetlaw	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Bedford	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Brentwood	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Broadland	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Broxbourne	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Burnley	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Cambridge	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Cannock Chase	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Carlisle	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Cherwell	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Chester	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Chorley	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Colchester	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Congleton	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Craven	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Crawley	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Crewe and Nantwich	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Daventry	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Eastbourne	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Eastleigh	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Ellesmere Port and Neston	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Elmbridge	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Epping Forest	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Exeter	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Gloucester	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Great Yarmouth	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Harlow	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Harrogate	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Hart	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Havant	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Hertsmere	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Huntingdonshire	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Hyndburn	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Ipswich	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Lincoln	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Macclesfield	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Maidstone	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Mole Valley	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Newcastle-under-Lyme	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
North Hertfordshire	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Norwich	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Pendle	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Penwith	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Preston	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Purbeck	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Redditch	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Reigate and Banstead	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Rochford	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Rossendale	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Rugby	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Runnymede	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Rushmoor	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Shrewsbury and Atcham	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
South Bedfordshire	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
South Cambridgeshire	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
South Lakeland	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
St Albans	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Stevenage	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Stratford-on-Avon	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Stroud	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Swale	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Tamworth	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Tandridge	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Three Rivers	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Tunbridge Wells	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Watford	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Waveney	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Welwyn Hatfield	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
West Lancashire	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
West Lindsey	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
West Oxfordshire	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Weymouth and Portland	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Winchester	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Woking	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Worcester	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Worthing	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Wyre Forest	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details

Scotland

All 32 Scottish unitary authorities held elections. They were held at the same time as the 2003 Scottish Parliament election.

Council area	Previous control		Result		Details
Aberdeen City	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Aberdeenshire	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Angus	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Argyll and Bute	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Clackmannanshire	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Na h-Eileanan Siar	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Dumfries and Galloway	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Dundee City	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
East Ayrshire	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
East Dunbartonshire	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
East Lothian	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
East Renfrewshire	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
City of Edinburgh	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Falkirk	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Fife	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Glasgow City	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Highland	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Inverclyde	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Midlothian	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Moray	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
North Ayrshire	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
North Lanarkshire	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Orkney	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Perth and Kinross	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Renfrewshire	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Scottish Borders	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Shetland	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
South Ayrshire	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
South Lanarkshire	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Stirling	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
West Dunbartonshire	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
West Lothian	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details

References

• Vote 2003 BBC News
• Local elections 2003. House of Commons Library Research Paper 03/44.
• Voting Pilots in 2003
• The Guardian 2003 election coverage