2004 United Kingdom local elections

The 2004 United Kingdom local elections were held on Thursday 10 June 2004, along with the European elections and the London mayoral and Assembly elections.

The councils of all the metropolitan boroughs in England and all the principal areas of Wales were all up for re-election, along with many other district and unitary authorities throughout England. No local elections were held in Scotland.

Overall

These were the first elections since Michael Howard became leader of the Conservative Party. Howard was looking for a good result in the election to confirm that the Conservatives were back on the road to being able to seriously consider winning the next general election.

Early results confirmed that the Labour Party was having a bad time. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said that, "Iraq was a cloud, or indeed a shadow, over these elections. I am not saying we haven't had a kicking. It's not a great day for Labour".

However the Conservatives were not making many of the gains that would have indicated a complete change of electoral fortune. The national equivalent share of the vote in the election was found by academics Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher to be 37% to the Conservatives, 27% to the Liberal Democrats and 26% to Labour. For one of the two major parties to come third in local elections was unheard of in the post-1945 period, let alone for a governing party with such a large majority to come third.

Even in the North, Labour's traditional heartland, Labour did not do too well, losing control of Doncaster, Leeds, Newcastle and St Helens. However, they did pick up several councils, notably Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taff from Plaid Cymru in Wales.

Despite an increase in their vote and number of councillors, the Liberal Democrats saw a net loss of councils to NOC. The loss to the Conservatives of Eastbourne was in a single-seat by-election. This was partially offset by victories in Newcastle upon Tyne and Pendle.

The British National Party made a net gain of four seats, and held 14. This left them with a total 21 councillors in the country, including six in Burnley and four in Bradford. In the wards they contested, they averaged 16.1% of the vote.

It was to prove a false dawn for the Conservatives; when Britain went to the polls for the following year's general election, Labour was re-elected, although its majority was greatly reduced and the Conservatives did make gains.

England

Metropolitan boroughs

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 hold	Details
Bolton ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	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 hold	Details
Doncaster ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	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 gain	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 gain	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 hold	Details
Rochdale ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	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 gain	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 hold	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 gain	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

‡ New ward boundaries

Unitary authorities

Whole council

Council	Previous control		Result		Details
Blackburn with Darwen ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Halton ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Hartlepool ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Peterborough ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	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 gain	Details
Thurrock ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Warrington ‡	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

‡ New ward boundaries

Third of council

Council	Previous control		Result		Details
Derby	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
North East Lincolnshire	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 hold	Details
Portsmouth	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 gain	Details
Swindon	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details

District councils

Whole council

Council	Previous control		Result		Details
Adur ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Broadland ‡	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
Crawley ‡	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
Huntingdonshire ‡	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 gain	Details
Penwith ‡	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 gain	Details
South Cambridgeshire ‡	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Weymouth & Portland ‡	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 hold	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

‡ New ward boundaries

Half of council

Council	Previous control		Result		Details
Cheltenham	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Fareham	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Gosport	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Hastings	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Nuneaton & Bedworth	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Oxford	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details

Third of council

Council	Previous control		Result		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 hold	Details
Basildon	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Basingstoke & 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 gain	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
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 gain	Details
Cannock Chase	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Carlisle	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 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 hold	Details
Craven	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Crewe & 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 gain	Details
Eastleigh	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Ellesmere Port & 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 hold	Details
Gloucester	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
Hyndburn	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Ipswich	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	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 gain	Details
North Hertfordshire	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 gain	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
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
St Albans	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Shrewsbury & 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 Lakeland	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 hold	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 gain	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 hold	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 gain	Details
West Oxfordshire	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 gain	Details
Woking	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details

Mayoral elections

Local Authority	Previous Mayor		Mayor-elect		Details
London		Ken Livingstone (Labour)		Ken Livingstone (Labour) hold	Details

Wales

File:2004 Welsh Local Elections - Ward and Council Control.svg

Map showing council control (left) and ward control (right).

Council	Previous control		Result		Details
Anglesey	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Blaenau Gwent	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Bridgend	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Caerphilly	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Cardiff	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Carmarthenshire	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Ceredigion	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Conwy	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Denbighshire	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Flintshire	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Gwynedd	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	Details
Merthyr Tydfil	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Monmouthshire	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Neath Port Talbot	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Newport	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Pembrokeshire	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Powys	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Rhondda Cynon Taff	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Swansea	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell gain	Details
Torfaen	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Vale of Glamorgan	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details
Wrexham	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color	REDIRECT Template:Party name with color Template:Redirect category shell hold	Details

References

• Local elections 2006. House of Commons Library Research Paper 06/26.