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2021 Isle of Wight Council election

← 2017 6 May 2021 (2021-05-06) 2025 →
All 39 seats to the Isle of Wight Council 20 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	36.93% 3.99 pp
First party Second party Third party   Leader Dave Stewart Party Conservative Independent Green Leader's seat Chale, Niton and Shorwell (lost) Last election 25 seats, 41.3% 11 seats, 28.2% 1 seats, 12.6% Seats before 23 14 1 Seats won 18 13 2 Seat change 7 2 1 Popular vote 15,825 9,981 4,541 Percentage 38.7% 24.4% 11.1% Swing 2.6% 3.8% 1.5%   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Ian Stephens Richard Quigley Andrew Garratt Party Island Independent Network Labour Liberal Democrats Leader's seat Ryde West Cowes North Parkhurst and Hunnyhill Last election New grouping 1 seat, 9.7% 2 seats, 6.2% Seats before 1 1 1 Seats won 2 1 1 Seat change 2 1 Popular vote 1,327 4,760 2,139 Percentage 3.2% 11.6% 5.2% Swing 3.2% 1.9% 1.0%   Seventh party Eighth party   Leader Jonathan Bacon Daryll Pitcher Party Our Island Vectis Party Leader's seat Brading and St Helens Wootton Bridge Last election New party New party Seats won 1 1 Seat change 1 1 Popular vote 1,427 886 Percentage 3.5% 2.2% Swing 3.5% 2.2%
Election results
Council leader before election Dave Stewart Conservative Council leader after election Lora Peacey-Wilcox The Alliance Group

Elections to Isle of Wight Council took place on 6 May 2021 as part of the 2021 United Kingdom local elections. These were held at the same time as the elections for the Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner. The elections saw the Conservatives lose control of the council, losing seats against the national trend for the party.

Results summary

Party		Seats		Candidates	Votes		Vote %
	Conservative	18	7	39	15,825	2,552	38.7	2.6
	Independent	13	2	22	9,981	2,527	24.4	3.8
	Green	2	1	19	4,541	1,056	11.1	1.5
	Island Independent Network	2	2	6	1,327	1,327	3.2	3.2
	Labour	1		28	4,760	452	11.6	1.9
	Lib Dem	1	1	12	2,139	636	5.2	1.0
	Our Island	1	1	5	1,427	1,427	3.5	3.5
	Vectis Party	1	1	3	886	886	2.2	2.2
	Freedom Alliance	0		1	38	38	0.09	0.09
	TUSC	0		1	20	20	0.05	0.05
Total		39	1	136	40,944	608

Background

New ward divisions were used for this election, with thirty wards changing, with the number of wards reduced by one to 39 single-member seats. In the previous election, the Conservatives had won a majority with twenty five seats, with Independents (including the Island Independent Group), Liberal Democrats, Greens, and Labour also winning seats.

For the 2021 election, as well as existing independent candidates, the new Our Island also announced its intention to support several independent candidates.

Aftermath

The incumbent Conservative leader of the council lost his seat to the Green Party, and was replaced as group leader by Steve Hastings, who subsequently invited other councillors to coalition talks.

On 26 May, independent councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox was elected leader of the council with 20 votes to Hastings’s 18. There was a single abstention from the Labour councillor, who was absent. Island Independent Network councillor Ian Stephens was elected her deputy. Independent councillor Geoff Brodie was elected as the Chair of the Council, with Green councillor Claire Critchison elected Vice-Chair.

The leadership and cabinet - termed the "Alliance Group" - includes Independent, Green, Island Independent Network and Our Island councillors who together make up 18 of the 39 seats on the council. With the additional external support from the Liberal Democrats and the Vectis Party this constitutes a majority of 20 out of the 39 council seats.

In August 2021, Cllr Brodie quit the Alliance Group over planning issues, but continues to support the administration.

Division results

Bembridge

Binstead and Fishbourne

Brading and St Helens

Brighstone, Calbourne and Shalfleet

Carisbrooke and Gunville

Central Rural

Chale, Niton and Shorwell

Cowes Medina

Cowes North

Cowes South and Northwood

Cowes West and Gurnard

East Cowes

Fairlee and Whippingham

Freshwater North and Yarmouth

Freshwater South

Haylands and Swanmore

Lake North

Lake South

Mountjoy and Shide

Nettlestone and Seaview

Newchurch, Havenstreet and Ashey

Newport Central

Newport West

Osborne

Pan and Barton

Parkhurst and Hunnyhill

Ryde Appley and Elmfield

Ryde Monktonmead

Ryde North West

Ryde South East

Ryde West

Sandown North

Sandown South

Shanklin Central

Shanklin South

Totland and Colwell

Ventnor and St Lawrence

Wootton Bridge

Wroxall, Lowtherville and Bonchurch

Changes 2021–2025

Brighstone, Calbourne and Shalfleet

A by-election was held in Brighstone, Calbourne and Shalfleet on 24 November 2022, triggered by the resignation of Conservative councillor Steve Hastings.

• Michael Lilley, elected as an independent, joined the Liberal Democrats in May 2023.

Wootton Bridge

A by-election was held in Wootton Bridge on 24 August 2023, triggered by the resignation of Daryll Pitcher, the leader and only elected member of the Vectis Party, after being imprisoned for rape.

Ventnor and St Lawrence

A by-election was held in Ventnor and St Lawrence on 21 December 2023, triggered by the resignation of Conservative councillor Gary Peace.

References

1. "Elections Management - Service Details". www.iow.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
2. "2021 ISLE OF WIGHT LOCAL ELECTION – FULL RESULTS". Island Echo. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
3. "What will the Isle of Wight be voting for on May 6? Election explained". Isle of Wight County Press. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
4. "Local Government Boundary Commission for England Consultation Portal". consultation.lgbce.org.uk. Archived from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
5. "Our Island announce their first candidates for May 2021 Isle of Wight council elections". Isle of Wight News from OnTheWight. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
6. "Our Island Archives". Isle of Wight News from OnTheWight. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
7. Toogood, Darren (1 February 2021). "FIRST 'OUR ISLAND' ELECTION CANDIDATES ANNOUNCED". Retrieved 5 April 2021.
8. "Conservative Isle of Wight Council Leader loses seat to Green".
9. "Acting Tory leader invites opposition councillors to join and form majority".
10. "Conservatives promise 'robust' opposition as Team Alliance wins council control".
11. "Lora Peacey-Wilcox Elected as the New Leader of the Isle of Wight Council". 26 May 2021.
12. "Isle of Wight Council appoints Independent Lora Peacey-Wilcox as new leader". BBC News. 27 May 2021.
13. "Isle of Wight Council under new leadership".
14. "Isle of Wight Council appoints Independent Lora Peacey-Wilcox as new leader". BBC News. 27 May 2021.
15. "Geoff Brodie resignation: Council leader pleased by promise of support".
16. "Council chair quits ruling Alliance Group".
17. Hill, Louise (18 October 2022). "Tory resignation by 'disillusioned' ex leader prompts possible election in Isle of Wight next month". Hampshire Live. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
18. "Isle of Wight power shift: Cllr Michael Lilley bids farewell to Alliance Group". 9 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
19. "Councillor Daryll Pitcher resigns months after rape conviction". BBC News. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
20. "Isle of Wight Councillor resigns for Ventnor and St Lawrence". 23 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.

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See also: Wards Boundary changes

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