Folkestone and Hythe Council - Wards and Councillors

District council · South East · 30 seats in 13 wards · All seats elected every four years · Next election 6 May 2027

Folkestone and Hythe Council is run by a Green / Liberal Democrats coalition. The council has 30 councillors in 13 wards. Seats by party: Green 11, Labour 8, Conservative 5, Other 3, Lib Dem 2, Reform 1. The next election is on 6 May 2027.

A government plan to replace the councils in this area with four unitary councils was paused for review on 7 September 2026. Elections due in May 2027 will go ahead on existing council boundaries. Source

Control

Seats by party

Green / Liberal Democrats Coalition

30 seats - 16 for a majority

Reform 1Labour 8Conservative 5Lib Dem 2Green 11Other 3

Seat changes since the 4 May 2023 election Reform +1 Other +1 Labour −2

Vote share at the 4 May 2023 election (30 seats, all wards)

ShareSeats won

Green26.9%11

Conservative23.2%5

Labour19.7%10

Lib Dem14.0%2

Other13.8%2

Reform2.4%0

Next election

6 May 2027

all 30 seats up, then every four years

Largest party

Green 11

5 short of the 16 needed for a majority

Closest result

Romney Marsh

Labour won the last seat by 2 votes over Conservative, 4 May 2023

Latest by-election

Romney Marsh

Conservative hold, 22 February 2024 (1 since 2021)

Constituencies

2 overlap

2024Now

Voted Leave in 2016

62%

GB 52%

Wards

Who holds each ward

LabourConservativeLib DemGreenIndependent

Coloured by the party holding most of the ward's seats today; where seats are split evenly, by the party with the higher share at the last election.

All 13 wards

Councillors and last results

Select a ward for its full results, candidates and last by-election.

Ward and councillors	Last election
Broadmead Belinda Walker	4 May 2023 Labour 39.5% lead 0.5 pts
Cheriton Mike Blakemore, Polly Blakemore, Rebecca Shoob	4 May 2023 Green 37.8% lead 16.4 pts
East Folkestone Connor McConville, Jackie Meade, Adrian Lockwood	4 May 2023 Labour 43.2% lead 21.6 pts
Folkestone Central Liz McShane, Laura Davison, Abena Akuffo-Kelly	4 May 2023 Labour 39.6% lead 18.0 pts
Folkestone Harbour Bridget Chapman, Nicola Keen	4 May 2023 Labour 45.1% lead 20.9 pts
Hythe Jim Martin, Rich Holgate, Anita Jones	4 May 2023 Green 67.5% lead 45.0 pts
Hythe Rural Jeremy Speakman, John Wing	4 May 2023 Green 60.8% lead 34.2 pts
New Romney Paul Thomas, David Wimble	4 May 2023 Independent 22.1% lead 0.9 pts
North Downs East James Butcher, Stephen Scoffham, David Godfrey	4 May 2023 Green 31.9% lead 5.9 pts
North Downs West Elaine Martin, Jennifer Hollingsbee	4 May 2023 Green 30.6% lead 1.7 pts
Romney Marsh Tony Cooper, Tony Hills	4 May 2023 Conservative 24.0% lead 4.2 pts
Sandgate & West Folkestone Tim Prater, Gary Fuller	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 69.1% lead 53.6 pts
Walland & Denge Marsh Alan Martin, Clive Goddard	4 May 2023 Conservative 30.3% lead 16.1 pts

Broadmead

Belinda Walker Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Labour39.5%

Conservative39.0%

Lib Dem21.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Belinda Walker Elected	Labour	454	39.5%
Kieran Leigh	Conservative	448	39.0%
John Stokes	Lib Dem	246	21.4%

Cheriton

Mike Blakemore GreenPolly Blakemore GreenRebecca Shoob Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Green37.8%

Conservative21.4%

Lib Dem21.4%

Labour19.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Rebecca Shoob Elected	Green	1,219
Polly Blakemore Elected	Green	1,078
Mike Blakemore Elected	Green	1,018
Dhan Gurung	Conservative	691
Peter Gane	Lib Dem	690
Paul Richard Bingham	Labour	624
Roger Charles West	Lib Dem	610
Rory Love	Conservative	566
John Collier	Conservative	556
Jane Darling	Labour	531
Charles Bain Smith	Labour	522

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

East Folkestone

Adrian Lockwood LabourConnor McConville IndependentJackie Meade Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Labour43.2%

Green21.6%

Conservative18.8%

Lib Dem16.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Jackie Meade Elected	Labour	1,098
Connor Andrew McConville Elected	Labour	1,030
Adrian Ashley Lockwood Elected	Labour	962
Marianne Brett	Green	548
Jeanne Brinton	Conservative	477
Ema Deba	Conservative	435
Sheila Reed	Conservative	434
Danielle Anne Anson	Lib Dem	419

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Folkestone Central

Abena Akuffo-Kelly LabourLaura Davison LabourLiz McShane Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Labour39.6%

Conservative21.6%

Green17.8%

Lib Dem9.8%

Independent8.5%

The Socialist Party of Great Britain2.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Laura Davison Elected	Labour	1,211
Abena Akuffo-Kelly Elected	Labour	1,058
Liz McShane Elected	Labour	981
Claire Beresford	Conservative	659
Stephen James	Conservative	647
Dylan Jeffrey	Conservative	616
Clive Hawkins	Green	545
Matthew Horrox	Lib Dem	301
Alison Pemberton	Lib Dem	285
Bryan Anthony Rylands	Independent	260
Aston Charles Mannerings	Lib Dem	239
Max Lionel Hess	The Socialist Party of Great Britain	81

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Folkestone Harbour

Bridget Chapman IndependentNicola Keen Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour45.1%

Foundation Party24.2%

Conservative14.9%

Lib Dem12.9%

The Socialist Party of Great Britain2.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Bridget Chapman Elected	Labour	695
Nicola Keen Elected	Labour	681
Mary Elizabeth Lawes	Foundation Party	372
Frank McKenna	Foundation Party	236
Glyn Hibbert	Conservative	230
Richard Moffatt	Conservative	210
Tom McNeice	Lib Dem	198
Adam James Rowledge	Lib Dem	121
Andy Thomas	The Socialist Party of Great Britain	45

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Hythe

Anita Jones GreenJim Martin GreenRich Holgate Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Green67.5%

Conservative22.5%

Reform10.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Anita Jones Elected	Green	2,971
Jim Martin Elected	Green	2,930
Rich Holgate Elected	Green	2,826
Malcolm Dearden	Conservative	989
David Owen	Conservative	946
Ben Potter	Conservative	888
David John Turner	Reform	440

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Hythe Rural

Jeremy Speakman GreenJohn Wing Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Green60.8%

Conservative26.6%

Labour12.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
John Wing Elected	Green	1,103
Jeremy Speakman Elected	Green	1,055
John Gabris	Conservative	482
Michael Lyons	Conservative	471
Edward Le Fanu	Labour	229

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

New Romney

David Wimble ReformPaul Thomas Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent22.1%

Independent21.2%

Conservative16.3%

Green10.3%

Labour10.2%

Independent8.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Paul David Thomas Elected	Independent	680
David Wimble Elected	Independent	653
Patricia Rolfe	Conservative	501
Laurie Glover	Conservative	400
Malcolm Watkinson	Green	317
Paul William Carey	Labour	315
John Edward Davies	Independent	246
Wendy Valerie Nevard	Reform	181
Hugh Robertson-Richie	Lib Dem	111
John Alan Houston	Independent	72

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

North Downs East

David Godfrey ConservativeJames Butcher GreenStephen Scoffham Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Green31.9%

Conservative26.0%

Lib Dem15.3%

Labour14.8%

Independent11.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Stephen Scoffham Elected	Green	1,127
James Butcher Elected	Green	988
David Godfrey Elected	Conservative	920
Douglas Wade	Green	903
Stuart Peall	Conservative	896
David Monk	Conservative	849
Lynne Beaumont	Lib Dem	542
Nicola Hayden	Labour	524
Lucy McGirr	Labour	482
Philip Martin	Independent	419

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

North Downs West

Elaine Martin GreenJennifer Hollingsbee Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Green30.6%

Conservative28.9%

Labour17.1%

Lib Dem16.7%

Reform6.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Elaine Martin Elected	Green	932
Jenny Hollingsbee Elected	Conservative	882
Laszlo Tibor Dudas	Conservative	704
Senet Yohannes	Labour	521
Chani Sanger	Lib Dem	510
Gavin Braine	Reform	202

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Romney Marsh

Tony Cooper LabourTony Hills Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative24.0%

Labour19.8%

Independent18.2%

Independent16.7%

Green13.2%

Lib Dem6.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Liz Grant Elected	Conservative	647
Tony Cooper Elected	Labour	534
Tony Hills	Conservative	532
Andy Weatherhead	Independent	491
Tony Goode	Labour	481
Ian Barry Meyers	Independent	451
Jennifer Hawkins	Green	357
Neil Matthews	Lib Dem	161
Douglas Young	Independent	60

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 22 February 2024

Conservative24.2%

Green21.4%

Labour19.0%

Reform15.3%

Independent10.0%

Independent4.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Tony Hills Elected	Conservative	375	24.2%
Malcolm Watkinson	Green	332	21.4%
Chrissie Cooper	Labour	295	19.0%
Kim Elizabeth Rye	Reform	237	15.3%
Paul Andrew Peacock	Independent	155	10.0%
Dave Evans	Independent	62	4.0%
Ian Barry Meyers	Independent	51	3.3%
Douglas Young	Independent	31	2.0%
Matthew Horrox	Lib Dem	11	0.7%

Sandgate & West Folkestone

Gary Fuller Lib DemTim Prater Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem69.1%

Labour15.5%

Conservative15.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Tim Prater Elected	Lib Dem	1,408
Gary Fuller Elected	Lib Dem	1,190
Sarah Danby	Labour	316
Paul Jones	Conservative	314
Dylan Moody	Conservative	261

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Walland & Denge Marsh

Alan Martin ConservativeClive Goddard Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative30.3%

Independent14.2%

Labour13.3%

Lib Dem11.2%

Green10.5%

Independent9.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Clive Goddard Elected	Conservative	868
Alan Martin Elected	Conservative	618
Peter Webb	Independent	406
Chrissie Cooper	Labour	382
Suzanne Maree Piper	Lib Dem	322
Ross Carter	Green	301
Kim Elizabeth Rye	Independent	269
Jack Glass	Independent	197
Leonard Laws	UKIP	124

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Councillors

Changed party since the election

3 councillors now sit for a different party from the one they were elected for.

Ward	Councillor	Elected as	Now
East Folkestone	Connor McConville	Labour 2023	Independent
Folkestone Harbour	Bridget Chapman	Labour 2023	Independent
New Romney	David Wimble	Independent 2023	Reform

By-elections

Every council by-election since 2021

1 by-election since July 2021, 0 of them gains.

Date	Ward	Result	Winner's share
22 February 2024	Romney Marsh	Conservative hold	24.2%

Parliament

Parliamentary constituencies

Constituency	Share of council	2024 winner	Projected now
Folkestone and Hythe	85%	Labour	Reform 30%
Ashford	15%	Labour	Reform 27%

Share of the council: the proportion of its census neighbourhoods (2021 LSOAs) in each seat. The projection is PollCheck's demographic model at current polling, not a forecast.

People

Who lives in Folkestone and Hythe

109,755 residents in 48,344 households

Voted Leave in 2016

62% 10 above GB

Degree or higher

27% 7 below GB

No qualifications

19% 1 above GB

Own their home

66% 5 above GB

Rent from a council or housing association

11% 6 below GB

Rent privately

22% 2 above GB

Aged 15 to 34

24% 7 below GB

Aged 65 and over

30% 8 above GB

GB figure. 2021 Census (Scotland: 2022): age as a share of residents aged 15 and over, qualifications of residents aged 16 and over, housing as a share of households. Leave: 2016 EU referendum, Electoral Commission results by counting area.

Similar

Councils most like this one

North DevonLiberal Democrats (Majority)DoverLabour (Minority)TorbayConservative (Minority)West LindseyConservative / Liberal Democrats / Independent Coalition Isle of WightReform UK (Minority)

Closest on the measures above: the 2016 Leave vote, age, qualifications and housing. Maps show which party holds each ward.

Sources

Sources and method

Seat totals and control: PollCheck council control tracker. Councillors: Open Council Data (CC BY-SA 4.0). Election results: Democracy Club (CC BY 4.0), with some vote counts from DCLEAPIL, Leman (2025) (CC BY-SA 4.0), and corrections checked against councils' official declarations. Ward boundaries: Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Census: Office for National Statistics and National Records of Scotland.

Councillor lists and DCLEAPIL-derived vote counts on this page are available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

In wards electing more than one councillor, a party's share counts only its leading candidate (the Rallings and Thrasher method). Independents count individually. The lead is the gap between the top two parties' shares.