Staffordshire Moorlands Council - Wards and Councillors

District council · West Midlands · 56 seats in 27 wards · All seats elected every four years · Next election 6 May 2027

Labour run Staffordshire Moorlands Council as a minority administration. The council has 56 councillors in 27 wards. Seats by party: Conservative 21, Labour 19, Other 11, Green 2, Reform 1, Lib Dem 1. The next election is on 6 May 2027.

A government plan to replace the councils in this area with two 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

Labour (Minority)

56 seats - 29 for a majority

Reform 1Labour 19Conservative 21Lib Dem 1Green 2Other 11Vacant 1

Seat changes since the 4 May 2023 election Other +3 Reform +1 Green +1 Conservative −1 Labour −5 1 vacant

Vote share at the 4 May 2023 election (56 seats, all wards)

ShareSeats won

Labour29.6%24

Conservative29.5%22

Other26.4%8

Green10.9%1

Lib Dem3.2%1

Reform0.4%0

Next election

6 May 2027

all 56 seats up, then every four years

Largest party

Conservative 21

8 short of the 29 needed for a majority

Closest result

Leek West

Conservative won the last seat by 8 votes over Labour, 4 May 2023

Latest by-election

Biddulph West

Labour gain from Conservative, 19 January 2023 (1 since 2021)

Constituencies

2 overlap

2024Now

Voted Leave in 2016

65%

GB 52%

Wards

Who holds each ward

LabourConservativeGreenIndependent

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 27 wards

Councillors and last results

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

Ward and councillors	Last election
Alton Nigel Moult	4 May 2023 Conservative 54.9% lead 9.8 pts
Bagnall and Stanley Charlotte Edwards	4 May 2023 Conservative 53.7% lead 25.2 pts
Biddulph East Chris Wood, Connor Brady, Jill Salt	4 May 2023 Labour 52.9% lead 33.0 pts
Biddulph Moor John Jones	4 May 2023 Independent 75.3% lead 50.6 pts
Biddulph North Adam Parkes, Andrew Hart, Jim Garvey	4 May 2023 Labour 24.6% lead 0.4 pts
Biddulph South Andrew Church	4 May 2023 Labour 46.8% lead 7.0 pts
Biddulph West Dave Proudlove, Charlie Smith, Nigel Yates	4 May 2023 Labour 34.2% lead 4.4 pts
Brown Edge and Endon Keith Flunder, Joe Porter, Christina Jebb	4 May 2023 Conservative 40.9% lead 7.0 pts
Caverswall Paul Roberts	4 May 2023 Conservative 53.3% lead 6.6 pts
Cellarhead Pat Hughes, Barbara Hughes	4 May 2023 Conservative 60.1% lead 20.2 pts
Cheadle North East Liz Whitehouse, Matthew Spooner	4 May 2023 Labour 34.5% lead 6.2 pts
Cheadle South East Vicky Wheeldon, Mike Haines	4 May 2023 Labour 57.7% lead 15.4 pts
Cheadle West Gary Bentley, Ian Plant, Kate Mills	4 May 2023 Independent 25.2% lead 2.1 pts
Checkley Mark Deaville, Peter Wilkinson, Alan Hulme	4 May 2023 Independent 25.0% lead 1.1 pts
Cheddleton Oliver Pointon, Michael Worthington, Vacant	4 May 2023 Conservative 25.5% lead 3.4 pts
Churnet Elsie Fallows, James Aberley	4 May 2023 Conservative 56.3% lead 27.6 pts
Dane Callum Beswick	4 May 2023 Conservative 63.3% lead 26.6 pts
Forsbrook Marc Durose, Ian Herdman, Tony Holmes	4 May 2023 Conservative 32.7% lead 8.4 pts
Hamps Valley Edwin Wain	4 May 2023 Conservative 64.6% lead 29.2 pts
Horton Jo Cox	4 May 2023 Conservative 54.3% lead 8.6 pts
Ipstones Linda Malyon	4 May 2023 Uncontested
Leek East Gareth Taylor, Crecy Boone, Darren Price	4 May 2023 Labour 50.4% lead 19.1 pts
Leek North Lyn Swindlehurst, Mark Johnson, Charlotte Atkins	4 May 2023 Labour 71.4% lead 42.8 pts
Leek South Keith Hoptroff, Matt Swindlehurst, Mike Gledhill	4 May 2023 Labour 54.6% lead 31.3 pts
Leek West Bill Cawley, Philip Barks, Ben Emery	4 May 2023 Labour 58.4% lead 16.8 pts
Manifold Jonathan Kempster	4 May 2023 Green 52.7% lead 5.4 pts
Werrington Ross Ward, David Shaw	4 May 2023 Conservative 44.3% lead 15.6 pts

Alton

Nigel Moult Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative54.9%

Labour45.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Nigel John Moult Elected	Conservative	209	54.9%
Jenny Lingham	Labour	172	45.1%

Bagnall and Stanley

Charlotte Edwards Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative53.7%

Independent28.5%

Labour11.9%

Lib Dem5.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Charlotte Hannah Edwards Elected	Conservative	356	53.7%
Sybil Ralphs	Independent	189	28.5%
Dave Jennings	Labour	79	11.9%
Lee Jagger	Lib Dem	39	5.9%

Biddulph East

Chris Wood LabourConnor Brady GreenJill Salt Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Labour52.9%

Independent19.9%

Independent17.3%

Lib Dem9.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Jill Salt Elected	Labour	583
Connor Brady Elected	Labour	451
Christopher Wood Elected	Labour	435
Sheryl Bayley	Independent	219
Chris Perkin	Independent	191
Geoff Preston	Lib Dem	109

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Biddulph Moor

John Jones Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent75.3%

Labour24.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
John Thomas Jones Elected	Independent	308	75.3%
Jim Bostock	Labour	101	24.7%

Biddulph North

Adam Parkes LabourAndrew Hart IndependentJim Garvey Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Labour24.6%

Independent24.2%

Independent16.6%

Green10.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Adam Parkes Elected	Labour	652
Jim Garvey Elected	Independent	643
Andrew Hart Elected	Independent	641
Ken Harper	Independent	440
Ian Waite	Green	277

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Biddulph South

Andrew Church Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Labour46.8%

Independent39.8%

Lib Dem13.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Andrew Stuart Cunningham Church Elected	Labour	207	46.8%
Adriawn Charles Lawton	Independent	176	39.8%
Roy William Gregg	Lib Dem	59	13.3%

Biddulph West

Charlie Smith IndependentDave Proudlove LabourNigel Yates Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Labour34.2%

Conservative29.8%

Independent20.0%

Independent16.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Nigel Yates Elected	Labour	482
Dave Proudlove Elected	Labour	451
Charlie Smith Elected	Labour	440
Derek Stubbs	Conservative	419
Maj Stubbs	Conservative	344
Mark Andrew Stubbs	Conservative	328
Neil Eardley	Independent	282
Alistair McLoughlin	Independent	225

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Brown Edge and Endon

Christina Jebb Lib DemJoe Porter IndependentKeith Flunder Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Conservative40.9%

Lib Dem33.9%

Labour25.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Joe Porter Elected	Conservative	707
Keith Flunder Elected	Conservative	606
Christina Rita Jebb Elected	Lib Dem	585
Roy Alan James Molson	Conservative	506
Danielle Spooner	Lib Dem	452
Joy Majekodunmi	Labour	436
John Redfern	Lib Dem	339

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Caverswall

Paul Roberts Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative53.3%

Labour46.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Paul Roberts Elected	Conservative	241	53.3%
Chris Podszus	Labour	211	46.7%

Cellarhead

Barbara Hughes ConservativePat Hughes Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative60.1%

Green39.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Barbara Aileen Hughes Elected	Conservative	403
Patricia Ann Hughes Elected	Conservative	319
James Martin Firkins	Green	267
Julian Bernard King-Salter	Green	244

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Cheadle North East

Liz Whitehouse LabourMatthew Spooner Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour34.5%

Conservative28.3%

Independent21.4%

Independent15.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Liz Whitehouse Elected	Labour	284
Matthew Charles Spooner Elected	Labour	245
Phil Routledge	Conservative	233
Stephen Ellis	Conservative	231
Julie Bull	Independent	176
Dennis Wilson	Independent	130

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Cheadle South East

Mike Haines LabourVicky Wheeldon Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour57.7%

Conservative42.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Mike Haines Elected	Labour	466
Vicky O'Shea Elected	Labour	401
Peter Jackson	Conservative	341
Zenobia Rose Lillian Routledge	Conservative	324

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Cheadle West

Gary Bentley ReformIan Plant IndependentKate Mills Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Independent25.2%

Independent23.1%

Independent19.4%

Labour18.3%

Conservative14.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Kate Mills Elected	Independent	602
Gary Bentley Elected	Independent	551
Ian William Plant Elected	Independent	464
Bernie Charlesworth	Labour	438
Jonathan Nicholas Mason	Conservative	334

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Checkley

Alan Hulme ConservativeMark Deaville ConservativePeter Wilkinson Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Independent25.0%

Conservative23.9%

Labour15.8%

Independent14.7%

Green11.9%

Independent8.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Peter Wilkinson Elected	Independent	629
Mark Anthony Deaville Elected	Conservative	603
Alan Hulme Elected	Conservative	532
Liz Haines	Labour	399
Luke Daniel Emery	Independent	371
Derek Tatton	Green	301
Mark Hall	Independent	218

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Cheddleton

Michael Worthington ConservativeOliver Pointon ConservativeVacant Vacant

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Conservative25.5%

Labour22.1%

Independent15.3%

Green10.3%

Independent8.1%

Independent7.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Mike Worthington Elected	Conservative	607
Dylan Pascall Elected	Labour	526
Oliver Pointon Elected	Conservative	507
Andrew Grocott	Conservative	461
Eddie Sabir	Labour	418
Michael Thomas Bowen	Independent	364
Dan Mayers	Green	246
Harold Jennings	Independent	194
Keith Harvey	Independent	168
Judith Elizabeth Gregg	Lib Dem	162
Ferenc Kari	Independent	116

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Churnet

Elsie Fallows ConservativeJames Aberley Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative56.3%

Labour28.7%

Reform15.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes
James Aberley Elected	Conservative	505
Elsie Fallows Elected	Conservative	475
Hugh Gerald Thomas Black	Labour	257
Warwick McKenzie	Reform	135

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Dane

Callum Beswick Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative63.3%

Green36.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Callum George Beswick Elected	Conservative	295	63.3%
Alison Rosemary McCrea	Green	171	36.7%

Forsbrook

Ian Herdman ConservativeMarc Durose ConservativeTony Holmes Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Conservative32.7%

Labour24.3%

Independent22.3%

Green20.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Tony Holmes Elected	Conservative	589
Marc Durose Elected	Conservative	497
Ian Herdman Elected	Conservative	495
Paul Thomas Powner	Labour	437
Abigal Wilkinson	Independent	402
Helen Stead	Green	372

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Hamps Valley

Edwin Wain Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative64.6%

Green35.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Edwin Wain Elected	Conservative	332	64.6%
Wendy Bohme	Green	182	35.4%

Horton

Jo Cox Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative54.3%

Green45.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Jo Cox Elected	Conservative	324	54.3%
Dominic Cooney	Green	273	45.7%

Ipstones

Linda Malyon Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Uncontested. Elected: Linda Malyon (Independent).

Leek East

Crecy Boone LabourDarren Price LabourGareth Taylor Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Labour50.4%

Conservative31.3%

Green18.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Darren Price Elected	Labour	766
Crecy Janina Christine Boone Elected	Labour	681
Gareth Richard Taylor Elected	Labour	591
Paul Chauveau	Conservative	476
Andy Machin	Conservative	442
Brian Johnson	Conservative	436
Mike Jones	Green	278

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Leek North

Charlotte Atkins LabourLyn Swindlehurst LabourMark Johnson Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Labour71.4%

Conservative28.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Charlotte Jean Scott Atkins Elected	Labour	742
Lyn Swindlehurst Elected	Labour	673
Mark David Johnson Elected	Labour	633
Charlotte Lockett	Conservative	297

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Leek South

Keith Hoptroff LabourMatt Swindlehurst LabourMike Gledhill Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Labour54.6%

Green23.3%

Conservative22.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Matt Swindlehurst Elected	Labour	880
Mike Gledhill Elected	Labour	801
Keith Hoptroff Elected	Labour	794
Daniella Vickerstaff	Green	375
Neil David Cox	Conservative	357

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Leek West

Ben Emery ConservativeBill Cawley LabourPhilip Barks Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Labour58.4%

Conservative41.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Bill Cawley Elected	Labour	802
Philip Barks Elected	Labour	688
Ben Emery Elected	Conservative	572
Charlie Bromilow	Labour	564
Neil Robert Podmore	Conservative	490

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Manifold

Jonathan Kempster Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Green52.7%

Conservative47.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Jonathan Paul Kempster Elected	Green	306	52.7%
Stephen Wales	Conservative	275	47.3%

Werrington

David Shaw ConservativeRoss Ward Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative44.3%

Independent28.7%

Green27.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes
David Shaw Elected	Conservative	404
Ross David Ward Elected	Conservative	370
Nigel Michael Meakin	Independent	262
Andrew Sharrock	Green	246

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Councillors

Changed party since the election

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

Ward	Councillor	Elected as	Now
Biddulph East	Connor Brady	Labour 2023	Green
Biddulph East	Jill Salt	Labour 2023	Independent
Biddulph West	Charlie Smith	Labour 2023	Independent
Brown Edge and Endon	Joe Porter	Conservative 2023	Independent
Cheadle West	Gary Bentley	Independent 2023	Reform
Leek West	Philip Barks	Labour 2023	Independent

By-elections

Every council by-election since 2021

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

Date	Ward	Result	Winner's share
19 January 2023	Biddulph West	Labour gain from Conservative

Parliament

Parliamentary constituencies

Constituency	Share of council	2024 winner	Projected now
Staffordshire Moorlands	88%	Conservative	Conservative 35%
Stoke-on-Trent South	12%	Labour	Reform 31%

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 Staffordshire Moorlands

95,845 residents in 42,336 households

Voted Leave in 2016

65% 13 above GB

Degree or higher

28% 6 below GB

No qualifications

20% 2 above GB

Own their home

78% 17 above GB

Rent from a council or housing association

9% 8 below GB

Rent privately

13% 7 below GB

Aged 15 to 34

23% 8 below GB

Aged 65 and over

31% 9 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

MaldonConservative (Minority)RochfordReform UK (Minority)WyreConservative (Majority)East Riding of YorkshireConservative (Minority)South StaffordshireConservative (Majority)

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.