Thanet Council - Wards and Councillors

District council · South East · 56 seats in 23 wards · All seats elected every four years · Next election 6 May 2027

Labour have a majority on Thanet Council. The council has 56 councillors in 23 wards. Seats by party: Labour 30, Conservative 13, Green 6, Reform 5, Other 2. 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

Labour (Majority)

56 seats - 29 for a majority

Reform 5Labour 30Conservative 13Green 6Other 2

Seat changes since the 4 May 2023 election Reform +5 Green +1 Other −2 Conservative −4

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

ShareSeats won

Labour32.7%30

Conservative28.2%17

Green22.0%5

Other14.3%4

Lib Dem2.1%0

Reform0.8%0

Next election

6 May 2027

all 56 seats up, then every four years

Largest party

Labour 30

majority of 4; 29 needed

Closest result

Viking

Conservative won the last seat by 3 votes over another Conservative candidate, 4 May 2023

Latest by-election

Garlinge

Reform gain from Local party, 30 October 2025 (2 since 2021)

Constituencies

2 overlap

2024Now

Voted Leave in 2016

64%

GB 52%

Wards

Who holds each ward

LabourConservativeReformGreenIndependent

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 23 wards

Councillors and last results

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

Ward and councillors	Last election
Beacon Road Jennifer Matterface, Joanne Bright	4 May 2023 Labour 53.9% lead 29.8 pts
Birchington North Reece Pugh, George Kup	4 May 2023 Conservative 45.4% lead 26.2 pts
Birchington South Linda Wright, Emma Dawson, Phil Fellows	4 May 2023 Conservative 41.8% lead 24.6 pts
Bradstowe Jill Bayford, George Rusiecki	4 May 2023 Conservative 34.7% lead 1.0 pts
Central Harbour Tricia Austin, Rebecca Wing, Raushan Ara	4 May 2023 Labour 48.4% lead 9.2 pts
Cliffsend and Pegwell Brenda Rogers, John Davis	4 May 2023 Conservative 35.1% lead 12.1 pts
Cliftonville East Cedric Towning, Marc Rattigan, Barry Manners	4 May 2023 Conservative 46.6% lead 18.9 pts
Cliftonville West Harry Scobie, Heather Keen, Alan Currie	4 May 2023 Labour 49.1% lead 20.8 pts
Dane Valley Jack Packman, Martin Boyd, Ruth Duckworth	4 May 2023 Labour 43.9% lead 24.4 pts
Eastcliff Corinna Huxley, Helen Crittenden, Steve Albon	4 May 2023 Labour 52.0% lead 23.5 pts
Garlinge John Dennis, Darren Oxborrow	4 May 2023 Thanet Independents 49.2% lead 27.8 pts
Kingsgate Alan Munns	4 May 2023 Independent 49.8% lead 17.0 pts
Margate Central Helen Whitehead, Rob Yates	4 May 2023 Labour 48.4% lead 24.9 pts
Nethercourt David Green, Anne-Marie Nixey	4 May 2023 Labour 44.5% lead 21.3 pts
Newington Pat Moore, Rick Everitt	4 May 2023 Labour 57.3% lead 27.7 pts
Northwood William Scobie, Jim Driver, Debra Owen-Hughes	4 May 2023 Labour 44.5% lead 19.8 pts
Salmestone Leo Britcher, Katie Pope	4 May 2023 Labour 47.5% lead 15.7 pts
Sir Moses Montefiore Pat Makinson, Tony Ovenden	4 May 2023 Labour 41.9% lead 7.0 pts
St Peters Paul Moore, Mike Garner, Kevin Pressland	4 May 2023 Green 38.6% lead 8.4 pts
Thanet Villages Marlène Dasburg, Peter Evans, Abi Smith	4 May 2023 Conservative 38.2% lead 3.9 pts
Viking Kristian Bright, John Nichols, Roopa Farooki	4 May 2023 Labour 28.9% lead 2.6 pts
Westbrook John Edwards, Elysa d'Abbro	4 May 2023 Labour 36.1% lead 5.5 pts
Westgate-on-Sea Bertie Braidwood, David Donaldson, Matthew Scott	4 May 2023 Thanet Independents 31.0% lead 8.4 pts

Beacon Road

Jennifer Matterface LabourJoanne Bright Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour53.9%

Conservative24.1%

Independent14.3%

Green7.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Jenny Matterface Elected	Labour	694
Joanne Janet Bright Elected	Labour	620
Charlie Leys	Conservative	311
Aram Ahmed Rawf	Independent	184
Barbara Mary Young	Conservative	176
Tina Gull	Green	99

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Birchington North

George Kup ConservativeReece Pugh Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative45.4%

Thanet Independents19.2%

Labour19.0%

Green16.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
George Kup Elected	Conservative	908
Reece Pugh Elected	Conservative	873
David Andrew William Hart	Thanet Independents	384
Simon Nicholas Day	Thanet Independents	382
Colin Joseph Brown	Labour	379
Lucy Williams	Green	328
Mario Portelli	Labour	262

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Birchington South

Emma Dawson ConservativeLinda Wright ConservativePhil Fellows Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Conservative41.8%

Labour17.2%

Independent14.0%

Thanet Independents13.8%

Green13.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Phil Fellows Elected	Conservative	814
Linda Ann Wright Elected	Conservative	726
Emma Dawson Elected	Conservative	699
Colin James Harvey	Labour	336
David John Ross	Labour	336
Paul Holton	Independent	273
Anne Claire Reszetniak	Labour	269
Glyn Howell Parry	Thanet Independents	269
Terry Macdonald	Green	256

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Bradstowe

George Rusiecki ConservativeJill Bayford Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative34.7%

Green33.7%

Labour21.7%

Lib Dem9.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes
George Henry Rusiecki Elected	Conservative	525
Jill Louise Bayford Elected	Conservative	524
Steve Roberts	Green	510
Kay Ann Dark	Labour	329
Meg Harvey	Labour	326
Robert Dalip Stone	Lib Dem	149

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Central Harbour

Raushan Ara LabourRebecca Wing GreenTricia Austin Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Labour48.4%

Green39.2%

Conservative12.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Raushan Ara Elected	Labour	1,157
Becky Wing Elected	Green	936
Tricia Austin Elected	Green	852
Diane Elizabeth Heath	Labour	743
Gita Sahni	Labour	712
John Penny	Conservative	297
Andrew William Chard	Conservative	281
Toby Taylor	Conservative	279

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Cliffsend and Pegwell

Brenda Rogers ConservativeJohn Davis Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative35.1%

Green23.0%

Labour17.1%

Independent13.7%

Thanet Independents8.3%

Lib Dem2.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Brenda Marilyn Rogers Elected	Conservative	571
John William Davis Elected	Conservative	516
Vitas Bowyer	Green	374
Tim Spencer	Green	329
Peter Jonathan Heath	Labour	278
Laurie Lourette Karina Hudson	Labour	265
Grahame George Birchall	Independent	223
Beryl Harrison	Thanet Independents	135
Robert James Louis Rene Wright	Lib Dem	45

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Cliftonville East

Barry Manners ReformCedric Towning ConservativeMarc Rattigan Reform

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Conservative46.6%

Labour27.7%

Green25.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Barry Kenneth Manners Elected	Conservative	985
Marc Lee Rattigan Elected	Conservative	912
Cedric Leslie Towning Elected	Conservative	852
Don Challinger	Labour	586
Jessica Lauren	Green	541
Barbara Elizabeth McCulloch	Labour	534
Barry Harvey Lewis	Labour	511

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Cliftonville West

Alan Currie LabourHarry Scobie LabourHeather Keen Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Labour49.1%

Green28.3%

Conservative14.0%

Thanet Independents8.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Alan Robert Currie Elected	Labour	972
Heather Keen Elected	Labour	901
Harry Scobie Elected	Labour	872
Matthew Adam Shoul	Green	560
Nickie Holding	Conservative	278
Avril Irene Miriam Towning	Conservative	270
Ross Holding	Conservative	246
Gary-Paul Pieman	Thanet Independents	170

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Dane Valley

Jack Packman LabourMartin Boyd LabourRuth Duckworth Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Labour43.9%

Conservative19.5%

Green19.4%

Thanet Independents17.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Ruth Duckworth Elected	Labour	754
Jack Packman Elected	Labour	719
Martin John Boyd Elected	Labour	709
Mike Smith	Conservative	336
Chris Newman	Green	333
David Wallin	Thanet Independents	296

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Eastcliff

Corinna Huxley LabourHelen Crittenden LabourSteve Albon Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Labour52.0%

Green28.5%

Conservative19.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Helen Brenda Crittenden Elected	Labour	811
Corinna Frances Huxley Elected	Labour	775
Stephen Albon Elected	Labour	741
Tony Uden	Green	445
Peter Frederick Sinden	Conservative	304
Gerry O'Donnell	Conservative	291
Morgan James Harris	Conservative	290

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Garlinge

Darren Oxborrow ReformJohn Dennis Reform

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Thanet Independents49.2%

Conservative21.4%

Labour20.2%

Green9.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes
John Worrow Elected	Thanet Independents	581
John Dennis Elected	Thanet Independents	509
Kerry Boyd	Conservative	253
Maria Christina Castellina	Labour	239
Stephen Fenning	Labour	199
Bernard Kirkham	Green	108

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 30 October 2025

Reform44.6%

Conservative32.0%

Labour7.9%

Green7.8%

Lib Dem4.6%

Community First3.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Darren Oxborrow Elected	Reform	348	44.6%
Kerry Boyd	Conservative	250	32.0%
Bryan John Harrod	Labour	62	7.9%
Deb Shotton	Green	61	7.8%
Matthew David Brown	Lib Dem	36	4.6%
Ian Driver	Community First	24	3.1%

Kingsgate

Alan Munns Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent49.8%

Conservative32.8%

Labour17.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Alan Munns Elected	Independent	366	49.8%
Bob Bayford	Conservative	241	32.8%
Howard Leonard Green	Labour	128	17.4%

Margate Central

Helen Whitehead LabourRob Yates Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour48.4%

Green23.5%

Conservative14.8%

Independent13.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Helen Elizabeth Whitehead Elected	Labour	504
Rob Yates Elected	Labour	481
Alanna McGill-Tagg	Green	245
Barry Scott Millen	Conservative	154
John Finnegan	Independent	138

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Nethercourt

Anne-Marie Nixey LabourDavid Green Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour44.5%

Conservative23.2%

Green17.1%

Reform15.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Anne-Marie Nixey Elected	Labour	574
David Green Elected	Labour	547
Michael Sean Crees	Conservative	299
Seth Samuel Sebastian Stephenson	Conservative	261
Michelle Thomas	Green	221
James Hose	Reform	195

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Newington

Pat Moore LabourRick Everitt Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour57.3%

Conservative29.6%

Green13.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Pat Moore Elected	Labour	414
Rick Everitt Elected	Labour	393
Trevor Shonk	Conservative	214
Ben Thomas Harris	Conservative	194
Phil Shotton	Green	94

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Northwood

Debra Owen-Hughes LabourJim Driver LabourWilliam Scobie Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Labour44.5%

Conservative24.7%

Thanet Independents21.4%

Green9.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Jim Driver Elected	Labour	563
Will Scobie Elected	Labour	554
Debra Owen-Hughes Elected	Labour	553
Keith Joseph Henry Clark	Conservative	312
David Barrie Spicer	Conservative	282
Sandra Spicer	Conservative	278
Stuart Piper	Thanet Independents	270
Lynda Jane Piper	Thanet Independents	264
Christina Collins	Thanet Independents	230
Mike White	Green	119

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Salmestone

Katie Pope LabourLeo Britcher Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour47.5%

Conservative31.8%

Green20.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Katie Elizabeth Pope Elected	Labour	491
Leo David Britcher Elected	Labour	470
Lisa Jane Shearer	Conservative	328
Fi O'Connor	Green	214

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Sir Moses Montefiore

Pat Makinson LabourTony Ovenden Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour41.9%

Green34.9%

Conservative23.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Pat Makinson Elected	Labour	452
Tony Ovenden Elected	Labour	449
Clara Gibson	Green	377
Andy Strevens	Green	350
Marion Astley	Conservative	250
Daphne Evelyn Sharpe	Conservative	222

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

St Peters

Kevin Pressland GreenMike Garner GreenPaul Moore Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Green38.6%

Conservative30.2%

Labour21.4%

Lib Dem9.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Mike Garner Elected	Green	849
Kevin Pressland Elected	Green	664
Paul Moore Elected	Conservative	664
Roy Christopher Dexter	Conservative	614
Ahsan Ashfaq	Conservative	595
Jason Harvey Evers	Labour	470
David Cooper	Labour	440
Mathew Thomas	Labour	381
Gail Anne Banks	Lib Dem	215

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Thanet Villages

Abi Smith GreenMarlène Dasburg LabourPeter Evans Reform

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Conservative38.2%

Green34.3%

Labour13.9%

Independent6.8%

Lib Dem6.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Sam Bambridge Elected	Conservative	733
Abi-Leigh Barlow Elected	Conservative	672
Abi Smith Elected	Green	658
Andy Isbister	Green	522
Karina Pugh	Conservative	520
Thea Barrett	Green	496
Jane Mary Hetherington	Labour	266
Sue Gyde	Labour	247
Maggie Nash	Labour	225
Andy Local	Independent	130
Deborah Jane Holmes	Lib Dem	130

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 1 May 2025

Reform37.8%

Conservative21.0%

Thanet Independents19.7%

Green9.9%

Lib Dem5.6%

Labour5.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Peter Kenneth Evans Elected	Reform	781	37.8%
Ash Ashbee	Conservative	433	21.0%
Ian Driver	Thanet Independents	407	19.7%
Will Jarman	Green	204	9.9%
Deborah Jane Holmes	Lib Dem	116	5.6%
Bryan John Harrod	Labour	107	5.2%
Grahame George Birchall	Independent	17	0.8%

Viking

John Nichols ConservativeKristian Bright LabourRoopa Farooki Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Labour28.9%

Conservative26.3%

Independent22.0%

Green15.1%

Lib Dem7.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Roopa Raman Farooki Elected	Labour	863
John Nichols Elected	Conservative	786
Kristian Matthew Bright Elected	Labour	786
Michael Spencer Bridges	Conservative	783
Elvira Orhan	Labour	700
Ruth Bailey	Independent	657
Horace Shrubb	Conservative	636
Will Jarman	Green	450
David Geoffrey Banks	Lib Dem	228

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Westbrook

Elysa d'Abbro LabourJohn Edwards Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour36.1%

Conservative30.6%

Green13.0%

Thanet Independents12.8%

Reform7.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Elysa Chiarina D'Abbro Elected	Labour	451
John Martin Edwards Elected	Labour	385
Ash Ashbee	Conservative	382
David Andrew Parsons	Conservative	283
Ken Watkins	Green	162
Mark Bray	Thanet Independents	160
Amelia Randall	Reform	93

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Westgate-on-Sea

Bertie Braidwood IndependentDavid Donaldson LabourMatthew Scott Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Thanet Independents31.0%

Conservative22.6%

Labour20.6%

Independent13.0%

Green12.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Bertie James Braidwood Elected	Thanet Independents	789
Matthew Scott Elected	Conservative	576
David Donaldson Elected	Labour	525
Jane Ashbee-Welch	Conservative	483
Nicola Morgan	Labour	468
Peter Kenneth Evans	Thanet Independents	415
Roger Dennis Smythe	Conservative	364
Thomas George King	Independent	331
Sarah Jarman	Green	326
Paul Upex	Labour	325

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Councillors

Changed party since the election

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

Ward	Councillor	Elected as	Now
Cliftonville East	Barry Manners	Conservative 2023	Reform
Cliftonville East	Marc Rattigan	Conservative 2023	Reform
Garlinge	John Dennis	Thanet Independents 2023	Reform
Margate Central	Rob Yates	Labour 2023	Green

By-elections

Every council by-election since 2021

2 by-elections since July 2021, 2 of them gains.

Date	Ward	Result	Winner's share
30 October 2025	Garlinge	Reform gain from Local party	45.0%
1 May 2025	Thanet Villages	Reform gain from Conservative	37.8%

Parliament

Parliamentary constituencies

Constituency	Share of council	2024 winner	Projected now
East Thanet	76%	Labour	Labour 34%
Herne Bay and Sandwich	24%	Conservative	Conservative 39%

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 Thanet

140,589 residents in 62,204 households

Voted Leave in 2016

64% 12 above GB

Degree or higher

26% 8 below GB

No qualifications

22% 4 above GB

Own their home

61% same as GB

Rent from a council or housing association

12% 5 below GB

Rent privately

26% 6 above GB

Aged 15 to 34

26% 5 below GB

Aged 65 and over

28% 6 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

Folkestone and HytheGreen / Liberal Democrats Coalition TorbayConservative (Minority)EastbourneLiberal Democrats (Majority)Southend-on-SeaLabour / Green / Liberal Democrats Coalition North East LincolnshireReform 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.