The 2023 local elections will be held in Wokingham borough on Thursday, May 4.
Voters will be electing representatives in 18 wards, so not every resident will be going to the polls.
The results will be counted on Friday, May 5, and we will bring you the results as soon as we can via a live blog.
Over the coming days we will be adding interviews with the three main party leaders in Wokingham borough.
For each of the 18 wards, we have prepared individual web pages containing details of the polling stations, how people voted in the 2019 election – when these seats were last contested – and statements from candidates.
Not all candidates have responded to our request for a statement and this is indicated. If they submit a statement they will be added to the respective page.
State of the parties
In last year’s local elections, the Conservatives lost overall control of the council. Going into the election, they held 32 seats, but on the other side they had 26.
The Lib Dems gained six, taking them to 23. With support from Labour and the two independent candidates, they formed a partnership giving them control of the council. The Lib Dems formed a ruling executive, with Labour and the Independents chairing committees.
At this election, the Conservatives need to gain two seats to win a majority again, while the Lib Dems need four seats to do the same.
Since 2010, Wokingham has seen the balance of power change dramatically.
The highpoint for the Conservatives was in 2016, when they won 48 out of 54 seats. But since then, it has seen its fortunes decline.
The rise of the Lib Dems almost mirrors that of the Conservatives’ fall. 2016 was their breakthrough year, when they went from eight councillors to 16, doubling their size in the chamber.
Labour gained its first representation in 2014, and has had a high of four councillors in 2019.
The number of independents has fluctuated over time.
What will 2023 bring?
Leader interviews
These are currently in preparation and will be published on Thursday, April 27
Ward pages
- Barkham
- Bulmershe and Whitegates
- Coronation
- Emmbrook
- Evendons
- Hawkedon
- Hillside
- Loddon
- Maiden Erleigh
- Norreys
- Shinfield North
- Shinfield South
- Sonning
- South Lake
- Twyford
- Wescott
- Winnersh
- Wokingham Without
