The 2023 Swale Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Swale Borough Council in Kent, England. This was on the same day as other local elections across England.
The council was under no overall control prior to the election. The Conservatives were the largest party, but the council was being run by a rainbow coalition of all the other main parties, led by Mike Baldock of local party the Swale Independents. The council remained under no overall control after the election, and Labour overtook the Conservatives to become the largest party. A new coalition of Labour, the Swale Independents and Greens formed. The new Labour group leader, Tim Gibson, was appointed leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 17 May 2023, with Mike Baldock becoming deputy leader.
Summary
Election result
Ward results
The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by Swale Borough Council following the close of nominations on 4 April 2023. The results for each ward were as follows:
Abbey
Bobbing, Iwade and Lower Halstow
Borden and Grove Park
Boughton and Courtenay
Chalkwell
East Downs
Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch
Homewood
Kemsley
Milton Regis
Minster Cliffs
Murston
Priory
Queenborough and Halfway
Roman
Sheerness
Sheppey Central
Sheppey East
St Ann's
Teynham and Lynsted
The Meads
Watling
West Downs
Woodstock
Changes 2023–present
On 11 October 2023, Cllr Ann Cavanagh (Borden and Grove Park) left the Swale Independents to join the Labour group. In March 2024, Cllr Mike Whiting (Queenborough and Halfway) was suspended by the Conservative Party after being convicted of drink-driving, and has since sat as an independent. On 7 February 2025, four Swale Independents councillors — Richard Palmer and Christine Palmer (Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch), Lloyd Chapman (Bobbing, Iwade and Lower Halstow) and Peter MacDonald (Minster Cliffs) — defected to Reform UK.
By-elections
Minster Cliffs
The Minster Cliffs by-election was triggered by the death of Conservative councillor Ken Ingleton in July 2023.
Abbey
A by-election was held after Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Williams resigned from the council on 23 October 2023.
Priory
Priory by-election triggered by the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Michael Henderson.
Murston
Murston by-election triggered by the disqualification of Swale Independents councillor James Hall.
Milton Regis
Milton Regis by-election triggered by the resignation of Labour councillor Angelica Valls.
References