The 2023 Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Walsall Council in the West Midlands, England. This was on the same day as other local elections. There were 21 of the 60 seats were up for election.
The Conservatives retained their majority on the council. Labour gained one seat which had been held by an independent councillor, although as that councillor had originally been elected as a Labour councillor it was described as a technical gain only.[1][2]
Background
Since its creation in 1974, Walsall has varied between the Conservatives and Labour. Between 1973 and 2004, Walsall had been under Labour control from 1973 to 1976, 1980 to 1982, 1988 to 1992, 1995 to 1996, and 1999 to 2000.[3] It was then under Conservative control between 2004 and 2011, before reverting to no overall control and being retaken by the Conservatives in 2019.[4] In the 2022 elections, the Conservatives gained 1 seat with 43.8% of the vote, Labour lost 1 with 45.2%, and the Liberal Democrats received 5.4%.
The seats up for election this year were last elected in 2019. In that election, the Conservatives gained 2 seats with 41% of the vote, and Labour lost 2 seats with 38%. This election also saw the emergence of UKIP, receiving 10.5% of the vote.
Prior to the election, an MRP model released by YouGov predicted that the election in Walsall was 'Too close to call', but Labour was expected to make significant gains. This model had Labour at 51% and the Conservatives at 37%.[5]
