NEWS

Exeter City Council 2023 local elections results

The votes cast for each candidate in each ward plus turnout and postal votes with the overall distribution of seats.

Martin Redfern

The distribution of seats on Exeter City Council following the 2023 local elections is:

  • Labour (LAB) 25 (=)
  • Green (GREEN) 6 (+1)
  • Conservative (CON) 4 (-1)
  • Liberal Democrat (LIBDEM) 3 (+1)
  • Independent (IND) 1 (-1)

The turnout was 35.67%. 32,072 votes were cast among an electorate of 90,305 registered voters. 11,234 votes were cast by post.

The votes cast, ballot share and change by party (where available) plus turnout and postal votes in each ward were as follows.

Alphington

LAB hold

  • Yvonne Atkinson LAB 1,187 (51.70%) +1.68%
  • John Bowman GREEN 306 (13.33%) +2.19%
  • Jamie Horner LIBDEM 150 (6.53%) -1.75%
  • Katherine New CON 653 (28.44%) -2.12%

Turnout: 36.24% = 2,301 ballots among an electorate of 6,349 of which 838 (36.50%) were postal.

5 ballots were rejected.

Duryard & St James

LIBDEM hold

  • David Blagden LAB 791 (35.63%) +1.65%
  • Simon Egan GREEN 278 (12.52%) +3.54%
  • Harry Johnson-Hill CON 213 (9.59%) -4.71%
  • Michael Mitchell LIBDEM 938 (42.25%) -0.49%

Turnout: 33.14% = 2,229 ballots among an electorate of 6,727 of which 860 (38.74%) were postal.

9 ballots were rejected.

Exwick

LAB hold

  • Joanne Giencke LIBDEM 117 (5.50%) -2.09%
  • Kaleigh Luscombe CON 333 (15.66%) -2.76%
  • Susannah Patrick LAB 1,145 (52.86%) -5.33%
  • Frankie Rufolo IND 263
  • Mark Shorto GREEN 268 (12.61%) -2.91%

Turnout: 29.75% = 2,134 ballots among an electorate of 7,173 of which 800 (37.63%) were postal.

8 ballots were rejected.

Heavitree

GREEN hold

  • Carol Bennett GREEN 1,308 (43.50%) -1.24%
  • Alfie Carlisle CON 278 (9.25%) -3.80%
  • Lucy Haigh IND 301
  • Gemma Rolstone LAB 1,020 (33.92%) -3.81%
  • Rod Ruffle LIBDEM 100 (3.33%) -1.53%

Turnout: 44.83% = 3,018 ballots among an electorate of 6,732 of which 957 (31.83%) were postal.

11 ballots were rejected.

Mincinglake & Whipton

LAB hold

  • David Luscombe CON 352 (18.29%) -3.78%
  • Mike Payne LIBDEM 184 (9.56%) +3.81%
  • Alex Stephan GREEN 198 (10.29%) -0.08%
  • Ruth Williams LAB 1,191 (61.87%) +0.06%

Turnout: 29.65% = 1,938 ballots among an electorate of 6,536 of which 804 (41.77%) were postal.

13 ballots were rejected.

Newtown & St Leonard’s

GREEN gain from IND

  • Julian Gallie CON 213 (7.82%) -1.60%
  • Andy Ketchin GREEN 1,373 (50.39%) +9.79%
  • Vanessa Newcombe LIBDEM 104 (3.82%) +0.18%
  • Carol Whitton LAB 1,035 (37.98%) -8.36%

Turnout: 41.59% = 2,738 ballots among an electorate of 6,584 of which 757 (27.78%) were postal.

13 ballots were rejected.

Pennsylvania

LAB hold

  • Will Aczel LIBDEM 199 (7.38%) -5.03%
  • Robert Sheridan CON 423 (15.68%) -2.76%
  • Martyn Snow LAB 1,194 (44.26%) -4.00%
  • Lizzie Woodman GREEN 882 (32.69%) +11.28%

Turnout: 37.35% = 2,711 ballots among an electorate of 7,258 of which 863 (31.99%) were postal.

13 ballots were rejected.

Pinhoe

LAB hold

  • Rory Clark LIBDEM 183 (7.50%) +1.78%
  • Ann Keen GREEN 227 (9.31%) +1.99%
  • Mollie Miller LAB 1,251 (51.29%) -0.19%
  • Cynthia Thompson CON 778 (31.9%) -3.58%

Turnout: 33.48% = 2,450 ballots among an electorate of 7,317 of which 982 (40.26%) were postal.

12 ballots were rejected.

Priory

LAB hold

  • Jane Begley LAB 1062 (51.91%) -0.60%
  • Ben Hawkes CON 469 (22.92%) -7.67%
  • Joel Stobart GREEN 278 (13.59%) -0.14%
  • Philip Thomas LIBDEM 237 (11.58%) +1.83%

Turnout: 31.45% = 2,058 ballots among an electorate of 6,543 of which 813 (39.74%) were postal.

8 ballots were rejected.

St David’s

GREEN hold

  • George Baker CON 230 (9.63%) -2.93%
  • Diana Moore GREEN 1,322 (55.34%) +7.45%
  • Andrew Soper LIBDEM 85 (3.56%) -0.80%
  • Ellen Stuart LAB 752 (31.48%) -3.70%

Turnout: 34.40% = 2,400 ballots among an electorate of 6,977 of which 694 (29.05%) were postal.

13 ballots were rejected.

St Loye’s

CON hold

  • Jake Bonetta LAB 980 (39.84%) +3.10%
  • Phil Brock LIBDEM 164 (6.67%) +2.17%
  • Alison Sheridan CON 1,127 (45.81%) -3.86%
  • Jack Vickers GREEN 189 (7.68%) -5.91%

Turnout: 35.57% = 2,468 ballots among an electorate of 6,939 of which 1,000 (40.65%) were postal.

4 ballots were rejected.

St Thomas

LIBDEM gain from LAB

  • Ashley Carr CON 167 (6.05%) -5.33%
  • Deborah Darling LAB 1,109 (40.18%) +1.78%
  • Adrian Fullam LIBDEM 1,217 (44.09%) +7.30%
  • Natasha Hannaford REFUK 57
  • Johanna Korndorfer GREEN 210 (7.61%) -0.85%

Turnout: 38.09% = 2,771 ballots among an electorate of 7,274 of which 851 (30.83%) were postal.

10 ballots were rejected.

Topsham

LAB gain from CON

  • Christine Campion LIBDEM 230 (7.72%) +0.07%
  • Jonathan Mills GREEN 259 (8.69%) -4.17%
  • Rob Newby CON 1098 (36.83%) -1.82%
  • Matthew Williams LAB 1,394 (46.76%) -0.56%

Turnout: 37.99% = 3,000 ballots among an electorate of 7,896 of which 1,015 (34.05%) were postal.

20 ballots were rejected.


Democracy doesn't work when people don't know who is deciding what on whose behalf and what the costs and consequences of those decisions will be.

Exeter Observer is proving that reader-funded media can deliver the independent public interest journalism our local democracy needs.

Upgrade to a paid Exeter Observer subscription to support our work and get access to exclusive premium content and more.

More stories
Mary Arches car parks redevelopment site aerial view

300-bed “co-living” blocks to trump social housing vision for Mary Arches car parks

More people could be crammed into Eutopia Homes complex than current car parking spaces after Exeter City Council commits to “homes for the people of Exeter” on Liveable Exeter North Gate site.

Exeter Public Spaces Protection Order boundary map

Exeter City Council renews Public Spaces Protection Order for three more years

Measure introduced to curb anti-social behaviour in 2017 extended to 2028 following consultation limited to selected consultees.

Alison Hernandez and James Vaughan

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez launches Devon & Cornwall Police “accountability board”

Monthly board meets in private with press and public excluded without publishing advance agendas or minutes to ensure force is delivering an “effective and efficient police service”.

Eutopia Homes Exmouth Junction build to rent development rear elevation

First Exeter build to rent flats marketed at £1,375-£2,350 per month with “affordable” units costing £1,080-£1,800 plus bills

Eutopia Homes rents in Exmouth Junction block would leave many workers with substantially lower income than Joseph Rowntree Foundation minimum for a socially-acceptable standard of living.

Northbrook Swimming Pool campaign demonstration Exeter Guildhall 13 May 2025

Campaigners compel Exeter City Council to reconsider Northbrook pool closure with 2,250-strong resident petition

Pressure on council intensifies after freedom of information request responses confirm £3.5 million budget cuts included potentially unlawful decision to close swimming pool without public consultation or impact assessment.

Wild camping on Dartmoor

Supreme Court rejects Dartmoor landowners’ attempt to prevent wild camping on their land

Judges unanimously dismiss appeal by Alexander and Diana Darwall against 2023 ruling upholding Dartmoor Commons Act as campaigners call for enhanced public rights to access nature pledged by Labour when still in opposition.

On Our Radar
Malaika Kegode

THURSDAY 26 JUNE 2025

Spork! presents Caroline Bird and Malaika Kegode

An evening of poetry with live music by Lizzie Lidster and a pop-up bar.

EXETER LIBRARY

St Sidwell's Community Centre supper dish

SATURDAY 28 JUNE 2025

Sid’s Summer Supper Fundraiser

Community centre hosts locally-sourced seasonal three-course meal to help improve café facilities.

ST SIDWELL'S COMMUNITY CENTRE

Signals of the Sea in rehearsal

SUNDAY 6 JULY 2025

Signals of the Sea

Theatre Alibi hosts a Paddleboat Theatre production that follows a lighthouse keeper as he uncovers the secrets of the sea.

EMMANUEL HALL