The 2021 West Sussex County Council election took place on 6 May 2021 alongside other local elections. All 70 seats to West Sussex County Council were elected. Labour gained 4 seats in the Worthing division, while the Green Party and Local Alliance gained their first ever seats on the council.
Summary
Election result
Results by division
Results for each division at the 6 May 2021 election were as follows:
Adur
Arun
Chichester
Crawley
Horsham
Mid Sussex
Worthing
Changes 2021–2026
October 2021: Mike Magill (Conservative) resigns – by-election held November 2021 November 2021: Andrew Kerry-Bedell (Liberal Democrats) gains by-election from Conservatives June 2022: Beccy Cooper (Labour) resigns – by-election held July 2022 July 2022: Graham McKnight (Labour) wins by-election John Charles (Conservative) dies – by-election held September 2022 September 2022: Jaine Wild (Independent) gains by-election from Conservatives March 2023: Liz Bennett (Conservative) resigns – by-election held May 2023 May 2023: John Dabell (Conservative) wins by-election June 2024: Gary Markwell (Conservative) leaves party to sit as an independent; Trevor Bence (Conservative) leaves party to join the Green and Independent Alliance group September 2024: Gary Markwell (Independent) joins Reform October 2024: Trevor Bence (Independent) joins Reform November 2024: Julian Joy (Liberal Democrats) leaves party to sit as an independent December 2024: Paul Linehan (Conservative) joins Reform January 2025: Andrew Baldwin (Conservative) joins Reform February 2025: Andrew Kerry-Bedell (Liberal Democrats) joins the Green and Independent Alliance group March 2025: Kate O'Kelly (Liberal Democrats) resigns – by-election held May 2025 April 2025: John Milne (Liberal Democrats) resigns – by-election held May 2025 Stuart Condie (Liberal Democrats) and Kirsty Lord (Liberal Democrats) resign, both citing the cancellation of the 2025 election, at which they had each intended to stand down – by-elections held June 2025 Katie Nagel (Conservative) resigns – by-election held June 2025 May 2025: Yvonne Gravely (Liberal Democrats) and Louise Potter (Liberal Democrats) win by-elections June 2025: Jane Davey (Liberal Democrats) and Erika Woodhurst-Trueman (Liberal Democrats) win by-elections Sam Raby (Liberal Democrats) gains by-election from the Conservatives July 2025: David Britton (Conservative) leaves party to sit as an independent September 2025: Graham McKnight (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent January 2026: David Britton (Independent) resigns – seat left vacant until 2026 election
By-elections
Bourne
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Conservative councillor Mike Magill.
Worthing West
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Labour councillor Beccy Cooper, after she became leader of Worthing Borough Council.
Felpham
The by-election was triggered by the death of Conservative councillor John Charles.
East Grinstead Meridian
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Conservative councillor Liz Bennett.
Midhurst
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Kate O'Kelly.
Horsham Riverside
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor John Milne.
Burgess Hill North
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Stuart Condie, who cited the cancellation of the 2025 election, at which he had intended to stand down.
Hassocks & Burgess Hill South
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Kirsty Lord, who cited the cancellation of the 2025 election, at which she had intended to stand down.
St Leonards Forest
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Conservative councillor Katie Nagel.
References