The 2023 Dover District Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Dover District Council in Kent, England. This was the same day as other local elections.
Summary The council was under Conservative majority control prior to the election. Labour won a majority of the seats at the election, giving them control of the council for the first time in twenty years. The Labour group leader, Kevin Mills, was appointed leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 17 May 2023.
Election result
Ward results
The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by Dover District Council following the close of nominations on 5 April 2023. The results for each ward were as follows:
Alkham and Capel-le-Ferne
Buckland
Aylesham, Eythorne and Shepherdswell
Dover Downs and River
Eastry Rural
Guston, Kingsdown and St. Margaret's-at-Cliffe
Little Stour and Ashstone
Maxton and Elms Vale
Middle Deal
Mill Hill
North Deal
Sandwich
St. Radigund's
Tower Hamlets
Town and Castle
Walmer
Whitfield
Changes 2023–2027 In January 2025, Labour councillors Charles Woodgate and Shehrazade Mamjan (both Aylesham, Eythorne and Shepherdswell) left the Labour group; Woodgate joined the Conservatives and Mamjan sat as an independent. The council fell into no overall control, with Labour continuing as a minority administration. In April 2025, deputy leader Jamie Pout (Aylesham, Eythorne and Shepherdswell) was expelled from the Labour Party and sat as an independent; Stacey Blair (Middle Deal) resigned from the party in solidarity. Charlotte Zosseder (Buckland) also left Labour in solidarity with Pout. In July 2026 the government confirmed that Kent and Medway would be reorganised into four unitary authorities from April 2028, replacing Dover District Council. In September 2026 the reorganisation was paused, with the May 2027 elections to go ahead on existing council boundaries.
By-elections
Guston, Kingsdown and St Margaret's-at-Cliffe
The Guston, Kingsdown and St Margaret's-at-Cliffe by-election was triggered by the resignation of Conservative councillor Martin Bates for personal reasons.
References