2003 Basildon District Council election

The 2003 Basildon District Council election took place on 1 May 2003 to elect members of Basildon District Council in Essex, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative Party gained overall control of the council from no overall control.
After the election, the composition of the council was:

Conservative 23
Labour 14
Liberal Democrats 3
Basildon Independent Residents 2

Background

The [2002 Basildon (district)|Basildon Council election|previous election in 2002] saw the Conservatives win exactly half of the seats, but Labour remained in control of the council with the support of the Liberal Democrats. However 6 months before the 2003 election 2 Labour councillors defected and the Conservatives took over the administration of the council.

Election results

The results saw the Conservatives win a majority for only the second time in the history of Basildon council.
Following the election the Labour leader on the council Nigel Smith was replaced by his group with Paul Kirkman.