Since the 2003 election boundary changes reduced the number of councillors from 54 to 48, while also reducing the number of wards from 18 to 16.[3]
Election result
Labour lost their majority of the council, after losing 9 seats to take exactly half of the seats on the council, with 24 councillors.[4][5] The Labour leader of the council, Marie Rimmer held her seat in West Park after 3 recounts, while Labour councillors Terry Hanley, Jeff Molyneux and Marlene Quinn were among those to be defeated.[3] Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats gained 3 seats to have 18 councillors and the Conservatives won 6 seats.[5][6] Overall turnout at the election dropped to 40% from 48% in 2003,[5] despite the election being held with all postal voting as in 2003.[7]
Following the election Labour continued to run the council with all of the executive being Labour councillors,[8] after an agreement between the Labour and Conservative group leaders.[9] This saw Conservative Betty Lowe becoming the new mayor, but only after agreeing not to use her vote at full council meetings.[9]
^ abBianchi, Stefania (17 June 2004). "Election quake rocks town hall". Cheshire, Greater Manchester, and Merseyside Counties Publications. NewsBank.
^Beattie, Jason; Oakeshott, Isabel (11 June 2004). "Losses in the heartlands and there may be more defeats". London Evening Standard. NewsBank.
^ abcKilmurray, Andrew (11 June 2004). "Labour loses control of St Helens". Cheshire, Greater Manchester, and Merseyside Counties Publications. NewsBank.
^Bianchi, Stefania (17 June 2004). "Move forward say Lib Dems". Cheshire, Greater Manchester, and Merseyside Counties Publications. NewsBank.
^Kelly, Andy (11 June 2004). "Elections 2004: The big question -was postal vote a success?". Liverpool Daily Post. NewsBank.
^Cummins, Liz (8 July 2004). "Labour takes control of the executive". Cheshire, Greater Manchester, and Merseyside Counties Publications. NewsBank.
^ abKilmurray, Andrew (24 June 2004). "Betty keeps mayor's chain". Cheshire, Greater Manchester, and Merseyside Counties Publications. NewsBank.