Ahead of the election the council was identified as a target for the Green Party. The council had been under no overall control since the previous election in 2019, and the Conservatives had retained minority control only with the support of the independent councillor and the chair's casting vote. At the 2019 election in the Stowmarket St Peters ward the Conservative candidate had only won by a single vote.[3]
The Green Party launched their local election campaign in Stowmarket on 5 April 2023.[4]
The council has become highly increasingly closely fought in recent years, partly due to local opposition to large-scale housing development and concerns of damage to the rural environment.[5]
The Greens won majority control following the election, and the Conservative leader of the council, Suzie Morley, lost her seat. It was the first time in the Green Party's history that they had taken majority control of a council.[6] The Green group leader, Andy Mellen, was formally appointed leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 22 May 2023.[7]
The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by Mid Suffolk District Council following the close of nominations on 5 April 2023.[9] The results were as follows, with an asterisk (*) indicating an incumbent councillor standing for re-election.[10][11]
