Councillor dossier
Data last refreshed:
Attendance
100%
present at meetings
Rank
31
of 88 councillors
Active red flags
0
no current flags
Conduct cases
1
code of conduct cases
The complainant alleged that Councillor J O'Keefe, as chair of the licensing committee, unfairly revoked their taxi licence on 15 August 2025 and ignored subsequent evidence, seeking reinstatement. The council rejected the complaint, finding no breach of the Code of Conduct.
Outcome: no breach
| Committee | Held | Attended | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appeals Committee | 8 | 8 | 100% |
| Cornwall Council | 8 | 7 | 88% |
| East Sub-Area Planning Committee | 6 | 6 | 100% |
| Miscellaneous Licensing Committee | 13 | 12 | 92% |
| Urgent Driver/Operator/Vehicle Sub Committee | 5 | 5 | 100% |
No recorded votes.
Councillor James O’Keefe was re‑elected with 1,002 votes, holding a majority of 439 votes (24.42 % of the total) over the Reform UK candidate, while turnout stood at 33.94 %. A swing of roughly 12.2 % would be required for the nearest challenger to overturn the result, and the division’s vulnerability score of 41 / 100 places it in the “likely hold” category. The Liberal Democrat vote share has risen by 5.3 percentage points since the previous election, widening the margin by 22.6 percentage points.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James O'Keefe | Liberal Democrat | 1,002 | 55.7% | ✓ |
| Richard Harrison | Reform UK | 563 | 31.3% | |
| Oscar Gregory Max Livesey-Lodwick | Conservative | 233 | 13.0% |
Turnout: 33.9% (1,798 of 5,298 electors) · 6 spoilt votes
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Rushworth | Conservative | 908 | 43.9% | ✓ |
| Alec Rickard | Independent | 871 | 42.1% | |
| Jacquie Gammon | Liberal Democrat | 180 | 8.7% | |
| Richard Clark | Independent | 111 | 5.4% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Buscombe | Liberal Democrat | 755 | 55.7% | ✓ |
| Nick Morris | Conservative | 493 | 36.4% | |
| Richard James Clark | Green Party | 108 | 8.0% |
Turnout: 42.2% (1,356 of 3,216 electors) · 4 spoilt votes
19 May 2026
21 Apr 2026
24 Feb 2026
2 Feb 2026
20 Jan 2026
25 Nov 2025
17 Nov 2025
No media coverage recorded.
cornwalllive.com
Cornwall houses Afghans who 'probably saved British lives' - Cornwall Live
Liberal Democrat councillor James O'Keefe questioned housing Afghan families during Cornwall's housing crisis, incorrectly suggesting council funds were used.
plymouthherald.co.uk
Wellness coach says there are seven rules he always lives by - Plymouth Live
This article is about a wellness coach's personal philosophy, not a Cornwall political figure.
plymouthherald.co.uk
Cornwall Council Cabinet portfolios and committee members revealed - Cornwall Live
Cornwall Council announced new Liberal Democrat Cabinet portfolio holders with Independent Adam Paynter as deputy leader for resources.
cornwalllive.com
Cornwall's most popular political party and councillors based on share of the vote - Cornwall Live
One political party gained 29% of the vote share in Cornwall's recent election, with 17 councillors receiving over 50% in their divisions.
cornwalllive.com
Cornwall Council elections 2025: All the candidates you can vote for on May 1 - Cornwall Live
Cornwall Council elections on May 1 will feature 423 candidates across 87 divisions, with Liberal Democrats and Reform UK fielding candidates in every division.
Coverage from cornwalllive.com, devonlive.com, plymouthherald.co.uk. May not be exhaustive.
James O’Keefe serves as the Liberal Democrat councillor for the Padstow ward on Cornwall Council. He holds a range of committee assignments, including membership on the Appeals Committee, the Cornwall Council itself, the East Sub‑Area Planning Committee, the Urgent Driver/Operator/Vehicle Sub‑Committee, and the Strategic Planning Committee. In addition, he chairs the Miscellaneous Licensing Committee.
During the most recent reporting period, Councillor O’Keefe attended 38 of 40 council meetings, giving him a 95 % attendance rate. The record shows a single conduct case, which was resolved without any breach, and there are no expense submissions or active red‑flag items associated with his tenure. He has not been referenced in media coverage, and his electoral vulnerability rating is 41 out of 100; he was re‑elected with 1,002 votes, securing a majority of 439 votes (24.42 % of the total) over the Reform UK candidate, with a turnout of 33.94 % and an estimated swing of roughly 12.2 %.
Generated by AI from public data. May contain errors.
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