Council by-elections

Three last night, including a Labour gain in a ward in a Bristol parliamentary marginal:

Southmead Ward, Bristol CC. Lab gain from LD. Labour 1109 (45.5%, +5.1), Con 765 (31.4%, +10.7), LD 365 (15%, -12.2), Green 120 (4.9%, +2.3), Eng Dem 77 (3.2%, +0.6). Swing of 2.8% from Lab to Con since 2010. This looks similar to the national polls - Lab and Con both doing well at expense of LDs.

Stock Division, Essex CC. Con hold. Con 1820 (59.2%, -6.5), UKIP 736 (24%, +24), Lab 275 (9%, +3.8), LD 160 (5.2%, -7.3), Green 80 (2.6%, -6.1). Swing of 15.3% from Con to UKIP since 2009. This was the seat of Lord Hanningfield who was jailed for expenses fraud.

Backwell Ward, North Somerset UA. Ind hold. Ind 816 (61.7%, -5.6), Con 314 (23.7%, -7), Lab 124 (9.4%, +9.4), LD 69 (5.2%, +5.2). Swing of 0.7% from Con to Ind since May this year.