Labourlist column

My Labourlist column this week is about Labour's 636 unsung heroes: http://labourlist.org/2011/10/the-636-unsung-heroes-of-the-labour-party/

Council by-elections

Six tonight, some good Labour performances:

Bude North & Stratton Division, Cornwall UA. LD hold. LD 958 (61.2%, -11.2), Con 395 (25.2%, -2.4), Lab 120 (7.7%, +7.7), Ind 93 (5.9%, +5.9). Swing of 4.4% from LD to Con since 2009.

Wyreside Division, Lancashire County Council. Con hold. Con 2178 (58%, -7.9), Lab 877 (23.4%, +10.3), UKIP 361 (9.6%, +9.6), Grn 339 (9%, -12.1). Swing 9.1% from Con to Lab since 2009.

Newchapel Ward, Newcastle-under-Lyme BC. Lab gain from Con. Lab 248 (45.6%, +12.9), Con 160 (29.5%, +2.2), UKIP 118 (21.7%, +6.3), LD 17 (3.1%, -3.4). Swing of 5.4% from Con to Lab since May this year.

Coatbridge North Ward, North Lanarkshire UA. Lab hold. Lab 1529 (52.4%, +3.6), SNP 1139 (39.0%, +9.6), Con 174 (6.0%, -4.6), LD 78 (2.7%, +2.7). Swing of 3% from Lab to SNP since 2007.

Thorndales Dales and the Wolds Division, North Yorkshire CC. Con hold. Con 1122 (66.2%, +4.7), LD 574 (33.8%, +4.1). Swing of 0.3% from LD to Con since 2009.

Bloxwich East Ward, Walsall MBC. Lab gain from Con. Lab 922 (48%, +5.2), Con 834 (43.5%, +1.3), UKIP 98 (5.1%, -3), ED 49 (2.6%, +2.6), Green 16 (0.8%, +0.8). Swing of 2% from Con to Lab since May this year,

Progress column

Why I'm lamenting Tribune's demise: http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/10/26/tribune-reborn/

Labourlist post

The Tory Europhobes' speeches tonight have left me a lot more pro-EU than I was before hearing them:
http://labourlist.org/2011/10/we-need-to-recapture-the-passionate-european-voice/

 

Council By-elections

There was one by-election on Tuesday this week, which nearly resulted in a Labour gain on a Sussex authority where we have no seats:

Cokeham Ward, Adur DC. Con hold. Con 288 (39.6%, -2.6), Lab 282 (38.8%, +18.4), UKIP 91 ( 12.5%, +2.2), Green 35 (4.8%, +4.8), LD 31 (4.3%, -22.7). Swing of 10.5% from Con to Lab since 2010.

There were a further eight on Thursday:

Shortlands Ward, LB Bromley. Con hold. Con 1480 (59.5%, +1.6), LD 490 (19.7%, +6.4), Lab 256 (10.3%, -3.9), UKIP 153 (6.1%, +6.1), Green 75 (3%, -11.5), BNP 35 (1.4%, +1.4). Swing of 2.4% from Con to LD since 2010.

Ellesmere Port Ward, Cheshire West & Chester Council. Lab hold. Lab 686 (71.6%, -8.1), Con 102 (10.6%, -2.9), Soc Lab 65 (6.8%, +6.8), UKIP 64 (6.7%, +6.7), LD 41 (4.3%, -2.5). Swing of 2.6% from Lab to Con since May this year.

Bradwell South & Hopton Ward, Great Yarmouth BC. Con hold. Con 557 (49.6%, +3.4), Lab 407 (36.2%, +0.3), UKIP 159 (14.2%, +1.5). Swing of 1.6% from Lab to Con since May this year.

Park Hall Ward, Mansfield BC. Lab hold. Lab 416 (53.2%, -4.6), Ind 164 (21%, -14.3), LD 157 (20.1%, +13.1), UKIP 25 (3.2%, +3.2), Con 20 (2.6%, +2.6). Swing of 4.8% from Ind to Lab since May this year.

Bookham South Ward, Mole Valley DC. LD hold. LD 1043 (47.2%, +2.6), Con 940 (42.5%, -4.4), UKIP 228 (10.3%, +1.8). Swing of 3.5% from Con to LD since May this year.

Bridge Ward, Nottingham CC. Lab hold. Lab 1152 (50.2%, -1.8), LD 892 (38.9%, +2.7), Con 172 (7.5%, -4.3), UKIP 50 (2.2%, +2.2), Bus Pass Elvis 27 (1.2%, +1.2). Swing of 2.3% from Lab to LD since May this year.

Eccles Ward, Salford MBC. Lab hold. Lab 1227 (54.5%, -0.6), Con 701 (31.1%, +3.2), BNP 147 (6.5%, +6.5), LD 125 (5.5%, -0.8), Ind 53 (2.4%, +2.4). Swing of 1.9% from Lab to Con since May this year.

Walton Ward, Stafford BC. Ind gain from Con. Ind 569 (45.6%, +19.9), Con 372 (29.8%, -5.3), Lab 306 (24.5%, +1.5). Swing of 12.6% from Con to Ind since May this year.

Progress Column

My Progress column this week is about Free Schools: http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/10/19/divisive-and-anarchic/

Labourlist Column

My Labourlist column this week explains why the French PS' experience of primary elections doesn't translate to the UK: http://www.labourlist.org/vive-la-difference--primaries-non-merci

Council by-elections

There were 4 by-elections yesterday:

St Helen's Ward, Barnsley MBC. Lab hold. Lab 1257 (75.8%, -3.5), BNP 174 (10.5%, -1.6), ED 146 (8.8%, +8.8), Con 61 (3.7%, -4.9), Ind 21 (1.3%, +1.3). Swing of 1% from Lab to BNP since May this year.

Meopham North Ward, Gravesham BC. Con hold. Con 648 (47.3%, -23.8), UKIP 462 (33.7%, +33.7), LD 148 (10.8%, +10.8), Lab 112 (8.2%, -20.7). Swing of 28.9% from Con to UKIP since May this year.

Sleaford West & Leasingham Division, Lincolnshire CC. Con 614 (43.0%, -14.0), Lincs Ind 454 (31.8%, +13.5), Lab 315 (22.1%, +11.8), LD 45 (3.2%, -10.7). Swing of 13.8% from Con to Lincs Ind since 2009.

Bamber Bridge East Ward, South Ribble BC. Lab hold. Lab 481 (55%, -2.4), Con 393 (45%, +2.4). Swing of 2.4% from Lab to Con since May this year.

Progress Column

My Progress column this week continues the argument I had earlier in the week with Michael Meacher:
http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/10/12/reason-to-be-cheerful/

Labourlist column

My Labourlist column this week is about the Shadow Cabinet reshuffle:

http://www.labourlist.org/sectarianism-is-alive-and-well-on-the-labour-hard-left

Council by-elections

There were three yesterday, all solid performances for Labour:

Lower Stoke Ward, Coventry MBC. Lab hold. Lab 1366 (54.1%, -3.5), Con 563 (22.3%, -0.2), Soc 254 (10.1%, +3.7), BNP 149 (5.9%, +0.1), Green 114 (4.5%, -3.3), LD 79 (3.1%, +3.1). Swing of 1.9% from Lab to Con since May this year.

Norland Ward, RB Kensington & Chelsea. Con hold. Con 675 (43.8%, -11.6), Lab 438 (28.4%, +5), LD 358 (23.2%, +2), UKIP 69 (4.5%, +4.5). Swing of 8.3% from Con to Lab since 2010.

Vicarage Ward, Watford BC. Lab hold. Lab 917 (52.9%, +2.8), LD 403 (23.2%, -4.3), Ind 190 (11%, +11), Ind 129 (7.4%, +7.4), Con 95 (5.5%, -3.7). Swing of 3.6% from LD to Lab since May this year.

Progress Column

My Progress column this week is about the need for lots of work on implementation of the Refounding Labour changes: http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/10/05/refounding-labour-%E2%80%93-it%E2%80%99s-all-about-the-implementation/

NEC Report

My NEC report on conference is now online at Labourlist:
http://www.labourlist.org/annual-conference---nec-report