Council by-elections

There were eight council by-elections last night, with a spectacular Labour gain in County Durham and good increases in our vote in two contests in Hertfordshire:

Harraby Ward, Carlisle City Council. Lab hold. Lab 637 (63.1%, -0.5), Con 180 (17.8%, -2), UKIP 90 (8.9%, +0.3), LD 71 (7%, +3), Green 31 (3.1%, -0.9). Swing of 0.8% from Con to Lab since this May.

Woodhall Farm Ward, Dacorum DC. Con hold. Con 566 (49%, -16.3), Lab 406 (35.1%, +10.3), LD 70 (6.1%, -3.8), Eng Dem 47 (4.1%, +4.1), UKIP 43 (3.7%, +3.7), Green 24 (2.1%, +2.1). Swing of 13.3% from Con to Lab since 2011.

Norton Ward, Dudley MBC. Con hold. Con 1375 (51.2%, +3.1), Lab 633 (23.6%, -0.9), LD 259 (9.6%, +2.3), UKIP 229 (8.5%, -5), Green 143 (5.3%, -1.3), NF 47 (1.8%, +1.8). Swing of 2% from Lab to Con since this May.

Peterlee West Division, Durham CC. Lab gain from LD. Lab 767 (70.1%, +26.7), Ind 181 (16.5%, +16.5), LD 99 (9%, -47.6), Con 47 (4.3%, +4.3). Swing of 5.1% from Ind to Lab since 2008.

Esher Ward, Elmbridge DC. Con hold. Con 711 (47.5%, -5.8), Res Assoc 665 (44.4%, +2.8), Lab 91 (6.1%, +0.9), UKIP 30 (2%, +2). Swing of 4.3% from Con to RA since 2011.

Hemel Hempstead Town Division, Hertfordshire CC. Con hold. Con 1413 (47.8%, -3), Lab 693 (23.5%, +8.8), LD 456 (15.4%, -5.8), Green 180 (6.1%, -7.1), UKIP 151 (5.1%), Ind 61 (2.1%). Swing of 5.9% from Con to Lab since 2009.

Earith Ward, Huntingdonshire DC. Con 524 (43.6%, -18.1), UKIP 437 (36.3%, +26.8), Lab 96 (8%, -6.7), LD 92 (7.6%, -6.5), Loony Party 54 (4.5%, +4.5). Swing of 22.5% from Con to UKIP since 2011.

Tavistock North Ward, West Devon BC. Result to follow.

I missed last week’s results so for the sake of completeness they are here: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tories-slump-at-tunbridge-wells-byelection-7854407.html

Swings (not calculated in the Indie article) were:

East Northants – not calculable as previously uncontested

Gwynedd - not calculable as previously uncontested

Kent – 6.7% from Con to LD since 2009 (caused by the Tories losing votes to UKIP)

Oldham – 1.1% from LD to Lab since this May

South Bucks – 17.6% from Con to UKIP since 2011

Wealden – 8.2% from Lab to Con since 2011 (a slightly misleading figure as Labour’s vote went up and we moved into second place)

Noteworthy that in the last two weeks there have been big increases for UKIP in three contests in previously safe Tory areas.