Council by-elections

There were 5 council by-elections yesterday:

Blean Forest Ward, Canterbury CC. Con hold. Con 342 (44.2%, -7.5), Lab 185 (23.9%, +23.9), LD 121 (15.6%, +0.4), Green 64 (8.3%, -24.8), UKIP 38 (4.9%, +4.9), Ind 24 (3.1%, +3.1). Swing of 15.7% from Con to Lab since 2011. A good result for Labour in a ward not contested in 2011, given that the ward includes the University of Kent campus but none of the new intake of students is registered to vote yet.

St Keverne & Meneage Ward, Cornwall Council. Con gain from Ind. Con 585 (55.3%, +21), LD 279 (26.4%, +19.8), UKIP 141 (13.3%, +13.3), Lab 52 (4.9%, +3.2). Swing of 0.6% from LD to Con since 2009.

St Nicholas Ward, Herefordshire council. It’s Our County hold. IOC 604 (53.3%, +8.6), LD 222 (19.6%, +2.2), Con 204 (18%, -5), Lab 104 (9.2%, -5.7). Swing of 3.2% from LD to IOC since 2011.

Rufford Division, Nottinghamshire. Lab gain from Ind. Lab 1557 (58%, +27.8) Con 660 (24.6%, -9.6), Ind 346 (12.9%, -22.7), UKIP 123 (4.6%, +4.6). Swing of 18.7% from Con to Lab since 2009. A Labour gain from third place.

Esk Valley Ward, Scarborough DC. Con hold. Con 606 (67.6%, +7.8), Ind 151 (16.8%, -4.3), Lab 87 (9.7%, -9.5), UKIP 35 (3.9%, +3.9), Eng Dem 18 (2%, +2). Swing of 6.1% from Ind to Con since 2011.