Council By-elections

There were 3 by-elections held last night, unusually held on a Wednesday. There are two more today.

Crome Ward, Norwich CC. Lab hold.  Lab 884 (59.3%, -2.5), Con 259 (17.4%, -1.5), UKIP 232 (15.6%, +15.6), Green 73 (4.9%, -7.4), LD 42 (2.8%, -3.3). Swing of 0.5% from Lab to Con since May this year.

Nelson Ward, Norwich CC. Green hold. Green 1121 (56%, -3.5), Lab 599 (29.9%, +4.7), LD 174 (8.7%, +2.4), Con 108 (5.4%, -3.6). Swing of 4.1% from Green to Lab since May this year.

Sunbury Common Ward, Spelthorne BC. LD hold. LD 372 (46.6%, -10.1), UKIP 182 (22.8%, +6.1), Lab 129 (16.2%, +16.2), Con 115 (14.4%, -12.2). Swing of 8.1% from LD to UKIP since 2011.

Post script: these were the two held on Thursday:

Meopham North Ward, Gravesham BC. Con hold. Con 419 (54.6%, +7.3), UKIP 204 (26.6%, -7.1), Lab 108 (14.1%, +5.9), LD 36 (4.7%, -6.1). Swing of 7.2% from UKIP to Con since Oct 2011 by-election.

Gravesham Rural Division, Kent CC. Con hold. Con 1780 (61.3%, +1.3), UKIP 634 (21.8%, +21.8), Lab 397 (13.7%, +4.2), LD 91 (3.1%, -6). Swing of 10.3% from Con to UKIP since 2009.

Council by-election

Just one council by-election on Thursday, confirming the pattern of recent weeks of the LDs performing better locally in their strong areas than nationally:

Bilton Ward, Harrogate BC. LD gain from Con. LD 623 (46%, +8.8), Con 395 (29.2%, -16.1), Lab 208 (15.4%, -2.1), UKIP 127 (9.4%, +9.4). Swing of 12.5% from Con to LD since 2011.

Council by-elections

A good night for the Lib Dems last night:

Shenfield Ward, Brentwood BC.  LD gain from Con. LD 728 (50.7%, -3.3), Con 557 (38.8% +0.1), UKIP 119 (8.3% +8.3), Lab 31 (2.2%, -5.1). Swing of 1.7% from LD to Con since 2012.

Gwinear-Gwithian and St Erth Ward, Cornwall UA. Con hold. Con 332 (35.3%, -2.8), Ind 167 (17.7%, -16.4), Ind 163 (17.3%, +17.3), LD 121 (12.9%, -9.3), Lab 76 (8.1%, +2.5), Mebyon Kernow 58 (6.2%, +6.2), Ind 24 (2.6%, +2.6). Swing of 6.8% from Ind to Con since 2009.

Neath South Ward, Neath Port Talbot UA. Lab hold. Lab 399 (75.4%, +8.8), LD 130 (24.6%, +24.6). Swing of 7.9% from Lab to LD since May this year.

Wombourne North and Lower Penn Ward, South Staffordshire DC. Con hold. Con 404 (59.3%, -6.2), UKIP 182 (26.7%, -7.8), Lab 95 (14%, +14). Swing of 0.8% from UKIP to Con since 2011.

Stonecot Ward, LB Sutton. LD hold. LD 1034 (53.3%, +1.9), Con 402 (20.7%, -10.1), Lab 289 (14.9%, +4.2), UKIP 182 (9.4%, +9.4), Green 32 (1.7%, +1.7). Swing of 6% from Con to LD since 2010.

Sunningwell and Wooton Ward, Vale of White Horse DC. 2X LD gains from Con. LD 577/549 (62.5%, +28.4), Con 346/333 (37.5%, -6.2). Swing of 17.3% from Con to LD since 2011.

Labour First response to launch of Labour for Democracy

http://labourlist.org/2012/12/labour-first-attacks-creation-of-labour-for-democracy-as-a-slap-in-the-face-for-grassroots-campaigners/

Recent columns

My Labourlist and Progress columns this week:

http://labourlist.org/2012/11/pcc-elections-how-labours-vote-changed-and-the-swing-from-the-tories-to-labour/

http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2012/11/30/super-thursday-postscript/

Council by-elections

A quick catch-up on recent council by-elections:

Council by-elections held on 29 November:

Sgir'Uige agus Ceann a Tuath nan Loch Ward, Na H-Eileanan An Iar UA. Ind gain from SNP. Ind 745 (73.5%), SNP 195 (19.2%, -13.1), Ind 73 (7.2%). Combined Ind vote up 13.2% from Ind total in May 2012. Swing of 13.1% from SNP to Ind since May this year.

East Walworth Ward, LB Southwark. Lab hold. Lab 1259 (53.3%, +11.3), LD 1003 (42.7%, +4.3), Con 94 (4%, -7.5). Swing of 3.5% from LD to Lab since 2010.

Shipston Ward, Stratford-on-Avon DC. Lab gain from Con.  Lab 613 (37.9%, +9), LD 575  (35.5%, -7.8), Con 431 (26.6%, +2.3). Swing of 8.4% from LD to Lab since May this year. The first seat Labour has won on this rural council since 2002.

Council by-election held on 22 November:

Folkestone Park Ward, Shepway DC. LD gain from Con. LD 461 (36.2%, +12.2), Con 320 (25.1%, -15.7), People First 200 (15.7%, +1.5), UKIP 153 (12%, +2.8), Lab 111 (8.7%, -3.1), Green 29 (2.3%, +2.3). Swing of 14.5% from Con to LD since 2011.

Summary of council by-elections held on 15 November:

 

Council	Ward	Result	Last election	Change in Lab vote
Bath and North East Somerset UA	Chew Valley North	Con hold	2011	-12.8%
Bournemouth UA	Littledown and Iford	Con hold	2011	+0.7%
Bradford City MDC	Wharfedale	Con hold	2012	+3.5%
Bury MBC	Church	Con hold	2012	+5.3%
Bury MBC	North Manor	Con hold	2012	-0.8%
Central Bedfordshire UA	Biggleswade South	Con hold	2011	-9.3%
Central Bedfordshire UA	Silsoe and Shillington	Ind gain from Con	2011	-6.4%
Cherwell DC	Banbury Ruscote	Lab hold	2012	-4.8%
Chiltern DC	Central	Con hold	2011	+9.0%
Conwy CBC	Deganwy	Con gain from Ind	2012	+12.5%
Daventry DC	Brixworth	Con hold	2012	-14.6%
Dumfries and Galloway UA	Annandale North	Con gain from Lab	2012	-0.9%
East Northamptonshire DC	Oundle	Con hold	2011	+1.6%
Eden DC	Penrith Pategill	LD gain from Con	2011	+18.7%
Harlow DC	Toddbrook	Lab hold	2012	-1.8%
Harrogate DC	Rossett	LD gain from Con	2011	-5.6%
Havant BC	Battins	LD hold	2012	-19.5%
Liverpool City MDC	Knotty Ash	Lab hold	2012	-2.8%
Manchester City MDC	Ardwick	Lab hold	2012	-0.2%
Melton BC	Melton Egerton	Ind gain from Lab	2011	-0.3%
Merthyr Tydfil CBC	Cyfarthfa	Lab gain from Ind	2012	-4.9%
Newcastle upon Tyne City MDC	Ouseburn	Lab hold	2012	+11.7%
North Hertfordshire DC	Hitchwood, Offa and Hoo	Con hold	2012	-3.1%
North Hertfordshire DC	Letchworth South East	Con hold	2012	-3.4%
North Tyneside MBC	Wallsend	LD gain from Lab	2012	-13.2%
Oldham MBC	Failsworth West	Lab hold	2012	-6.7%
Poole UA	Branksome East	Con hold	2011	+7.9%
Rugby DC	New Bilton	Lab hold	2012	+1.9%
Ryedale DC	Norton West	LD gain from Con	2011	-0.0%
St Edmundsbury BC	Risbygate	Grn gain from Con	2011	+4.0%
Swindon UA	Blunsdon and Highworth	Con hold	2012	+6.4%
Walsall MBC	Bloxwich West	Lab hold	2012	-4.2%
Watford BC	Central	LD hold	2012	+4.3%
Waveney DC	Beccles South	Con gain from Lab	2011	-4.8%
Wealden DC	Heathfield North and Central	Con hold	2011	-1.8%
West Sussex CC	Midhurst	Con hold	2009	-5.4%
Wolverhampton MBC	Park	Lab hold	2012	-1.1%