Council by-elections

There were six council by-elections yesterday. Labour had a good night, winning seats in split wards in marginal Dartford (Kent) and Gedling (Nottinghamshire). There were some very strong UKIP performances, with results near to 30% in  areas as diverse as the Dartford ward and Sunderland.

Stone Ward, Dartford BC.  Lab hold. Lab 426 (37.7%, -3.8), Con 397 (35.1%, -11.1), UKIP 307 (27.2%, +27.2). Swing of 3.7% from Con to Lab since 2011. Impressive result for Labour given this was a split ward with both Tory and Labour councillors in 2011.

Kilmarnock North Ward, East Ayrshire UA. SNP hold. First preference votes: SNP 1334 (45.1%, -7.6), Lab 1130 (38.2%, +2.6), Con 430 (14.6%, +2.9), Green 61 (2.1%, +2.1). Swing of 5.1% from SNP to Lab since 2012.

St John’s Ward, Fylde DC. Ratepayers hold. Ratepayers 804 (65.7%, +28.6), Con 205 (16.7%, -23.9), UKIP 100 (8.2%, +8.2), LD 62 (5.1%, -17.3), Green 53 (4.3%, +4.3). Swing of 26.3% from Con to Ratepayers since 2011. 

Gedling Ward, Gedling BC. Lab gain from LD. Lab 482 (32.6%, -1.8), LD 428 (28.9%, -2.7), UKIP 337 (22.8%, +22.8), Con 233 (15.7%, -12.6). Swing of 0.5% from LD to Lab since 2011.

Chalgrove & Watlington Division, Oxfordshire CC. Con hold. Con 871 (41.8, -16), LD 629 (30.2%, +12.4), UKIP 311(14.9%, +3), Lab 159 (7.6%, -5), Green 116 (5.6%, +5.6). Swing of 14.2% from Con to LD since 2013.

St Anne’s Ward, Sunderland MBC. Lab hold. Lab 945 (48.1%, -24), UKIP 555 (28.2%, +28.2), Con 345 (17.6%, +3.6), Green 120 (6.1%, -5). Swing of 26.1% from Lab to UKIP since 2012.

Labourlist column

My Labourlist column responds to that letter in the Guardian: http://labourlist.org/2014/03/why-yesterdays-letter-to-the-guardian-was-a-mistake/

Council by-elections

There were five council by-elections yesterday:

Wroxham Ward, Broadland DC. LD hold. LD 482 (48.3%, +2.5), Con 341 (34.2%, -0.3), UKIP 112 (11.2%, +11.2), Lab 63 (6.3%, -4.3). Swing of 1.4% from Con to LD since 2011.

Gamston Ward, Rushcliffe DC. Con hold. Con 444 (44.2, -10), Lab 218 (21.7%, -3.2), UKIP 173 (17.2%, +17.2), LD 170 (16.9%, +6.9). Swing of 3.4% from Con to Lab since 2011.

Cellarhead Ward, Staffordshire Moorlands DC. Con gain from Ind. Con 175 (32.2%, -12.6), Lab 132 (24.3%, +24.3), Ind 119 (21.9%, -33.4), UKIP 105 (19.3%, +19.3), LD 13 (2.4%, +2.4). Swing of 18.5% from Con to Lab since 2011.

Bideford East Ward, Torridge DC. Ind hold. Ind 295 (39.5%, +18.2), Con 150 (20.1%, -9.1), Lab 140 (18.7%, +4.9), Ind 106 (14.2%, +14.2), LD 39 (5.2%, -13), Ind 17 (2.3%, +2.3). Swing of 13.7% from Con to Ind since 2011.

There was also a by-election in Portsoken Ward in the City of London, one of the wards with more residents (most City wards are dominated by non-resident business voters under their unique electoral system). This was won by Labour, the first time Labour has been represented on what is traditionally a non-party political council.

Labourlist Column

My Labourlist column this week was about Tony Benn: http://labourlist.org/2014/03/praise-benn-but-never-forget-the-damage-he-did-to-labour/

Council by-elections

There were two by-elections last Wednesday and a further eight on Thursday. The LDs gained two seats from the Tories.

12 March

Petersfield Bell Hill Ward, East Hampshire DC. Con hold. Con 190 (42.3%, -14.3), UKIP 110 (24.5%, +24.5), Lab 75 (16.7%, -2.6), LD 74 (16.5%, -7). Swing of 19.9% from Con to UKIP since 2011.

Petersfield Butser Division, Hampshire CC. Con hold. Con 1156 (37.3%, -1.5), UKIP 720 (23.2%, +0.7), LD 685 (22.1%, +1.1), Lab 322 (10.7%, +1.1), Green 220 (7.1%, -1.5). Swing of 1.1% from Con to UKIP since 2013.

13 March

Heanor West Ward, Amber Valley DC. Lab hold. Lab 595 (52.9%, -3.3), UKIP 259 (23%, +23), Con 229 (20.4%, -5.2), LD 41 (3.6%, +3.6). Swing of 13.2% from Lab to UKIP since 2012.

Barham Downs Ward, Canterbury CC. LD gain from Con. LD 337 (37.3%, -3.4), Con 285 (31.5%, -11.4), UKIP 164 (18.1%, +18.1), Lab 78 (8.6%, +8.6), Green 40 (4.4%, -12). Swing of 4% from Con to LD since 2011.

Crewe West Ward, Cheshire East UA. Lab hold. Lab 720 (49.9%, -6.6), UKIP 387 (26.8%, +26.8), Ind 159 (11%, +11), Con 122 (8.5%, -16.8), LD 55 (3.8%, -14.3). Swing of 16.7% from Lab to UKIP since 2011.

Longview Ward, Knowsley MBC. Lab hold. Lab 670 (64.8%, -29), Ind 327 (31.6%, +31.6), Con 37 (3.6%, +3.6). Swing of 30.3% from Lab to Ind since 2012.

Farley Ward, Luton UA. Lab hold. Lab 1232 (72.5%, +17.6), UKIP 226 (13.3%, +5.6), Con 154 (9.1%, -9), LD 46 (2.7%, -7.7), Green 41 (2.4%, +2.4). Swing of 6% from UKIP to Lab since 2011.

Chertsey Meads Ward, Runneymede DC. Con hold. Con 489 (42.2%, +1.9), Lab 329 (28.4%, +0.5), UKIP 327 (28.2%, +0.3), OMRL 15 (1.3%, +0.4). Swing from Lab to Con of 0.7% since 2012 by-election.

Ludlow North Division, Shropshire UA. LD gain from Con. LD 579 (45.3%, +11.7), Con 382 (29.9%, -10.5), Ind 223 (17.4%, +17.4), Lab 94 (7.4%, -1.4). Swing of 11.1% from Con to LD since 2013.

Aveland Ward, South Kesteven DC. Con 359 (75.6%, +3.4), Lab 116 (24.4%, +24.4). Swing of 10.5% from Con to Lab since 2011.

Labourlist column

My latest Labourlist column is about Gordon Brown: http://labourlist.org/2014/03/gordon-brown-still-has-something-significant-to-contribute-to-political-life/

Council by-elections

There were five by-elections yesterday and a further five in the previous three weeks. Overall these have been weak results for Labour, with the loss of seats in Birmingham and Bury to Tories suggesting the local authority elections in May might not be spectacular. Note also the pattern of the Lib Dems being reduced to derisory votes in urban wards but still being competitive in rural areas where they have organisation.

6 March

Wye Ward, Ashford DC. Ind gain from Con. Ind 323 (43.1%, +11.5), Con 240 (32%, -6.9), UKIP 97 (12.9%, +3.3), Green 55 (7.3%, +7.3), Lab 22 (2.9%, -8.2), LD 13 (1.7%, -7.1). Swing of 9.2% from Con to Ind since 2011.

Ramsbottom Ward, Bury MBC. Con gain from Lab. Con 1398 (47%, +7.6), Lab 1033 (34.7%, -16.3), UKIP 351 (11.8%, +5.4), Green 157 (5.3%, +5.3), LD 38 (1.3%, -2). Swing of 12% from Lab to Con since 2012.

Burnham Ward, King’s Lynn & West Norfolk DC. Con hold. Con 374 (78.4%, +5.6), UKIP 103 (21.6%, +21.6). Swing of 8% from Con to UKIP since 2011.

Clifton North Ward, Nottingham UA. Lab hold. Lab 1179 (41.2%, -9.7), Con 1025 (35.8%, -13.3), UKIP 536 (18.7%, +18.7), Elvis 67 (2.3%, +2.3), LD 56 (2%, +2). Swing of 1.8% from Con to Lab since 2011.

Ethandune Division, Wiltshire UA. Con hold. Con 480 (35.6, -25.1), LD 372 (27.6%, +3), UKIP 236 (17.5%, +17.5), Ind 192 (14.2, +14.2), Lab 69 (5.1%, -9.6). Swing of 14.1% from Con to LD since 2013.

27 Feb

Scotter Ward, West Lindsey DC. Con hold. Con 577 (65.7%, +44.5), LD 301 (34.3%, +20). Swing of 11.3% from LD to Con since 2013 by-election.

20 Feb

Canton Ward, Cardiff UA. Lab 1201 (41.7%, -5.9), PC 972 (33.7%, +14.3), Con 381 (13.2%, +2.4), Green 148 (5.1%, -10.4), TUSC 101 (3.5%, +1.6), LD 80 (2.6%, +0.3). Swing of 10.1% from Lab to PC since 2012.

Bistall Wanslip Ward, Charnwood DC. LD gain from Con. LD 508 (39.6%, +15.2), Con 419 (32.7%, -15.1), Lab 355 (27.7%, -0.1). Swing of 15.2% from Con to LD since 2011.

13 Feb

Kingstanding Ward, Birmingham CC. Con gain from Lab. Con 1571 (47%, +7.3), Lab 1433 (42.8%, -6.8), UKIP 266 (7.9%, +7.9), LD 43 (1.3%, -0.7), NF 33 (1%, +0.1). Swing of 7.1% from Lab to Con since 2012.

Reeth & Arkengarthdale Ward, Richmondshire DC. Ind hold. Ind 273 (76.7%, -11.3), Con 83 (23.3%, +11.3). Swing of 11.3% from Ind to Con since 2011.

Labourlist Column

My Labourlist column this week was about implementation of the Collins Report: http://labourlist.org/2014/03/now-its-all-about-the-implementation/