Luke's Blog: April 2014

Council by-elections

There were 4 council by-elections on Thursday. The Cambridgeshire one seems to show huge Lab to LD tactical voting to beat the Tories:

Blackwood Ward, Caerphilly UA. Lab hold. Lab 620 (41%, -3.9), Ind 477 (31.5%, -2), PC 349 (23.1%, +6.9), Con 68 (4.5%, -2.8). Swing of 1% from Lab to Ind since 2012.

Sutton Ward, East Cambridgeshire DC. LD gain from Con. LD 523 (50.9%, +27), Con 280 (27.2%, -19.2), UKIP 162 (15.8%, +15.8), Lab 63 (6.1%, -23.6). Swing of 23.1% from Con to LD since 2011.

Horncastle Ward, East Lindsey DC. Con hold. Con 432 (38.4%, +4.3), Ind 353 (31.4%, +9.2), UKIP 339 (30.2%, +30.2). Swing of 2.5% from Con to Ind since 2011.

Osbournby Ward, North Kesteven DC. Con gain from Ind. Con 312 (49.7%, +19.3), Ind 269 (42.8%, -26.8), Lab 38 (6.1%, +6.1), LD 9 (1.4%, +1.4). Swing of 23.1% from Ind to Con since 2011.

Labourlist columns

My two most recent columns have been about:

The idea of Unite backing a new "Workers' Party": http://labourlist.org/2014/04/talk-of-a-breakaway-workers-party-is-dangerous-and-wrong/

David Axelrod's appointment to advise Labour: http://labourlist.org/2014/04/axelrod-understands-the-importance-of-grassroots-campaigning/

Council by-elections

There were four by-elections on Thursday (10 April). The Tories successfully defended marginals against Labour and the Lib Dems, whilst UKIP eroded Labour’s vote dramatically in Cumbria and North Wales:

Belle Vue Division, Cumbria CC. Lab hold. Lab 565 (45.8% -20.1), Con 435 (35.3%, +1.2), UKIP 234 (19% +19). Swing of 10.7% from Lab to Con since 2013.

Flint Trelawney Ward, Flintshire UA. Lab hold. Lab 350 (38.6%, -17.9), UKIP 261 (28.8%, +28.8), Ind 242 (26.7%, -2.9), Con 54 (6%, +6). Swing of 23.4% from Lab to UKIP since 2012.

Coal Aston Ward, North East Derbyshire DC. Con hold. Con 518 (46.3%, -3.3), Lab 409 (36.5%, -0.5), UKIP 193 (17.2%, +17.2). Swing of 1.4% from Con to Lab since 2011.

Wantage Charlton Ward, Vale of the White Horse DC. Con hold. Con 591 (41.9%, -5.3), LD 542 (38.4%, +2.5), Lab 155 (11%, -5.9), Green 124 (8.8%, +8.8). Swing of 3.9% from Con to LD since 2011.

There was also one by-election on 3 April:

Blacko & Higherford Ward, Pendle DC. Con hold. Con 370 (66.7%, -13.1), UKIP 86 (15.5%, +15.5), Lab 65 (11.7%, -8.5), LD 34 (6.1%, +6.1). Swing of 14.3% from Con to UKIP since 2011.