Council by-elections

There was one council by-election on Wednesday and two in the same ward on Thursday:

Purley-on-Thames Ward, West Berkshire UA. Con hold. Con 936 (68.1%, +1), Lab 172 (12.5%, -8.7), UKIP 163 (11.9%, +11.9), LD 104 (7.6%, -4.1). Swing of 4.9% from Lab to Con since 2011. This ward is in the parliamentary key seat of Reading West.

Marshalswick South Ward, St Albans DC. 2 Con holds. Con 667 & 647 (30.8%, -8.1), LD 495 & 488 (22.9%, +3.6), Green 450 & 166 (20.8%, +10.6), Lab 406 & 312 (18.7%, -4), UKIP 148 & 147 (6.8%, -2.4). Swing of 5.9% from Con to LD since 2014. This is in one of a handful of parliamentary seats the LDs think they might have a chance of gaining against the tide. The big gap between the two Green candidates is because they were listed on the ballot as “first choice” and “second choice”. This is the first by-election evidence of the Green polling surge.

Council by-elections

Just three council by-elections so far this year, with the SNP and UKIP doing well:

8 January

Bolsover North West Ward, Bolsover DC. Lab hold. Lab 174 (45%, -22), UKIP 153 (39.5%, +39.5), Con 60 (15.5%, -17.6). Swing of 30.8% from Lab to UKIP since 2011.

22 January

East Kirkcaldy Ward, Fife UA. SNP hold. First preference votes: SNP 1460 (47.3%, +10.9), Lab 1088 (35.3%, -14.7), Con 223 (7.2%, +1.2), Green 126 (4.1%, +4.1), UKIP 117 (3.8%, +3.8), LD 40 (1.3%, -1.5), Ind 19 (0.6%, +0.6), Ind 12 (0.4%, +0.4). Swing of 12.8% from Lab to SNP since 2012.

Crowborough West Ward, Wealden DC. Con hold. Con 465 (58.7%, -14.1), UKIP 327 (41.3%, +41.3). Swing of 27.7% from Con to UKIP since 2011.