Yesterday was Super Thursday with by-elections for 1/3 of the seats in both Exeter and Norwich caused by the Government overturning a previous Labour decision to turn both cities into unitary councils, which had meant the members elected in 2006 didn't face re-election in May.
Both sets of results were excellent for Labour, indicating a Labour revival in the south:
Exeter - (http://www.exeter.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=12429) - Lab hold 4, gain 3 (1 regain from defection, 2 from Con), Con hold 2, lose2 and gain 2 (1 each from LD and Liberal), LD lose 1 and hold 2. New council: Lab 15, LD 11, Con 11, Liberal 3
Norwich - (http://www.norwich.gov.uk/site_files/pages/City_Council__Councillors_democracy_and_elections__Local_election_results_September_2010.html)
Lab hold 6, gain 1 from Con. Con lose 1. LD lose 1 to Green, hold 1. Green gain 1 from LD, hold 4.
New council: Lab 16, Green 14, LD 5, Con 4.
Elsewhere in the country there were the following by-elections:
Aspatria and Wharrells Division, Cumbria CC. Con hold. Con 823 (70.6%, +13.8), Green 342 (29.4%, +29.4). Swing of 7.8% from Con to Green since 2009.
Liberton & Gilmerton Ward, Edinburgh CC. Lab hold. Lab 2974 (44.8%, +9.3), SNP 1382 (20.8%, -5.8), Con 1020 (15.4%, +0.7), LD 722 (10.9%, -3.7), Green 201 (3%, -0.6), SSP 169 (2.5%, +0.9), Ind 128 (1.9%, -0.6), Pirate 43 (0.6%, +0.6). Swing of 7.6% from SNP to Lab since 2007.
Kilnhouse Ward, Fylde BC. LD gain from Con. LD 529 (44.8%, +21.9), Con 459 (38.8%, +2.7), Lab 165 (14.0%, +2.2), Green 29 (2.5%, +2.5). Swing of 9.6% from Con to LD since 2007.
Ayresome Ward, Middlesbrough UA. Ind gain from Lab. Ind 456 (48.4%, +6.1) Lab 414 (43.9%, +1.3) Con 73 (7.7%, -7.4). Swing of 2.4% from Lab to Ind since 2007.
Newtown Ward, Poole UA. LD hold. LD 809(48.3%, -7.8) Con 481 (28.7%, -3.2), Lab 205 (12.2%, +0.3) UKIP 114 (6.8%, +6.8), BNP 66 (3.9%, +3.9). Swing of 2.3% from Con to LD since 2007.
\labour win in Edinburgh Gilmerton with an increased share of the vote,a very good result,
ReplyDeleteSome good results down south as well for Labour ,wonder how the % share of the vote panned out?
Interesting to note the fall in the Lib Dem vote in every ward in the Norwich elections ,double digit falls in many cases.chickens coming home to roost?
ReplyDeleteI see that Labourlist website has an article in which 100 unsuccessful Labour candidates from the last election praise David Miliband to the skies and say that he would make the best leader.
ReplyDeleteNeedless to say, absolutely no evidence was cited in support of such a dubious claim. I hope voters will treat such claims with the scepticism they deserve.
Lib Dem vote in Exeter halved (NHS Diirect call centre in Exeter under threat of axe from Coalition - issue on door step)
ReplyDeleteLib Dems came 4th in six wards in Norwich (behind Grens)
however
why no Labour candidate in Aspatria and Wharrels ward, Cumbria ?????
Excellent news. Any idea what happened in Middlesbrough though?
ReplyDeleteThe Liberton/Gilmerton result is particular significant and pleasing: suggests that the SNP are in for a doing next May and David Cameron's achievement is to take Scottish Tory support back to the level of IDS. Liberton is one of the poshest parts of Edinburgh and had Tory councillors into well into the 1980s. Gilmerton is a mining village/suburb - so the division is a huge social mix.
ReplyDeletelib dems saying they didnt win in norwich because only one ward put out regular focus newsletters
ReplyDeleteYes whos the independent in Middlesborough ???
Good results in Norwich and Norwich
could have done better still in Exeter with more work
Great news for all Labour voters and supporters!
ReplyDeleteI wrote to the local Liberal Democrat
office forecasting this and I shall never vote Lib-Dem again to counter the local Tories!
I shall only vote Labour and the Lib-Dem party will lose my tactical voting both now and forever!
I hope Labour win and win and both parties in the Coalition lose.