Council By-elections

There were 4 council by-elections last night:

Harling & Heathlands Ward. Breckland DC. Con hold. Con 453 (48.5%, -21.2), UKIP 184 (19.7%, +19.7), Lab 168 (18%, -12.3), LD 129 (13.8%, +13.8). Swing of 20.5% from Con to UKIP since 2011.

Mid Forest Ward, Breckland DC. Con hold. Con 257 (63%), Lab 151 (37%). Ward was won uncontested by Tories in 2011 and in all previous elections since it was created.

Springfields & Trent Vale Ward, Stoke-on-Trent City Council. City Ind gain from Lab. City Ind 370 (34.9%, +14.2), Lab 245 (23.1%, -16.9), LD 152 (14.3%, -9.6), Con 109 (10.3%, +10.3), UKIP 105 (9.9%, -5.5), Ind 36 (3.4%, +3.4), BNP 27 (2.5%, +2.5), TUSC 14 (1.3%, +1.3), Dem Nat 2 (0.1%, +0.1). Swing of 15.6% from Lab to City Ind since 2011.

The 4th was in Farringdon Within Ward in the City of London. City elections uniquely involve a business franchise as well as residential voters, and are usually contested on a non-partisan basis. This one was won by the former Tory parliamentary candidate for Tooting, running as an Independent. He took 59% of the vote. A candidate who had been involved in the Occupy movement got 13%. The remaining 28% was shared between two more independents.