Council by-elections

There were four council by-elections yesterday and one on Tuesday. UKIP showed continued progress with a gain in one of their heartland areas on the Kent coast; and Labour had solid results in Dudley and Oxford (gaining a seat from the LDs in leafy North Oxford) thanks in part to strong local campaigning.

17 September

Maybury & Sheerwater Ward, Woking BC. Con gain from LD. Con 1057 (44.1%, +22.6), Lab 833 (34.8%, +1.1), UKIP 255 (10.6%, -0.2), LD 252 (10.5%, -23.6). Swing of 10.8% from Lab to Con since 2012. This by-election was caused when the previous result (an LD win) was overturned because of electoral fraud. There is a large Muslim community in the ward many of whom seem to have switched from LD to Con as the Conservative candidate this time was from their community.

19 September

Seasalter Ward, Canterbury CC. UKIP gain from Con. UKIP 644 (38.5%, +4.1), Con 522 (31.2%, -7.2), Lab 307 (18.3%, -2.4), LD 147 (8.8%, +4.3), Green 54 (3.2%, +3.2). Swing of 5.7% from Con to UKIP since May this year.

Coseley East Ward, Dudley MBC. Lab hold. Lab 1053 (55.7%, +1.3), UKIP 478 (25.3%, +8.2), Con 190 (10.1%, -8.6), BNP 120 (6.3%, +6.3), Green 33 (1.7%, -1.1), NF 16 (0.8%, -6.2). Swing of 3.5% from Lab to UKIP since 2012.

Four Marks & Medstead Ward, East Hampshire DC. Con hold. Con 749 (58.1%, -7.4), UKIP 348 (27%, +27), Lab 119 (9.2%, +0.6), Green 73 (5.7%, +5.7). Swing of 17.2% from Con to UKIP since 2011.

North Ward, Oxford CC. Lab gain from LD. Lab 367 (34.7%, +1.3), LD 330 (31.2%, +8.3), Green 262 (24.7%, -0.2), Con 100 (9.4%, -9.4). Swing of 3.5% from Lab to LD since 2012.