Council by-elections

There were four council by-elections yesterday. These showed continued UKIP strength and the Lib Dem vote holding up in two rural areas where they have strong organisation. Labour unexpectedly gained a seat in rural Lincolnshire that might have been expected to be prime UKIP territory.

 

Oakfield Ward, Aylesbury Vale DC. LD hold. LD 406 (34.8%, +7.4), UKIP 325 (27.8%, +16), Con 173 (14.8%, -10), Lab 145 (12.4%, -7), Ind 118 (10.1%, -5.5). Swing of 4.3% from LD to UKIP since 2011.

 

Chapel St Leonards Ward, East Lindsey DC. Lab gain from Ind. Lab 382 (33.5%, +33.5), UKIP 228 (20%, +20), Ind 206 (18.1%, -33), Ind 175 (15.4%, +15.4), Con 149 (13.1%, -18.9). Swing of 6.8% from UKIP to Lab since 2011.

 

Abbeygate Ward, St Edmundsbury BC. Con hold. Con 359 (42.8%, -1.7), Green 236 (28.1%, -3.4), UKIP 85 (10.1%, +10.1), LD 83 (9.9%, -1.9), Lab 76 (9.1%, -3.1). Swing of 0.9% from Green to Con since by-election earlier this year.

 

Taunton Halcon Ward, Taunton Deane DC. LD hold. LD 282 (36.9%, -2.3), UKIP 172 (22.5%, -2.8), Con 165 (22.1%, +6.2), Lab 146 (19.1%, +5.5). Swing of 0.3% from UKIP to LD since by-election earlier this year.