Final council by-elections of 2017: Lib Dems make pair of successful defences
Following yesterday’s pair of unusually early by-elections, Thursday brings the final polls of 2017: eight further council by-elections plus a bonus City of London contest. Those eight are made up of five Labour defences, two Liberal Democrat defences and one Conservative defence.
First up, a ward in Salford which the Liberal Democrats won back in 2008, but then lost in 2010 and then stopped contesting in 2014. This time, however, for the first time the most recent four outings there was a Lib Dem again:
Langworthy (Salford) result:
LAB: 58.0% (+8.9)
CON: 17.7% (+11.2)
LDEM: 12.1% (+12.1)
GRN: 6.9% (+1.0)
IND: 5.3% (+5.3)Labour HOLD.
No UKIP (-25.2) and other Ind (-11.3) as prev.
— Britain Elects (@BritainElects) December 14, 2017
Next-up, the wildcard: the City of London contest with three independent candidates and one Labour.
Independent GAIN Portsoken (City of London Corporation) from Independent.
— Britain Elects (@BritainElects) December 14, 2017
An Independent independent of other Independents gaining a seat from a different Independent is an Independent gain.
It makes sense, honest.— Britain Elects (@BritainElects) December 14, 2017
And on to Wigan:
Shevington with Lower Ground (Wigan) result:
LAB: 41.3% (+1.3)
SIND: 29.8% (+29.8)
CON: 26.5% (+15.3)
GRN: 1.6% (-2.0)
LDEM: 0.8% (+0.8)Labour HOLD.
No Indy Tory (-26.3) and UKIP (-18.9) as prev.
— Britain Elects (@BritainElects) December 14, 2017
Despite the very low Lib Dem share, it’s worth remembering the benefits of always putting up a candidate. This ward had gone five contests without the Lib Dems standing previously, and the party has never done well in this ward even before that. So simply by standing Joshua Hindle has helped take us forward.
After the series of loses to the Lib Dems in recent weeks, the Conservatives get some good news – at the expense of Labour:
Conservative GAIN Newchapel (Newcastle under Lyme) from Labour.
— Britain Elects (@BritainElects) December 14, 2017
Newchapel (Newcastle under Lyme) result:
CON: 43.3% (-6.3)
LAB: 39.5% (-10.9)
IND: 17.2% (+17.2)Conservative GAIN from Labour.
— Britain Elects (@BritainElects) December 14, 2017
This is the council where Labour has just been ousted following an electoral administration scandal. No Lib Dem candidate, alas, even though the party had been contesting the seat up until 2012.
The second by-election for the same council saw Labour hang on and this time a Lib Dem candidate thanks to Richard Virr:
Labour HOLD Bradwell (Newcastle under Lyme).
— Britain Elects (@BritainElects) December 14, 2017
Bradwell (Newcastle under Lyme) result:
LAB: 50.7% (-3.1)
CON: 46.1% (+27.4)
LDEM: 3.2% (-0.1)No UKIP (-24.2) as prev.
— Britain Elects (@BritainElects) December 14, 2017
Then in the south west, the first of the two Lib Dem defences. It’s a hold with an increased majority:
Watcombe (Torbay) result:
LDEM: 57.5% (+14.4)
CON: 31.1% (+7.9)
LAB: 10.6% (-8.4)
GRN: 0.8% (-5.3)Liberal Democrat HOLD.
No UKIP (-8.6) as prev.
— Britain Elects (@BritainElects) December 14, 2017
Congratulations to Swithin Long and the team. His early start was worthwhile:
Had an early 5 am start delivering these beauties for the Barton and #Watcombe @Torbay_Council by-election #libdems #teamlibdem #libdemfightback pic.twitter.com/FpuW3SIdab
— Swithin Long 🌈 (@SaintSwith) December 14, 2017
Next, a Labour hold in Barnsley:
Labour HOLD Rockingham (Barnsley).
— Britain Elects (@BritainElects) December 14, 2017
Rockingham (Barnsley) result:
LAB: 66.6% (-9.8)
CON: 19.3% (+6.9)
LDEM: 14.1% (+14.1)No BNP (-7.4) and TUSC (-3.8) as prev.
— Britain Elects (@BritainElects) December 15, 2017
Great to see Paul Nugent standing for the Lib Dems, as the party had stood only once in the ten previous contests since the ward was created and even that was back in 2008.
Even greater news that the second Lib Dem defence of the night is successful:
Liberal Democrat HOLD Handside (Welwyn Hatfield).
— Britain Elects (@BritainElects) December 14, 2017
Grn 51, LD 1105, con 691 and I believe Lab 260, although have also seen 296.
— Paul Zukowskyj (@ZukowskyjP) December 15, 2017
Handside (Welwyn Hatfield) result:
LDEM: 52.4% (+16.7)
CON: 32.8% (-9.3)
LAB: 12.3% (-3.5)
GRN: 2.4% (-3.9)Liberal Democrat HOLD.
— Britain Elects (@BritainElects) December 15, 2017
Congratulations to the winner Siobhan Elam and her team, especially as this ward split two Conservative – one Lib Dem last time out in 2016, with that one Lib Dem winning by a mere five votes. That followed four previous rounds of Conservative victories.
As the party blurb about Siobhan Elam says:
Some will already know Siobhan through her work at the Barn Theatre as a performer and in other roles, and the many other community groups she has contributed to.
Siobhan is a retired police sergeant, who worked 30 years, mostly for the Metropolitan Police, but also in Hertfordshire, and has always been involved with working in the community. Now she has time to get more involved again, we are delighted she has joined the Liberal Democrats, who she views “as a party that puts the good of the country and the community first.”
Top marks to the local party for organising a training session to bring in volunteers from elsewhere… and then to have the practical part of it involving door knocking for her campaign.
Finally, the best-named ward in the country (unless you can tell me otherwise…), with a Lib Dem candidate for this first time since 2007. Thank you Stephen Potts and team:
Westward Ho! (Torridge) result:
IND: 46.9% (+46.9)
CON: 18.7% (-21.5)
UKIP: 13.2% (+13.2)
LDEM: 9.2% (+9.2)
IND: 6.9% (+6.9)
LAB: 5.1% (+5.1)Independent GAIN from Conservative.
No other Ind (-36.1) and Grn (-23.7) as prev.
— Britain Elects (@BritainElects) December 15, 2017
These by-election results round-ups cover principal authority by-elections. See my post The danger in celebrating parish and town council wins for your own party for the reasons to avoid straying too often into covering town, parish or community council by-elections.
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