Lib Dems gain seat from Labour from 4th place with 33% swing
A pair of Labour defences make up this week’s council by-elections. One in Cornwall and one in Sunderland, both have a Liberal Democrat candidate (yay).
First result is, in traditional general election night style, from Sunderland. And wow:
Liberal Democrat GAIN Pallion (Sunderland) from Labour.
— Britain Elects (@BritainElects) February 1, 2018
Pallion (Sunderland) result:
LDEM: 53.9% (+49.5)
LAB: 34.8% (-15.9)
CON: 5.4% (-7.2)
UKIP: 4.2% (-24.7)
GRN: 1.7% (-1.8)— Britain Elects (@BritainElects) February 1, 2018
Good morning leaflets before school 🔶️ #ItHasToBeHaswell pic.twitter.com/VCNEmP4l9v
— Aleisha Stansfield (@ANStansfield) February 1, 2018
Top night out campaigning with the very impressive @HaswellMartin and the increasingly legendary Sunderland Lib Dem team. Good luck on Thursday! pic.twitter.com/hsGXtnQtOD
— Tim Farron (@timfarron) January 27, 2018
What a result for Martin Haswell and the team, which follows the similarly amazing win in January last year nearby in Sandhill ward.
Searching for a little more information to add to this story, I did come across this public posting on Facebook:
Meanwhile in Cornwall:
Falmouth Smithwick (Cornwall) result:
LAB: 60.2% (+19.9)
CON: 17.2% (-7.2)
LDEM: 17.2% (-1.7)
GRN: 5.3% (-11.0)Labour HOLD.
— Britain Elects (@BritainElects) February 2, 2018
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.
Do not forget the volunteers that delivered the leaflets. They are the backbone of the organisation and need looking after, that includes doing their shopping if they need help. Building up a permanent support system is vital and must be nurtured.