U.K Local By-Elections Thread

[Democratic Hawk]

A grim night for the LibDems; just for once there was an important local by-election... for the Durham South division on County Durham CC. Durham South covers most of the south of the City of Durham constituency (as of 2005 the only technical marginal in the county) and is a mix of white collar residential areas and old pit villages (guess how each vote...) and was one of the most marginal divisions in the district in the 2005 elections. The LibDems put a lot of work into it and had some high profile visits.

The result... Lab 51.4%, LibDem 34.6%, Con 13.4%... was a large swing to Labour.

I calculated a swing the Labour of 6.95% . Labour up 4.8%; Lib Dems down 9.1% and Tories up 4.2%. Turnout was just over 34%. Lab maj. 273 (up from 97 in 2005)

We had a stellar candidate in Mac Williams

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

A grim night for the LibDems; just for once there was an important local by-election... for the Durham South division on County Durham CC. Durham South covers most of the south of the City of Durham constituency (as of 2005 the only technical marginal in the county) and is a mix of white collar residential areas and old pit villages (guess how each vote...) and was one of the most marginal divisions in the district in the 2005 elections. The LibDems put a lot of work into it and had some high profile visits.

The result... Lab 51.4%, LibDem 34.6%, Con 13.4%... was a large swing to Labour.

I calculated a swing the Labour of 6.95% . Labour up 4.8%; Lib Dems down 9.1% and Tories up 4.2%. Turnout was just over 34%. Lab maj. 273 (up from 97 in 2005)

We had a stellar candidate in Mac Williams

Dave

Correction. I've since been advised that the swing from LD to Lab was 13.9%

I agree, Al. Furthermore, I think with Mac Williams now Councillor bang go any future hopes of them taking the seat . He is very well respected and much liked gentleman

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

You should advise whoever advised you that while his definition of swing is sometimes used in the US, it is mathematically incorrect and not commonly used in the UK. The swing was 6.9%.

Are you saying that I was originally correct ?

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

Do you think an increase in the BNP vote and a fall in the Tory vote in Heanor and Loscoe tells you anything? Are Conservatives staying at home or switching?

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

The results are in from Keighley West... I'm pretty sure this is accurate...

Lab 1,819 (47.37%)
BNP 1,216 (31.42%)
Con    627 (16.2%)
LDem  208 (5.38%)

Lab maj. 603 (15.95%) over BNP

Labour GAIN from BNP 

Stellar result

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

Biggar, Symington and Blackmount- South Lanarkshire - May 11th
SNP defending with 37.7% majority. Tories distant second.

My next door neighbour's from Biggar

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

There will be a forthcoming by-election on Durham County Council - the Framwellgate Moor division following the death of the Labour incumbent earlier this month, who was Deputy Leader of the Council

2005: Lab 2339; LD 1952; Con 496 - majority of 387

All three candidates were Bearpark residents, all of whom personally known by the 'Hawk'

The division itself comprises two City Council Wards: Framwellgate Moor (1 Ind, 1 Lab); and Bearpark and Witton Gilbert (3 LD). It includes the parishes of Bearpark (Lab), Framwellgate Moor (Ind - I think) and Witton Gilbert (LD)

I believe it has been Labour since 1974 but I'm not sure if the boundaries have been constant since that time. Labour are yet to select a candidate, the by-election has yet to be called and the date determined

The County Council itself is rock-solid Labour (the only English shire Labour didn't lose in 1977) but the Liberal Democrats are a force in the City of Durham District (which Labour lost to them in 2003)

In the absence of a strong personal vote for the late incumbent, Labour will need to work very hard to hold it

There is also a City Council by-election this Thursday in Sherburn ward, which is currently Lib Dem. It's traditionally Labour (a merger of the old Sherburn and Shadforth wards), but was one of the Lib Dems many gains in 2003

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

In Durham City the LibDems just about held onto (by 33 votes) to the Shadforth & Sherburn ward, but there was a massive (c.11pts) swing to Labour.

It puts Angela in good stead for next year. I'd expected worse given that at around 5.30pm turnout in Sherburn Hill was only around 10% . All three ward seats could be regained with good local Labour candidates in 2007

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

There will be a forthcoming by-election on Durham County Council - the Framwellgate Moor division following the death of the Labour incumbent earlier this month, who was Deputy Leader of the Council

2005: Lab 2339; LD 1952; Con 496 - majority of 387

All three candidates were Bearpark residents, all of whom personally known by the 'Hawk'

The division itself comprises two City Council Wards: Framwellgate Moor (1 Ind, 1 Lab); and Bearpark and Witton Gilbert (3 LD). It includes the parishes of Bearpark (Lab), Framwellgate Moor (Ind - I think) and Witton Gilbert (LD)

I believe it has been Labour since 1974 but I'm not sure if the boundaries have been constant since that time. Labour are yet to select a candidate, the by-election has yet to be called and the date determined

The County Council itself is rock-solid Labour (the only English shire Labour didn't lose in 1977) but the Liberal Democrats are a force in the City of Durham District (which Labour lost to them in 2003)

In the absence of a strong personal vote for the late incumbent, Labour will need to work very hard to hold it

There is also a City Council by-election this Thursday in Sherburn ward, which is currently Lib Dem. It's traditionally Labour (a merger of the old Sherburn and Shadforth wards), but was one of the Lib Dems many gains in 2003

Dave

Given the 6.9% swing to Labour in the, January, Durham South county by-election and last nights 11% swing to Labour in the Shadforth and Sherburn city by-election, there are grounds for optimsim in the forthcoming Framwellgate Moor by-election (date yet to be determined and Labour candidate selected) but it's going to be hard fought contest between Labour and the Lib Dems, who I understand are running the same candidate as in 2005. No news yet on the Conservatives

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

Result of the Framwellgate Moor by-election (Durham County Council) [last year result in paranthesis]

Labour 1187 (2339) 43.4% (48.9%)
Lib Dem 1037 (1982) 37.9% (40.8%)
Independent 267 9.8%
Conservative 246 (9.0%) 496 (10.4%)

Lab maj. 150 (387) 5.5% (8.1%)

Turnout: 37.12% Swing 1.3% Lab to LD

BTW, it is estimated that on ballot verification sampling that "Lib Dem" Witton Gilbert voted Labour ; "Labour" Bearpark voted Lib Dem ; "mixed" Framwellgate Moor voted Labour , "mixed" Pity Me voted Labour , and "mixed" Brasside (not sure, hardly any one voted)

Witton Gilbert has 9 Lib Dem Parish Councillors; Bearpark has 6 Labour (one of whom is the Hawk), 3 Independent, 1 Resident (incidentally the Tory by-election candidate) and Framwellgate Moor (11 Independents and 1 Labour)

Bearpark and Witton Gilbert has 3 Lib Dem city councillors including the Leader; Framwellgate Moor (1 Labour - the city councillor and the rest Independent)

And by jove, I have blisters on my feet but it has been worth it . All politics is local but John Prescott didn't help. Still Labour retained the seat of the late Deputy Leader of Durham County Council

Sorry for not updating you earlier but I've been on the pish

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

Pity Me is a cool placename.
What was the independent candidate like - who would he have been supposed to take most votes from?

The Independent candidate was a from Pity Me. He put a pretty good leaflet out. I actually expected him to do better given the Independent-leanings of Framwellgate Moor (they hold all seats on the parish council bar one, which is Labour)

I'd say his candidacy, on balance, helped Labour

As far as the Conservatives go, seemingly, some Conservatives voted Lib Dem in Bearpark and Labour in Witton Gilbert. Though we can't know for certain. Pat remarked her 246 votes were dreadful

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

Witton Gilbert has 9 Lib Dem Parish Councillors; Bearpark has 6 Labour (one of whom is the Hawk), 3 Independent, 1 Resident (incidentally the Tory by-election candidate) and Framwellgate Moor (11 Independents and 1 Labour)

Forgot to mention Bearpark has one Lib Dem member on the parish council

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

The LibDem is from Bearpark isn't he? Parochialism at it's finest
Witton Gilbert is a suprise though...

Yep. He ran Don close last year in Bearpark (it was 50-50 more or less in Bearpark and Witton Gilbert city ward), so it was to be expected even though my figures indicated Labour polling better. Quite a few who said they'd vote Labour evidently voted for Rev

A bit demoralising for me but Witton Gilbert made up for it

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

Quite a lot of by-elections yesterday:

Ashfield District - Hucknall West: Lib Dem 848, Lab 514, Ind 389, BNP 331. (May 2003 - Three seats Lab 1088, 1005, C 950, Lab 807, BNP 472). [yellow] Lib Dem gain [/yellow] from C.

Barnsley Borough - Penistone West: C 897, Lab 558, Green 328. (May 2006 - C 1012, Ind 808, Lab 763, BNP 399, Green 281). Con gain from Ind. Swing 5.7% Lab to C.

Bolton Borough - Crompton: Lab 1793, C 978, Lib Dem 224, Green 96, Socialist Lab 35. (May 2006 - Lab 1932, Lib Dem 1132, C 941, Veritas 190, Socialist Lab 129). Lab gain from Lib Dem. Swing 15.8% Lib Dem to Lab.

Devon County - Alphington and Cowick: Lib Dem 1265, C 1211, Lab 568, Green 174. (May 2005 - Lib Dem 3188, Lab 1919, C 1443, Green 331, Ukip 282, Liberal 109). Lib Dem hold. Swing 11.1% Lib Dem to C.

Essex County - Brentwood Rural: C 2062, Lib Dem 1150, Lab 142. (May 2005 - C 4751, Lib Dem 3060, Lab 834, Ukip 616, Green 298). C hold. Swing 4.8% Lib Dem to C.

Exeter City - Alphington: Lib Dem 890, C 703, Lab 227, Green 142. (May 2006 - Lib Dem 906, C 705, Lab 398, Green 233). Lib Dem hold. Swing 0.3% C to Lib Dem.

Fenland District - Slade Lode: C 259, Lib Dem 194. (May 2003 - C 165, Lib Dem 129, Lab 125). C hold. Swing 2.9% Lib Dem to C.

North Wiltshire District - Colerne: Lib Dem 425, C 399. (May 2003 - Lib Dem 454, C 250, Lab 43). Lib Dem hold. Swing 12% Lib Dem to C.

Peterborough City - Northborough: C 393, Ind 388, Lib Dem 64, Lab 36. (May 2004 - C 519, Ind 218, Lab 112). C hold. Swing 3.7% C to Lab.

Redbridge London Borough - Bridge: C 1014, BNP 857, Lab 299, Lib Dem 245, Green 147. (May 2006 - Three seats C 1665, 1617, 1521, Lab 598, 510, 507, Lib Dem 490, 464, 422, Green 404). C hold. Swing 3.7% C to Lab.

South Derbyshire District - Swadlincote: Lab 562, Lib Dem 301, C 231. (May 2003 - Three seats Lab 637, 617, 536, C 335, 328, 297, Ind 280; April 20 2006 by-election - Lab 565, C 356). Lab hold. Swing 3.5% C to Lab.

Stafford Borough - Fulford: C unopposed. (May 2003 - Three seats C 1019, 913, 828, Lib Dem 636, 618, 599, Lab 366). C hold.

Staffordshire County - Cheadle and Checkley: C 791, Ind 560, Lib Dem 311. (May 2005 - C 3462, Lab 2240, Lib Dem 1159). C hold. Swing 2.3% C to Lib Dem.

Staffordshire Moorlands District - Cheadle West: C 354, Ratepayers 239. (May 2003 - Ratepayers 702, C 579, Ind 518, Ind 465, C 414, Lab 370, C 312). C hold.

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

Bearing in mind the events of recent days, it's probably not a suprise that Labour lost two seats last night

And who's bloody fault is that The Labour Party is on a fast-track back to the 19 chuffing 83 or 1987, at best. Worse still, it's self-inflicted

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

In Durham, Labour took 84% of the vote in one County Division and gained a seat of an Indie... with close to 70% of the vote.

. My cousin used to be married to the late Dawdon member's brother

Dave