Three sets of principal council by-elections were held this week. In Sutton (LB), the Lib Dems successfully held one of their three seats in Wallington South ward in Tom Brake’s Carshalton and Wallington constituency. In a closely fought contest, the party fended off the Conservative challenge by taking victory with 44.1%, alongside majority of 315 votes. LD candidate Steve Cook also recorded an increased vote share from 2014 of 6.9%.
Elsewhere, the Stepney Green council by-election in Tower Hamlets (LB) resulted in a Labour gain from Tower Hamlets First. The Labour candidate polled 42.1% to secure a narrow majority of 171 ahead of an independent candidate. Will Dyer won 2.9% of the vote for the Lib Dems, resulting in a vote share decrease of 0.3% from the ward’s previous contest last year. The result brings Labour’s representation up to 23 councillors, meaning they now hold a majority on the 45 member council.
Alongside the council by-election in Stepney, there was also the by-election for the borough’s elected mayor. This saw another Labour gain as they won the post from Tower Hamlets First, with the party securing 40% of first preference votes. Lib Dem candidate Elaine Bagshaw finished 5th out of ten candidates, winning 2,152 votes.
Next week will see two sets of deferred principal council elections being contested. In Mole Valley (DC) two seats will be up for grabs in Holmwoods ward, with the Lib Dems defending one seat and UKIP the other. In Dorset, two seats will be contested in North Highcliffe and Walkford in Christchurch (DC), with the Conservatives defending both seats.
To view all recent by-election results in full, click here. For more information on forthcoming by-elections, as well contact details on how to help, click here.