The SNP secured a clean sweep in last week’s five principal council by-elections, successfully defending four seats and picking up a gain from the greens. Three of the holds came in Glasgow (UA) in Anderston/City, Calton and Craigton wards. Meanwhile, the Lib Dem fightback’s struggle for a foothold in Scotland continued, with the party’s candidates picking up 2.2%, 0.7% and 1.8% of the first preference votes in finishing 5th, 7th and 6th respectively.
The SNP secured another hold in Hamilton South ward in South Lanarkshire (UA), with Lib Dems coming 7th with 0.8% of the first preference votes.
The seemingly unstoppable momentum of the Scottish nationalists continued in Glasgow’s Langisde ward, with the party making a confortable gain from the Scottish Greens, polling 49.9% of first preference votes with the greens in third.
Elsewhere, the Lib Dems picked up a gain from UKIP in Churchill ward on Lancing Parish Council. Steve Creed polled 65.3% in a head-to-head contest with the Greens.
Next week sees six principal council by-elections. In Powys (CC), the Conservatives will be defending their in seat in Glasbury vacated by new Brecon & Radnorshire MP Christopher Davies. Lib Dem candidates will also be fielded in by-elections in Exeter (BC) and North Lanarkshire (UA). There will also be elections for new councillors in Caerphilly (UA), Warwickshire (CC) and Falkirk (UA). In addition, the local Lib Dems in Hereford will be hoping to make a gain on the city’s parish council, with Jacqui Carwardine standing in Newton Farm ward.
For more information on the results from last week please click here. If you would like more information on all the forthcoming by-elections and details on who to contact for help, click here.