Four principal council by-elections were held last Thursday, with Liberal Democrat candidates were fielded in two of these contests. In Shropshire (UA), Beverley Baker polled 21% in Belle Vue ward as the party finished third behind Labour, who held the seat, and just 42 votes adrift of the Conservatives. No Lib Dem candidate contested the ward’s last election two years ago.
The Green party secured their first local by-election gain of 2015 as they won a seat in Rodwell division in Dorset (CC) from Labour. They polled 34.9% to finish 101 votes ahead of the Conservatives, with Labour dropping to third. Lib Dem candidate Graham Winter received 4.6% of votes cast, a slight vote share drop for the party of 0.8% from two years ago.
In Wales, Labour made a gain from an Independent in Ogmore Vale ward in Bridgend (UA) with 48.8% of the vote. In Conwy (UA), Plaid Cymru comfortably held their seat in Eglwysbach, polling 87.2% in a two-party contest with the Conservatives.
Elsewhere, there was success for the Liberal Democrats on Burnham-on-sea and Highcliffe Town Council in Somerset, with the party holding it’s seat in Highcliffe ward. Victoria Weavell polled an impressive 66.2% in defeating the Conservatives with a 221 vote majority. In Cambridgeshire, the party came close to another victory as John Freeman fell just 22 votes short of making a gain from the Conservatives in Slade Lode ward on Chatteris Town Council.
There are seven principal council by-elections scheduled for this Thursday. Julie Morris and Alison Bradnock will be hoping to successfully hold Liberal Democrat seats in Norfolk (CC) and Surrey (CC), with Lib Dem candidates also standing in Contests in Ashford (DC) and Gwynedd (UA). There will also be contests in Norfolk, Gwynedd and Carmethenshire (UA) without Lib Dem candidates. Elsewhere, David Caldicott will be the Liberal Democrat candidate in as the party defends it’s seat in Craven ward on Barnoldswick Town Council.
For a detailed list of last week’s results 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.