This was a mammoth week with of by-elections: 21 were held across the country, with 1 in Wales on Wednesday and the rest on Thursday across the country. Overall, the week saw Labour and independent losses while other parties have made gains. The Lib Dems, in particular, have doubled the seat count from 1 to 2, both victories being gains from the two major parties.

The first belongs to the Lib Dems in Southampton City Council, where Cllr George Percivall doubled  the Lib Dem vote share in the Shirley ward and triumph over the second place Conservatives. Labour, who had previously held the seat, came third this time round. Well done and congrats to George and the Southampton team for making this win possible!

Southampton City Council, Shirley
Liberal Democrat (George Percivall): 1249 (39.2%, +19.3%)
Conservative: 770 (24.2%, -1.1%)
Labour: 764 (24.0%, -15.5%)
Green Party: 241 (7.6%, +0.5%)
Independent: 117 (3.7%, new)
TUSC: 44 (1.4%, -0.1%)

Another good showing of the Lib Dems see Cllr Jonathan Oxley in the Hanger Hill ward of Ealing LBC winning an impressive 52.3% of the vote. Congratulations to Jonathan and the Ealing Lib Dems for achieving this remarkable win over the Conservatives, who had previously held the seat.

Ealing LBC, Hanger Hill
Liberal Democrat (Jonathan Oxley): 1655 (52.3%, +19.4%)
Conservative: 814 (25.7%, -5.3%)
Labour: 315 (10.0%, -13.2%)
Green Party: 245 (7.7%, -5.1%)
Reform: 98 (3.1%, new)
Workers Party of Britain: 35 (1.1%, new)

It is a busy day in Ealing LBC, as two other by-elections were held in the Council. Labour held both wards (Northolt Mandeville and South Acton). Thank you to Pedro Da Conceicao and Timothy Hughes respectively for putting their names on the ballot for the Lib Dems. Let’s hope the success in Hanger Hill can carry through to other wards in the Council in the coming elections.

On the other side of the country was the Bamber Bridge West ward in South Ribble DC, where there was a close three-way race between the Conservatives, Labour, and the Lib Dems for the seat. Thank you to Paul Valentine and the local team for the hard work, getting a 22.3% vote share in an area we did not contest previously must not have been easy.

This week also featured another close three-way race, this time between the Green Party, the Lib Dems, and the Conservatives in the Wivelsfield ward of Lewes DC. Nadine Stothard and the team managed to more almost triple our previous vote share. However, the Greens held onto the seat despite their vote share falling over 10%. Big thanks to Nadine for the hard work and setting a solid base to victory in the next election.

The only other seat the Greens gained were in the Farnley & Wortley ward in Leeds City Council. Thank you to Peter Andrews putting their name on the ballot for the Lib Dems here.

From one city council to another, voters of St Michaels in Coventry City Council saw a Labour hold in the ward. Thank you Robyn Simpson for giving the residents of Coventry an opportunity vote Lib Dem.

Turning back the clock to Wednesday, Plaid Cymru gained from independent Machynlleth ward in Powys CC. Thank you Dylan Owen providing local voters with a Lib Dem choice here.

Also in Wales on Thursday was a Conservative gain from independent in The Havens ward of Pembrokeshire CC. Thank you to Tom Hughes for representing the Lib Dems here.

Back in England, the Conservatives gained a seat from Labour in the Clay Cross North ward of North East Derbyshire BC. Thank you to Leah Shafik for being the Lib Dem candidate in the area.

The Heene ward in Worthing BC saw another Conservative gain from Labour. Thank you Trudi Starling for standing here and growing our vote share.

Also in the South East of England is the Addlestone South ward in Runnymede BC, where the Conservatives held onto the seat. Thank you Jenny Coulon for stepping forward to run as the Lib Dem representative here.

Looking northeast was a close Conservative hold in the Hoxne and Eye ward in Suffolk CC. The Greens came in second, behind only 4 votes! Thank you to Timothy Glenton for standing and securing third in the ward.

A bit back northwest brings us to a Conservative hold in the Burton and Broughton ward in North Northamptonshire DC. Thank you to Jenny Davies (different Jenny!) for representing the Lib Dems in the area.

Even further north to Scotland, there were two by-elections both in North Lanarkshire Council with one in Mossend and Holytown and the other in Fortissat. Labour held onto both seats. Huge thanks to John Cole and Leigh Butler for flying the Lib Dem flag in both wards respectively.

Another council that had had two by-elections was Elmbridge BC with its Weybridge St George’s Hill ward and Hersham Village ward. We did not stand a candidate in the former ward; the Conservatives held the seat. Effort was, instead, focused on the Hersham Village ward, where the Lib Dem candidate Varsha Khodiyar came in second with almost 40% of the vote to the Tories. Thank you Varsha and the local team for putting up a good fight, you’ll get them next time.

There were also two other wards where the Lib Dems did not stand a candidate: Warton in Fylde BC and Little Parndon and Town Centre in Harlow Council. It was a Conservative gain from independent in Fylde and a Labour hold in Harlow.

A full summary of these results, and all other principal council by-elections, can be found on the ALDC by-elections page here.

* Matthew Ma works in the Campaigns and Communications team at ALDC