There have been 10 principal council by-elections this week. It’s been a triumphant week for the Lib Dem as we registered our first by-election gain since the General Election (against Labour). We also stood in all 10 vacancies and increased our vote-share in a number of places to score some excellent second place finishes. 

Overall the results saw a lot of chopping and changing with seats changing hands in almost every direction. The only constants were the Lib Dems not losing a seat (but gaining one) and Labour not gaining a seat, but losing 3! 

We start in Bromsgrove DC where newly elected Cllr James Clarke gained Sidemoor ward from Labour, increasing the Lib Dem vote share by just short of 25%. Labour lost 30% of their vote and slipped to 3rd place. Congratulations to Cllr Clarke on our first by-election win of this current Government!

Bromsgrove DC, Sidemoor
Liberal Democrats (James Clarke): 276 (52.6%, +24.9%)
Conservatives: 141 (26.9%, +3.1%)
Labour: 87 (16.6%, -29.2%)
Green Party: 21 (4%, new)

Another excellent result this week came on Cornwall Council in Falmouth Penwerris ward. Here our candidate John Spargo increased the Lib Dem vote share by 25.5% (up from just 4.5% in the previous election) and jumping from 4th place to 2nd. Labour just held onto the ward but it is perfectly poised for us now in the next election. Congratulations to John and the team in Cornwall.

Cornwall Council, Falmouth Penwerris
Labour: 337 (44.7%, -19.8%)
Liberal Democrats (John Spargo): 228 (30.2%, +25.5%)
Green Party: 189 (25.1%, +16.6%)

We also finished a close second in St Neots ward in Huntingdonshire DC. Lib Dem candidate Alan Hunt increased the Lib Dem vote by 2.3% and came just 100 votes behind Well done to Alan and Huntingdonshire Lib Dems. You’ll get them next time. 

Huntingdonshire DC, St Neots
Independent: 531 (32.7%, new)
Liberal Democrats (Alan Hunt): 426 (26.2%, +2.3%)
Conservative: 420 (25.9%, -5.4%)
Independent: 125 (7.7%, new)
Labour: 77 (4.7%, new)
Green Party: 45 (2.8%, -8.7%)

There were two by-elections in Westminster LBC, in West End and Harrow Road wards. Both were Labour defences and though they held on in Harrow Road, Labour lost West End ward to the Conservatives. Thank you to our Lib Dem candidates, Helen Toeman (Harrow Road) and Philip Kerle (West End), for flying the flag and ensuring the Lib Dems were represented on the ballot. 

Westminster LBC, Harrow Road
Labour: 512 (44.2%, -27.5%)
Green Party: 244 (21.1%, new)
Workers Party: 166 (14.3%, new)
Conservative: 162 (14%, -3.9%)
Liberal Democrats (Helen Toeman): 63 (5.4%, -4.9%)
Independent: 11 (0.9%, new)

Westminster LBC, West End
Conservative: 627 (48.8%, +8.5%)
Labour: 489 (38.1%, -10.5%)
Green Party: 94 (7.3%, new)
Liberal Democrats (Philip Kerle): 74 (5.8%, -5.3%)

There was also a double by-election in Stockton on Tees Council, both in Fairfield ward. Thank you to Lib Dem candidates Hadia Malik and Mo Waqas for standing in the double vacancy. There were no Lib Dem candidates in this ward in the previous election so this is a great step forwards. 

Stockton on Tees Council, Fairfield
Conservative: 1291, 1181 (54.2%, +12%)
Labour: 528, 496 (22.2%, -4.4%)
Reform: 344, 304 (14.5%, +6.4%)
Independent: 110 (4.6%, new)
Green Party: 62 (2.6%, new)
Liberal Democrats (Hadia Malik and Mo Waqas): 45, 43 (1.9%, new)
No description: 11 (0.2%, new)

Staying in the North East, thank you to Barry McKinstray for standing in the Burn Valley vacancy in Hartlepool BC. for us and giving voters a Lib Dem option. We did not contest the previous election here, so well done to Barry and the local team for finishing third and giving a solid base to build. Labour held the ward. 

Hartlepool BC, Burn Valley
Labour: 475 (47.5%, -7%)
Reform: 399 (23.9%, new)
Liberal Democrats (Barry McKinstray): 89 (8.9%, new)
Green Party: 36 (3.6%, new)

The final by-election from Thursday took place in Worthing DC in Marine ward. Thank you Nick Wiltshire for representing the Lib Dems in this one. The overall result saw a Conservative gain from Labour. 

Worthing DC, Marine
Conservative: 865 (40.7%, +9.6%)
Labour: 781 (36.8, -19.2%)
Reform: 228 (10.7%, 10.7%)
Green Party: 138 (6.5%, 0.9%)
Liberal Democrats (Nick Wiltshire): 113 (5.3%, -0.2%)

Finally, there was one Tuesday by-election this week which took place in Gedling BC in Bestwood St Albans ward. Thank you to Patrick Shannon for standing here for us and doubling the Lib Dem vote share. Labour went on to lose the seat to the Green Party. 

Gedling BC, Bestwood St Albans
Conservative: 358 (47.8%, +16.3%)
Labour: 300 (40.1%, -12.3%)
Liberal Democrats (Patrick Shannon): 91 (12.1%, +6.4%)

A full summary of all results can be found on the ALDC by-elections page here. 

* Charles Quinn is Campaigns Organiser for ALDC and a local councillor in Hull.