Author Archives: Chris Ward

There were five principal council by-elections this week, four of which had a Liberal Democrat on the ballot, up from just one last time these wards were contested.

In Kent, Ashley Wassall and the Sevenoaks team earned a quarter of the vote from a standing start, as the Conservatives picked up the seat from Independent. This is a good base to start from in the next campaign here. Good effort!

Sevenoaks District Council, Hextable
Conservative: 600 (38.9%, +19.3)
Reform UK: 406 (26.3%, new)
Liberal Democrats (Ashley Wassall): 367 (23.8%, new)
Independent: 108 (7.0%, new)
Green Party: 62 (4.0%, new)

Conservative GAIN from Independent

Turnout: 47.15%

In County Durham, there was a rare gain for Labour, who beat Reform UK. Thank you to Neil Thompson for standing here.

Durham Council, Murton
Labour: 1,004 (50.6%, +17.6)
Reform UK: 786 (39.6%, –4.5)
Green Party: 95 (4.8%, new)
Conservative: 61 (3.1%, –2.0)
Liberal Democrats (Neil Thompson): 38 (1.9%, –2.3)

Labour GAIN from Reform UK

Turnout: 24.9%

There were three principal council by-elections this week, and all three had a Liberal Democrat on the ballot.

Tuesday saw the poll for a new councillor in Fishguard North East ward on Pembrokeshire County Council. This had a big increase in candidate numbers, after the straight Labour-Conservative contest last time. Caleb Churchill and the team achieved a good second place here, as Plaid Cymru gained the seat. A great effort, and a solid base from which to win next time.

Pembrokeshire County Council, Fishguard North East
Plaid Cymru: 253 (33.8%, new)
Liberal Democrats (Caleb Churchill): 135 (18.0%, new)
Reform UK: 95 (12.7%, new)
Labour: 83 (11.1%, -47.9)
Independent (Tannahill): 79 (10.5%, new)
Conservative: 69 (9.2%, -31.9)
Independent (Tyrrell): 35 (4.7%, new)

Plaid Cymru GAIN from Labour

Turnout: 48%

It has been a bumper package of by-elections this week, with eight polls for nine seats, including the replacement of a double-hatted councillor.

In Hinchley Wood, Claygate & Oxshott, Councillor Andy Burton and the team pulled off a great victory on Surrey County Council, which sees the end of Conservative control of the county. Congratulations!

Surrey County Council, Hinchley Wood, Claygate & Oxshott
Liberal Democrats (Andy Burton): 1,656 (38.1%, -6.2)
Conservative: 1,346 (31.0%, -16.0)
Independent: 659 (15.2%, new)
Reform UK: 551 (12.7%, +8.3)
Green Party: 101 (2.3%, new)
Labour: 31 (0.7%, -3.6)

Liberal Democrats GAIN from Conservative

Turnout: 34%

In East Hampshire, congratulations are also due to Councillor Lizzie Marshall and the team for this solid hold, with an increase in vote share!

East Hampshire District Council, Alton Amery
Liberal Democrats (Lizzie Marshall): 407 (54.9%, +1.6)
Reform UK: 189 (25.5%, new)
Conservative: 145 (19.6%, -9.9)

Liberal Democrat HOLD

Turnout: 36.45%

This week saw the first non-Thursday by-election of the new cycle, with a Labour defence in Stroud on Wednesday. The Green Party narrowly beat Reform UK and the Conservatives, as Labour were pushed into fourth place. Thank you to Mike Stayte and the team for flying the Lib Dem flag mid-week.

Stroud District Council, Severn
Green Party: 439 (27.8%, +10.0)
Conservative: 425 (26.9%, -6.6)
Reform UK: 421 (26.7%, new)
Labour: 177 (11.2%, -21.3)
Liberal Democrats (Mike Stayte): 112 (7.1%, -9.1)
UKIP: 5 (0.3%, new)

Green Party GAIN from Labour

This was followed by four Thursday elections, three of which had a Liberal Democrat on the ballot. It was another Green Party victory in Mid Suffolk, this time a hold. Thank you to Tim Glenton and the team for getting the Lib Dems onto the ballot this time, when we weren’t previously.

Mid Suffolk District Council, Haughley, Stowupland & Wetherden
Green Party: 901 (64.1%, -12.7)
Conservative: 444 (31.6%, +8.4)
Liberal Democrats (Tim Glenton): 61 (4.3%, new)

Green Party HOLD

In Leeds, Reform UK continued their strong performance against localists, this time gaining from Morley Borough Independents. Well done to Michael Fox and the team for jumping up into third place with a great vote share increase!

Leeds City Council MBC, Morley South
Reform UK: 2,119 (36.8%, +29.8)
Morley Borough Independents: 1,450 (25.2%, -12.9)
Liberal Democrats (Michael Fox): 1,009 (17.5%, +15.9)
Labour: 634 (11.0%, -20.3)
Green Party: 313 (4.3%, new)
Conservative: 230 (4.0%, -5.6)

Reform UK GAIN from Morley Borough Independents

This week may have seen a Parliamentary by-election, in Scotland, but there is plenty to report on the local election front, with eight principal local authority polls, each with a Liberal Democrat candidate. Despite the talk of multi-party politics, in terms of local by-elections, it seems to have been a period of 2-party politics win-wise, (albeit not the traditional one), since 1^st May. Today’s wins split four each for the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK.

Let’s start in Wokingham, which garnered interest from several parties. Maiden Erlegh & Whitegates is a Conservative defence in a Labour constituency and a Liberal Democrat-run council, and Reform were looking to come through the middle. The Lib Dems have been running the council by virtue of the mayor’s casting vote, but a victory here would give us outright control of the council. Congratulations therefore to Cllr Mike Smith and the Lib Dem team for not only a great council seat gain, but a great council gain too!

Wokingham Borough Council, Maiden Erlegh & Whitegates
Liberal Democrats (Mike Smith): 1028 (31.2%, +3.2)
Labour: 793 (24.1%, -0.2)
Conservative: 788 (23.9%, -4.2)
Reform UK: 486 (14.8%, new)
Green Party: 180 (5.5%, -6.2)
TUSC: 17 (0.5%, new)

Liberal Democrats GAIN from Conservative

There were three polls in West Sussex, where the Lib Dems were looking to defend two and gain one. Congratulations to Cllr Sam Raby for a great gain from the Conservatives, whilst holding of a Reform challenge.

West Sussex County Council, St Leonard’s Forest
Liberal Democrats (Sam Raby): 644 (32.5%, +2.2)
Reform UK: 584 (29.5%, new)
Conservative: 401 (20.2%, -34.3)
Green Party: 259 (13.1%, new)
Labour: 94 (4.7%, -10.4)

Liberal Democrats GAIN from Conservative

The other two West Sussex by-elections were defences in Burgess Hill. First, congratulations to Cllr Jane Davey, whose vote share held up despite Reform UK entering the field.

West Sussex County Council, Burgess Hill North
Liberal Democrats (Jane Davey): 1088 (40.9%, +0.0)
Reform UK: 707 (26.6%, new)
Conservative: 618 (23.3%, -14.9)
Green Party: 153 (5.8%, -5.4)
Labour: 92 (3.5%, -6.2)

Liberal Democrats HOLD

Congratulations too to Cllr Erika Woodhurst-Trueman, who strongly held with over half of the vote.

West Sussex County Council, Hassocks & Burgess Hill South
Liberal Democrats (Erika Woodhurst-Trueman): 1694 (55.3%, -6.6)
Reform UK: 762 (24.9%, new)
Conservative: 310 (10.1%, -15.9)
Green Party: 175 (5.7%, new)
Labour: 123 (4.0%, -8.1)

Liberal Democrats HOLD

This week saw 4 by-elections, with 3 Liberal Democrat candidates. We get to celebrate one hold, one gain, and one ward having a Lib Dem candidate where there was none last time around.

In Lewes, the Lib Dems have held Newhaven North, where the outgoing councillor had previously switched to independent. Congratulations to Cllr Corina Watts and the team, who increased vote share, whilst holding off a Reform challenge.

Lewes District Council, Newhaven North
Liberal Democrats (Corina Watts): 697 (51.7%, +4.1)
Reform UK: 389 (28.9%, new)
Green Party: 122 (9.1%, +1.8)
Conservative: 59 (4.4%, -14.2)
Independent: 57 (4.2%, -22.2)
Labour: 23 (1.7%, new)

Liberal Democrats HOLD

Meanwhile, in Maldon, Cllr Sarah Dodsley again held off a Reform challenge to gain from the Maldon District Independent Group, in a ward where the Lib Dems hold the other seat. Congratulations to Sarah and the team!

Maldon District Council, Maldon West
Liberal Democrats (Sarah Dodsley): 573 (41.5%, +6.8)
Reform UK: 488 (35.3%, new)
Conservative: 204 (14.8%, -2.6)
Maldon District Inds: 83 (6.0%, -28.5)
Green Party: 33 (2.4%, new)

Liberal Democrats GAIN from Maldon District Independent Group

 Three by-elections on Thursday 22nd May, and a trio of Liberal Democrat defences. 

In Horsham, there was a by-election to fill the seat vacated by new Liberal Democrat MP John Milne. Congratulations to Cllr Louise Potter and the team on a good hold! 

West Sussex County Council, Horsham Riverside
Liberal Democrats (Louise Potter): 1193 (45.7%)
Conservative: 569 (21.8%)
Reform UK: 547 (21.0%)
Labour: 181 (6.9%)
Green Party: 118 (4.5%)

Liberal Democrats HOLD 

A successful defence too on Eastleigh Council, where Cllr John Shepherd was elected to be Lib Dem group leader Keith House’s latest ward colleague. Congratulations! 

Eastleigh Borough Council, Hedge End South
Liberal Democrats (John Shepherd): 1266 (44.4%, -8.7)
Conservative: 735 (25.8%, -3.8)
Reform UK: 728 (25.5%, new)
Labour: 122 (4.3%, -6.6)

Liberal Democrats HOLD 

Congratulations too, in Sutton, where a potentially tricky by-election defence in a Conservative / Lib Dem split ward was emphatically won by Cllr Lisa Webster. 

Sutton London Borough Council, Carshalton South & Clockhouse
Liberal Democrats (Lisa Webster):1674 (52.2%, +12.1)
Conservative: 767 (23.9%, -18.2)
Reform UK: 573 (17.9%, new)
Labour: 89 (2.8%, -5.4)
Green Party: 79 (25.5%, -7.1)
CPA: 23 (0.7%, new) 

Liberal Democrats HOLD 

This week saw 4 by-elections with 3 Liberal Democrat candidates – an improvement on last time these wards were up for election. These were two Labour defences, with one each defended by the Conservatives and the SNP.

The Lib Dems were new onto the ballot in Whetstone ward in Barnet, as Luigi Bille secured 6.1% of the vote in a crowded field. Thank you, Luigi, for entering us into the race!

Barnet London Borough Council, Whetstone
Labour: 965 (33.4%, -18.0)
Conservative: 818 (28.4%, -7.8)
Reform UK: 592 (20.5%, new)
Green Party: 208 (7.2%, -5.1)
Liberal Democrats (Luigi Bille): 176 (6.1%, new)
Rejoin EU: 65 (2.3%, new)
TUSC: 47 (1.6%, new)
Independent: 13 (0.5%, new)

Labour HOLD

Another place we were new onto the ballot was Clydebank Waterfront in West Dunbartonshire. Lib Dem candidate Cameron Stewart finished ahead of both the Conservatives and the Greens. Thank you, Cameron.

West Dunbartonshire Council, Clydebank Waterfront
SNP: 1039 (35.6%, -16.7)
Reform UK: 768 (26.3%, new)
Labour: 739 (25.3%, -12.1)
Liberal Democrats (Cameron Stewart): 138 (4.7%, new)
Conservative: 84 (2.9%, new)
Green Party: 76 (2.6%, new)
Alba: 47 (1.6%, new)
SFP: 25 (0.9%, -1.7)

SNP HOLD

Following the 95 local by-elections we saw on the undercard for the 1^st May elections, we returned this week to a rather more sedentary two. On Thursday 8^th May, there was a Labour defence in Calderdale, and a Liberal Democrat defence in Eastleigh.

Congratulations to Cllr Mark Harding and the team in Eastleigh, for not only successfully defending the Eastleigh Central seat, but increasing the Lib Dem vote share.

Eastleigh District Council, Eastleigh Central
Liberal Democrats (Mark Harding): 1020 (46.6%, +9.2)
Reform UK: 611 (27.9%, +20.0)
Labour: 319 (14.6%, -18.8)
Conservative: 149 (6.8%, -7.0)
Independent: 90 (4.1%, new)
Liberal Democrat HOLD

Elsewhere, Alexander Gow flew the Lib Dem flag in Skircoat, whilst Labour lost to Reform. Well done to the team in Calderdale for adding to the share of the vote here, and overtaking the Conservatives in the process!

Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council, Skircoat
Reform UK: 1392 (36.8%, new)
Labour: 1059 (28%, -23.1)
Green Party: 566 (14.96%, +0.2)
Liberal Democrats (Alexander Gow): 411 (10.9%, +2.7)
Conservative: 355 (9.4%, -15.7)
Reform UK GAIN from Labour

Thank you to all of our candidates, agents, and campaign teams.