Author Archives: Liam Yip

This week, there were two Wednesday by-elections, both in North Tyneside. Reform UK secured a seat from Labour in Killingworth, whilst the other by-election saw Labour hold their seat in Longbenton & Benton. Thank you to Emma Vinton, David Nisbet and the team for flying the Lib Dem flag.

North Tyneside MBC, Longbenton & Benton
Labour: 739 (39.6%, -16.8)
Reform UK: 602 (32.3%, +19.3)
Green Party: 259 (13.9%, -7.8)
Liberal Democrats (David Nisbet): 183 (9.8%, new)
Conservative: 83 (4.4%, new)

Labour HOLD

North Tyneside MBC, Killingworth
Reform UK: 771 (38.5%, new)
Labour: 639 (31.9%, -22.7)
Conservative: 441 (21.4%, -3.5)
Green Party: 85 (4.2%, -16.3)
Liberal Democrats (Emma Vinton): 81 (4.0%, new)

Reform UK GAIN from Labour

In Consett, we managed to secure victory against Reform UK, after their previous councillor was forced to resign due to his undeclared council employment. Well done to Terry Rooney and the local Liberal Democrat team for ensuring victory and gaining another seat in Durham.

Durham County Council, Benfieldside
Liberal Democrats (Terry Rooney): 824 (28.3%, +17.3)
Labour: 800 (27.4%, +0.8)
Reform UK: 747 (25.6%, -6.6)
Independent: 459 (15.7%, -8.0)
Conservative: 76 (1.6%, -5.0)
Green Party: 40 (1.4%, new)

Liberal Democrat GAIN from Reform UK

In Powys, there was a missed opportunity for Reform UK in a closely-fought fight against us. Well done to Fleur Frantz-Mogans and the local team for ensuring we were able to hold the seat and remain the largest party in Powys.

Powys, Llanidloes
Liberal Democrats (Fleur Frantz-Mogans): 557 (35.5%, +5.2)
Reform UK: 551 (35.1%, new)
Plaid Cymru: 225 (14.3%, +1.9)
Conservative: 118 (7.5%, -7.7)
Labour: 112 (7.1%, -4.8)
Independent: 6 (0.4%, new)

Liberal Democrat HOLD

In Somerset, we were able to hold onto our seat with an overwhelming victory. Well done to Simon McCombe and the local team for ensuring victory and remain the largest party on Bath and NES council. 

Bath and North East Somerset Council, Mendip
Liberal Democrats (Simon McCombe): 496 (57.1%, -18.2)
Reform UK: 191 (22.0%, new)
Conservative: 84 (9.7%, +6.7)
Green Party: 57 (6.6%, +2.0)
Labour: 40 (4.6%, +0.9)

Liberal Democrat HOLD

In Scotland, we won another council seat after ranked preferences were accounted for. Well done to Kevin McKay and the team for securing another Liberal Democrat councillor in Edinburgh.

City of Edinburgh Council, Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart
1st Preferences:
Labour: 1,293 (20.8%, -1.7)
Liberal Democrats (Kevin McKay): 1,269 (20.4%, +13.3)
Scottish Greens: 1,133 (18.2%, -1.7)
SNP: 905 (14.5%, -8.2)
Conservative: 857 (13.8%, -12.8)
Reform UK: 489 (7.9%, new)
Independent: 111 (0.6%, new)
Independent: 99 (0.6%, new)
SFP: 34 (0.5%, -0.2)
LBT: 25 (0.4%, -0.1)
Independent: 25 (0.4%, new)
Independent: 9 (0.1%, new)

Liberal Democrat GAIN from Labour

We secured an overwhelming victory, with almost 65% of votes, for a seat on Mid Devon District Council. Well done to Tim Stanford and the team for ensuring that this council seat remains with the Liberal Democrats.

Mid Devon DC, Crediton Lawrence
Liberal Democrats (Tim Stanford): 540 (64.9%, +12.8)
Reform UK: 226 (27.2%, new)
Labour: 66 (7.9%, -18.3)

Liberal Democrat HOLD

Despite our vote share percentage decreasing by over 10%, we still managed to hold our seat on Rother District Council. Well done to Nicola Mclaren and the team for their efforts in ensuring this council seat remains Liberal Democrat. 

Rother District Council, Catsfield & Crowhurst
Liberal Democrats (Nicola Mclaren): 267 (36.6%, -11.9)
Reform UK: 200 (27.4%, new)
Conservative: 162 (22.2%, -10.9)
Labour: 101 (13.8%, -4.7)

Liberal Democrat HOLD

This week saw the first time that the Liberal Democrats had stood a candidate in the Ashford Town ward (Spelthorne) since 2007. An extremely strong campaign by us saw the Lib Dems gaining the seat from the Conservatives. Well done to Gregory Neall and the team for leaping ahead of the others and winning the seat, despite not standing in Ashford Town for nearly 20 years.

Spelthorne BC, Ashford Town
Liberal Democrats (Gregory Neall): 539 (27.4%, new)
Reform UK: 459 (23.4%, +21.0)
Conservative: 374 (19.0%, -18.4)
Labour: 234 (11.9%, -2.2)

Liberal Democrats GAIN from Conservative

The Highlands saw two by-elections being held. Whilst Cromarty Firth saw a missed opportunity for the crowded field of independent candidates, in Eilean a’ Cheò we came a close second place, greatly improving on our vote share. Thank you to Ross Costigane, Fay Thomson and the Highland team for their efforts, particularly in Eilean a’ Cheò.

Highland Council, Eilean a’ Cheò
Independent (Gillies): 823 (23.5%, new)
Liberal Democrats (Fay Thomson): 741 (21.6%, +18.1)
Independent (Dickson): 655 (18.7%, new)
SNP: 527 (15.1%, -7.1)
Independent (MacDonald): 276 (7.3%, new)
Scottish Greens: 239 (6.8%, new)
Reform UK: 157 (4.5%, new)
Conservative: 86 (2.5%, -8.2)

Independent (Gillies) GAIN from Independent

Highland Council, Cromarty Firth
SNP: 568 (23.8%, +6.8)
Independent (Cross): 503 (21.1%, +9.1)
Independent (Rattray): 368 (15.4%, +1.8)
Reform UK: 348 (14.6%, +11.4)
Liberal Democrats (Ross Costigane): 290 (12.2%, -8.1)
Scottish Greens: 92 (3.9%, +0.1%)
Alba: 91 (3.8%, new)
Labour: 77 (3.2%, -0.0)
Conservative: 48 (2.0%, -0.4)