No seats changed hands in last night’s by-elections but there were some solid rises in vote share for the Liberal Democrat candidates.
The Conservatives may have held on to Walton-le-Dale East ward in South Ribbble but it was Liberal Democrat candidate Alison Hesketh-Holt who was the real winner, gaining 14.6% of the vote. We didn’t stand last time the seat was fought.
Walton le Dale East (South Ribble) result:
CON: 49.4% (-5.1)
LAB: 36.0% (-9.4)
LDEM: 14.6% (+14.6)— Britain Elects (@britainelects) 16 March 2017
An even bigger vote, 15.1% was similarly won by Andrew Thorpe in the Saham Toney ward of Breckland Council.
Saham Toney (Breckland):
CON: 48.1% (-2.7)
LDEM: 15.1% (+15.1)
IND: 14.9% (+14.9)
UKIP: 11.5% (-20.1)
LAB: 10.3% (+10.3)
No Grn as prev.— Britain Elects (@britainelects) 16 March 2017
And Chris Boyle got us an 11.5% rise in the South Heaton ward in Newcastle – another strong performance in that area.
South Heaton (Newcastle upon Tyne) result:
LAB: 46.8% (-11.8)
GRN: 27.1% (+1.7)
LDEM: 15.9% (+11.5)
UKIP: 5.4% (-1.5)
CON: 4.9% (+0.2)— Britain Elects (@britainelects) 16 March 2017
It was a different story in Blackpool’s Warbreck ward, but Michael Benfold came close to beating UKIP. The main story of last night is that where UKIP stood, their vote tanked.
South Heaton (Newcastle upon Tyne) result:
LAB: 46.8% (-11.8)
GRN: 27.1% (+1.7)
LDEM: 15.9% (+11.5)
UKIP: 5.4% (-1.5)
CON: 4.9% (+0.2)— Britain Elects (@britainelects) 16 March 2017
Well done to all our candidates and campaign teams and thanks to ALDC and Britain Elects for all their hard work.
* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings. You can find her on Bluesky at caronmlindsay.bsky.social
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5 Comments
Re Walton le Dale East: Sorry Caron, the REAL winner was the Conservative.
( In my humble opinion it is time to stop saying things which people will look at and laugh).
Double digit swings even in places where we aren’t all that strong must be very encouraging for our teams campaigning ahead of the Local Government elections this May
“The main story of last night is that where UKIP stood, their vote tanked.”
Excellent. At one time it looked like any publicity for UKIP worked in their favour. Perhaps recent events have turned that round.
It looks like the support the Lib Dems were getting for being seen as the “remain” party is dropping off a little. As for the Tories, it seems like they can have bad weeks – the budget, Scotland, overspending – and it doesn’t affect their vote. At the moment with Labour and UKIP in such a mess it’s all very easy for them.
Good results across the country. Also worth noting the excellent result in West Somerset (Dunster & Timberscombe) where the Lib Dems took a massive 49.7% of the vote after not having stood last time. Big story for our party is also that the voters do not think TORIES have a god given right to represent rural communities. #libdemfightback