Tag Archives: local government by-elections

Joe Nutt

ALDC’s By Election Report 11.06.26

By Joe Nutt | Fri 12th June 2026 - 5:16 pm

4 parallel white vertical lines on orange background ALDC logoThree principal authority by-elections took place this week in Cheshire West and Chester, Dacroum and Slough. 

Cheshire West and Chester Council – Christleton and Huntington

Our first by-election was triggered by the sad passing of the sitting Conservative councillor. At the last election in 2023, Christleton and Huntington was closely contested, with all nine candidates in the two-member ward finishing within 12.5% of each other and extensive split voting across the ward. The two Conservatives edged out the third-placed Green …

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Liam Yip

ALDC’s by-election report – 11 December 2025

By Liam Yip | Fri 12th December 2025 - 7:36 pm

4 parallel white vertical lines on orange background ALDC logoThis week, there were nine local council by-elections, from all over the country. Three local by-elections did not have a Liberal Democrat candidate.

We start in the Highlands, where wewere able to gain this seat, at the expense of the SNP. Congratulations are due to Councillor Matthew Prosser and the local team for winning this seat.

Highland Council, Fort William and Ardnamurchan
First preferences:
Liberal Democrats (Matthew Prosser): 925 (40.5%)
SNP: 665 (29.1%)
Reform UK: 220 (9.6%)
Green Party: 216 (9.4%)
Conservative: 175 (7.6%)
Labour: 87 (3.8%)

Liberal Democrats GAIN from SNP
Elected at Stage 5

Turnout: 25.9%

In the Central Belt, Reform successfully gained this seat, for their first Scottish electoral victory. Thank you to Dougie Butler and the local team for flying the Liberal Democrat flag.

West Lothian Council, Whitburn and Blackburn
First preferences:
Reform UK: 1177 (32.0%)
SNP: 1028 (28.0%)
Labour: 627 (17.1%)
Independent (Lynch): 484 (13.2%)
Conservative: 129 (3.5%)
Liberal Democrats (Douglas Butler): 102 (2.8%)
Green Party: 101 (2.7%)
Independent (Millar): 27 (0.7%)

Reform UK GAIN from Labour
Elected at Stage 8

Turnout: 22.2%


In the Tees Valley, there were two by-elections this week, yet only one had a Liberal Democrat candidate. In Darlington, Reform were able to gain this seat off Labour, with us and the Tories finishing in joint second place. Thank you to Simon Thorley and the local team for flying the Liberal Democrat flag.

Darlington Borough Council, Red Hall and Lingfield
Reform UK: 341 (37.7%, new)
Conservative: 157 (17.3%, -22.5)
Liberal Democrats (Simon Thorley): 157 (17.3%, new)
Labour: 152 (16.8%, -37.1)
Green Party: 89 (9.8%, +3.6)
Independent: 9 (1.0%, new)

Reform UK GAIN from Labour

Turnout: 27.47%


In the West Midlands, the Conservatives successfully defended their seat. Thank you to Morag Maclean and the local team for winning this seat/flying the Liberal Democrat flag.

Lichfield District Council, Armitage with Handsacre
Conservative: 630 (46.7%, -6.3)
Reform UK: 431 (31.9%, new)
Labour: 127 (9.4%, -23.5)
Liberal Democrats (Morag Maclean): 99 (7.3%, -6.8)
Green Party: 63 (4.7%, new)

Conservative HOLD

Turnout: 22.43%


Moving south, we turn to the Welsh Valleys, where a local by-election was prompted by the outcome of the recent Senedd by-election. Plaid Cymru were able to comfortably hold this seat. Thank you to Mary Lloyd and the local team for flying the Liberal Democrat flag.

Caerphilly County Borough Council, Penyrheol
Plaid Cymru: 956 (60.1%, +6.3)
Reform UK: 422 (26.5%, new)
Labour: 114 (7.2%, -24.4)
Conservative: 66 (4.2%, -10.4)
Liberal Democrats (Mary Lloyd): 32 (2.0%, new)

Plaid Cymru HOLD

Turnout: 16.3%


In East Devon, we were able to gain a seat at the expense of the Conservatives, who were attempting to defend this seat, which they won in 2023, but the resigned councillor had since become independent. Congratulations to Councillor Steve Hunt and the local team for this decisive victory.

East Devon District Council, Seaton
Liberal Democrats (Steve Hunt): 789 (41.3%, +21.2)
Reform UK: 565 (29.6%, new)
Conservative: 400 (20.9%, -9.5)
Independent: 156 (8.2%, new)

Liberal Democrats GAIN from Conservative

Turnout: 33.4%


The results for the three by-elections which had no Liberal Democrat candidates are below.

South Kesteven District Council, Aveland
Reform UK: 290 (41.0%, +26.5)
Conservative: 280 (39.5%, +19.0)
Green Party: 115 (16.2%, new)
Labour: 23 (3.2%, new)

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Simon McGrath

How Sam beat Reform in Bromsgrove

By Simon McGrath | Tue 11th November 2025 - 4:05 pm

Like many Lib Dems I was  immensely pleased to read of the victory of Sam Ammar in Bromsgrove South last week,  taking a seat from Reform.  

I had met  Sam at the  London Region Conference a few weeks ago and was really struck by her story of how she joined us from Labour and her energy and enthusiasm and I  wanted to find our the inside story of how our   Bromsgrove Team beat Reform.

The by election was called after a Reform Cllr ( who had not attended any Council meetings since her election in May ) resigned due to ill health. The ward is  very diverse from heavy social housing in one end (in the District  Council  seat which Sam also represents ) to £million houses at the other end and 3  gastro pubs.

Sam has been our candidate in May 2025  coming a runner up when Reform took the ward from the Tories and  already represents part of the ward on the District Council. She was selected as candidate and the team immediately started intensive campaigning. 

There were a number of local issues which we were already campaigning on, one of them  was the Government Plan for an additional 9,000 homes to be built locally  with 500 in the heart of the ward. 

Dr David Nicholls one of our local Cllrs and PPC in 2024  said : “I absolutely accept that we need to build more houses, but concreting fields is not the answer,” 

Lib Dems have also been campaigning for a new road the ‘Western Relief Road” to run in parallel with the M5 and  relieve congestion on the A38 – something that will only get worse if new homes are built.

Our literature was classic ALDC by election stuff with an attack/squeeze  leaflet aimed at Reform issued at the end of the campaign. 

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Liam Yip

ALDC’s by-election report 30 October 2025

By Liam Yip | Fri 31st October 2025 - 3:55 pm

4 parallel white vertical lines on orange background ALDC logoThis week, there was six by-elections, of which we were attempting to defend one.

In Bromsgrove, congratulations to Councillor Sam Ammar and the local Liberal Democrat team, who were able to successfully gain this seat off Reform UK. This was a decisive victory for us, with an over 20% vote share increase compared to this May’s election.

Worcestershire County Council, Bromsgrove South
Liberal Democrats (Sam Ammar): 1,416 (51.9%, +20.3)
Reform UK: 911 (33.4%, -1.5)
Conservative: 309 (11.3%, -5.8)
Labour: 92 (3.4%, -4.1)

Liberal Democrats GAIN from Reform UK

Turnout: 30.3%

Congratulations are also due to Councillor Ukonu Obasi and the Tunbridge Wells Liberal Democrat team, who successfully defended this district seat with a resounding victory. Meanwhile, the Greens and Reform UK were competing for a distant second place, with the latter ultimately ahead.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, St John’s
Liberal Democrats (Ukonu Obasi): 629 (53.3%, +2.1)
Reform UK: 177 (15.0%, -1.2)
Green Party: 160 (13.5%, +6.3)
Tunbridge Wells Alliance: 105 (8.9%, +4.8)
Conservative: 90 (7.6%, -3.6)
Independents for Tunbridge Wells: 20 (1.7%, -0.1)

Liberal Democrats HOLD

Turnout: 28.4%

In Stevenage, Reform UK were able to gain a seat off Labour, who came in a distant second place. Thank you to Nigel Bye and the local team for flying the Liberal Democrat flag.

Stevenage Borough Council, Roebuck
Reform UK: 513 (39.2%, new)
Labour: 353 (26.9%, -12.4)
Conservative: 157 (12.0%, -11.4)
Liberal Democrats (Nigel Bye): 148 (11.3%, -5.5)
Green Party: 139 (10.6%, -4.9)

Reform UK GAIN from Labour

Turnout: 25.83%

In Kent, Reform UK were able to gain a seat, with the defending Thanet Independents not standing a candidate. Thank you to Matthew Brown and the local team for flying the Liberal Democrat flag.

Thanet District Council, Garlinge
Reform UK: 348 (44.6%, new)
Conservative: 250 (32.0%, +10.6)
Labour: 62 (7.9%, -12.3)
Green Party: 61 (7.8%, -1.3)
Liberal Democrats (Matthew Brown): 36 (4.6%, new)
Independent: 24 (3.1%, new)

Reform UK GAIN from Thanet Independents

Turnout: 21%

In Scotland, the SNP were able to gain their first seat of this local electoral cycle, with the defending Conservatives in fourth place on first preferences. Thank you to Willie Galloway and the local team for flying the Liberal Democrat flag.

Stirling Council, Stirling East
First Preferences:
SNP: 808 (36.4%, +1.8)
Labour: 530 (23.9%, -1.7)
Reform UK: 517 (23.3%, +9.2)
Conservative: 147 (6.6%, -5.6)
Green Party: 141 (6.3%, +1.3)
Liberal Democrats (Willie Galloway): 79 (3.6%, +0.6)

SNP GAIN from Conservative
Elected at Stage 6

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Liam Yip

ALDC’s by-election report: 23 October 2025

By Liam Yip | Fri 24th October 2025 - 6:16 pm

4 parallel white vertical lines on orange background ALDC logoThis week saw seven local by-elections across the country, with there being a Liberal Democrat candidate in all but one.

In Birmingham, we were able to successfully gain a seat off Labour, with a convincing victory amidst a substantial challenge from a local independent. Congratulations to Councillor Philip Mills and the local team!

Birmingham MBC, Moseley
Liberal Democrats (Philip Mills): 1,634 (34.7%, -11.9)
Labour: 1,149 (24.4%, -14.1)
Independent (Williams): 923 (19.6%, new)
Green Party: 474 (10.1%, +1.5)
Reform UK: 345 (7.3%, new)
Conservative: 101 (2.4%, -4.1)
BC Inds (Mazhar): 80 (1.7%, new)

Liberal Democrats GAIN from Labour

Turnout: 29.9%

In Devon, congratulations are also due to Councillor Nigel Kenneally and the local team, who were able to win a seat in a ward that we had not previously stood in.

Torridge District Council, Milton and Tamarside
Liberal Democrats (Nigel Kenneally): 428 (37.5%, new)
Reform UK: 355 (31.1%, new)
Conservative: 191 (16.7%, new)
Independent: 101 (8.8%, new)
Green Party: 67 (5.9%, -23.9)

Liberal Democrats GAIN from Independent

Turnout: 32.99%

In Minehead, the Conservatives fell to third place in a seat they were defending since we were able to gain this seat off them. Congratulations to Councillor Cara Strom and the local team!

Somerset Council, Dunster
Liberal Democrats (Cara Strom): 1,142 (49.6%, +8.5)
Reform UK: 666 (28.9%, new)
Conservative: 449 (19.5%, -22.9)
Labour: 44 (1.9%, -4.2)

Liberal Democrats GAIN from Conservative

Turnout: 32.2%

In Glastonbury, we were able to successfully defend our seat with a decisive victory. Congratulations to Councillor Ewan Cameron and the local team.

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Mark Valladares

17 October 2025 – today’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Fri 17th October 2025 - 10:30 pm
  • Number of serious childbirth injuries spikes by over a fifth
  • Lib Dems winners of by-elections Super Thursday, sweeping the board in once true blue Surrey as Conservative council tries to delay elections again
  • Farron: No Govt change on family farm tax is a “kick in the teeth” to farmers
  • Chamberlain to set out plans to tackle violence against women and girls

Number of serious childbirth injuries spikes by over a fifth

The number of third and fourth degree perineal tears following child birth has spiked dramatically since 2021 with the injuries now affecting almost 3% of all births.

The data found that, as of 2024, almost 29 in every 1,000 births now results in a serious perineal tear, up from 23.5 in 2021, the first full year of comparable data. That is a rise of more than a fifth. The number has risen every year between the comparable years since that data began to be recorded. Throughout 2024 there were 7,995 third or fourth degree tears reported.

The research also revealed that the number of readmissions following childbirth has risen on last year, with more than 5% of all childbirths resulting in one with more than 14,000 reported in 2024.

It comes as previous Liberal Democrat research has also found that the number of maternal deaths has also risen from 209 in 2015-17 to 254 in 2021-23. The NHS has faced a £27 billion bill for maternity failings over recent years, far more than the health service’s £18 billion budget for newborns over that period.

In April the government announced cuts to the national Service Development Funding (SDF) for maternity services from £95m in 2024-25 to just £2m in 2025-26. The fund had been introduced following the Ockenden Review into maternity services at Shrewsbury and Telford to improve the quality of maternity care.

The Liberal Democrats said the figures were “heartbreaking” as more mothers had to endure these traumatic births. The party has called on the Government to immediately implement all of the actions from the Ockenden report into maternity care and to reverse the cuts to the SDF.

Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Helen Morgan MP said:

Behind these figures are heartbreaking stories of women suffering unimaginable trauma at a moment that should be full of joy.

The Conservatives neglect of maternity services was unforgivable, putting mothers and babies under threat, but Labour risks kicking action on this problem into the long grass. We of course need to understand why these awful injuries are on the rise but the Government’s inquiry cannot be used as a shield against taking meaningful action now.

It is unacceptable that, while so many women die or are injured by poor maternity care, the Government raided the key ring-fenced fund for improving maternity services. Their promises to improve safety will ring hollow until they change course.

If the Government is serious about ending the disaster unfolding on our maternity wards, they must reverse these cuts at once, support our hard-working NHS teams, and implement every measure in the Ockenden Review without delay.

Lib Dems winners of by-elections Super Thursday, sweeping the board in once true blue Surrey as Conservative council tries to delay elections again

  • Party wins 7 out of 10 council by-elections this week, including all 6 out of 6 in Surrey.
  • Wins include Caterham in East Surrey constituency, held by Claire Coutinho, Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, as Ed Davey says “what remains of the Blue Wall is crumbling away.”
  • ⁠Lib Dems also gain from Labour in Preston, beating Reform to the win.
  • ⁠Conservatives in Surrey looking to delay elections again in bid to remain in power for another year.

The Liberal Democrats have won the most by-elections on what has been dubbed ‘Super Thursday’, winning 7 out of the 10 council seats up. The wins came in Surrey but also in Preston, Lancashire, where the party gained from Labour, beating Reform to the win.

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Liam Yip

ALDC’s By-Election Report 14 August 2025

By Liam Yip | Fri 15th August 2025 - 5:11 pm

In Cardiff, a close-fought election between the Greens and Labour emerged, with the Green Party ultimately being victorious. Thank you to Irfan Latif and the local team for flying the Liberal Democrat flag.

Cardiff Council, Grangetown
Green Party: 818 (24.0%, +5.5)
Labour: 774 (22.7%, -24.8)
Plaid Cymru: 639 (18.7%, +0.2)
Reform UK: 495 (14.5%, new)
Propel: 327 (9.6%, +0.1)
Independent: 156 (4.6%, -2.1)
Conservative: 139 …

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Liam Yip

ALDC’s by-election report – 10 July 2025

By Liam Yip | Sat 12th July 2025 - 8:30 am

In Woking, two seats were successfully defended, both with overwhelming victory, with both a county and district by-election. Well done to Louise Morales, Deborah Hughes and the local team for ensuring these seats remained with us.

Surrey CC, Woking South
Liberal Democrats (Louise Morales): 1,939 (63.8%, +5.8)
Reform UK: 584 (19.2%, new)
Conservatives: 291 (9.6%, -16.0%)
Green Party: 134 (4.4%, -2.5)
Labour: 91 (3.0%, -4.6)

Liberal Democrat HOLD

Woking BC, Hoe Valley
Liberal Democrats (Deborah Hughes): 1,118 (63.3%, -8.1)
Reform UK: 379 (21.1%, new)
Conservative: 130 (7.2%, -9.0)
Green Party: 83 (4.6%, new)
Labour: 69 (3.8%, -8.6)

Liberal Democrat HOLD

In Oxfordshire, we successfully defended our seat in the Vale of White Horse. Well done to Ben Potter and the team for ensuring an overwhelming victory in this by-election.

Vale of White Horse, Botley & Sunningwell
Liberal Democrats (Ben Potter): 732 (71.5%, +7.9%)
Conservative: 162 (15.8%, -1.8)
Green Party: 130 (12.7%, +11.2)

Liberal Democrat HOLD

We successfully defended a council seat in Leatherhead, ensuring an overwhelming victory for the Liberal Democrats. Well done to Lawrence Penney and the team for ensuring that this seat remains held by us.

Mole Valley DC, Bookham East & Eastwick Park
Liberal Democrat (Lawrence Penney): 1,056 (56.0%, -6.6)
Reform UK: 387 (20.5%, new)
Conservative: 386 (20.5%, -10.1)
Green Party: 56 (3.0%, -1.5)

Liberal Democrat HOLD

In Tewkesbury, Reform UK gained a seat from an independent. Well done to Guy Fancourt and the local team for ensuring that we came second place in this by-election.

Tewkesbury BC, Northway
Reform UK: 374 (41.4%, new)
Liberal Democrats (Guy Fancourt): 279 (30.9%, +7.0)
Conservative: 116 (12.8%, -11.6)
Green Party: 91 (10.1%, new)
Labour: 44 (4.9%, -15.8%)

Reform UK GAIN from Independent

On the Isle of Wight, the Island Independents secured an overwhelming victory. Thank you to Rachel Lambert and the local team for flying the Liberal Democrat flag.

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Mark Valladares

27 June 2025 – yesterday’s press releases

By Mark Valladares | Sat 28th June 2025 - 12:58 pm
  • Welfare concessions: Government should pull the bill that still “risks stripping thousands of carers of vital assistance”
  • Scot Lib Dems win from 5th place in ultra-competitive Edinburgh bellwether

Welfare concessions: Government should pull the bill that still “risks stripping thousands of carers of vital assistance”

Responding to the Government announcing concessions on the welfare bill, Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions spokesperson Steve Darling MP said:

It should not have taken a major rebellion for the Government to realise that these cuts would cause immense damage to some of the most vulnerable and risk creating a false economy by actually forcing some people out of work.

The Government should still pull this bill before the vote on Tuesday and go back to the drawing board. In the absence of any impact assessment, MPs still do not have the full facts and those who are affected have still not been consulted on these changes.

Liberal Democrats will continue to oppose this bill that risks stripping thousands of carers of vital assistance and leaving some of the most vulnerable without support.

Scot Lib Dems win from 5th place in ultra-competitive Edinburgh bellwether

Scottish Liberal Democrats candidate Kevin McKay has won the highly contested Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart by-election, a ward in which the party finished in fifth place at the 2022 election.

On first preferences, Labour got 20.8%, the Liberal Democrats 20.4% (almost trebling their vote share), Scottish Greens 18.2%, SNP 14.5% (losing more than a third of their vote share), the Conservatives 13.8% (losing almost half their vote share), while Reform UK polled just 7.9%.

However, once second preferences had been redistributed, the Lib Dems secured 2316 votes while Labour got 2219 votes.

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Caron Lindsay

Two brilliant by-election gains

By Caron Lindsay | Fri 4th April 2025 - 8:21 am

We have brilliant news to start our day today.

I do love it when GB News blazes that Reform are all out to win three by-elections and then we win two of them, gaining seats from Labour in, wait for it, Neath Port Talbot, and Lincoln.

The most remarkable gain was in Wales, in the Ystalyfera & Cwmllynfell Ward

Susan Grounds – Lib Dem – 383 34%
Plaid Cymru – 340 30.2%
Reform – 150 13.3%
Lab – 143 12.7%
Ind – 98 – 8.7%
Con 12 – 1%

We had never stood a candidate in this ward until this by-election. What a result! A great tribute to the work and profile of Welsh parliamentarians and a dedicated campaign team.

Thirty years or so ago, I spent a bit of time campaigning in Park ward in Lincoln. We did have a councillor there for a while back then. So it was great to see us gain a seat from Labour there last night.

Sarah Uldall, Lib Dem 366 35.7%
Lab – 280 27.3%
Reform – 180 17.5%
Con – 87 8.5%
Green – 87 8.5%
TUSC 25 2.4%

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Charles Quinn

ALDC’s by-election report 27 March 2025

By Charles Quinn | Sun 30th March 2025 - 2:55 pm

There were 3 principal council by-elections this week. We stood candidates in all of them and achieved some really positive results. We also had success in a number of Town and Parish council by-elections too.  

First of all congratulations to our candidate Howard Evans and the Lib Dem team in Swansea who finished second in the Penllergaer by-election. Despite not fielding a candidate when this seat was last contested, we finished second out of seven candidates beating Labour, the Conservatives, Reform and the Green Party. The seat was held by Swansea Independents. But it is a brilliant achievement by Howard and the team to go straight into second place beating all the major parties. 

Swansea Council, Penllergaer
Independent: 646 (63.9%, -23.9%)
Liberal Democrats (Howard Evans): 138 (13.6%, new)
ReformUK: 108 (10.7%, new)
Labour: 67 (6.6%, -5.6%)
Conservative: 31 (3.1%, new)
Green Party: 18 (1.8%, new)
Gwlad: 3 (0.3%, new)

Next up we go to Maldon DC and the by-election in Maldon North. Here we achieved another second place, missing out from gaining the ward from the Conservatives by just 53 votes. Well done and thank you to our candidate Robert Jones on a fantastic performance in a difficult election with Reform and the Green Party standing when they previously did not. Well done to Robert and the team on a brilliant second place and we’re sure you’ll get them next time. 

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Matthew Ma

ALDC’s By-Election report – 13 March 2025

By Matthew Ma | Fri 14th March 2025 - 8:12 pm

We take a breather this week as there are only 2 principal council by-elections held across England and Scotland. Both seats are held by their respective parties: Lib Dems the seat in Devon and Cornwall and the SNP in Scotland. 

In the Lib Dem defence, Cllr Fabian King stood out from the four candidates as the clear first choice for residents in Exe Valley, East Devon DC. The seat in was last contested in by only us and the Tories in the 2023 locals, but when compared to 2021, similarly a 4-way race, our vote share actually grew by over 7%. Congrats to Cllr Fabian and the team for holding the seat!

East Devon DC, Exe Valley
Liberal Democrat (Fabian King): 256 (44.0%, -26.5%)
Conservative: 137 (23.5%, -6.0%)
Reform: 135 (23.2%, new)
Labour: 54 (9.3%, new)

For the Scottish by-election, Oliver Ferrario stood in the Broxburn, Uphall & Winchburgh and managed to grow the Lib Dem first preference votes. The SNP was elected at stage 7 of counting, who beat second place Labour by 22 votes. Thank you to Oliver for flying the Lib Dem flag.

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Caron Lindsay

Lib Dems comfortably hold seat in Brent

By Caron Lindsay | Wed 19th February 2025 - 8:49 am

In one of those rare-ish Tuesday by-elections, the Lib Dems confortably held on to a Council seat in Brent yesterday.

Cllr Charlie Clinton and team absolutely smashed it. Here’s the result:

Charlie Clinton 1743

               Lab – 827

               Con – 740

               Reform – 286

Well done to the Brent Lib Dems.

The by-election was caused by the resignation of Cllr Anton Georgiou. He set out his reasons in a post for the Wembley Matters blog:

Being the Liberal Democrat Councillor for Alperton has truly been the honour of my life. I became a campaigner locally in 2013 when I was 18 years old and have spent over a decade doing what I can to better the borough I love so much. For the last 5 years I have had the privilege to represent residents in Alperton on the Council – initially as the only elected Liberal Democrat and for the past two and a half years as the Leader of our small, but effective opposition group.

It has been quite a ride, with many highs and some lows, but I look back at this time with one overriding feeling – gratitude, for having been given the opportunity to do the role.

It is with sadness and a heavy heart that I have decided to resign from Brent Council. This is a personal decision, that has not been easy and in part due to a very traumatic experience that I have previously spoken out about.

He talked about the failures of Brent’s Labour Council.

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Matthew Ma

ALDC’s by-election report – 13 February

By Matthew Ma | Sat 15th February 2025 - 7:55 am

There are 7 principal council by-elections held across England, Scotland, and Wales this week; with a combined of 3 Labour, 2 Lib Dem, 1 Conservative, and 1 Green Party defence. Seats changed hands left and right as only 2 out of 7 elections are successfully held by the respective parties. One of which is Lib Dem, who lost the other to Labour; and Labour, who lost their other seats to the Green Party and Reform. Meanwhile, the Tories lost their seat to the independents while gaining one from the Green Party. 

The headline win for the Lib Dems this week come from Stevenage BC, where Cllr Peter Wilkins in the Manor ward held the Lib Dem vote steady (more than majority!) while all other major parties’ vote collapse in the face of a new Reform candidate. Congratulations to Cllr Peter and the team for winning the seat!

Stevenage BC, Manor
Liberal Democrat (Peter Wilkins): 760 (55.6%, +0.1%)
Reform: 320 (23.4%, new)
Conservative: 139 (10.2%, -5.2%)
Labour: 101 (7.4%, -12.3%)
Green Party: 46 (3.4%, -6.0%)

In the other Lib Dem defence of the week. Marthos Christoforou managed to further grow the Lib Dem first preference votes in Kirkintilloch, North & Twechar of East Dunbartonshire Council, but still lost to Labour head-to-head in stage 7 of counting. This would have been an SNP seat if there was only one up for election in 2022: such is the quirk of the Scottish council elections. Well done and thank you to Marthos and the team for putting up a good fight.

East Dunbartonshire Council, Kirkintilloch East, North & Twechar (based on first preference votes, Labour elected at stage 7)
Labour: 958 (30.2%, +1.0%)
SNP: 726 (22.9%, -16.0%)
Liberal Democrat (Marthos Christoforou): 677 (21.3%, +2.6%)
Reform: 476 (15.0%, new)
Conservative: 131 (4.1%, -7.8%)
Green Party: 128 (4.0%, new)
Alba: 63 (2.0, new)
Sovereignty: 18 (0.6%, new)

One by-election held on Tuesday in Pembrokeshire CC also saw a great Lib Dem result, where Kaleb Jenkins managed to snatch over a quarter of the votes in Haverfordwest Prendergast and placing second despite no Lib Dem had stood in the previous election. The independents gained the seat from the Conservatives here. Thank you, Kaleb and the team, for putting the Lib Dems on the map in the ward, that’s how all our campaigns start!

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Matthew Ma

ALDC’s by-election report – 28 November 2024

By Matthew Ma | Fri 29th November 2024 - 7:51 pm

It was a long list of holds for this week’s by-elections as only 1 out of 10 seats switched hands, where Lib Dems snatched a seat out of Labour in Sheffield City Council. Labour defended their other 7 seats, albeit losing a hefty amount of votes in almost all seats; the Lib Dems also defended the 2 remaining seats.

For the only gain this week, the young Cllr Willis Marshall brought the Lib Dems from fourth place to first in the Woodhouse ward in Sheffield City Council. Coming from the single digits, Willis and the Sheffield team more than quadrupled the Lib Dem vote share to 33% this time around and won the seat! Congratulations to the Willis and the team for the hard work put in to achieve this momentous result.

Sheffield City Council, Woodhouse
Liberal Democrat (Willis Marshall): 1018 (33.0%, +26.8%)
Reform: 1008 (32.7%, new)
Labour: 650 (21.1%, -36.8%)
Conservative: 168 (5.0%, -9.5%)
Green Party: 153 (5.4%, -4.5%)
TUSC: 56 (1.8%, -1.0%)
The Social Democratic Party: 33 (1.1% , new)

In the nearby City of York Council, the Lib Dems comfortably defended its seat with 64% of the vote, towering the second place Conservatives. In the Haxby & Wigginton ward, Cllr Richard Watson and the team grew the vote from just over one-half to almost two thirds of the voting base. Congrats and thank you to Richard and the local team for the tremendous win!

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Caron Lindsay

Frustrating news from Edinburgh as double by-election looms

By Caron Lindsay | Fri 22nd November 2024 - 8:04 pm

This time last week we were all celebrating the news of a stonking by-election win in Colinton/Fairmilehead in Edinburgh. We jumped from fourth place to first to elect Louise Spence after an intense campaign which saw activists from all over the city basically give up their lives for four months. This came just after the General Election, too.  We are a party that prides ourselves in campaigning all year round, but we know that it’s a marathon, not a sprint. We’ve been sprinting now for 6 months. And it’s not over yet.

We’d known Louise well for years. She’d fought the ward in 2022, narrowly missing out on a seat.

On Tuesday came the shock that there was to be another by-election in the ward, which we had just won. SNP Councillor Marco Biagi, a former MSP, had taken up a role in the Scottish Government and resigned his Council seat.

That was nothing compared to the shock that hit Edinburgh Liberal Democrats just yesterday afternoon. A statement from Louise Spence explains:

I have had a sudden change in personal circumstances which meant I couldn’t in all conscience fulfil my role as a councillor.

At this time, my focus must be with my family. I have informed my Liberal Democrat colleagues of my changed circumstances and offered my resignation.

The Liberal Democrats rightly set high standards in terms of the service their local councillors provide. I myself argued that Colinton & Fairmilehead needed a local champion. While it would have been legally possible for me to continue as a councillor, I don’t believe it would be right to do so with my focus elsewhere.

This is why I have made the difficult decision to resign my council seat. With another by-election already due in the ward in February because of the SNP councillor’s resignation, my decision means this new vacancy can be filled at the same time; at no extra cost to the taxpayer. This is clearly the right thing to do for Colinton & Fairmilehead.

However, I know my decision will be deeply disappointing and frustrating for those who voted for me, for my council group colleagues and for all the Liberal Democrats who fought so hard to win the by-election. I am truly sorry at what has happened.

Group Leader Kevin Lang said:

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The Voice

Scottish Liberal Democrats post big vote share gain across autumn elections

By The Voice | Fri 8th November 2024 - 10:15 pm

Alex Cole-Hamilton has today hailed increases in Lib Dem vote share in Aberdeenshire and Moray as he set out how his party have been the big vote share winners in the autumn by-elections.

Since the general election in July, the Scot Lib Dems have gained more vote share than any other party (up 4.5%). Scottish Labour are up 3.8%, the Scottish Conservatives are down 2.6% and the SNP are down 3.7%,

In all four of the by-elections the party contested this week, it saw an increase in vote share including +15.2% in Mearns in Aberdeenshire, within 88 votes of overtaking the SNP …

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Matthew Ma

ALDC’s by-election report, 7 November 2024

By Matthew Ma | Fri 8th November 2024 - 7:29 pm

By-elections are slowly ramping up again as we see 9 principal council seats up for grabs this week. It was a SNP wipeout in Scotland as they lost all 4 seats they were defending to the Tories, and failed to gain 1 from a weak Labour. Other than their seat in Scotland, Labour also held another in England and gained one from an unorganised Conservative party. Green party held the only seat they were defending, and Reform won a seat from the Conservatives, the second reform gain in two weeks. The Lib Dems contested 6 of the 9 wards this time around and have made great gains in vote share in most.

In the Mearns ward in Aberdeenshire Council, the Lib Dems finished a strong third, only 77 votes away from SNP in the third stage of counting! The Tories won the seat. Well done and thank you to Isobel Knights and the team for almost quadrupling our vote here.

Aberdeenshire Council, Mearns (first preference results, Conservative elected at stage 4)
Conservative: 1347 (39.2%, +7.5%)
SNP: 832 (24.2%, -4.8%)
Liberal Democrat (Isobel Knights): 745 (21.7%, +15.2%)
Reform: 375 (10.9%, new)
Green Party: 136 (4.0%, +0.6%)

Another strong showing from the Lib Dems can be seen in Aberdeenshire Council in Central Buchan, where we also came third overall. The Conservatives also won this seat from the SNP. Thank you to Ian Bailey and the team for growing the Lib Dem vote.

Aberdeenshire Council, Central Buchan (first preference results, Conservative elected at stage 5)
Conservative: 1260 (41.3%, +8.0%)
SNP: 869 (28.5%, -2.6%)
Liberal Democrat (Ian Bailey): 435 (14.3%, +1.2%)
Reform: 331 (10.9%, new)
Scottish Family Party: 83 (2.7%, +1.3%)
Independent: 71 (2.3%, new)

The final by-election of Aberdeenshire Council this week in Fraserburgh & District saw the same result of a Conservative gain from SNP. Thank you to Sandy Leslie for flying the Scottish Lib Dem flag here.

Aberdeenshire Council, Fraserburgh & District
Conservative: 1145 (36.3%, +3.9%)
SNP: 895 (28.4%, +8.4%)
Reform: 817 (25.9%, new)
Liberal Democrat (Sandy Leslie): 222 (7.0%, +2.2%)
Scottish Family Party: 71 (2.3%, +1.3%)

Also in Scotland, Neil Alexander, the Lib Dem candidate for the Elgin City South ward in Moray Council, ran a good campaign and grew our vote five times over. Thank you to Neil and the local team for building a solid base for future elections in Moray.

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Matthew Ma

ALDC’s by-election report 3 October 2024

By Matthew Ma | Mon 7th October 2024 - 4:12 pm

Four principal council by-elections were held this week, with Labour defending three and SNP defending one. Most seats changed hands, with Labour losing all three seats they were defending and SNP holding the last. We stood in all four and our candidates have carried forth the momentum from past weeks to register gains in vote share on all seats. 

The stand-out result this week came from Dundee Council in Strathmartine ward. The first place SNP lost more than 10% of first preference votes while the Lib Dems gained 8%. Counting continued to the fifth round, where Jenny Blain finished close second: just 32 votes behind SNP! Well done and thank you to Jenny and Dundee Lib Dems for putting up such a great fight, setting us up for a Lib Dem victory next election.  

Dundee, Strathmartine (first preference results, SNP elected at stage 5)
SNP: 1188 (35%, -10.3%)
Liberal Democrats (Jenny Blain): 912 (26.9%, +8.2%)
Labour: 911 (26.9%, +4.0%)
Conservative: 143 (4.2%, -1.7%)
Green Party: 121 (3.6%, +0.2%)
TUSC: 116 (3.4%, +2.7%)

Another by-election in Dundee Council in Lochee sees an SNP gain from Labour after seven stages. Thank you to Outi Bourke for standing and growing our vote share here. 

Dundee, Lochee (first preference results, SNP elected at stage 7)
SNP: 1203 (37.3%, -5.9%)
Labour: 1148 (35.6%, -0.2%)
Conservative: 219 (6.8%, -1.6%)
Alba Party: 178 (5.5%, +2.4%)
Green Party: 176 (5.5%, +1.3%)
Liberal Democrats (Outi Bourke): 156 (4.8%, +1.7%)
Workers Party of Britain: 143 (4.4%, new)

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Caron Lindsay

Scottish Lib Dems celebrate TWO by-election wins

By Caron Lindsay | Sat 28th September 2024 - 7:55 am

Back in the day, before even blackberries were invented, the more tech savvy MPs were issued with these palm pilot things so they could get their emails on the move.

When I worked for him, Willie Rennie would spend Friday afternoons constantly checking his waiting for the ALDC email with all the local government by-elections in it. He used to get so excited, like a child who’s been told he can go to the sweetie shop after school and spend all his pocket money.

These days, you don’t have to wait for the email to come out. The results start rolling in on ALDC’s Twitter feed from midnight on Thursday onwards. Yesterday was Willie’s birthday and the Scottish Party delivered him not one but two new councillors.

Alex Cole-Hamilton, Cllr Liz Barrett, Cllr Alan Watt and Amanda Clark campaign in Strathallan

The first result from Strathallan in Perth and Kinross came in just after midnight. New Councillor Alan Watt had taken a seat from the Tories. The local team had been running a pretty joyous campaign. Not the best start to what would become Russell Findlay’s first day as Scottish Conservative leader.

Of Alan’s win, Alex said:

I am absolutely thrilled to see Scottish Liberal Democrats scoring an amazing by-election victory against the Conservatives in their heartlands of rural Perthshire. Alan is going to make a fantastic councillor, standing up for the people of Strathallan and championing the issues that matter to them.

This brilliant result comes hot on the heels of our party overtaking the Scottish Conservatives at the last general election. I am meeting more and more people who once voted for the Scottish Conservatives but feel disenchanted with the party as it lurches towards ever-greater extremes.

People across Scotland are crying out for a change to the SNP, but it’s clear the Conservatives can’t deliver that. That’s why more and more people are turning to the Liberal Democrats to get the fresh start we desperately need.

By backing the Scottish Liberal Democrats, you will get hard-working local champions who will put your priorities first. Only we have a plan to bring down NHS waiting lists, get a fair deal for carers, help struggling pensioners, lift up Scottish education and grow the economy.

Alan Watt added:

I am delighted to have been elected as the Liberal Democrat councillor for Strathallan, and I want to thank everyone who came out to help me deliver our positive message.

Across the ward, people are doing really great things for our community, so this is a chance to work well and ensure we can get the best outcomes for the people of Strathallan.

I want people to see that by backing the Liberal Democrats, you get someone who’ll fight for you and put the issues that matter at the very top of the agenda.

Alex Cole-Hamilton, Duncan Mackay, Cllr John Edmondson and Tracey Cooper in Cromarty Firth

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Charles Quinn

ALDC’s By-Election report – 20 September 2024

By Charles Quinn | Fri 20th September 2024 - 7:49 pm

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. 

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Charles Quinn

ALDC’s by-election report – 22 February 2024

By Charles Quinn | Fri 23rd February 2024 - 7:44 pm

It’s been the busiest week so far this year for local council by-elections – with 8 principal council elections taking places. The first bit of great news is there was a Liberal Democrat candidate in every single contest and thanks to our excellent candidates and local teams on the ground we can celebrate some excellent results. 

There was one Lib Dem gain on Thursday which came on Wiltshire Council in Calne, Chilvester and Abberd ward. Congratulations to Councillor Rob MacNaughton and the local Lib Dem for increasing the Lib Dem vote share by 18% and gaining the ward from the Conservatives. An amazing result and already our fourth by-election gain this year.  

Wiltshire UA, Calne, Chilvester and Abberd
Liberal Democrats (Robert Macnaughton): 424 (45.3%, +18.1)
Conservative: 283 (30.2%, -16.8%)
Labour: 172 (18.4%, +3.7%)
Green Party: 58 (6.2%, -5%)

There were two by elections on Buckinghamshire Council this week – and both saw the Lib Dems secure very positive results with significantly improvements in our share of the vote. 

A huge well done to Carol Linton who finished a close second to the Conservatives in Common and Burnham Beeches ward. Carol increased the Lib Dem vote share by over 11% and picked 41.5% of the total vote. A brilliant base to being upon. 

Similarly Mark Titterington increased the Lib Dem vote by over 13% in Hazelmere ward to finish in a very strong 3rd place – and cutting the gap to the winning Conservative candidate from 1000 at the last election to just over 200 this time!

Well done to both candidates and the local team in Buckinghamshire. 

Buckinghamshire UA, Common and Burnham Beeches
Conservative: 860 (51.8%, -4.2%)
Liberal Democrats (Carol Linton): 689 (41.5%, +11.2%)
Labour: 111 (6.7%, -7%)

Buckinghamshire UA, Hazelmere
Conservative: 687 (36.5%, -4.2%)
Independent: 654 (34.8%, -5.8%)
Liberal Democrats (Mark Titterington): 426 (22.7%, +13.4%)
Labour: 113 (6%, -3.5%)

There were also 2 by-elections on Derbyshire Dales DC. 

First of all in Bakewell ward, Claire Cadogan increased the Lib Dem vote share by 5% and jumped ahead of the Green Party to claim 3rd place. A great step forwards so well done and thank you to Claire. Labour gained the ward from the Conservatives overall squeezing in by 15 votes. 

Robin Shirtcliffe flew the flag for the Lib Dems in Norbury ward. The Lib Dems did not contest the ward at the previous election. So a huge thank you to Rob for making sure voters had a Lib Dem choice this time. The Conservatives held the ward overall. 

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Caron Lindsay

A great gain and 2 strong holds in this week’s by-elections

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 18th February 2024 - 11:04 am

There were a couple of great results in this week’s local government by-elections.

In the Four Marks and Medstead ward of East Hampshire District Council, Roland Richardson held on to the seat with 62.2% of the vote! Thanks to ALDC for compiling the results.

Also in Hertfordshire, Caroline Smith-Wright held the Tring West and Rural ward on Dacorum District Council with an even greater vote share.

DACORUM DC; Tring West & Rural Ward

🔵 Con, , 21.1%, -3.0%
🔴 Lab, , 7.6%, -0.3%
🔶SMITH-WRIGHT, Caroline, LibDem, , 62.7%, +12.8%
🟢 Green, , 8.6%, -9.6%

EAST HAMPSHIRE DC; Four Marks & Medstead

🔶 RICHARDSON, Roland, LibDem, 1212, 62.2%, +11.7%
🔵 Con, 736, 37.8%, -11.7%

Avenue ward in Hull has been the site of many a good scrap between us and Labour over the years. The ward was represented by ALDC’s Abi Bell until she stood down a couple of years ago and in this year’s local elections returned 2 Labour and 1 Lib Dem Councillor.

That changed on Thursday when Rhiannon Beeson took a seat from Labour:

KINGSTON-UPON-HULL UA; Avenue

🔶 BEESON, Rhiannon, LibDem, 45.7%, +4,3%
🔵 Con, 1.7, -1.3%
🟢 Green, 7.6%, +7.6%
🔘 Ind, 5.3%, +5.3%
🔴 Lab, 39.7%,-8.7%

And thanks to Susan Jay for standing for us and making sure people had the chance to vote Lib Dem in the Rhos ward of Neath Port Talbot

Lab, 137, 14.5%, -30.9%
🔶 JAY, Susan Helen, LibDem, 60, +6.3%, +6.3%
🟢 Green, 15, 1.6%, +1.6%
🟩 Plaid, 242, 25.5%, -29.1%
🔘 Ind, 494, 52.1%, +52.1%

Elsewhere, the two parliamentary by-elections have taken up most of the headlines. The Wellingborough and Kingswood seats were not great prospects for us, but we did have excellent candidates in Andrew Brown and Ana Savage Gunn. We lost our deposits, but that happens in seats where we are not in competition. These were not the same kind of places as the four by-election seats we have gained in this Parliament.

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Caron Lindsay

Lib Dems score historic by-election win in Edinburgh

By Caron Lindsay | Sat 11th March 2023 - 2:30 pm

Lib Dem Fiona Bennett became our 13th Councillor in Edinburgh at just before midnight on Thursday, securing our highest ever vote in a local government by-election in Scotland. We are now the second largest group on the Council behind the SNP’s 17, Labour’s 11,  Greens’ 10 and Conservatives 9.

Here’s Alex Cole-Hamilton gloating  talking about it on yesterday’s Good Morning Scotland ahead of our Conference in Dundee.

Fiona becomes the 3rd councillor in the 3 member Corstorphine/Murrayfield ward which is in Christine Jardine’s Westminster constituency and Alex Cole-Hamilton’s Holyrood seat. She gained the seat in the by-election caused by the resignation of SNP former Lord Provost Frank Ross.

The unexpected passing of the Lib Dem budget two weeks ago means that she will have £11 million for pothole fixing. Which is a good thing. I almost got a concussion as the bus drove over the potholes on Corstorphine Road yesterday on my way to work.

As Christine Jardine told Scottish Conference in her best M and S ad voice yesterday, this is not just representation, this is Lib Dem representation.

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Charles Quinn

ALDC’s by-election report 10 March 2022 – two Lib Dem victories

By Charles Quinn | Sat 12th March 2022 - 11:30 am

The Lib Dems are celebrating two resounding victories in Hertfordshire this week. 

On Hertfordshire County Council we held the seat of Hitchin South with a majority of over 1700 votes and a 72% share of the vote. Our vote increased by a massive 34%. Well done to Councillor Keith Hoskins and the local Lib Dem team on a brilliant result:

Hertfordshire County Council, Hitchin South ward
Liberal Democrat (Keith Hoskins): 2401
Conservative: 690
Green: 223
Christian People’s Alliance: 35

The Lib Dems held a further seat in Hitchin – this time Hitchin Highbury on North Hertfordshire District Council – with a fantastic 67% of the vote, a majority of just under 800 and an 18.5% increase in their share of the vote. 

Congratulations to Councillor Raj Bhakar and the team for a brilliant result. 

Well done to everyone in Hitchin on a fantastic night. 

North Hertfordshire District Council, Hitchin Highbury
Liberal Democrats (Raj Bhakar): 1238
Conservatives: 450
Green: 134
Christian People’s Alliance: 27

BBC: Hitchin: Lib Dems hold seats in council by-elections

There were two further by-elections on Thursday night. Neither were contested by the Lib Dems. 

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Caron Lindsay

FOUR Lib Dem Council GAINS – What a night!

By Caron Lindsay | Fri 21st January 2022 - 12:11 am

I’m doing the by-election results for ALDC tonight, with the help of some strong painkillers. I had a bit of a fall yesterday and hurt my hip. Nothing serious, but it is sore.

Tonight’s results got the endorphins flowing though. Not one, not two, not three but FOUR gains.

One gain came in one of the Toriest parts of Oxfordshire, where we haven’t had a councillor for 15 years.

And then came gain number 3:

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Caron Lindsay

By-Election results – TWO Lib Dem GAINS, a Lib Dem HOLD and a massive leap forward

By Caron Lindsay | Fri 5th November 2021 - 12:45 am

I am covering the by-election results for ALDC tonight. So far we have done pretty well. We have won 3 of the 4 wards where we are standing.

A very strong gain from the Conservatives in Gloucester:

And another in West Sussex

And a solid hold in Huntingdon

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The Voice

Look at all those Lib Dem GAINS and HOLDS

By The Voice | Sat 21st August 2021 - 1:38 pm

It was a cracker of a night on Thursday:

A great story from Rutland where Paul Browne was elected half a century after first standing as a Liberal candidate in 1970

And the rest of the results

Such a near miss but great chance for next time.

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Caron Lindsay

Double by-election GAIN in the Highlands

By Caron Lindsay | Fri 13th August 2021 - 7:34 pm

Today is one of those days when it is amazing to be a Lib Dem.

We have two new Liberal Democrat Councillors in the Highlands, gaining seats from Independents in Wick and East Caithness and Inverness West.

The Wick result was particularly pleasant because our 2017 result saw us in 9th and last place with 172 votes. New candidate Jill Tilt topped the poll on first preferences by 35 votes today. I’m fairly certain we got at least that many people out to vote in our polling day Maraphone today.

On paper, Inverness was a better prospect as we already have a well loved local councillor in the ward, Alex Graham. I went canvassing there at the beginning of July when I was up on holiday and it felt promising. It was great to see the fantastic Colin Aitken become our youngest councillor in Scotland.

Thanks to the Liberal Democrats in coalition with Labour, we have STV for Council elections in Scotland, which means AV for by-elections. The SNP were ahead by 40 on first preferences, but Colin won it on transfers.

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Caron Lindsay

Highland Lib Dem by-election candidates set out their stalls

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 1st August 2021 - 11:41 am

It’s great to have local government by-elections back, especially when we have as good a night as we did last Thursday.

We have a really good chance of gaining two new councillors in the Highlands on August 12th.

Colin Aitken is hoping to gain the Inverness West seat from Independent and Jill Tilt is hoping to gain Wick and East Caithness, also from Independent.

Liberal Democrat councillors are currently in administration with the Labour and Independent groups in this vast council which stretches from the north coast to Skye , Lochaber and more than 50 miles south of Inverness.

It takes a good 2.5-3 hours to drive between the two wards, although the journey is much easier than it was when I used to do it frequently in the 80s.

Colin and Jill have been setting out what they want to achieve as Councillors for their areas.

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