Almost a clean sweep for the Liberal Democrats this week, winning five out of the six local council by-elections. There were three gains and two holds by the party, and in Castle ward, Cumbria, there was actually a swing towards the Lib Dems, although the party lost the seat to Labour.

Notably, Shamblehurst – in Chris Huhne MP’s Eastleigh constituency – was held by a wide margin, as Chris Huhne’s website reports:

The Liberal Democrats have secured an overwhelming vote of confidence from Eastleigh Borough residents in a Hedge End by-election that took place yesterday.

Liberal Democrat candidate Richard Effeny secured the seat in the Shamblehurst ward with a total of 263 votes, over 60% of the vote, beating the Conservative candidate who received 96 votes. The Independent and UKIP candidates received just 52 and 22 votes respectively. Labour did not put up a candidate.

The result is an historic low for the Conservatives, and is the party’s worst performance in Hedge End for nearly 20 years.

Leader of Eastleigh Borough Council Keith House said, “This is a very big vote of confidence from Eastleigh Borough residents in the Liberal Democrats. And it is the worst Conservative performance in Hedge End for nearly 20 years when John Major was Prime Minister.”

Chairman of the Eastleigh Liberal Democrats Mike Thornton, said “This shows the continuing faith that Eastleigh Borough residents have in our Liberal Democrat run council.”

In Bodmin, 19 year old Jake Lyne has become the youngest Lib Dem councillor in Cornwall – see Alex Folkes’ blog for more.

This week’s by-election results in full:

Cumbria CC, Castle
Lab 407 (43.1; +19.0)
LD Olwyn Luckley 369 (39.0; +4.7)
Con 93 (9.8; -9.7)
Green 54 (5.7; -5.9)
UKIP 22 (2.3; +2.3)
[BNP (0.0; -10.4)]
Majority 38
Turnout 20%
Lab gain from LD.
Percentage change is since June 2009.

Shropshire UA, Abbey
LD Hannah Fraser 550 (45.3; +15.6)
Con 542 (44.6; -4.8)
Green 122 (10.0; +10.0)
[Lab (0.0; -20.9)]
Majority 8
Turnout 41.2%
LD gain from Con.
Percentage change is since June 2009.

Shrewsbury TC, Abbey
LD Hannah Fraser 546 (45.0)
Con 544 (44.8)
Green 124 (10.2)
Majority 2
Turnout not known.
LD GAIN from Con.

Hedge End TC, Shamblehurst
LD Richard Sean Effeny 263 (60.7)
Con 96 (22.2)
Ind 52 (12.0)
UKIP 22 (5.1)
Majority 167
Turnout 24.81%
LD hold.

Bodmin TC, St Mary’s
LD Jake Lyne 442 (44.6)
Ind 213 (21.5)
MK 194 (19.6)
Con 141 (14.2)
Majority 229
Turnout 18.36%
LD GAIN from Ind.

Corsham TC, Corsham
LD Anne Lock 569 (56.4)
Con 309 (30.6)
Independent 131 (13.0)
Majority 260
Turnout not known
LD HOLD.

Full by-election info and commentary at the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors.