UK local by-elections 2013

[MaxQue]

Ouch for Conservatives. They finished 4th in a seat they held.

By the way, their last win in a local by-election is going back at January 24, which is quite bad, especially as they lost seats on the way.

[MaxQue]

And another week without a Conservative win, apparently.

[MaxQue]

Conservatives haven't won a by-election since Ross-on-Wye, on January 24th and the last time they improved their share was on February 14th (+0.9 in Gainsborough East, West Lindsay). Sure, the by-elections in February weren't in good wards for them, but Cromer, Foxhills and Aldwick weren't really supposed to be close.

Through, in the case of Foxhills and Aldwich, the problem is UKIP, obviously.

[MaxQue]

"Dacorum, Adeyfield West

Lib Dem 32.6 (+18.0)
Lab 25.0 (-17.5)
Con 20.6 (-22.3)
UKIP 17.3 (+17.3)
Eng Dem 4.6 (+4.6)"


LibDem gain, go from third to first....!

Sure, it's better for LibDems to focus on that one than on the 2 -27 in Islington. Especially than you finished 3rd in a election to replace a LibDem, in a ward where you still have a councillor. And the ward isn't better and you still have 2 councillors there.

[MaxQue]

Well, as the county elections are in May, running in a borough by-election is doing wonders to raise your profile for the next election.

The cases of the last week (Aldwick) and this week (Adeyfield) are especially significant since both county councillors won by a small margin in 2009 and got elected in a borough by-election in a ward covering the worse part for their party of their county electoral division.

[MaxQue]

The Tory vote has collapsed since the legalization of gay marriage.  Not held a ward since and with large declines in every ward. (discounting Dorset for obvious reasons) UKIP actually winning now.

Already noted it, but I doubt it's linked, given the decline began in January. Timing doesn't fit.

[MaxQue]

Well, to be fair, he really looks wierd. Something doesn't look right in his face.

[MaxQue]

North East Lincolnshire, Humberston and New Waltham

UKIP 42.0 (+7.6)
Con 28.2 (-15.3)
Lab 18.0 (-3.1)
Lib Dem 11.9 (+11.9)

LOL.

Well, UKIP almost won there in 2011, the upset would have been them losing.

[MaxQue]

why three at once in Knowsley? scandal?

Elderly(ish) Labour councillors dropping off the perch.

Ritual Group Suicide being hushed up?

Knowsley isn't quick to call by-elections, so a backlog happens (two of them happened in early January).

[MaxQue]

The science guy in me is badly hurt and revolted by that barchart.

[MaxQue]

A Green councillor died falling of a tree? For real or its wierd British humour?

[MaxQue]

Bad Tories fortunes are continuing.

[MaxQue]

Health Concern still exists? I through they would collapse after losing their Westminister seat.

[MaxQue]

Wow, someone won with 25%.

[MaxQue]

Waveney, Oulton

Lib Dem 1.9 (-4.7)

Swindon, Haydon Wick

Lib Dem 3.0 (-3.7)

Merton, Colliers Wood

Lib Dem 2.2 (-14.0)

Redcar and Cleveland, Skelton

Lib Dem 2.5 (-11.5)

Hmm...

Win or lose, 2015 will be a victory for all those who've wanted to see the back of the Liberals (even pre-2010).

No it won't. Reports of our demise have been exaggerated since I were a boy and will continue to be so.

Oh, sure you'll win more than 150 seats in 2015 and replace Labour as the main opposition to Conservatives due to your excellent record in government.

[MaxQue]

Wierd. The Greens came up from nowhere in Great Torrington.