UK local elections, May 2012

[Pilchard]

A Cambridge Green councillor defected to Labour this morning.

Labour +1.

Cambridge's other Green councillor (in the same ward) is stepping down at this election and Labour will be hoping to do well there. There's a good chance the Lib Dems lose their majority tonight, but even with the defection this morning Labour would need a very good night to become the largest party.

[Pilchard]

Peterborough is all in, Conservative hold.

Was Con 35, Peterborough Independents 9, Lab 6, Liberal 3, Lib Dem 3, English Democrats 1
Now Con 32 (-3), Peterborough Independents 7 (-2), Lab 11 (+5), Liberal 3 (nc), Lib Dem 4 (+1), English Democrats 0 (-1)

Labour gained 2 from Conservatives (Paston and Orton Longueville), 2 from the independent group who had recently defected from the Tories (Fletton and Woodston, Bretton North) and 1 from English Democrats (who were not contesting their seat in East). Liberal Democrats gained Werrington South from the Conservatives.

So far in Cambridge, Lib Dems have lost East Chesterton to Labour but have held 3 other wards. Labour have held 1. Lib Dems may hang on to their majority after all.

[Pilchard]

Two more big Labour gains: Queen Edith's ward in Cambridge and Harington ward in Sefton (posh bit of Formby).

That's a big one, Labour haven't held any seats in Queen Edith's at all since it was created in 1976 and haven't done better than 3rd since 1995. It's a Labour Co-op candidate as well.

Final result LD 21 (-4) Lab 19 (+4) Con 1 (+1) Ind 1 (nc) Green 0 (-1), Lib Dems lose majority but have half of the seats.

[Pilchard]

Labour are back in Huntingdonshire after taking Huntingdon North from the Conservatives. UKIP have taken Ramsey from the Tories, which means they now hold all 3 seats in that ward as well as its county councillor. Conservatives also gained Warboys and Bury from the Lib Dems.

In South Cambridgeshire, Labour have held on to their only seat on the council in Bassingbourn. Telegraph columnist and former presenter of 'One Man and his Dog' Robin Page is back on the council as an independent after defeating the Lib Dem by 2 votes. A former district councillor from 73-06, he's been a perennial candidate for general and European elections for the Referendum Party, UKIP and UK First. There's a rather entertaining election leaflet of his here: electionleaflets.org/leaflets/4670/

[Pilchard]

All done in Cambridgeshire:

Huntingdonshire: Con 39 (-2) Lib Dem 7 (-1) UKIP 3 (+1) Ind 2 (+1) Lab 1 (+1). Con Hold
South Cambs: Con 33 (+1) Lib Dem 16 (-2) Ind 7 (+1) Lab 1 (nc). Con Hold

Some close results in S Cambs, Conservatives gained Linton from the Lib Dems by just 1 vote, while Robin Page gained Haslingfield from the Lib Dems by 2 votes.

[Pilchard]

So the Lib Dems have held on to control of Cambridge, the last act of the outgoing mayor (who stepped down as a councillor at the elections) was using his casting vote in favour of the Lib Dem candidate after a 21-21 tied vote for the new mayor. The new mayor used her casting vote after two more tied votes for council leader and deputy mayor.

Interestingly, the lone Conservative and the Independent (a former Lib Dem) both voted for Labour's candidates. Anyway, I'd expect a Labour majority at the next elections in 2014 if things stay the way they are nationwide.