UK Local Elections : May 1st 2008

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Numbers of councillers overall isn't really that important and the national vote share numbers are just a joke (I go over this every year as you know...) for a very, very long list of reasons. And, actually, even the control lists are a bit silly; "NOC" councils are usually anything but.

I'm actually half-tempted to act the evil fascist moderator on the issue of "national" shares of the vote, but probably won't.

As to the elections themselves, there are some very interesting contests this year though; London and Liverpool both look like being "fun".

What about Bob Wareing?

He's still taking the Labour whip. Someone must have given him a bottle of whisky or eight.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Back in the '40's and '50's the PLP was very tightly whipped and M.P's had the whip withdrawn all the time; hell even expulsions were quite common.

Btw, the Labour Independent group (basically a bunch of fellow travellers kicked out of Labour for... well... being fellow travellers) had five members in the late '40's and in the previous election quite a few independent and minor party M.P's had been elected.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Because in the UK (especially Wales), NPI stands for Non Party Independent (the classfication I have had to come up with for candidates who stand as Name (No Party).

As opposed to what, Party Independent?  Being Independent (Ind) pretty much precludes being part of a party, or at least it does in plain English.

Most Independents have the word "Independent" next to their name on the ballot paper, as if it were a party name.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Deadline for candidates is now past. Not all councils have candidate details up on their sites, but Gwynedd does so...

Councillors not seeking re-election

R.Evans, Lab, Y Felinheli
A.Jones, PC, Diffwys and Maenofferen
W.Meredith, LD, Dolgellau South
M.Owen, PC, Groeslon
J.Roscoe, LD, Hirael
K.Thomas, LD, Menai (Bangor)

To this should be added those councillors who retired or died over the past four years, the most recent of which (and the only one to not trigger a by-election) was Ernest Williams (Labour, Bowydd and Rhiw).

Councillors elected in 2004 who are candidates for a different party

E.T.Dogan, Dewi, was Lab now PC
S.Glyn, Tudweiliog, was PC now LG
E.H.Griffiths, Botwnnog, was Ind now LG
R.M.Jones, Menai (Caernarfon), was PC now Ind
I.Roberts, Porthmadog East, was Ind now PC
O.Williams, Clynnog, was Ind now LG

LG is Llais Gwynedd

Candidates elected unopposed

R.A.Price, Ind, Bryncrug-Llanfihangel
D.L.Siencyn, Plaid, Dolgellau North
E.Edwards, Plaid, Llandderfel
D.Edwards, Plaid, Bala
T.Roberts, Labour, Barmouth
E.M.Jones, Plaid, Llanbedr
E.C.Roberts, Plaid, Harlech
L.A.Jones, Plaid, Teigl
S.Glyn, Llais Gwynedd, Tudweiliog
W.P.Jones, Plaid, Llanbedrog
G.O.Williams, Ind, Waunfawr
T.O.Edwards, Ind, Llanberis
S.Gwenllian, Plaid, Y Felinheli
H.P.Hughes, Plaid, Bethel
P.G.Larsen, Plaid, Penisarwaun
J.W.Williams, Plaid, Pentir
B.Jones, Labour, Cwm-y-Glo
A.Williams, Plaid, Ogwen

This list is way shorter than is normal. Wards usually on this list but which aren't this time include Bontnewydd (Dafydd Iwan's ward) and Abererch (Richard Parry Hughes, the leader of the council, ward). Rumour is that both are at serious risk of falling to Llais Gwynedd.

Anyways, both Labour and the LibDems are now down a seat each from last time as there is no Labour candidate in the open seat of Y Felinheli and no LibDem candidate in the open seat of Dolgellau South. But the big news is the success of Llais Gwynedd in recruiting candidates.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Blaenau Gwent nominations by ward

Abertillery: Labour 3, Peoples Voice 1, Independent 1, No Description 1, LibDem 1
Badminton: Labour 2, Independent 2, Peoples Voice 1
Beaufort: Labour 2, Peoples Voice 2, Independent 3
Blaina: Labour 3, Independent 4, No Description 1
Brynmawr: Labour 3, Independent 3, Peoples Voice 1
Cwm: Labour 2, Independent 1, Peoples Voice 1
Cwmtillery: Labour 3, Peoples Voice 2, Independent 2, No Description 1
Ebbw Vale North: Labour 3, Peoples Voice 3
Ebbw Vale South: Labour 2, Peoples Voice 2, Independent 1, LibDem 1
Georgetown: Labour 2, Peoples Voice 1, Independent 1, BNP 1
Llanhilleth: Labour 3, Independent 2, Peoples Voice 1, No Description
Nantyglo: Labour 3, Independent 3, Peoples Voice 1
Rassau: Labour 2, Peoples Voice 1, Independent 1
Sirhowy: Labour 3, LibDems 3, Peoples Voice 1, Independent 1, Tory 1
Six Bells: Labour 2, Independent 2
Tredegar Central and West: Labour 4, Peoples Voice 2, LibDem 1, Plaid 1

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Powys now...

Candidates elected unopposed

G.R.Banks, LDem, Presteigne
S.R.M.Baynes, Con, Llanwddyn
R.G.Brown, No Description, Llandrinio
R.Davies, No Description, Llandinam
S.C.Davies, Labour, Cwm-Twrch
J.Evans, Ind, Llanllyr
V.E.Evans, Ind, Llanfair Caereinion
C.G.Gwillim, Labour, Aber-Craf
M.R.Harris, Ind, Llangynidr
G.G.Hopkins, Ind, Gwernyfed
D.R.Jones, Ind, Guilsfield
E.M.Jones, Ind, Meifod
M.J.Jones, Ind, Churchstoke
T.Jones, Ind, Llansantffraid
W.Jones, Ind, Dolforwyn
G.Lewis, Ind, Llangunllo
S.McNicholas, Labour, Ynyscedwyn
E.T.Morgan, Ind, Maescar-Llywel
R.W.Morgan, Ind, Llanbrynmair
M.E.Morris, Ind, Glasbury
W.D.Powell, LDem, Talgarth
D.R.Price, Ind, Llanafanfawr
G.D.Price, Ind, Llandrindod East - Llandrindod West
K.Roberts-Jones, Ind, Kerry
J.Shearer, Ind, Rhiwcynon
W.B.Thomas, Ind, Llanfihangel
M.J.B.Tunnicliffe, LDem, Llangors
B.Vaughan, No Description, Banwy
G.P.Vaughan, Glantwymyn
J.M.Williams, Ind, Machynlleth

Councillors not seeking re-election

J.W.Griffiths, Ind, Newtown Central
J.H.Hughes, Ind, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant - Llansilin
D.M.James, Ind, Talybont-on-Usk
V.A.Morgan, Ind, Llanelwedd
K.Riffel, Ind*, Forden
J.D.A.Thompson, Ind, Llanyre
G.T.Tibbott, Ind, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant**
R.H.Tyler, LibDem, Rhayader
H.J.Whittle, Ind, Felinfach
L.H.Williams, LDem, Newtown East

Llangattock (won by an Independent in 2004) appears to be vacant. Candidates are LibDem and Tory.

*Elected as LibDem
**Ward seems to have been re-named Llanwddyn

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Aber Penparcau: Richard Boudier, Lab, David John Cogdell, Con, Steve Davies, PC, Cllr. Goronwy Edwards, Ind, Rob Gorman, PC, Mick Jones, LDm, Cllr. Owen Jones, Ind, Graeme Matthew David Smith, Con (elects two councillors)

A Labour candidate polled about 240 votes in that ward in the 2004 community council elections, so that's no surprise.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

This man is almost certainly a member of the Conservative Party.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

IIRC Williams took most of the LibDem vote last time. With them running a candidate this time round he might be vulnerable; he nearly lost in 1999.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

lolz. Labour pulled the same stunt in a Port Talbot ward, btw.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Anglesey...

Councillors not seeking re-election

J.A.Edwards, Plaid, Gwyngyll
P.J.Dunning, Con, Trearddur
G.A.Roberts, Ind, Parc a'r Mynydd
J.Rowlands, Ind (was Plaid), Llangoed
K.Thomas, Plaid, London Road
W.J.Williams, Ind, Llanddyfnan

Councillors running for a different party

W.J.Chorlton, Kingsland, was Ind now Labour
C.L.Everett, Holyhead Town, was Ind now Labour
J.A.Roberts, Morawelon, was Ind now Labour

Elected Unopposed

C.L.Everett, Labour, Holyhead Town
D.R.Hughes, Ind, Moelfre
G.O.Jones, Ind, Llanfair-yn-Neubwll
R.G.Parry, Plaid, Bryngwran
G.W.Roberts, Ind, Amlwch Rural
P.S.Rogers, Ind, Rhosyr
J.Williams, Ind, Llanbadrig

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The BNP were due to run a candidate here, but their candidate seems to have either withdrawn or been disqualified and, by the look of it, won't be on the ballot.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The Merthyr, Anglesey and Caerphilly nominations *are* all online (I know for I have seen them) but they're hidden in odd places. In at least one case under "notice of poll".

(fixed the RCT link above)

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Talking of Merthyr:

Councillors not seeking re-election

D.James, Ind, Penydarren
J.Taylor, Ind (was PBP), Cyfartha
S.Morgan, PBP, Town
C.Tovey, Ind (was Lab), Vaynor

There appears to be a vacancy in Merthyr Vale.

No uncontested wards, but Labour are guarenteed one seat in Gurnos and two in Park (both of which are in Merthyr proper). For 33 seats there are only around 70 candidates; astonishing given the length of the ballot paper in Merthyr in the last Assembly election.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Haha! Rottweiler Rod hasn't changed! I still think his astonishingly bitter and paranoid resignation speech is one of the highlights of devolved politics so far.

---

I think he must mean 41% of seats or wards or something. Which is possible; a lot more paper Tory candidates than last time and they're running people in Powys for once.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

A newspaper in Salford has done a crappy "poll" of the borough. Or, more accurately, of random people in town centres, shopping centres and the like... lol... here are the numbers:

Labour 40%
Won't Say 22%
Tory 19%
Other 11%
LDem 8%

So... yeah... at least we now know something about the political habits of random Salford shoppers!

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Quick note here as well: please do NOT start a certain thread tomorrow. There's a time and a place and... you know. Diolch.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Someone has a brass neck... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/7352452.stm

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I feel like randomly observing that I've hardly noticed any outward signs that there's an election on here. Of course the general area that I spend most of my time in (ie; Deiniol ward, the non-residential parts of Menai and Garth wards) are basically apolitical anyway, but even so... just two signs seen so far. Oddly enough both are for the Plaid underdog in the Menai ward (held by a rotating group of LibDems since the early '80's), but then the one house always has a Plaid sign up. Might have a poke round residential areas in the rest of the city tomorrow, but I probably won't. I'm also thinking about heading west to see whether Llais Gwynedd are really a threat to the established order here, but I do have a lot of work to be getting on with...

Oh yes. Results in Deiniol last time round:

Plaid 77, LDem 56, Labour 54. Turnout... 19%

lolz

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Ah, not that again. I'm half tempted to randomly pick a couple of wards that I randomly declare to be "representative" and add the numbers up to produce a "national" share of the vote. It would (regrettably "would" here means "should") have as much credibility.

(for the record that's more-or-less what the BBC does. Gives them an easy story to lead on for the morning news programme and that's why they do it. In this case it will have the double role of filler between voting on Thursday and the London results on Friday afternoon or so. I think that I have complained about this at least once at some point at every round of local elections since I started to follow them closely... I'll... stop now I think...)

Oh. God.

This has just reminded me of something that I find even more irritating than the inevitable poll-of-wards.

All those irritating politicians (from all parties) who will invade the airwaves and tell us (and endlessly) one of the following lies lines:

a) these results are pretty good for a mid-term government, all things considered.
b) these results show that we are well on track to win the next election.
c) these results show that we are breaking the mould of british politics/that three party politics is alive and well and here to stay.

There will usually be random example results (often taken totally out of context) used to prove the above line as The Truth.

It doesn't matter what the actual results are, they will say all that anyway. And then we wonder why local government is such a joke in this country.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

What's the difference between Independents and Non Party Independents?

Independent would mean someone who put "Independent" as his party on the ballot paper (which in somewhere like Ceredigion is a pretty strong indication that he is or will be part of an official Independent Group), Non Party Independent indicates someone who didn't put "Independent" as his party on the ballot paper... which can indicate all sorts of things, from a genuine independent to someone who would have put "Independent Labour" or "Independent Nationalist" or "Independent Conservative" (and etc, etc, etc) until a few years ago (because you can't do that anymore. Another legacy of the "Literal Democrat" fiasco...)

[Filuwaúrdjan]

What's the difference between Independents and Non Party Independents?

Independent would mean someone who put "Independent" as his party on the ballot paper (which in somewhere like Ceredigion is a pretty strong indication that he is or will be part of an official Independent Group), Non Party Independent indicates someone who didn't put "Independent" as his party on the ballot paper... which can indicate all sorts of things, from a genuine independent to someone who would have put "Independent Labour" or "Independent Nationalist" or "Independent Conservative" (and etc, etc, etc) until a few years ago (because you can't do that anymore. Another legacy of the "Literal Democrat" fiasco...)

LOL - Literal Democrat  - did he end up affecting the election or even winning?

He stopped the LibDems from winning a European Parliament seat in the West Country (this being back when European elections here were still FPTP) in the mid '90's. He did the same sort of thing in Winchester in the '97 General Election (and by-election afterwards) though without the same success.

There were also quite a few candidates in '97 who ran as "New Labour", a deselected Labour councillor ran as "The Labour Candidate" in Slough in the '92 election (and cost Labour the seat), resulting in a member of the Slough CLP running in a couple of by-elections as "The Conservative Candidate" as a way of protesting, someone ran in a Scottish by-election as a "Scottish Conservatory and Unionist" candidate, someone ran in the Littleborough & Saddleworth by-election for the "Conversative Party"... and so on and so forth.

And in the 1982 Glasgow Hillhead by-election (won by Roy Jenkins) someone called Douglas Parkin changed his name by deed poll to Roy Jenkins and ran for a party also called the SDP...

[Filuwaúrdjan]

This story (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7367063.stm) is interesting for one reason only; where they were going. Brown to Swansea, Cameron to the Vale. Both visits are agressive rather than defensive and the choices are interesting.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

May I be permitted to produce a list of Lib Dem and Plaid Cymru targets for Ceredigion?

If you don't I'll get on a bus to Aberaeron and shoot you!

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Just a little note on how this will be run this year. The usual system (this will be the third set of local-and-regional elections that it will be used for. Time flies by, doesn't it...) will be in place. A results thread for the London elections will be set up, as will one for the English locals. Will probably do a seperate thread for the Welsh locals, where they'll be more detailed rubbish from me. Hopefully. Anyways, don't post results outside the results threads, else the board gets kinda messy.

Also; try to be polite and all. These days there are plenty of other places to go for ugly rants and ugly gloating. Just don't go over the line, that's all.

Diolch!

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Weather is nice up here in Bangor.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The campaign manager for the Lib Dems in Ceredigion has just phoned me and said that due to a complaint by Plaid Cymru, all candidates are now being asked to gather at the main count centre at 10.30pm instead of 9.30pm. Does anyone have a clue about what Plaid may have complained about?

Maybe a problem with some of the ballots in some areas or something like that.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Less than three hours to go now. Weathers been good for most of the day (including the crucial few hours after five pm) so hopefully turnout won't be any worse than merely dreadful.