LAB-CON SINK IN BY-ELECTION

The Corbyn 'surge' was nowhere to be seen in Newcastle-under-Lyme last night.  A council by-election in the Staffordshire town threw up an intriguing result.

Holditch & Chesterton ward by-election

Kenneth Owen (Ind) 40.3% (+23.2)
Peter Radford (Lab) 38.3% (-13.9)
Mark Barlow (UKIP) 12.3% (+2.6)
Lawrence Whitworth (Con) 7.0% (-8.3)
Carol Lovatt (SDP) 2.0% (did not stand previously)

Of course council elections can have a lot of local factors tied in, so perhaps best not to make too much of the fall in support for both Labour and the Tories, but it is interesting to note that the UKIP vote saw a small increase.  The real indicator will come on the 4th of April in the Newport West by-election.  Will the Brexit betraying parties bomb in that too?