Just three elections this week - two Lib Dem defences and one Labour defence. The Lib Dems held both of their seats, while Labour crashed to a humiliating defeat in Nottinghamshire.
It was two easy holds for the Lib Dems. In Horsham they appeared to be the main beneficiaries of the absence of candidates from UKIP and the Peace Party, both of whom fought the last election, receiving 7.3 and 9.5 per cent respectively. In Birmingham the Lib Dems cruised to victory following the death of their incumbent councillor.
The death of an incumbent did little to save Labour in Newark and they slipped to an embarrassing third place as an independent candidate stormed to victory.
Yardley East, Birmingham City Council
LDem: 1,312 (65.3%) +0.4%
Lab: 609 (30.3%) +0.1%
Con: 89 (4.4%) -0.5%
LDem HOLD
Forest, Horsham District Council
LDem: 921 (47.4%) +7.9%
Lab: 517 (26.6%) +4.1%
Con: 410 (21.1%) -0.2%
Grn: 97 (5.0%) New
LDem HOLD
Rainworth South & Blidworth, Newark & Sherwood District Council
Ind: 650 (66.2%) +35.8%
Con: 168 (17.1%) -12.9%
Lab: 164 (16.7%) -22.9%
Ind GAIN from Lab
Abbreviations
LDem = Liberal Democrat
Con = Conservative
Lab = Labour
Grn = Green
Ind = Independent
