COUNCIL BY-ELECTIONS 05.03.26

Five council seats were up for grabs this week, with one Labour defence taking place in Staffordshire.  That Tamworth by-election was a tough one to call, with both Reform and the Greens debuting in a historically Tory ward that was gained by Labour three years ago.  We said Labour wouldn't hold and they finished last, with the insurgent parties taking the top two spots.  We predicted a rare Tory gain here, but it was an impressive Reform gain, topping the poll with more than twice the number of votes as the second placed Greens.

Over in Essex, Reform narrowly gained a second seat at the hands of an independent group affiliated with the Greens.  The margin was 37 votes, but a win's a win.  We predicted an Independent hold.

It wasn't all plain sailing for Reform on the night, with a worrying defeat for the party in County Durham - a county council they control.  We thought Reform had got enough to hold, but astonishingly Labour stormed back in one of their old northern strongholds.  It wasn't even close as Reform slumped to second and Labour gained their first council seat since May 2025.  The result was the first to declare on the night, which led some morons on social media to celebrate a tad early.  They went quiet after the party gained two seats elsewhere, and overall the narrative around a burst bubble was opened up to ridicule - Reform finished either first or second in all five available seats.

As we expected, it was a routine hold for the Greens in their West Country stamping ground, while a free-for-all vacancy went to the Conservatives in Kent (not Reform as we predicted).

One out of five correct this week, it's just a blip!

Coggeshall, Braintree District Council

Ref: 554 (30.7%) New

Ind: 517 (28.7%) -26.3%

Lab: 366 (20.3%) +4.4%

Con: 311 (17.2%) -12.6%

LDm: 55 (3.1%) New

Ref GAIN from Ind

Murton, Durham County Council

Lab: 1,004 (50.6%) +17.6%

Ref: 786 (39.6%) -4.5%

Grn: 95 (4.8%) New

Con: 61 (3.1%) -2.0%

LDm: 38 (1.9%) -2.3%

Lab GAIN from Ref

Hextable. Sevenoaks District Council

Con: 600 (38.9%) +19.3%

Ref: 406 (26.3%) New

LDm: 367 (23.8%) New

Ind: 108 (7.0%) New

Grn: 62 (4.0%) New

Con GAIN from Ind

Thrupp, Stroud District Council

Grn: 540 (67.5%) +3.1%

Ref: 132 (16.5%) New

Con: 58 (7.3%) -10.3%

Lab: 48 (5.8%) -12.3%

LDm: 22 (2.8%) New

UKIP: 2 (0.3%) New

Grn HOLD

Spital, Tamworth Borough Council

Ref: 719 (44.6%) New

Grn: 337 (20.4%) New

Con: 319 (19.4%) -18.9%

Lab: 273 (16.6%) -23.4%

Ref GAIN from Lab

MP TROTS OUT THE USUAL

The Bondi Beach gunmen and Labour MP Lola McEvoy

The massacre at Bondi Beach will come as no surprise to anyone who has long warned about the perils of mass immigration and multi-culturalism.  Such horrors are the direct result of importing millions of people into the West, along with their religious and cultural grievances.  The same establishment ultimately responsible for this insane policy will never admit wrongdoing, so they continue to gaslight their native populace with smoke and mirrors bullshit.

In the aftermath of the slaughter at Bondi, the Labour MP for Darlington appeared on GB News and delivered the now standard establishment response: "Diversity is strength".  Lola McEvoy's rambling assessment of the incident was reminiscent of Gary Neville's infamous evaluation of the Manchester synagogue attack, in which he failed to address the actual perpetrator and instead went on to blame 'middle-aged white men' for creating division.  Likewise, McEvoy spoke of those amplifying a 'narrative of division' and how 'the way we think of people who aren't like us' needs to be 'detoxified' - as if white Western Europeans are the problem, as opposed to the men using guns, knives and vehicles to kill our people.

She then trotted out the 'diversity is our strength' line, before some soundbites about Jo Cox.

Watch below.

Diversity is not strength, it is death - the death of our civilisation.  The traitors who deploy this sickening deception are fooling no-one and if there is any justice in the world they will one day pay for their complicity in the murder, rape and terror they have inflicted on our nations.

COUNCIL BY-ELECTIONS 11.12.25

Nine seats were up for grabs on Thursday, with Labour on the defence in two.  As we predicted, they lost both seats.  In Darlington we saw either the Tories or Reform making the gain, with the SNP the likely winner in West Lothian.  Reform actually took both seats as newcomers, including a groundbreaking victory north of the border in which they took their first Scottish council seat.

Labour were pushed to fourth in Darlington, with more than half the votes cast for Reform.  Labour slid to a distant third in West Lothian, with Reform and the SNP way out in front.  Apparently, the SNP fielded a 'non-binary' candidate in this election, which probably helped Reform no end.  It was a bad night for the SNP, as they fell to the Lib Dems in the other Scottish seat.

It was another crushing set of results for Labour, whose vote tally ducked down into double digits in three seats.  They finished last in four seats and could not finish any higher than third place anywhere.

It wasn't a great night for the Tories either, who lost two of the four seats they were defending.  They slumped to third in Devon and missed out on a hold by just ten votes in Lincolnshire.  Reform were the victors in the latter, also gaining another seat on the same council by an even slimmer margin of two votes.  A win's a win, and with four gains on the night there is no doubt which party will be the happiest.

Penyrheol, Caerphilly County Borough Council

Pld: 956 (60.1%) +6.3%
Ref: 422 (26.5%) New

Lab: 114 (7.2%) -24.4%

Con: 66 (4.3%) -10.4%

LDm: 32 (2.0%) New

Pld HOLD

Red Hall & Lingfield, Darlington Borough Council

Ref: 341 (37.7%) New

Con: 157 (17.3%) -22.5%

LDm: 157 (17.3%) New

Lab: 152 (16.8%) -37.1%

Grn: 89 (9.8%) +3.6%

Ind: 9 (1.0%) New

Ref GAIN from Lab

Seaton, East Devon District Council

LDm: 789 (41.3%) +19.2%

Ref: 565 (29.6%) New

Con: 400 (20.9%) -5.6%

Ind: 156 (8.2%) New

LDm GAIN from Con

Fort William & Ardnamurchan, Highland Council

(first preference votes)

LDm: 925 (40.4%) +3.0%

SNP: 665 (29.1%) -4.4%

Ref: 220 (9.6%) New

Grn: 216 (9.4%) -0.2%

Con: 175 (7.6%) -2.4%

Lab: 87 (3.8%) New

LDm GAIN from SNP (elected at stage 5)

Armitage with Handsacre, Lichfield District Council

Con: 630 (46.7%) -6.2%

Ref: 431 (31.9%) New

Lab: 127 (9.4%) -23.5%

LDm: 99 (7.3%) -6.8%

Grn: 63 (4.7%) New

Con HOLD

Belmont, South Kesteven District Council

Ref: 239 (33.4%) New

Con: 237 (33.1%) +1.5%

Ind: 143 (20.0%) New

Grn: 61 (8.5%) New

Lab: 35 (4.9%) -14.5%

Ref GAIN from Ind

Aveland, South Kesteven District Council

Ref: 290 (41.0%) +26.5%

Con: 280 (39.5%) +19.0%

Grn: 115 (16.2%) New

Lab: 23 (3.2%) New

Ref GAIN from Con

Eaglescliffe West, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Con: 1,194 (60.9%) +4.4%

Ref: 470 (24.0%) +17.6%

Grn: 150 (7.6%) -0.2%

Lab: 147 (7.5%) -21.7%

Con HOLD

Whitburn & Blackburn, West Lothian Council

(first preference votes)

Ref: 1,177 (32.0%) New

SNP: 1,028 (28.0%) -10.7%

Lab: 627 (17.1%) -20.3%

Ind: 484 (13.2%) New

Con 129 (3.5%) -15.0%

LDm: 102 (2.8%) +0.4%

Grn: 101 (2.7%) -0.3%

Ind: 27 (0.7%) New

Ref GAIN from Lab (elected at stage 8)

COUNCIL BY-ELECTIONS 07.08.25

It was a trio of vacant seats for the second week in a row, with Labour defending two and Reform defending yet another seat they only won in May.  It was an astonishing night for the latter, who not only managed to easily hold in County Durham, but took the two other seats from Labour.

In County Durham, Reform stormed to its first successful defence with more than twice the votes of their nearest challenger.  While Labour's vote share was stable in that election, presenting a marginal increase, it plummeted in its two defences.  In Staffordshire, Reform built on its previous result and surged past Labour to again receive more than twice the votes.

In the red wall of south Wales, Reform came from nowhere to push the Labour defender into third place.  Labour suffered a catastrophic fall in vote share of almost 40 per cent.  Recent results in the red wall here are indicative of a major shift ahead of next year's all important Senedd elections.  Current polling suggests that Labour's dominance is under serious threat from Reform, but Labour may cling to power as part of a formal coalition with their left-wing comrades in Plaid.  However, if the red wall crumbles, Reform will likely emerge as the largest party and seek a coalition of their own...

Hednesford Green Heath, Cannock Chase District Council

Ref: 525 (51.5%) +31.8%

Lab: 230 (22.6%) -18.6%

Con: 126 (12.4%) -13.1%

Grn: 101 (9.9%) -0.3%

Ind: 31 (3.0%) New

UKIP: 5 (0.5%) New

TUS: 1 (0.1%) New

Ref GAIN from Lab

Llangennech, Carmarthenshire County Council

Ref: 694 (43.1%) New

Pld: 489 (30.4%) -7.2%

Lab: 380 (23.6%) -38.8%

LDm: 26 (1.6%) New

Con: 14 (0.9%) New

Gwd: 6 (0.4%) New

Ref GAIN from Lab

Easington & Shotton, Durham County Council

Ref: 1,208 (46.7%) -3.5%

Lab: 523 (20.2%) +0.8%

Ind: 520 (20.1%) -1.6%

Ind: 179 (6.9%) New

Grn: 60 (2.3%) New

Con: 47 (1.8%) -2.6%

LDm: 27 (1.0%) -3.2%

Ind: 23 (0.9%) New

Ref HOLD

Abbreviations

Ref = Reform UK

Lab = Labour

Con = Conservative

Grn = Green

LDm = Liberal Democrat

UKIP = United Kingdom Independence Party

TUS = Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

Pld = Plaid Cymru

Gwd = Gwlad

Ind = Independents

COUNCIL BY-ELECTIONS 10.07.25

Ten seats were up for election this week, all in England.  Labour were defending two seats and lost both to Reform, who also gained a seat from independents in Gloucestershire.  Labour's vote share was down in all seven seats it contested, ranging from a 4.6 per cent decrease in Surrey, to 27.8 per cent in Nottinghamshire.  The party finished last in two seats.

Elsewhere, there was no change as the Lib Dems held all four of its seats and the Greens successfully defended a seat in East Sussex, fending off Reform by 50 votes.

Ranskill, Bassetlaw District Council

Ref: 323 (52.7%) New

Lab: 89 (15.7%) -27.8%

Con: 66 (14.5%) -42.0%

Ind: 44 (7.2%) New

LDm: 40 (6.5%) New

Grn: 21 (3.4%) New

Ref GAIN from Con

Throston, Hartlepool Borough Council

Ref: 595 (48.7%) +32.5%

Lab: 475 (38.8%) -23.7%

Grn: 62 (5.1%) New

Con: 59 (4.8%) -16.6%

LDm: 32 (2.6%) New

Ref GAIN from Lab

Wroxall, Lowtherville & Bonchurch, Isle of Wight Council

Ind: 475 (48.1%) New

Ref: 225 (22.9%) New

Con: 153 (15.6%) -4.7%

LDm: 53 (5.4%) New

Vec: 46 (4.7%) New

Lab: 33 (3.4%) -8.9%

Ind GAIN from Ind

Bookham East & Eastwick Park, Mole Valley District Council

LDm: 1,056 (56.0%) -6.6%

Ref: 387 (20.5%) New

Con: 386 (20.5%) -10.1%

Grn: 56 (3.0%) -1.5%

LDm HOLD

Keppel, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

Ref: 1,160 (40.3%) New

Ind: 801 (27.8%) -1.9%

Lab: 558 (19.4%) -13.4%

Con: 105 (3.6%) -6.9%

Yrk: 100 (3.5%) -7.8%

LDm: 80 (2.8%) -1.4%

Grn: 77 (2.7%) -7.1%

Ref GAIN from Lab

Woking South, Surrey County Council

LDm: 1,939 (63.8%) +5.8%

Ref: 584 (19.2%) New

Con: 291 (9.6%) -16.0%

Grn: 134 (4.4%) -2.5%

Lab: 91 (3.0%) -4.6%

LDm HOLD

Northway, Tewkesbury Borough Council

Ref: 374 (41.4%) New

LDm: 279 (30.9%) +7.0%

Con: 116 (12.8%) -11.6%

Grn: 91 (10.1%) New

Lab: 44 (4.9%) -15.8%

Ref GAIN from Ind

Botley & Sunningwell, Vale of White Horse District Council

LDm: 732 (71.5%) +7.9%

Con: 162 (15.8%) -1.8%

Grn: 130 (12.7%) +11.2%

LDm HOLD

Horam & Punnetts Town, Wealden District Council

Grn: 611 (35.9%) -29.0%

Ref: 561 (32.9%) New

Con: 336 (20.2%) -15.0%

Ind: 188 (11.0%) New

Grn HOLD

Hoe Valley, Woking Borough Council

LDm: 1,118 (63.3%) -8.1%

Ref: 379 (21.1%) New

Con: 130 (7.2%) -9.0%

Lab: 83 (3.8%) -8.6%

Grn: 69 (4.6%) New

LDm HOLD

Abbreviations

Ref = Reform UK

Lab = Labour

Con = Conservative

LDm = Liberal Democrat

Grn = Green

Vec = Vectis

Yrk = Yorkshire

Ind = Independents and residents' groups

COUNCIL BY-ELECTIONS 03.07.25

Nine by-elections were held this week, including two on Wednesday.  Labour were defending both of the Wednesday contests and fell to Reform in one, while holding off a Reform surge in the other.

On Thursday there was a gain each for the Lib Dems, Reform and Tories, plus an independent.  Reform were defending seats for the first time and lost both.  It seems that voters are not too happy when they are asked to go to the polls again just two months after they elected these councillors.  In one of those seats Reform slipped to third place behind Labour, who saw a marginal increase in vote share.  Reform  lost their other seat to the Conservatives by the narrowest margin of just eight votes.

In a somewhat merry-go-round of gains and losses, the Tories lost a seat to Reform in Suffolk, while Reform narrowly missed out on a gain in mid Wales.  The Lib Dems held them off by just six votes.

Killingworth, North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council

(held on Wednesday)

Ref: 771 (38.5%) New

Lab: 639 (31.9%) -22.7%

Con: 441 (21.4%) -3.5%

Grn: 85 (4.2%) -16.3%

LDm: 81 (4.0%) New

Ref GAIN from Lab

Longbenton & Benton, North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council

(held on Wednesday)

Lab: 739 (39.6%) -16.8%

Ref: 602 (32.3%) +19.3%

Grn: 259 (13.9%) -7.8%

LDm: 183 (9.8%) New

Con: 83 (4.4%) New

Lab HOLD

Mendip, Bath and North East Somerset Council

LDm: 496 (57.1%) -18.2%

Ref: 191 (22.0%) New

Con: 84 (9.7%) +6.7%

Grn: 57 (6.6%) +2.0%

Lab: 40 (4.6%) +0.9%

LDm HOLD

Benfieldside, Durham County Council

LDm: 824 (28.3%) +17.3%

Lab: 800 (27.4%) +0.8%

Ref: 747 (25.6%) -6.6%

Ind: 459 (15.7%) -8.0%

Con: 76 (1.6%) -5.0%

Grn: 40 (1.4%) New

LDm GAIN from Ref

Calverton, Gedling Borough Council

Ind: 1,245 (66.3%) New

Ref: 337 (17.9%) New

Lab: 150 (8.0%) -20.6%

Con: 117 (6.2%) -44.1%

Grn: 21 (1.1%) New

LDm: 8 (0.4%) New

Ind GAIN from Con

Fulham Town, Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council

Con: 647 (43.3%) -1.7%

LDm: 345 (23.1%) -4.5%

Lab: 251 (16.8%) -10.6%

Ref: 187 (12.5%) New

Grn: 63 (4.2%) New

Con HOLD

Newark West, Nottinghamshire County Council

Con: 680 (34.7%) +4.8%

Ref: 672 (34.3%) -1.6%

Lab: 316 (16.1%) -3.9%

Grn: 190 (9.7%) +2.1%

LDm: 90 (4.6%) -1.9%

SDP: 11 (0.6%) New

Con GAIN from Ref

Llanidloes, Powys County Council

LDm: 557 (35.5%) +5.2%

Ref: 551 (35.1%) New

Pld: 225 (14.3%) +1.9%

Con: 118 (7.5%) -7.7%

Lab: 112 (7.1%) -4.8%

Ind: 6 (0.4%) New

LDm HOLD

Tower, Suffolk County Council

Ref: 1,332 (28.8%) New

Grn: 1,155 (25.0%) -4.5%

Con: 808 (17.5%) -16.2%

Lab: 667 (14.4%) -6.4%

Ind: 407 (8.8%) New

LDm: 269 (5.6%) +1.6%

Ref GAIN from Con

Abbreviations

Ref = Reform UK

Lab = Labour

Con = Conservative

Grn = Green

LDm = Liberal Democrat

SDP = Social Democratic Party

Pld = Plaid Cymru

Ind = Independent

COUNCIL RESULTS

23 council authorities held elections on Thursday, the vast majority of them county councils.  Labour were defending just one - the City of Doncaster - which they lost to Reform with a huge swing.  Ed Miliband and the rest of the local Labour MPs are likely to be toast based on these results, although a lot can change in four years.

The astonishing level of support for Reform meant that zero councils at the start of the day turned into ten by the end of it.  Eight of those gains came from the Conservatives, who had an exceptionally torrid day, losing control of every single council they were defending.  While Reform had an overall net gain of 677 council seats, the Tories had a net loss of 676.  It's no coincidence that these two figures are so close.  Reform are not just a threat to Labour, they are demolishing the Conservatives as well.

The only other party that won control of any councils on Thursday was the Lib Dems, who gained three in total.

The results are as follows.  The figures provided are the total number of council seats won per party and the difference in brackets from previous local elections.

Buckinghamshire County Council

Con: 46 (-31)

LDm: 27 (+19)

Ind: 13 (+6)

Lab: 5 (+1)

Ref: 3 (+3)

Grn: 3 (+2)

NOC GAIN from Con

Cambridgeshire County Council

LDm: 31 (+11)

Ref: 10 (+10)

Con: 10 (-18)

Lab: 5 (-4)

Grn: 3 (+3)

Ind: 2 (-2)

LDm GAIN from NOC

City of Doncaster Council

Ref: 37 (+37)

Lab: 12 (-28)

Con: 6 (-5)

Ind: 0 (-4)

Ref GAIN from Lab

Cornwall Council

Ref: 28 (+28)

LDm: 26 (+13)

Ind: 16 (n/c)

Con: 7 (-40)

Lab: 4 (-1)

Grn: 3 (+2)

MebK: 3 (-2)

NOC HOLD

Derbyshire County Council

Ref: 42 (+42)

Con: 12 (-33)

LDm: 3 (-1)

Lab: 3 (-11)

Ind: 2 (+2)

Grn: 2 (+1)

Ref GAIN from Con

Devon County Council

LDm: 27 (+18)

Ref: 18 (+18)

Con: 7 (-32)

Grn: 6 (+4)

Ind: 2 (-1)

Lab: 0 (-7)

NOC GAIN from Con

Durham County Council

Ref: 65 (+65)

LDm: 14 (+1)

Ind: 12 (-14)

Lab: 4 (-38)

Grn: 2 (+1)

Con: 1 (-15)

Ref GAIN from NOC

Gloucestershire County Council

LDm: 27 (+11)

Ref: 11 (+11)

Grn: 9 (+5)

Con: 6 (-24)

Ind: 1 (+1)

Lab: 1 (-4)

NOC HOLD

Hertfordshire County Council

LDm: 31 (+8)

Con: 22 (-24)

Ref: 14 (+14)

Grn: 5 (+4)

Lab: 5 (-2)

Ind: 1 (n/c)

NOC GAIN from Con

Kent County Council

Ref: 57 (+57)

LDm: 12 (+6)

Grn: 5 (+1)

Con: 5 (-57)

Lab: 2 (-5)

Ind: 0 (-1)

RA: 0 (-1)

Ref GAIN from Con

Lancashire County Council

Ref: 53 (+53)

Ind: 9 (+9)

Con: 8 (-40)

Lab: 5 (-27)

LDm: 5 (+3)

Grn: 4 (+2)

Ref GAIN from Con

Leicestershire County Council

Ref: 25 (+25)

Con: 15 (-27)

LDm: 11 (+2)

Lab: 2 (-2)

Grn: 1 (+1)

Ind: 1 (+1)

NOC GAIN from Con

Lincolnshire County Council

Ref: 44 (+44)

Con: 14 (-40)

LDm: 5 (+2)

Ind: 4 (-5)

Lab: 3 (-1)

Ref GAIN from Con

North Northamptonshire Council

Ref: 39 (+39)

Con: 13 (-37)

Grn: 8 (+5)

Lab: 4 (-8)

Ind: 1 (n/c)

LDm: 1 (+1)

Ref GAIN from Con

Northumberland County Council

Con: 26 (-10)

Ref: 23 (+23)

Lab: 8 (-12)

Ind: 7 (-1)

LDm: 3 (n/c)

Grn 2 (n/c)

NOC HOLD

Nottinghamshire County Council

Ref: 40 (+40)

Con: 17 (-19)

Lab: 4 (-10)

Ind: 2 (-1)

RA: 1 (-9)

LDm: 0 (-1)

Ref GAIN from Con

Oxfordshire County Council

LDm: 36 (+12)

Lab: 12 (-3)

Con: 10 (-15)

Grn: 7 (+4)

Ind: 2 (+1)

Ref: 1 (+1)

RA: 1 (n/c)

LDm GAIN from NOC

Shropshire County Council

LDm: 42 (+29)

Ref: 16 (+16)

Con: 7 (-38)

Grn: 4 (n/c)

Lab: 4 (-5)

Ind: 1 (-2)

LDm GAIN from Con

Staffordshire County Council

Ref: 49 (+49)

Con: 10 (-46)

Grn: 1 (+1)

Ind: 1 (n/c)

Lab: 0 (-4)

Ref GAIN from Con

Warwickshire County Council

Ref: 23 (+23)

LDm: 14 (+9)

Con: 9 (-33)

Grn: 7 (+4)

Lab: 3 (-3)

RA: 1 (n/c)

NOC GAIN from Con

West Northamptonshire Council

Ref: 42 (+42)

Con: 17 (-35)

Lab: 9 (-9)

LDm: 6 (+2)

Ind: 2 (n/c)

Ref GAIN from Con

Wiltshire County Council

LDm: 43 (+16)

Con: 37 (-24)

Ref: 10 (+10)

Ind: 7 (n/c)

Lab: 1 (-2)

NOC GAIN from Con

Worcestershire County Council

Ref: 27 (+27)

Con: 12 (-33)

Grn: 8 (+5)

LDm: 6 (+2)

Ind: 2 (n/c)

Lab: 2 (-1)

NOC GAIN from Con

RESPITE FOR REFORM?

Farage and Yusuf unveil almost 30 new councillors

The very public mudslinging that has wracked Reform UK in recent weeks won't go away, but Nigel Farage and chairman Zia Yusuf hoped to get the fledgling party back on track with a major announcement on Monday.  The pair announced 29 council defections to Reform from other parties or having previously been independents or members of local residents' groups.  26 of the new members were in attendance at the press conference.

Some of the defections actually occurred up to a month ago, such as the defections of Conservatives Kirk Harrison, Joanne Monk and Stephen Reed, who announced their defections weeks ago.  Clearly, Monday's event was intended as a distraction from the rumblings within.

Of the defections, 15 were Conservatives, 12 were independents or from local residents' groups (two of which had previously been Conservatives) and one each came from Labour and the Lib Dems.  Most of the new Reformers are county councillors.

These are the new Reform councillors that Farage named...

• Cllr Heather Asker, Uttlesford District Council (was independent)
• Cllr Stephen Atkinson, Ribble Valley Borough Council (was Conservative and leader of the council)
• Cllr Bill Barrett, Ashford Borough Council (was independent, previously Conservative)
• Cllr Felix Bloomfield, Oxfordshire County Council (was Conservative)
• Cllr Mandy Clare, Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council (was Labour, reportedly left in opposition to trans ideology)
• Cllr Stuart Davies, North Somerset Council (was independent)
• Cllr Emma Ellison, Blackpool Council (was Conservative)
• Cllr Paul Ellison, Wyre Council (was Conservative)
• Cllr Robert Gibson, Lincolnshire County Council (was independent)
• Cllr Kirk Harrison, North Northamptonshire Council (was Conservative)
• Cllr Manzur Hasan, Lincolnshire County Council (was independent)
• Cllr Cathy Hunt, Durham County Council (was independent)
• Cllr Paul Irwin, Buckinghamshire District Council (was Conservative)
• Cllr Claire Jonson-Wood, Powys County Council (was independent)
• Cllr Reg Kain, Cheshire East Council (was Liberal Democrat)
• Cllr Edward Kirk, Wiltshire Council (was Conservative)
• Cllr Karl Lewis, Powys County Council (was Conservative)
• Cllr Graham McAndrew, Hertfordshire County Council (was Conservative)
• Cllr Iain McIntosh, Powys County Council (was Conservative)
• Cllr Joanne Monk, Worcestershire County Council (was Conservative)
• Cllr Geoff Morgan, Powys County Council (was independent)
• Cllr Jan O'Hara, North Northamptonshire Council (was Conservative)
• Cllr Christine Palmer, Swale Borough Council (was independent)
• Cllr Richard Palmer, Swale Borough Council (was independent)
• Cllr Stephen Reed, North East Derbyshire District Council (was Conservative)
• Cllr Dirk Ross, Kent County Council (was independent, previously Conservative)
• Cllr Matthew Salter, Lancashire County Council (was Conservative)
• Cllr Vernon Smith, Gloucestershire County Council (was Conservative)
• Cllr Thomas Sneath, South Holland District Council (was independent)

A further defection was announced in the form of Julian Kirk, who has resigned his seat on Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council in protest at delayed local elections.  He was an independent, having previously been a Conservative councillor.

These announcements came just as another existing Reform councillor quit the party, a member of East Riding Yorkshire Council.  Still, a big net gain for Farage with the news of such a large influx.

There was quite possibly more important news for Reform on Monday.  Convict MP Mike Amesbury has officially stood down as the member for Runcorn and Helsby, triggering the by-election we've all been waiting for.  This will be a huge indicator of Reform's electoral prowess and ability to shake off its recent troubles.  They remain odds on favourites with the bookies to win the Cheshire seat and those odds have now stabilised, having previously been drifting a little in response to the infighting.

There is no date for the Runcorn by-election as yet.

COUNCIL BY-ELECTIONS 24.10.24

A total of 13 seats were available in this week's round of by-elections, with Labour defending six of them.  It was yet another grim set of results for them, with three of those seats lost to the Conservatives.  Labour finished last in two contests, while the vote share was also down in all 11 of the seats it contested - including some huge margins.  It was down 31.4 per cent in Calderdale, 26.3 per cent in South Ribble and 30.2 per cent in Surrey Heath.

Muscliff & Strouden Park - Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council

Con: 1,008 (42.3%) +16.4%

Lab: 424 (17.8%) -3.0%

Ind: 406 (17.0%) New

Ind: 188 (7.9%) New

LDm: 174 (7.3%) +1.9%

Ind: 100 (4.2%) New

Grn: 84 (3.5%) New

Con GAIN from Ind

Calder - Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

Lab: 1,009 (36.3%) -31.4%

Grn: 784 (28.2%) +13.8%

LDm: 410 (14.6%) +9.6%

Ind: 316 (11.4%) New

Con: 251 (9.0%) -3.9%

SDP: 12 (0.4%) New

Lab HOLD

Northgate & West Green - Crawley Borough Council

Lab: 704 (38.5%) -15.0%

Con: 492 (26.9%) -2.0%

Ref: 292 (16.0%) New

Grn: 174 (9.5%) -3.0%

WPB: 133 (7.3%) New

TUS: 35 (1.9%) -3.2%

Lab HOLD

Prestatyn North - Denbighshire County Council

Con: 295 (25.9%) +0.1%

Ind: 221 (19.4%) New

Ref: 218 (19.2%) New

Lab: 212 (18.6%) -18.7%

Plaid: 169 (14.9%) -4.4%

LDm: 33 (2.0%) New

Con GAIN from Lab

Croft - East Lindsey District Council

Con: 198 (46.5%)

Ind: 79 (18.5%)

LDm: 75 (17.6%)

Ind: 48 (11.3%)

Grn: 21 (4.9%)

Lab: 5 (1.2%)

Con HOLD (previously elected unopposed)

Whickham North - Gateshead Borough Council

LDm: 902 (64.6%) +6.7%

Lab: 285 (20.4%) -6.3%

Con: 137 (9.8%) +0.9%

Grn: 72 (5.2%) -1.3%

LDm HOLD

Talybolion - Isle of Anglesey County Council

Ind: 678 (51.6%) +24.6%

Plaid: 518 (39.4%) -9.6%

Con: 72 (5.5%) -14.5%

Grn: 46 (3.5%) +0.5%

Ind GAIN from Plaid

Hemlington - Middlesbrough Borough Council

Lab: 422 (53.1%) -10.2%

Con: 251 (31.6%) +16.0%

Ind: 55 (6.9%) New

WPB: 47 (5.9%) New

LDm: 20 (2.5%) New

Lab HOLD

Town - Monmouthshire County Council

Con: 350 (58.9%) +29.9%

Lab: 184 (31.0%) -15.3%

LDm: 41 (6.9%) -1.6%

Grn: 19 (3.2%) New

Con GAIN from Lab

Barton & Becton - New Forest District Council

Con: 671 (57.1%) -0.9%

LDm: 505 (42.9%) +18.9%

Con HOLD

Histon & Impington - South Cambridgeshire District Council

LDm: 942 (38.7%) -2.3%

Ind: 617 (25.3%) +4.1%

Grn: 420 (17.3%) +5.8%

Con: 283 (11.6%) -0.1%

Lab: 172 (7.1%) -7.4%

LDm HOLD

Middleforth - South Ribble Borough Council

Con: 517 (46.3%) +21.7%

Lab: 362 (32.4%) -26.3%

LDm: 173 (15.5%) -0.9%

Grn: 64 (5.7%) New

Con GAIN from Lab

Old Dean - Surrey Heath Borough Council

LDm: 394 (44.7%) New

Con: 278 (31.6%) -27.3%

Ref: 109 (12.4%) New

Lab: 96 (10.9%) -30.2%

Ind: 4 (0.5%) New

LDm GAIN from Con

Abbreviations

Con = Conservative

Lab = Labour

LDm = Liberal Democrat

Grn = Green

SDP = Social Democratic Party

Ref = Reform UK

WPB = Workers Party of Britain

TUS = Trade Unionist & Socialist Coalition

Plaid = Plaid Cymru

Ind = Independents and local groups

COUNCIL BY-ELECTIONS 19.09.24

There were eight seats up for grabs on Thursday, plus one contest held on Monday.  With the exception of Huntingdonshire, where Labour were newcomers, the Labour vote share was down in all the other seats.  They lost four seats in total, three to the Conservatives and one to the Lib Dems.  They held three others, despite huge swings to the Lib Dems in Cornwall, Reform in Hartlepool and a combination of the Greens and Workers Party in Westminster.

The Tories were defending three seats, two of which were successfully held in Hartlepool, while they lost to an independent in Huntingdonshire.

Sidemoor, Bromsgrove District Council

LDem: 276 (52.6%) +24.9%

Con: 141 (26.9%) +3.1%

Lab: 87 (16.6%) -29.2%

Grn: 21 (4.0%) New

LDem GAIN from Lab

Falmouth Penwerris, Cornwall County Council

Lab: 337 (44.7%) -19.8%

LDem: 228 (30.2%) +25.5%

Grn: 189 (25.1%) +16.6%

Lab HOLD

Burn Valley, Hartlepool Borough Council

Lab: 475 (47.5%) -21.5%

Ref: 399 (39.9%) +23.9%

LDem: 89 (8.9%) New

Grn: 36 (3.6%) New

Lab HOLD

St Neots Eatons, Huntingdonshire District Council

Ind: 531 (32.7%) New

LDem: 426 (26.2%) +2.3%

Con: 420 (25.9%) -5.4%

Ind: 125 (7.7%) New

Lab: 77 (4.7%) New

Grn: 45 (2.8%) -8.7%

Ind GAIN from Con

Harrow Road, Westminster City Council

Lab: 512 (44.2%) -27.5%

Grn: 244 (21.1%) New

WPB: 166 (14.3%) New

Con: 162 (14.0%) -3.9%

LDem: 63 (5.4%) -4.9%

Ind: 11 (0.9%) New

Lab HOLD

West End, Westminster City Council

Con: 627 (48.8%) +8.5%

Lab: 489 (38.1%) -10.5%

Grn: 94 (7.3%) New

LDem: 74 (5.8%) -5.3%

Con GAIN from Lab

Fairfield, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (two seats)

Con (2): 1,291 & 1,181 (54.2%) +12.0%

Lab (2): 528 & 496 (22.2%) -4.4%

Ref (2): 344 & 304 (14.5%) +6.4%

Ind: 110 (4.6%) New

Grn: 62 (2.6%) New

LDem (2): 45 & 43 (1.9%) New

Con HOLD (two seats)

Marine, Worthing Borough Council

Con: 865 (40.7%) +7.9%

Lab: 781 (36.8%) -16.0%

Ref: 228 (10.7%) New

Grn: 138 (6.5%) -2.7%

LDem: 113 (5.3%) +0.1%

Con GAIN from Lab

Bestwood St Albans, Gedling Borough Council (held on Monday)

Con: 358 (47.8%) +16.3%

Lab: 300 (40.1%) -12.3%

LDem: 91 (12.1%) +6.3%

Con GAIN from Lab

Abbreviations

LDem = Liberal Democrat

Con = Conservative

Lab = Labour

Grn = Green

Ref = Reform UK

WPB = Workers Party of Britain

Ind = Independents

POLICE & CRIME COMMISSIONERS 2024

The results of the police and crime commissioner elections will appear below as they come in.

Avon & Somerset

Clare Moody (Lab) 95,982 (32.3%) +8.6%

Mark Shelford (Con) 91,006 (30.6%) -4.1%

Katy Grant (Grn) 64,623 (21.7%) +5.3%

Benet Allen (LDem) 45,864 (15.4%) +2.0%

Lab GAIN from Con

Bedfordshire

John Tizard (Lab) 40,745 (40.5%) +5.5%

Festus Akinbusoye (Con) 35,688 (35.5%) -6.9%

Jasbir Singh Parmar (LDem) 15,857 (15.8%) -2.7%

Waheed Akbar (WkP) 8,396 (8.3%) New

Lab GAIN from Con

Cambridgeshire

Darryl Preston (Con) 61,688 (38.1%) -4.8%

Anna Smith (Lab) 58,304 (36.0%) +4.7%

Edna Murphy (LDem) 41,984 (25.9%) +3.6%

Con HOLD

Cheshire

Dan Price (Lab) 86,279 (48.1%) +10.8%

John Dwyer (Con) 65,836 (36.7%) -7.9%

Paul Duffy (LDem) 27,342 (15.2%) +0.7%

Lab GAIN from Con

Cleveland

Matt Storey (Lab) 65,418 (52.6%) +23.7%

Steve Turner (Con) 58,977 (47.4%) -6.8%

Lab GAIN from Con

Cumbria

David Allen (Lab) 38,708 (47.4%) +21.3%

Mike Johnson (Con) 24,863 (30.4%) -23.1%

Adrian Waite (LDem) 18,100 (22.2%) +1.8%

Lab GAIN from Con

Derbyshire

Nicolle Ndiweni (Lab) 93,260 (43.6%) +6.1%

Angelique Foster (Con) 65,293 (30.5%) -25.5%

Russell Armstrong (RefUK) 32,944 (15.4%) +11.6%

David Hancock (LDem) 22,540 (12.1%) +2.8%

Lab GAIN from Con

Devon & Cornwall

Alison Hernandez (Con) 131,764 (43.3%) -6.7%

Daniel Steel (Lab) 107,897 (35.4%) +15.2%

Steve Lodge (LDem) 64,790 (21.3%) +3.4%

Con HOLD

Dorset

David Sidwick (Con) 57,994 (38.2%) -4.3%

Howard Legg (LDem) 34,774 (22.9%) +11.1%

Marianne Storey (Ind) 32,237 (21.2%) New

David Stokes (Lab) 26,884 (17.7%) +6.8%

Con HOLD

Durham

Joy Allen (Lab) 66,852 (56.0%) +12.2%

Rob Potts (Con) 37,773 (31.7%) -11.3%

Nigel Boddy (LDem) 14,678 (12.3%) -0.9%

Lab HOLD

Dyfed-Powys

Dafydd Llywelyn (Plaid) 31,323 (40.9%) -7.3%

Ian Harrison (Con) 19,134 (25.0%) -9.0%

Philippa Thompson (Lab) 18,353 (24.0%) +0.3%

Justin Griffiths (LDem) 7,719 (10.1%) +1.4%

Plaid HOLD

Essex

Roger Hirst (Con) 126,447 (37.1%) -16.9%

Adam Fox (Lab) 116,875 (34.3%) +11.4%

Kieron Franks (LDem) 52,922 (15.5%) +2.2%

Robin Tilbrook (EDem) 34,153 (13.2%) +3.4%

Con HOLD

Gloucestershire

Chris Nelson (Con) 47,838 (32.7%) -8.0%

Martin Surl (LDem) 46,352 (31.7%) +12.7%

Ashley Smith (Lab) 35,069 (24.0%) +7.9%

Matthew Randolph (Ind) 15,240 (10.4%) +10.4%

Con HOLD

Gwent

Jane Mudd (Lab) 28,476 (41.7%) -0.1%

Hannah Jarvis (Con) 21,919 (32.1%) +3.2%

Donna Cushing (Plaid) 9,864 (14.4%) -1.8%

Mike Hamilton (LDem) 8,078 (11.8%) +7.6%

Lab HOLD

Hampshire & Isle of Wight

Donna Jones (Con) 175,953 (42.3%) -7.5%

Becky Williams (Lab) 106,141 (25.5%) +6.2%

Prad Bains (LDem) 92,843 (22.3%) +4.5%

Don Jerrard (JAC) 40,691 (9.8%) New

Con HOLD

Hertfordshire

Jonathan Ash-Edwards (Con) 93,658 (36.7%) -11.8%

Sean Prendergast (LDem) 68,264 (26.7%) -0.7%

Tom Plater (Lab) 66,585 (26.1%) +2.0%

Matt Fisher (Grn) 26,714 (10.5%) New

 

Con HOLD

Humberside

Jonathan Evison (Con) 51,083 (39.7%) -5.9%

Simon O'Rourke (Lab) 46,846 (36.4%) -3.0%

Bob Morgan (LDem) 30,834 (24.0%) +8.9%

Con HOLD

Kent

Matthew Scott (Con) 120,491 (44.1%) -13.7%

Lenny Rolles (Lab) 92,508 (33.9%) +8.6%

Graham Colley (LDem) 60,279 (22.1%) +5.1%

Con HOLD

Lancashire

Clive Grunshaw (Lab) 135,638 (47.1%) +2.3%

Andrew Snowden (Con) 101,281 (35.1%) -6.5%

Neil Darby (LDem) 51,252 (17.8%) +9.0%

Lab GAIN from Con

Leicestershire

Rupert Matthews (Con) 62,280 (35.3%) -14.0%

Rory Palmer (Lab) 61,420 (34.8%) +1.5%

Aasiya Bora (Grn) 23,649 (13.4%) New

Ian Sharpe (LDem) 22,041 (12.5%) -5.0%

Fizza Askari (OneL) 7,104 (4.0%) New

Con HOLD

Lincolnshire

Marc Jones (Con) 39,639 (36.5%) -23.2%

Mike Horder (Lab) 31,931 (29.5%) +9.5%

Peter Escreet (RefUK) 15,518 (14.3%) +10.8%

Lesley Rollings (LDem) 13,380 (12.4%) +6.4%

David Dickason (EDem) 7,739 (7.2%) New

Con HOLD

Merseyside

Emily Spurrell (Lab) 152,640 (61.7%) +4.9%

Bob Teesdale (Con) 35,221 (14.2%) -8.6%

Amanda Onwuemene (Grn) 31,330 (12.7%) +12.7%

Christopher Carubia (LDem) 28,093 (11.4%) -5.2%

Lab HOLD

Norfolk

Sarah Taylor (Lab) 52,445 (35.2%) +13.1%

Giles Orpen-Smellie (Con) 50,567 (33.9%) -11.2%

Martin Schmierer (Grn) 23,628 (15.8%) +5.6%

John Crofts (LDem) 22,525 (15.1%) +1.4%

Lab GAIN from Con

Northamptonshire

Danielle Stone (Lab) 43,684 (39.3%) +11.8%

Martyn Emberson (Con) 39,714 (35.7%) -17.5%

Ana Savage Gunn (LDem) 27,799 (25.0%) +9.7%

Lab GAIN from Con

Northumbria

Susan Dungworth (Lab) 176,311 (51.0%) +4.4%

Ros Munro (Con) 78,818 (22.8%) -8.1%

John Appleby (LDem) 58,574 (17.0%) +6.3%

Mustaque Rahman (Ind) 31,773 (9.2%) New

Lab HOLD

North Wales

Andy Dunbobbin (Lab) 31,950 (36.0%) +6.9%

Brian Jones (Con) 26,281 (29.6%) -2.0%

Ann Griffith (Plaid) 23,466 (26.4%) -2.0%

Richard Marbrow (LDem) 7,129 (8.0%) +3.7%

Lab HOLD

Nottinghamshire

Gary Godden (Lab) 119,355 (52.1%) +8.6%

Caroline Henry (Con) 77,148 (33.7%) -14.2%

David Watts (LDem) 32,410 (14.2%) +5.5%

Lab GAIN from Con

South Wales

Emma Wools (Lab) 73,128 (45.2%) +4.2%

George Carroll (Con) 43,344 (26.8%) +2.5%

Dennis Clarke (Plaid) 27,410 (16.9%) -2.1%

Sam Bennett (LDem) 17,908 (11.1%) +6.5%

Lab HOLD

Staffordshire

Ben Adams (Con) 73,500 (45.6%) -10.1%

Alastair Watson (Lab) 70,128 (43.5%) +16.0%

Alec Sandiford (LDem) 17,666 (11.0%) +6.6%

Con HOLD

Suffolk

Tim Passmore (Con) 52,968 (40.2%) -14.5%

Robin Wales (Lab) 41,734 (31.7%) +8.7%

Rachel Smith-Lyte (Grn) 22,488 (17.1%) +3.5%

James Sandbach (LDem) 14,541 (11.0%) -2.8%

Con HOLD

Surrey

Lisa Townsend (Con) 95,538 (36.0%) +2.5%

Paul Kennedy (LDem) 82,213 (30.9%) +10.2%

Kate Chinn (Lab) 42,813 (16.1%) +0.2%

Alex Coley (Ind) 42,052 (15.8%) New

Con HOLD

Sussex

Katy Bourne (Con) 122,495 (39.0%) -8.3%

Paul Richards 99,502 (31.7%) +13.0%

Jamie Bennett (LDem) 48,923 (15.6%) +1.7%

Jonathan Kent (Grn) 43,105 (13.7%) +0.3%

Con HOLD

Thames Valley

Matthew Barber (Con) 144,092 (32.1%) -10.4%

Tim Starkey (Lab) 141,749 (31.6%) +3.8%

Tim Bearder (LDem) 84,341 (18.8%) +1.3%

Ben Holden-Crowther (MPTV) 46,853 (10.4%) New

Russell Douglas Fowler (Ind) 31,460 (7.0%) New

Con HOLD

Warwickshire

Philip Seccomb (Con) 45,638 (39.4%) -12.7%

Labour Co-op Sarah Feeney (Lab) 45,377 (39.2%) +11.5%

Richard Dickson (LDem) 24,867 (21.5%) +5.3%

Con HOLD

West Mercia

John-Paul Campion (Con) 73,395 (34.3%) -21.0%

Richard Overton (Lab) 63,082 (29.5%) +5.5%

Sarah Murray (LDem) 33,782 (15.8%) +0.2%

Julian Dean (Grn) 22,021 (10.3%) New

Henry Curteis (EDem) 21,645 (10.1%) New

Con HOLD

West Midlands

Simon Foster (Lab) 327,844 (57.5%) +12.0%

Tom Byrne (Con) 241,827 (42.5%) +3.1%

Lab HOLD

Wiltshire

Philip Wilkinson (Con) 38,578 (31.0%) -5.0%

Stanka Adamcova (Lab) 36,345 (29.2%) +14.9%

Mike Rees (Ind) 29,035 (23.3%) -4.5%

Alan Hagger (LDem) 20,485 (16.5%) -3.3%

Con HOLD

COUNCIL BY-ELECTIONS 13.10.22

Five council seats were up for grabs this week and despite overwhelmingly negative media coverage and dreadful polling, it was a good return for the Conservatives.  They not only held their one defence (Gloucester), they gained seats from both Labour and the Greens.

It was a narrow hold for the Tories in Gloucester, where the absence of an independent candidate appeared to help the Lib Dems almost surge to victory.  The winning margin was just 15 votes.

In Epping Forest the Greens were defending a seat they had previously gained in a head-to-head contest against the incumbent Conservatives.  It was a two-way battle again, but on this occasion the Tory candidate triumphed.  The most sensational result of the night came in Leicester where Labour were defending one of their 50 council seats (from 54 in total).  The Conservatives stormed to victory, doubling their existing tally of one council seat.  The Green Party also enjoyed a surge, leaving Labour trailing behind in third.

Labour managed to hold its other two defences, but lost ground to the Liberal Democrats in Stockport where the absence of a Conservative candidate appeared to benefit the Lib Dems.  Interesting to note that of the four seats Labour contested on Thursday, their vote share was down in three of them with the fourth presenting a meagre advance of 0.1 per cent.

Waltham Abbey South West, Epping Forest District Council

Con: 260 (55.2%) +17.2%

Grn: 211 (44.8%) -17.2%

Con GAIN from Grn

Tuffley, Gloucester City Council

Con: 502 (34.9%) -13.5%

LDem: 487 (33.8%) +28.3%

Lab: 451 (31.3%) -2.7%

Con HOLD

Throston, Hartlepool Borough Council

Lab: 450 (50.8%) +0.1%

Ind: 280 (31.6%) +4.7%

Con: 124 (14.0%) -8.5%

LDem: 32 (3.6%) New

Lab HOLD

North Evington, Leicester City Council

Con: 3,441 (49.6%) +32.7%

Grn: 1,790 (25.8%) +20.0%

Lab: 1,563 (22.5%) -49.8%

LDem: 100 (1.4%) -3.5%

TUSC: 45 (0.6%) New

Con GAIN from Lab

Edgeley & Cheadle Heath, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council

Lab: 1,172 (52.9%) -19.6%

LDem: 844 (38.1%) +32.1%

Grn: 200 (9.0%) +0.5%

Lab HOLD

Abbreviations

Con = Conservative

Grn = Green

LDem = Liberal Democrat

Lab = Labour

TUSC = Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

Ind = Independents

COUNCIL BY-ELECTIONS 08.09.22

Five council seats up for grabs this week and another terrible outing for the Tories.  There was no Truss bounce as the Conservatives lost all four of the seats they were defending.

On West Sussex County Council the Tories lost to an independent who came from nowhere to take the seat, arguably aided by the absence of the Lib Dems and Greens.  In Arun (also West Sussex) the Green Party was victorious, undoubtedly aided by the absence of the Lib Dems.  The Tories also lost to the Greens in Lancaster, although there were no 'progressive alliance' absenteeism here - they were crushed despite the addition of a Lib Dem candidate.

The Tories also lost a seat to Labour in Cannock Chase (Staffordshire), finishing an embarrassing third - no 'progressive alliance' absentees here either.

The other contest was in Hartlepool where Labour won a seat vacated by an independent.  There were three absentees from this contest - Veterans and People's Party, Reform UK and For Britain.

Barnham, Arun District Council

Grn: 786 (50.9%) +19.0%

Con: 641 (41.5%) +11.5%

Lab: 116 (7.5%) -8.0%

Grn GAIN from Con

Hednesford North, Cannock Chase District Council

Lab: 290 (38.1%) +4.8%

Ind: 228 (30.0%) +2.6%

Con: 208 (27.3%) -12.0%

Ind: 35 (4.6%) New

Lab GAIN from Con

Foggy Furze, Hartlepool Borough Council

Lab: 443 (43.9%) +24.1%

Con: 391 (38.8%) +9.0%

Ind: 126 (12.5%) -17.7%

LDem: 49 (4.9%) New

Lab GAIN from Ind

Warton, Lancaster City Council

Grn: 452 (65.7%) +32.8%

Con: 169 (24.6%) -22.7%

Lab: 44 (6.4%) -13.5%

LDem: 23 (3.3%) New

Grn GAIN from Con

Felpham, West Sussex County Council

Ind: 803 (43.4%) New

Con: 733 (39.6%) -12.8%

Lab: 217 (11.7%) +3.5%

Ind: 99 (5.3%) -14.8%

Ind GAIN from Con

TWO AND A HALF WEEKS

On Friday it was reported that Keir Starmer has returned the Beergate questionnaire issued to him by County Durham police.  Problem is, the Labour leader was sent that questionnaire two and a half weeks ago.  Was he given a deadline?  Was that deadline looming?  Is he stringing things out as long as possible in the hope that they'll give up?

We can only assume that this barrister and former public prosecutor has an agenda, because two and a half weeks is a long time to fill out a questionnaire.  Make no mistake, if it had taken Johnson that long then Starmer would be roundly mocking him come the next PMQs.

The ball is now back in the court of Durham Constabulary.  Will they fine Sir Squeaky?  He has pledged to resign if they do...

POLICE CONFIRM STARMER PROBE

Durham Constabulary have confirmed they will investigate whether Keir Starmer broke lockdown rules during the so-called 'beergate' event in April 2021.  A spokesperson said the force was in receipt of 'significant new information'.

The full police statement read: "Earlier this year, Durham Constabulary carried out an assessment as to whether Covid-19 regulations had been breached at a gathering in Durham City on April 30th 2021.  At that time, it was concluded that no offence had been established and therefore no further action would be taken.  Following the receipt of significant new information over recent days, Durham Constabulary has reviewed that position and now, following the conclusion of the pre-election period, we can confirm that an investigation into potential breaches of Covid-19 regulations relating to this gathering is now being conducted".

A Labour spokesperson said: "We’re obviously happy to answer any questions there are and we remain clear that no rules were broken".  However, as Keir Starmer was leaving Carlisle this afternoon he refused to answer questions from reporters and was ushered away (click below for video).

If Starmer is found to have breached Covid rules and is fined, his posturing over Partygate will come back to haunt him...

News of the police probe will compound what has been a fairly disappointing set of election results for Starmer.  London asides, Labour failed to make significant gains and looks set to barely match their 2018 local election result - when Jeremy Corbyn was leader.  Embarrassing.

STARMER'S LOCKDOWN DRINKS PROBE

After months of posturing over Partygate, Keir Starmer's own lockdown-defying antics have come under the microscope.  Durham Constabulary are reported to be considering a request from Tory MP Richard Holden to investigate an event in which the Labour leader was filmed drinking with local campaigners in April 2021.  The police force had previously stated its belief that no lockdown rules had been broken.

There has been no word of the latest developments on the BBC or other broadcast media, with the exception - of course - of GB News.  Tom Harwood spoke to Richard Holden about his request to Durham Constabulary (see below).

If police proceed with an investigation it will be an acute embarrassment to a man who has repeatedly implored the Prime Minister to resign over lockdown parties.  The chickens are coming home Sir Keir.

COUNCIL BY-ELECTIONS 14.04.22

Four council contests this week and some signs of a further backlash over Partygate.  The Conservatives were defending two seats and lost both - one to Labour and one to the Lib Dems.  In County Durham the situation was far from clear cut as the Tory seat up for grabs had been won from a second place position (there were two seats available).  Labour extended their lead over the Tories and easily took the seat.

In Surrey the Tories were stunned by a Lib Dem surge, aided by the absence of other candidates including Labour.

The other two seats on offer were vacated by independents.  The Lib Dems surged to victory from nowhere in Maldon, while the other seat went to another independent as the Lib Dems tied with the Tories for second place.

Absentees this week were independents across all four seats, Labour in Surrey Heath and Tewkesbury and UKIP in Surrey Heath.

West Auckland, Durham County Council

Lab: 956 (56.3%) +12.2%

Con: 554 (32.6%) -10.2%

Ind: 187 (11.0%) New

Lab GAIN from Con

Heybridge West, Maldon District Council

LDem: 269 (44.8%) New

Con: 107 (18.4%) -21.2%

Ind: 93 (16.0%) New

Ind: 72 (12.4%) New

Lab: 49 (8.4%) New

LDem GAIN from Ind

Bisley & West End, Surrey Heath Borough Council

LDem: 1,286 (66.0%) +48.8%

Con: 662 (34.0%) -0.8%

LDem GAIN from Con

Brockworth East, Tewkesbury Borough Council

Ind: 346 (69.5%) New

Con: 76 (15.3%) -0.9%

LDem: 76 (15.3%) +2.5%

Ind GAIN from Ind

Abbreviations

Lab = Labour

Con = Conservative

LDem = Liberal Democrat

Ind = Independents

COUNCIL BY-ELECTIONS 24.02.22

Six by-elections this week, five of which were Conservative defences.  In a somewhat uneventful night the Tories held all five, albeit with mostly reduced vote shares.  The appearance of new parties in those wards contributed to the decline in their vote, with the exception of Aveland in Lincolnshire.  That seat was not contested at all in 2019 as the Conservative candidate was elected unopposed.

A free-for-all in County Durham was triggered by the death of an independent councillor.  Labour took that seat with some ease, despite a crowded field of newcomers.

St Peter's, Castle Point Borough Council

Con: 502 (44.9%) -30.3%

Ind: 439 (39.2%) New

Lab: 178 (15.9%) -8.9%

Con HOLD

Ferryhill, Durham County Council

Lab: 876 (41.3%) +6.4%

Ind: 528 (24.9%) New

Con: 348 (16.4%) -11.9%

Ind: 166 (7.8%) New

Grn: 165 (7.8%) New

Freedom: 28 (1.3%) New

LDem: 9 (0.4%) New

Lab GAIN from Ind

Colsterworth Rural, Lincolnshire County Council

Con: 986 (59.6%) -17.1%

LDem: 277 (16.8%) New

Lab: 269 (16.3%) -6.9%

Grn: 121 (7.3%) New

Con HOLD

Wickham Bishops & Woodham, Maldon District Council

Con: 361 (54.0%) -10.6%

Ind: 161 (24.1%) +3.0%

LDem: 80 (12.0%) New

Lab: 66 (9.9%) -4.4%

Con HOLD

Aveland, South Kesteven District Council

Con: 373 (72.4%)

Lab: 142 (27.6%)

Con HOLD

Isaac Newton, South Kesteven District Council

Con: 412 (51.8%) -23.5%

Ind: 165 (20.7%) New

Lab: 147 (18.5%) -6.3%

Grn: 72 (9.0%) New

Con HOLD

Abbreviations

Con = Conservative

Lab = Labour

Grn = Green

Freedom = Freedom Alliance

LDem = Liberal Democrat

Ind = Independents

DURHAM LEADER RESIGNS

Simon Henig CBE

The outgoing leader of Durham County Council has resigned following Labour's historic loss of the council.  Labour had held overall control of Durham since 1925 and have been the largest party for the entire 102 year history of the council.  They remain the largest party after Thursday's elections, but the council has gone into no overall control after Labour lost 21 seats, most of which to the Conservatives.

Simon Henig had been leader of the council since 2008 and had initially said that he would be willing to work with 'anybody' following Labour's defeat.  However, he resigned as Labour group leader on Monday morning, releasing the following statement:

"The results of the election in County Durham last week were deeply disappointing for the Labour Party.  Unfortunately the outcome was in line with the national and regional picture, and the result of the December 2019 general election.

I have had the opportunity to reflect on the situation, and have decided that the time has come for someone else to lead the Labour Group, so I will not be putting my name forward to the Group AGM this weekend. 

I am very proud of the Labour county council’s record over the past 12 years, with the creation of over 10,000 new jobs prior to coronavirus, including major companies such as Hitachi choosing to locate in County Durham, plans for 30,000 more jobs now being realised, a world-class events programme and visitor numbers increasing year by year.  This is a wonderful county and I believe this legacy is a firm foundation for continued growth across County Durham in the future.

It is now the time for someone else to lead us through this next phase.  I would like to wish the new leadership every success".

Whoever succeeds Henig may opt for a coalition with the Liberal Democrats and/or independents.

Durham County Council (NOC from Lab)

Labour 53 (-21)

Conservative 24 (+14)

Liberal Democrat 17 (+3)

Green 1 (+1)

Independents 31 (+3)