COUNCIL BY-ELECTIONS 25.06.26

It was another exceptionally busy week, with no less than 24 council seats up for grabs across the mainland.  Several contests were held to replace councillors elected to the Welsh Senedd, two polls (for three seats) were carried over from May 7, while the remainder were a melting pot of deaths, resignations and disqualifications.

The hot weather appeared to affect turnout, which was significantly down in some southern and Midland contests.  Turnout was lower than 14 per cent in the Hackney ward of Dalston.

This round of by-elections was certainly Labour's best in a long time, with multiple gains and holds for the first time in 18 months.  However, they still lost more seats than they gained, with a net loss of three.  Their vote share increased in ten of the seats the party contested, which bucks a trend dating back well over a year.  However, their vote share was still plummeting in several seats.

There is clearly evidence of a slight turnaround in fortunes for Labour, but is it really a Burnham bounce?  Time will tell.  He is not in place yet.  This was probably more about a realisation that Starmer is leaving, as opposed to who is coming in.

George St/Harbour, Aberdeen City Council

(first preference votes)

SNP: 583 (33.1%) -9.1%

Lab: 255 (14.5%) -5.3%

Grn: 232 (13.2%) -0.7%

Ref: 177 (10.1%) New

LDm: 162 (9.2%) -2.2%

Ind: 162 (9.2%) New

Con: 146 (8.3%) -2.7%

TUS: 31 (1.8%) New

ALS: 13 (0.7%) New

SNP GAIN from LDm (elected at stage 8)

This by-election was triggered after the incumbent moved away from the area, much to the reported annoyance of the SNP/Lib Dem coalition that runs the council with a majority of just one.  They needn't have worried too much, as the SNP easily took the seat.  Due to the complex nature of Scottish elections, it was highly improbable that the Lib Dems could hold this seat as they finished fifth here last time, but were elected on the single transferable vote mechanism.

Karl - SNP GAIN ✔

Rich - SNP GAIN ✔

Goldsmid, Brighton and Hove City Council

Grn: 2,037 (49.0%) +22.4%

Lab: 1,357 (32.7%) -14.6%

Ref: 304 (7.3%) New

LDm: 214 (5.2%) -1.7%

Con: 210 (5.1%) -4.6%

TUS: 31 (0.7%) New

Grn GAIN from Lab

Triggered by the resignation of the Labour incumbent, who had been sitting as an independent since February.  She had resigned from Labour, citing disenchantment with the national party.  It appears that Brighton voters felt the same, with a significant swing to the victorious Greens.  There was no independent candidate this time.

Karl - Grn GAIN ✔

Rich - Lab HOLD ✘

Roman Bank & Peckover, Cambridgeshire County Council

Ref: 1,009 (39.0%) -5.6%

Con: 983 (38.0%) +8.7%

LDm: 414 (16.0%) -3.1%

Lab: 105 (4.1%) +0.2%

Grn: 76 (2.9%) -0.2%

Ref HOLD

A tight contest this and some existing beef between the two parties at the top of the poll.  The Reform incumbent was recently convicted of defaming a Conservative candidate in a Facebook post and was disqualified from his council seat as a result.  Reform managed to hold off the Tories by a margin of 26 votes.

Karl - Ref HOLD ✔

Rich - Con GAIN ✘

Llangennech, Carmarthenshire County Council

Pld: 483 (41.1%) +11.0%

Lab: 338 (28.9%) +5.3%

Ref: 283 (24.2%) -18.9%

Con: 38 (3.3%) +2.4%

Ind: 11 (0.9%) New

Grn: 8 (0.7%) New

LDm: 7 (0.6%) -1.0%

Pld GAIN from Ref

Held due to the election of the Reform incumbent to the Senedd last month.  He vacated the seat, having only won it from Labour in a by-election last August.  Reform suffered a significant dip in vote share this time, slipping to third place, while all those around them increased their share.  Welsh voters will learn soon enough that Plaid is not the answer.  Gwlad did not contest the seat this time round.

Karl - Ref HOLD ✘

Rich - Pld GAIN ✔

Rhyl South, Denbighshire County Council

Ref: 297 (44.3%) New

Pld: 167 (23.9%) New

Lab: 160 (19.6%) -43.0%

Con: 131 (10.0%) -27.4%

LDm: 10 (1.5%) New

Grn: 5 (0.7%) New

Ref GAIN from Lab

Triggered by the death of the longstanding incumbent, but there was zero sympathy from voters as Labour tumbled to third place with a big swing to Plaid and Reform.  The deceased had been erroneously listed as an 'independent' in some quarters, not helped by a statement from the council referring to her as a 'non-aligned member'.  However, Cllr Chamberlain-Jones had been elected on a Labour ticket at every Denbighshire council election since 2004.

Karl - Lab HOLD ✘

Rich - Ref GAIN ✔

Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch, Denbighshire County Council

Ind: 283 (46.2%) New

Pld: 242 (39.5%) -29.9%

Ref: 47 (7.7%) New

Ind: 24 (3.9%) New

Con: 17 (2.8%) -27.8%

Ind GAIN from Pld

The election of the Plaid incumbent to the Senedd last month triggered this contest.  Only Plaid and the Conservatives stood here last time and voters clearly wanted something different, opting for an independent newcomer over the national socialists of Plaid.

Karl - Pld HOLD ✘

Rich - Pld HOLD ✘

North Acton, Ealing London Borough Council

Grn: 804 (30.2%) +1.4%

Lab: 642 (24.1%) -4.6%

LDm: 523 (19.6%) +8.3%

Ref: 309 (11.6%) -0.1%

Con: 257 (9.6%) -3.5%

Ind: 129 (4.8%) New

Grn HOLD

A relatively easy hold for the Greens, despite voters being asked to vote again - in searing heat - just seven weeks after electing them in the first place.  The initial winning Green resigned days after being elected on May 7, citing unspecified 'health grounds'.  If he had been a newly elected Reform councillor, there would have been a lot more media interest in his resignation.  There were two absentees from last month's election here - Rejoin EU and the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition dropped out just weeks after garnering 201 and 83 votes respectively.

Karl - Lab GAIN ✘

Rich - Lab GAIN ✘

Dalston, Hackney London Borough Council

Grn: 549 (57.7%) -2.6%

Lab: 342 (36.0%) +6.9%

Ref: 26 (2.7%) -0.1%

LDm: 24 (2.5%) -2.0%

Con: 10 (1.1%) -2.3%

Grn HOLD

Another London by-election triggered by the Greens, costing taxpayers upwards of £20,000, after they selected the same candidate for both council and elected mayor.  Having been elected as Hackney's new mayor, the Green victor had to forfeit the council seat.  The same five parties that contested the seat a few weeks ago did so again and the Greens managed to hold on a very poor turnout.

Karl - Lab GAIN ✘

Rich - Grn HOLD ✔

Hackney Central, Hackney London Borough Council

Grn: 676 (45.3%) -1.6%

Lab: 624 (41.9%) +12.4%

LDm: 83 (5.6%) -1.6%

Ref: 59 (4.0%) -0.7%

Con: 49 (3.3%) -1.3%

Grn HOLD

Another Green cock-up in Hackney sparked this by-election, this time having fielded an ineligible candidate.  No-one in Zack's crazy gang seemed to clock that a council employee (a school teacher in this instance) could not take up a council seat.  An independent and the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition stood here last month, but dropped out for this re-run.  As an indicator of what kind of ward this is, three of the five candidates (Green, Labour, Lib Dems) had double-barrelled names.  There was a Labour bounce in terms of vote share, but bourgeois voters just about kept the seat for the Greens.

Karl - Lab GAIN ✘

Rich - Lab GAIN ✘

Farnworth, Halton Borough Council

Lab: 835 (51.0%) +14.6

Ref: 596 (36.4%) n/c

Con: 126 (7.7%) -5.7%

Grn: 77 (4.7%) -9.0%

Lbt: 3 (0.2%) New

Lab HOLD

Labour not only held this seat, they extended their lead over Reform, which in last month's council elections here was just one vote.  A Burnham bounce?  The resignation of the Labour incumbent for 'personal reasons' triggered this contest.  The Libertarian newcomer didn't fare too well.

Karl - Ref GAIN ✘

Rich - Ref GAIN ✘

Northumberland Park, Haringey London Borough Council

Lab: 877 (44.3%) +12.4%

Grn: 839 (42.4%) +13.1%

Ref: 106 (5.4%) -0.6%

Con: 98 (4.9%) -2.0%

LDm: 60 (3.0%) -1.7%

Lab GAIN from Green

Another contest caused by an ineligible Green elected only last month.  The reason for the disqualification is not clear, which may suggest a criminal conviction.  Again, if this had been a Reform councillor, the media would be asking all sorts of questions.  The Greens needed to hold here and gain a seat from Labour in the other vacancy to take outright control of the council.  It wasn't to be, as Labour held onto the lead they received in last month's election, when all three seats were up for grabs.  Two Labour candidates topped the poll on May 7, but the solitary unvetted Green candidate squeezed into third place to take the third seat.  A local independent socialist that dropped out was the only ballot change from May 7.

Karl - Lab GAIN ✔

Rich - Lab GAIN ✔

Woodside, Haringey London Borough Council

Grn: 1,033 (43.3%) +6.1%

Lab: 976 (41.0%) +2.7%

Ref: 171 (7.2%) +0.1%

Con: 110 (4.6%) -2.4%

LDm: 93 (3.9%) -6.5%

Grn GAIN from Lab

Yet another ward being asked to vote again just a few week after May 7, this time because the Labour incumbent resigned for 'personal reasons', just days after being elected.  The Greens scored a gain in this left-wing contest, but it wasn't enough to gain an outright majority on Haringey Council.  They were two seats short and running a minority administration going into Thursday, but they lost a seat to Labour on the same night.  Oh well!

Karl - Lab HOLD ✘

Rich - Lab HOLD ✘

Bushey Park, Hertsmere Borough Council

Con: 947 (42.9%) +3.4%

LDm: 726 (32.9%) -19.5%

Ref: 422 (19.1%) New

Grn: 61 (2.8%) New

Lab: 50 (2.3%) -5.8%

Con GAIN from LDm

A surprise Tory gain, following the death of the Lib Dem incumbent.  The Lib Dem vote share took a big tumble and Labour hit rock bottom.  Were there local issues at play, or was it a statement about the overall populatity of the Labour/Lib Dem coalition that has run the council since 2023?

Karl - LDm HOLD ✘

Rich - LDm HOLD ✘

East Sutherland & Edderton, Highland Council

(first preference votes)

Ind: 1,044 (40.2%) New

LDm: 854 (32.9%) -2.9%

SNP: 452 (17.4%) -9.1%

Ref: 188 (7.2%) New

Con: 59 (2.3%) -14.7%

Ind GAIN from Ind (elected at stage 5)

The independent incumbent resigned on health grounds, having picked up this seat in 2022 through Scotland's complex voting system.  The Lib Dems topped the poll on that occasion, but there were three seats up for grabs and one went to the independent candidate.  Labour were previously the top dogs in this ward, but they did not even turn up to defend the seat in 2022 and were absent again this time, as were the Libertarians who contested the seat last time

Karl - SNP GAIN ✘

Rich - LDm GAIN ✘

Dowlais & Pant, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

Lab: 356 (40.1%) +12.5%

Ind: 215 (24.2%) New

Ref: 160 (18.0%) New

Pld: 125 (14.1%) +5.7%

Grn: 20 (2.3%) New

Con: 11 (1.2%) New

Lab GAIN from Ind

Another vacancy arising out of the election of the incumbent to the Senedd last month.  He was elected as an independent to this ward in 2022, but joined Reform UK three years later and now represents that party in the Senedd.  Independents have been very successfull in this ward previously, but it was Labour who won this free-for-all election, while the party the incumbent had switched to finished a distant third.

Karl - Lab GAIN ✔

Rich - Ind GAIN ✘

Camp Hill, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council

Ref: 460 (48.7%) +2.6%

Lab: 400 (42.4%) +19.3%

Con: 84 (8.9%) -2.6%

Ref GAIN from Lab

Triggered by the resignation of the Labour incumbent on health grounds.  Last month there were five candidates here, but this time there were no candidates from either the Greens or Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, which clearly benefited Labour.  However, it was not enough to stop Reform, who gained the other council seat from Labour here last month.  The vote share changes are compared with that recent election, which is why Labour's vote share has outpaced Reform's, but they still lose the seat they won in 2024.

Karl - Ref GAIN ✔

Rich - Ref GAIN ✔

Treorchy, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council

Pld: 1,147 (70.8%) +31.4% Ref: 260 (16.0%) New Lab: 164 (10.1%) -45.1% Con: 27 (1.7%) -3.8% Grn: 23 (1.4%) New

Pld HOLD

The Plaid incumbent was elected to the Senedd last month and vacated this seat as a result.  Both council seats were up for grabs here last time and Plaid narrowly won the second seat behind first place Labour.  There was no such close call this time, with Labour crashing to third place and Plaid romping home in first place by a margin of almost 900 votes.

Karl - Pld HOLD ✔

Rich - Pld HOLD ✔

Haydock, St. Helens Borough Council

Ref: 717 (33.0%) -7.4%

Ind: 631 (29.0%) New

Lab: 598 (27.5%) +9.1%

Grn: 154 (7.1%) -21.4%

Con: 39 (1.8%) -3.7%

Ind: 36 (1.7%) -5.5%

Ref HOLD

Reform managed to hold, despite the vacancy arising from a hugely embarrassing scenario - especially for a party on the conservative right.  The incumbent resigned days after being elected last month, after the local lefty rag exposed him as a gay porn star.  The local Reform leadership stood by him - publicly at least - but he chose to resign anyway.  Reform's left-wing opponents clearly struggled to make use of such a smear, considering they would otherwise support such debauchery.  Let's hope the latest Reform victor has a more virtuous history!

Karl - Ref HOLD ✔

Rich - Grn GAIN ✘

St Helens Town Centre, St Helens Borough Council

(two seats)

Ref: 460 (22.2%)

Lab: 436 (21.0%)

Ref: 419 (20.2%)

Lab: 391 (18.8%)

Grn: 146 (7.0%)

Grn: 112 (5.4%)

Ind: 71 (3.4%)

Con: 41 (2.0%)

Ref GAIN from Lab x 1

Lab HOLD x 1

This election for two seats was postponed and carried over from May 7, after one of the Reform candidates passed away.  The ballot paper was radically different from the last election here, which featured only four candidates for two seats (Labour x 2, Conservatives x 1, For Britain x 1).  Reform managed to top the poll and very nearly made it a double gain from Labour, but one of the Labour candidates snook into second place by a margin of 17 votes.

Karl - Lab HOLD x 2 ✔ ✘

Rich - Lab HOLD x 1 ✔ Grn GAIN x 1 ✘

Stretton, Staffordshire County Council

Ref: 902 (37.1%) -2.1%

Con: 871 (35.8%) +5.6%

Lab: 448 (18.4%) -1.1%

Grn: 213 (8.8%) +4.2%

Ref HOLD

Triggered by the resignation of the Reform incumbent, after barely a year in office.  This was attributed to health reasons, although social media comments suggested he was not too happy in the role and he had failed to attend a council meeting in five months.  Voters largely stuck with Reform, but the Tories closed the gap to just 31 votes.  The Lib Dems did not stand this time.

Karl - Ref HOLD ✔

Rich - Con GAIN ✘

Wilnecote, Tamworth Borough Council

Ref: 618 (46.4%) +33.2% Ind: 290 (21.8%) New Con: 162 (12.2%) -20.0% Lab: 152 (11.4%) -43.2% Grn: 109 (8.2%) New

Ref GAIN from Con

This by-election was postponed and carried over from May 7, after the death of the Labour candidate.  An impressive gain for Reform, who surged past the Conservatives with a significant swing from both Labour and the Tories.  The West Midlands region is turning into quite the Reform stronghold.

Karl - Con HOLD ✘

Rich - Ref GAIN ✔

Dawlish South West, Teignbridge District Council

LDm: 692 (45.3%) +6.6%

Ref: 451 (29.5%) New

Grn: 230 (15.1%) +3.8%

Con: 154 (10.1%) -12.8%

LDm HOLD

Triggered by the death of the 89-year-old incumbent (yes, you read that correctly).  The Lib Dems went for experience again, opting for a 72-year-old candidate in the form of an ex-Labour leader of Wirral Council.  The new pensioner triumphed with relative ease, while Reform entered the fray with an impressive second place on debut.  Plenty of independent votes were up for grabs this time, with three having stood here last time.  Labour don't even bother contesting this ward.

Karl - LDm HOLD ✔

Rich - LDm HOLD ✔

Stort Valley, Uttlesford District Council

Con: 255 (46.4%) +18.7%

LDm: 175 (31.9%) -25.8%

Ref: 119 (21.7%) +16.0%

Con GAIN from LDm

The longstanding Lib Dem incumbent is currently being treated for cancer and understandably vacated the seat on health grounds.  There was no sympathy from voters, as they dumped her party in favour of the Conservatives.  A rural ward with a tiny electorate, the Labour party contested this last time around and their absence on Thursday was the only change on the ballot.

Karl - LDm HOLD ✘

Rich - LDm HOLD ✘

Karl led Richey by a narrow margin of two going into week six.  Last week's bonanza of by-elections improved both their standings, with both moving above 50 per cent accuracy.  However, Karl has extended his lead to three this week, while Richey's accuracy drops below 50 per cent.

There are twelve more seats up for grabs next week, but only two the week after, so the pressure is very much on Richey!

COUNCIL BY-ELECTIONS 17.07.25

Nine council seats were up for grabs on Thursday, with action taking place from east to west.

Labour were on the defence in two seats, losing one and holding the other.  In Basildon they lost to Reform who came from nowhere to win fairly comfortably, taking votes from all the other parties.  Labour held in Neath Port Talbot, despite a significant dip in their vote share.  Labour's vote share was down in all nine seats.

The Tories had a mixed week, losing two seats to Reform and gaining two elsewhere, including a Reform defence...

Reform had been defending their third seat in as many weeks, following several resignations within just days or weeks of being elected in May.  They have now lost all three, primarily because the electorate doesn't appreciate being asked to vote twice in a matter of months.  They tumbled to third place in Staffordshire, where the Tories sailed into first for an easy win.

NOTE:  The Denbighshire hold for the Conservatives was previously a multi-seat contest in which the Green Party won the first seat and the Tories second.

St Martin's, Basildon Borough Council

Ref: 1,057 (44.6%) New

Lab: 833 (35.1%) -3.2%

Con: 320 (13.5%) -7.1%

Grn: 82 (3.4%) -8.9%

LDm: 39 (1.6%) -7.8%

TUS: 26 (1.1%) -6.3%

SDP: 13 (0.5%) New

Ref GAIN from Lab

Maypole & Leyton Cross, Dartford Borough Council

Ref: 303 (53.7%) New

Con: 158 (28.0%) -40.7%

Lab: 71 (12.6%) -18.7%

Grn: 32 (5.7%) New

Ref GAIN from Con

Stone House, Dartford Borough Council

Ref: 475 (45.2%) New

Lab: 299 (28.4%) -12.8%

Con: 190 (18.1%) -31.4%

Grn: 87 (8.3%) -1.0%

Ref GAIN from Con

Prestatyn Central, Denbighshire County Council

Con: 230 (21.7%) -1.8%

Ind: 223 (21.1%) New

Ref: 195 (18.4%) New

Pld: 152 (14.3%) New

Grn: 144 (13.6%) -35.4%

Lab: 95 (9.0%) -14.5%

LDm: 19 (1.8%) New

Con HOLD

Market Harborough-Logan, Harborough District Council

Con: 410 (31.3%) +4.1%

LDm: 355 (27.1%) -19.8%

Grn: 290 (22.2%) +14.5%

Ref: 190 (14.1%) New

Lab: 44 (3.4%) -9.1%

Ind: 10 (0.7%) -4.8%

CPB: 9 (0.6%) New

Con GAIN from LDm

Sefton Park, Liverpool City Council

Grn: 468 (49.8%) -7.0%

Lab: 211 (22.4%) -11.1%

LDm: 193 (20.5%) +15.4%

Ref: 54 (5.7%) New

Con: 14 (1.5%) -3.0%

Grn HOLD

Baglan, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council

Lab: 708 (37.5%) -16.8%

Ind: 532 (28.2%) New

Ref: 447 (23.7%) New

Pld: 149 (7.9%) New

Con: 19 (1.0%) -14.1%

Grn: 18 (1.0%) New

LDm: 13 (0.7%) New

Lab HOLD

Pontypridd Town, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council

Pld: 540 (51.6%) -2.2%

Ref: 253 (24.2%) New

Lab: 203 (19.4%) -16.8%

Con: 27 (2.6%) -7.3%

Grn: 23 (2.2%) New

Pld HOLD

Eccleshall & Gnosall, Staffordshire County Council

Con: 1,689 (44.4%) +10.1%

Grn: 1,037 (27.3%) +8.2%

Ref: 938 (24.7%) -10.3%

Lab: 140 (3.7%) -3.9%

Con GAIN from Ref

Abbreviations

Ref = Reform UK

Lab = Labour

Con = Conservative

Grn = Green

LDm = Liberal Democrat

TUS = Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

SDP = Social Democratic Party

Pld = Plaid Cymru

CPB = Communist Party of Britain

Ind = Independents and residents' groups

COUNCIL BY-ELECTIONS 19.06.25

Six council by-elections were held on Thursday, with action from the northern reaches of Britain to the very south.  Seven seats were up for grabs, with a double header in the Highlands.  Although Labour's vote share was down in all of the seats it contested, the figures were not as dramatic as they have been for the previous six months.  Only in Sefton was their vote share reduced by double figures, with a large swing to both the Greens and Reform.

Reform UK continue to impress, including a gain in Yorkshire.

Buckingham, Adur District Council

Lab: 609 (43.7%) -7.2%

Ref: 311 (22.3%) New

Con: 301 (21.6%) -10.1%

LDm: 153 (10.9%) -1.4%

BrFt: 22 (1.6%) New

Lab HOLD

Cromarty Firth, Highland Council

(two seats, first preference votes)

LDm: 481 (20.3%) -7.6%

SNP: 403 (17.0%) -2.2%

Ind: 326 (13.7%) New

Ind: 323 (13.6%) New

Ind: 285 (12.0%) New

Ind: 182 (6.8%) New

Ind: 97 (4.1%) New

Grn: 89 (3.7%) +0.9%

Lab: 77 (3.2%) -0.9%

Ref: 57 (3.2%) New

Con: 52 (2.4%) -4.3%

LDm HOLD x 1 (elected stage 11)

Ind HOLD x 1 (elected stage 11)

Eilean á Chèo, Highland Council

(first preference votes)

Ind: 823 (23.5%) New

LDm: 741 (21.5%) +18.0%

Ind: 655 (18.7%) New

SNP: 527 (15.0%) -7.5%

Ind: 276 (7.3%) New

Grn: 239 (6.8%) New

Ref: 157 (4.5%) New

Con: 86 (2.5%) -8.3%

Ind GAIN from Ind

Eastfield, North Yorkshire Council

Ref: 538 (62.7%) New

Lab: 121 (14.1%) -1.6%

SJP: 118 (13.8%) New

Con: 40 (4.7%) -1.8%

LDm: 24 (2.8%) -23.3%

Grn: 17 (2.0%) +0.2%

Ref GAIN from Ind

Blundellsands, Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

Lab: 1,290 (43.8%) -22.2%

Grn: 420 (15.5%) New

Ref: 386 (14.2%) New

LDm: 370 (13.6%) +2.3%

Con: 287 (10.6%) -12.1%

TUS: 36 (1.3%) New

Ind: 28 (1.0%) -7.2%

Lab HOLD

Ashford Town, Spelthorne Borough Council

LDm: 539 (27.4%) New

Ref: 459 (23.4%) New

Con: 374 (19.0%) -18.5%

Ind: 359 (18.3%) -9.7%

Lab: 234 (11.9%) -2.2%

LDm GAIN from Con

Abbreviations

Lab = Labour

Ref =  Reform UK

Con = Conservative

LDm = Liberal Democrat

BrFt = Britain First

SNP = Scottish National Party

SJP = Social Justice Party

Grn = Green

TUS = Trade Unionist & Socialist Coalition

Ind = Independent

COUNCIL BY-ELECTIONS 03.04.25

A very interesting set of results this week, with all three available seats changing hands.  The Lib Dems took two seats from Labour, one of which - in South Wales - Labour were defending from a seat they had previously won in a double vacancy, having finished second to Plaid.  The Lib Dems surged past both Plaid and Labour in that seat from scratch, scoring a remarkable victory.

Also scoring a gain from scratch were Reform UK, with the Lib Dems being on the losing side this time.  That stunning Reform victory took place in the north west, not known as one of their stronger regions.

Park, City of Lincoln Council

LDm: 366 (35.7%) +28.5%

Lab: 280 (27.3%) -36.1%

Ref: 180 (17.6%) New

Con: 87 (8.5%) -9.0%

Grn: 87 (8.5%) -1.8%)

TUS: 25 (2.4%) New

LDm GAIN from Lab

Cwmllynfell & Ystalyfera, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council

LDm: 383 (34.0%) New

Pld: 340 (30.2%) -26.5%

Ref: 150 (13.3%) New

Lab: 143 (12.7%) -30.6%

Ind: 98 (8.7%) New

Con: 12 (1.1%) New

LDm GAIN from Lab

Sutton South East, St Helens Borough Council

Ref: 447 (44.5%) New

Lab: 364 (36.3%) +0.7%

LDm: 147 (14.6%) -34.7%

Con: 46 (4.6%) -10.5%

Ref GAIN from LDm

Abbreviations

LDm = Liberal Democrat

Lab = Labour

Ref = Reform UK

Con = Conservative

Grn = Green

TUS = Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

Pld = Plaid Cymru

Ind = Independent

COUNCIL BY-ELECTIONS 23.01.25

Six seats were up for grabs on Thursday, four of which were north of the border and two of those were a double header in Edinburgh.

The Lib Dems and SNP were defending a seat each in Edinburgh, but lost to the Tories and Labour.  The Conservative vote did particularly well in this by election.  Elsewhere in Scotland, Labour lost to the SNP in Stirling, while the party did not even bother defending their Shetland seat.

South of the border it was a Lib Dem hold in Liverpool and a Labour hold in the Potteries.  The latter saw a very strong swing to Reform UK who had not previously contested the seat.

Colinton/Fairmilehead, City of Edinburgh Council

(two seats, first preference votes)

Con: 2,027 (32.6%) +12.9%

Lab: 1,146 (18.4%) -1.1%

LDm: 1,009 (16.2%) -20.0%

SNP: 840 (13.5%) +2.7%

Grn: 426 (6.8%) +1.5%

Ref: 345 (5.5%) +1.9%

Ind: 256 (4.1%) +1.8%

SFP: 65 (1.0%) +0.4%

Ind: 38 (0.6%) -0.2%

Ind: 30 (0.5%) +0.2%

Ind: 23 (0.4%) -0.3%

Ind: 13 (0.2%) New

Ind: 5 (0.1%) New

Con GAIN from LDm (elected at stage 8)

Lab GAIN from SNP (elected at stage 13)

Much Woolton & Hunts Cross, Liverpool City Council

LDm: 1,011 (51.1%) -2.4%

Lab: 537 (27.1%) -4.2%

Ref: 218 (11.0%) New

Grn: 170 (8.6%) -2.0%

Con: 42 (2.1%) -2.3%

LDm HOLD

Bannockburn, Stirling Council

(first preference votes)

SNP: 565 (35.9%) +7.2%

Lab: 376 (23.9%) +3.1%

Ref: 358 (22.7%) New

Con: 169 (10.7%) -8.4%

LDm: 55 (3.5%) +1.4%

Grn: 53 (3.4%) +1.0%

SNP GAIN from Lab (elected at stage 6)

Town, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council

Lab: 309 (39.9%) -28.4%

Con: 226 (29.2%) -2.5%

Ref: 168 (21.7%) New

LDm: 78 (9.2%) New

Lab HOLD

Shetland North, Shetland Islands Council

(first preference votes)

Ind: 887 (90.4%) New

Ind: 94 (9.5%) New

Ind GAIN from Lab

Abbreviations

Con = Conservative

Lab = Labour

LDm = Liberal Democrat

SNP = Scottish National Party

Grn = Green

Ref = Reform UK
SFP = Scottish Family Party

Ind = Independents

COUNCIL BY-ELECTIONS 12.12.24

Six seats were up for grabs on Thursday and it was a cracking night for Reform, who contested all but one seat and scored some remarkable debut figures.  They gained a seat from Labour in St Helens, taking a mixture of Labour, Green and Tory votes.

The Labour vote share was down in all six seats, including a whopping 30 point drop in Wakefield.

Dodworth, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

LDm: 1,029 (49.7%) -1.7%

Ref: 503 (24.3%) New

Lab: 334 (16.1%) -18.5%

Con: 147 (7.1%) -6.9%

Grn: 57 (2.8%) New

LDm HOLD

South Hanningfield, Stock & Margaretting, Chelmsford City Council

Con: 838 (81.3%) +7.8%

Grn: 75 (7.3%) New

LDm: 70 (6.8%) -9.5%

Lab: 48 (4.7%) -5.6%

Con HOLD

Stock, Essex County Council

Con: 1,304 (46.4%) -23.1%

Ref: 977 (34.7%) New

Ind: 160 (5.7%) -2.1%

LDm: 156 (5.5%) -1.2%

Lab: 127 (4.5%) -5.4%

Grn: 89 (3.2%) -2.9%

Con HOLD

Ottershaw, Runnymede Borough Council

Ind: 440 (41.6%) New

Con: 221 (20.9%) -3.5%

LDm: 190 (18.0%) +12.1%

Ref: 113 (10.7%) New

Lab: 52 (4.9%) -12.5%

Grn: 42 (4.0%) -2.3%

Ind GAIN from Ind

Blackbrook, St Helens Borough Council

Ref: 546 (41.1%) New

Lab: 460 (34.7%) -18.4%

Grn: 167 (12.6%) -16.4%

Con: 102 (7.7%) -10.2%

Ind: 52 (3.9%) New

Ref GAIN from Lab

Featherstone, Wakefield Metropolitan District Council

Lab: 893 (42.1%) -30.7%

LDm: 548 (25.9%) (New

Ref: 463 (21.8%) New

Con: 141 (6.7%) -8.8%

Grn: 74 (3.5%) -8.3%

Lab HOLD

Abbreviations

LDm = Liberal Democrat

Ref = Reform UK

Lab = Labour

Con = Conservative

Grn = Green

Ind = Independents

COUNCIL BY-ELECTIONS 21.11.24

15 council seats were available in this week's round of by-elections.  Labour were defending just five of these, three of which were in Glasgow.  With the SNP in freefall in Scotland's second city, Labour would not have many problems holding here and they did so, albeit with dips in their vote across two of the wards.  They also held in Sefton (Merseyside), again not surprising, but their vote share plummeted by more than 30 points with a huge swing to the second placed Greens.

Of course there couldn't be a week in Starmer's Britain where Labour didn't lose something and they did.  In Gosport (Hampshire) they lost a seat, with a swing to both Reform and the victorious Conservatives.

Labour also gained a rare seat, taking advantage of a vacant independent seat in Dacorum (Hertfordshire).  Reform also made gains at the expense of residents' groups in Kent, gaining two seats, one of which they had not previously contested.

The Tories improved on last week's performance, gaining three seats from the Lib Dems.

Bennetts End, Dacorum Borough Council

Lab: 318 (37.1%) +6.4%

Con: 313 (36.5%) +14.5%

Grn: 102 (11.9%) +1.7%

Ref: 92 (10.7%) New

LDm: 32 (3.7%) -3.6%

Lab GAIN from Ind

Hemel Hempstead Town, Dacorum Borough Council

Con: 347 (43.7%) +17.3%

LDm: 174 (21.9%) -24.8%

Lab: 147 (18.5%) -8.4%

Ref: 79 (9.9%) New

Grn: 45 (5.9%) New

Con GAIN from LDm

Greenhithe & Knockhall, Dartford Borough Council

Ref: 284 (31.2%) New

Ind: 251 (27.6% ) -17.2%

Grn: 150 (16.5%) New

Lab: 113 (12.4%) -7.0%

Con: 112 (12.3%) -23.5%

Ref GAIN from Ind

Drumchapel & Anniesland, Glasgow City Council

(First preference votes)

Lab: 1,084 (34.3%) -3.8%

SNP: 830 (26.3%) -11.6%

Ref: 405 (12.8%) New

Ind: 297 (9.4%) +4.2%

Grn: 263 (8.3%) +2.3%

Con: 184 (5.8%) -3.7%

LDm: 93 (2.9%) +1.3%

Lab HOLD (elected stage 7)

Maryhill, Glasgow City Council

(First preference votes)

Lab: 999 (35.9%) +1.9%

SNP: 814 (29.2%) -12.9%

Ref: 353 (12.7%) New

Grn: 338 (12.1%) -0.2%

Alb: 118 (4.2%) New

Con: 89 (3.2%) -5.0%

LDm: 75 (2.7%) +0.3%

Lab HOLD (elected stage 7)

North East, Glasgow City Council

(First preference votes)

Lab: 630 (34.3%) -9.7%

SNP: 591 (32.2%) -10.4%

Ref: 336 (18.3%) New

Con: 99 (5.4%) -3.3%

Grn: 77 (4.2%) +1.2%

TUS: 68 (3.7%) +2.5%

LDm: 36 (2.0%) New

Lab HOLD (elected stage 7)

Harbourside & Town, Gosport Borough Council

Con: 445 (48.5%) +10.6%

Lab: 255 (27.8%) -12.8%

LDm: 108 (11.8%) +3.4%

Ref: 85 (9.3%) New

Ind: 13 (1.4%) New

Hrt: 11 (1.2%) New

Con GAIN from Lab

Fort William & Ardnamurchan, Highland Council

(First preference votes)

LDm: 1,428 (58.9%) +21.4%

SNP: 619 (25.5%) -8.0%

Grn: 146 (6.0%) -2.6%

Lab: 109 (4.5%) New

Con: 107 (4.4%) -5.7%

SLP: 15 (0.6%) New

LDm HOLD (elected stage 1)

Denne, Horsham District Council

Con: 712 (38.6%) +9.3%

LDm: 672 (36.4%) -13.2%

Grn: 255 (13.8%) +5.0%

Lab: 205 (11.1%) -1.0%

Con GAIN from LDm

Swanscombe & Greenhithe, Kent County Council

Ref: 695 (29.1%) +27.5%

Lab: 588 (24.6%) -7.5%

Ind: 395 (16.5%) -23.9%

Con: 374 (15.6%) -10.3%

Grn: 296 (12.4%) New

LDm: 44 (1.8%) New

Ref GAIN from Ind

Litherland, Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

Lab: 495 (43.7%) -30.3%

Grn: 385 (34.0%) +27.1%

Ref: 141 (12.4%) New

Con: 48 (4.2%) -0.6%

WPB: 40 (3.5%) New

TUS: 25 (2.2%) New

Lab HOLD

Oakham North East, Rutland County Council

LDm: 244 (40.9%) -30.7%

Con: 237 (39.7%) +11.3%

Ref: 93 (15.6%) New

Lab: 23 (3.9%) New

LDm HOLD

Blackmoor Vale, Somerset County Council

Con: 1,120 (57.4%) +13.1%

LDm: 724 (36.6%) -19.1%

Grn: 86 (4.4%) New

Lab: 32 (1.6%) New

Con GAIN from LDm

Rowbarton & Staplegrove, Somerset County Council

LDm: 817 (58.3%) +1.7%

Con: 396 (28.3%) -2.4%

Grn: 102 (7.3%) New

Lab: 96 (6.1%) -6.6%

LDm HOLD

Murston, Swale Borough Council

Ind: 269 (34.5%) -6.1%

Lab: 229 (29.4%) +2.2%

Ref: 139 (17.8%) New

Con: 116 (14.9%) +0.4%

LDm: 26 (3.3%) -6.2%

Ind HOLD

Abbreviations

Lab = Labour

Con = Conservative

Grn = Green

Ref = Reform UK

LDm = Liberal Democrat

SNP = Scottish National Party

Alb = Alba

TUS = Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

Hrt = Heritage

SLP = Scottish Libertarian Party

WPB = Workers Party of Britain

Ind = Independents and local groups

MEME MONDAY #12

Donald Trump's resounding victory happened to coincide with a low profile week for our despised Labour government.  So if you're no fan of the Donald, look away now...

Mon 4 Nov - 391 shares on Facebook

Wed 6 Nov - 125 shares

Wed 6 Nov - 253 shares

Thurs 7 Nov - 43 shares

Fri 8 Nov - 719 shares 
One of our most popular memes of the year

Sat 9 Nov - 138 shares

Sat 10 Nov - 39 shares
No court date yet for the Cheshire MP

Sun 10 Nov - 66 shares

Sun 10 Nov - 30 shares

As always, feel free to download and share any of our memes.  All we ask is that you do not obscure, replace or remove our binlabour.com watermark.  Thank you!

COUNCIL BY-ELECTIONS 24.11.22

Five seats were up for grabs in this week's council action.  On the unusual polling day of Wednesday, the Ashfield Independents held easily.  The following day it was a routine hold for Labour in Sefton, while there were three Conservative defences.  The Tories lost a seat each to Labour (Bassetlaw) and the Lib Dems (Isle of Wight).  They held their other defence by the wafer thin majority of three votes.

Absentees this week were UKIP in Ashfield, the Conservatives in Sefton and an independent in Warrington.

Hucknall Central, Ashfield District Council

Ind: 710 (54.5%) +17.9%

Lab: 397 (30.5%) +0.8%

Con: 195 (15.0%) -3.9%

Ind HOLD

Sutton, Bassetlaw District Council

Lab: 301 (56.1%) +35.8%

Con: 224 (41.7%) -21.9%

LDem: 13 (2.2%) -13.9%

Lab GAIN from Con

Brighstone, Calbourne & Shalfleet, Isle of Wight Council

LDem: 526 (53.4%) +23.5%

Con: 239 (24.3%) -19.3%

Grn: 153 (15.5%) -11.0%

Ind: 36 (3.7%) New

Lab: 31 (3.1%) New

LDem GAIN from Con

Linacre, Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

Lab: 636 (81.5%) +5.3%

Ind: 144 (18.5%) +1.2%

Lab HOLD

Rixton and Woolston, Warrington Borough Council

Con: 648 (42.9%) +2.7%

Lab: 645 (42.7%) +5.5%

LDem: 219 (14.5%) +5.0%

Con HOLD

COUNCIL BY-ELECTIONS 20.10.22

Five council by-elections this week and three seats changing hands with one gain each for Labour, the Conservatives and Lib Dems.  Labour gained from the Conservatives in Norfolk with a resounding victory.  The Tories gained from the Lib Dems in Hampshire with a narrow margin of 25 votes, aided by the addition of an independent candidate that appeared to affect the Lib Dem vote.  The Lib Dems returned the serve in Surrey where they crushed the Conservative candidate with a thumping gain.

Elsewhere it was a hold each for Labour (St Helens) and the Conservatives (Monmouthshire).

There were no absentees in any of this week's polls.

Thorpe St Andrew North West, Broadland District Council

Lab: 860 (51.8%) +22.8%

Con: 365 (38.3%) -17.9%

LDem: 165 (9.9%) -4.9%

Lab GAIN from Con

Portchester East, Fareham Borough Council

Con: 957 (37.6%) +3.0%

LDem: 932 (36.6%) -14.2%

Lab: 379 (14.9%) +4.5%

Ind: 275 (10.8%) New

Con GAIN from LDem

Tillingbourne, Guildford Borough Council

LDem: 636 (46.5%) +16.3%

Con: 293 (21.4%) -15.2%

Ind: 185 (13.5%) +13.5%

Grn: 168 (12.3%) -20.8%

Lab: 85 (6.2%) New

LDem GAIN from Con

Devauden, Monmouthshire County Council

Con: 268 (40.5%) -8.8%

Lab: 210 (31.8%) +1.1%

Ind: 119 (18.0%) New

Grn: 41 (6.2%) -4.0%

LDem: 23 (3.5%) -6.3%

Con HOLD

Moss Bank, St Helens Borough Council

Lab: 656 (50.3%) -1.7%

LDem: 571 (43.8%) +27.1%

Con: 78 (6.0%) -11.3%

Lab HOLD

COUNCIL BY-ELECTIONS 25.11.21

It was a busy day for by-elections in England this week with twelve in total, plus an election for the North Yorkshire police and crime commissioner.  The North Yorks PCC vacancy came about after the Tory incumbent resigned following an outcry over remarks he made about the Sarah Everard case.  The Conservatives eased to victory in the contest to replace him, albeit on a disgracefully low turnout of just 13.9 per cent.  The Tory candidate trounced Labour in the run-off, the result of which was almost identical to May's result.

Labour were defending six seats on Thursday and they held four - including a paper thin victory in Wandsworth where they clung on by just one vote.  Earlier this year Labour had a 936 vote majority in that same seat.  The Labour vote also collapsed in two Midlands seats where they lost to the  Conservatives in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Nuneaton.  However, the two Labour losses were compensated for by two Labour gains, both from independents in Allerdale and Wigan.

The Conservatives were defending three seats on Thursday and held two.  In Kent they lost a seat to the Tunbridge Wells Alliance, but this was more than compensated by the two Midland gains over Labour.

The Lib Dems were defending one seat, in the Wirral, which they held easily.

The Lib Dems and Greens did not contest Speldhurst and Bidborough this time.  UKIP did not contest Oxton.

Maryport South, Allerdale Borough Council

Lab: 273 (52.9%) +10.2%

Ind: 149 (28.9%) -10.5%

Con: 94 (18.2%) +11.4%

Lab GAIN from Ind

Lee Chapel North, Basildon Borough Council

Lab: 451 (39.8%) -12.8%

Con: 396 (34.8%) +8.4%

BCRP: 135 (11.9%) New

RefUK: 98 (8.6%) New

LDem: 55 (4.9%) -16.2%

Lab HOLD

Halton Castle, Halton Borough Council

Lab: 373 (60.3%) +9.7%

Grn: 117 (19.0%) New

Ind: 69 (11.1%) -8.0%

Con: 45 (7.3%) -11.3%

LDem: 15 (2.4%) -9.3%

Lab HOLD

Raskelf & White Horse, Hambleton District Council

Con: 288 (55.7%) -2.9%

LDem: 127 (24.6%) New

Grn: 102 (19.7%) -21.7%

Con HOLD

Carnforth & Millhead, Lancaster City Council

Lab: 538 (57.7%) +20.2%

Con: 315 (33.8%) +1.8%

Grn: 54 (5.8%) -5.2%

LDem: 25 (2.7%) New

Lab HOLD

Knutton, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council

Con: 188 (51.1%) +25.8%

Lab: 180 (48.9%) -25.8%

Con GAIN from Lab

Barpool, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council

Con: 508 (55.3%) +14.4%

Lab: 215 (23.4%) -26.7%

Grn: 196 (21.3%) +12.2%

Con GAIN from Lab

Speldhurst & Bidborough, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council

TWA: 788 (49.8%) +27.4%

Con: 730 (46.1%) +4.2%

Lab: 65 (4.1%) -4.0%

TWA GAIN from Con

Bedford, Wandsworth London Borough Council

Lab: 906 (40.2%) -9.8%

Con: 905 (40.2%) +5.7%

Grn: 306 (13.6%) +4.3%

LDem: 135 (6.0%) -0.2%

Lab HOLD

Horringer, West Suffolk Council

Con: 257 (47.7%) -21.2%

Lab: 204 (37.8%) +6.7%

LDem: 78 (14.5%) New

Con HOLD

Bryn, Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council

Lab: 429 (31.2%) +8.2%

Ind: 412 (30.0%) New

Ind: 353 (25.7%) New

Con: 142 (10.3%) +2.1%

LDem: 38 (2.8%) +1.1%

Lab GAIN from Ind

Oxton, Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council

LDem: 1,666 (68.3%) +8.4%

Lab: 460 (18.8%) -10.7%

Con: 168 (6.9%) +1.9%

Grn: 147 (6.0%) New

LDem HOLD

North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner

(First preference votes)

Con: 34,385 (40.1%) -6.9%

Lab: 18,094 (21.1%) -5.0%

Ind: 14,988 (17.5%) New

LDem: 9,499 (11.1%) -1.5%

WEP: 8,837 (10.3%) New

Final Round

Con: 60.8%

Lab: 39.2%

Con HOLD

Abbreviations

Lab = Labour

Con = Conservative

BCRP = Basildon Community Residents Party

RefUK = Reform UK

LDem = Liberal Democrat

Grn = Green

TWA = Tunbridge Wells Alliance

WEP = Women's Equality Party

Ind = Independents

COUNCIL BY-ELECTIONS 22.07.21

There were eight by-elections in total and it was a good night for both the Conservatives (one gain, two holds) and the Greens (one gain, one hold).  The Lib Dems didn't bother selecting a candidate to defend their seat in North Somerset and the Green Party swept to victory on the back of their absence.  Labour held two of the three seats it was defending.

Fortune Green, Camden London Borough Council

LDem: 1,197 (46.7%) +10.2%

Lab: 849 (33.1%) -2.7%

Con: 518 (20.2%) +1.7%

LDem HOLD

Alkham & Capel-le-Ferne, Dover District Council

Con: 315 (48.7%) -3.4%

LDem: 173 (26.7%) -9.6%

Lab: 101 (15.6%) +4.0%

Grn: 58 (9.0%) New

Con HOLD

Humberstone & Hamilton, Leicester City Council

Con: 1,062 (44.7%) +18.4%

Lab: 790 (33.2%) -15.6%

LDem: 262 (11.0%) +1.2%

Grn: 190 (8.0%) -7.1%

ForBrit: 37 (1.6%) New

RefUK: 37 (1.6%) New

Con GAIN from Lab

Congresbury & Puxton, North Somerset Council

Grn: 594 (64.5%) New

Con: 270 (29.3%) +15.7%

Lab: 57 (6.2%) -25.8%

Grn GAIN from LDem

Tyn-Y-Nant, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council

Lab: 411 (80.9%) +8.8%

Con: 62 (12.2%) -15.6%

Plaid: 35 (6.9%) New

Lab HOLD

Staines, Spelthorne Borough Council

Grn: 561 (44.0%) +5.5%

Con: 486 (32.8%) +8.0%

Ind: 275 (18.6%) New

TUSC: 39 (2.6%) New

RefUK: 29 (2.0%) New

Grn HOLD

Cliftonville East, Thanet District Council

Con: 723 (74.5%) +14.8%

Lab: 211 (21.7%) -1.0%

WEP: 37 (3.8%) -13.8%

Con HOLD

Liscard, Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council

Lab: 1,137 (53.6%) +2.5%

Con: 582 (27.4%) +9.5%

LDem: 201 (9.5%) +0.1%

Grn: 109 (5.1%) -5.5%

Ind: 68 (3.2%) New

ForBrit: 26 (1.2%) New

Lab HOLD

Abbreviations

Con = Conservative

Lab = Labour

LDem = Liberal Democrat

Grn = Green

RefUK = Reform UK

ForBrit = For Britain

Plaid = Plaid Cymru

TUSC = Trade Union and Socialist Coalition

WEP = Women's Equality Council

Ind = Independents

THE MERSEYSIDE THOUGHT POLICE

The sinister slogan unveiled by Merseyside Police over the weekend was yet another sign (literally) of how dystopian the nations of the West have become.  While the good citizens of the Wirral were obediently observing their house arrest over the weekend, the Old Bill thought it would be a good idea to drive a billboard around intimidating an already weary population, suggesting that not only were their actions controlled by the state, now their thoughts and opinions were too.  Unfortunately for the PC police, we are not quite there yet.

After a huge backlash against the billboard slogan, a police superintendent claimed that an error had been made: "We would like to clarify that 'being offensive' is not in itself an offence".  Then why say it in the first place?

Being offensive is subjective.  What one person finds offensive, the next person may not.  If such laws are enacted, who will decide what is offensive?

Disturbingly, this crazed Marxist legislation is not far off becoming reality.  The SNP's controversial Hate Crime Bill in Scotland may well kill freedom of speech in that corner of the United Kingdom and where the Scottish socialists go, the Welsh socialists eventually follow.  In any case, freedom of speech is already in grave danger across the Western world thanks to the establishment narrative driven by mainstream media, tech monopolies and the entertainment industry.

Who'd have thought just a few years ago that Facebook and Twitter would grow to become so powerful as to silence the President of the United States and attempt to blackmail the Australian government?  There was also the equally disturbing attack on Parler, a social media app dedicated to upholding free speech - silenced in a co-ordinated assault by Google, Apple and Amazon.

The recent dismissal of actress Gina Carano by Disney is another case in point.  She posted a meme on social media that compared the persecution of modern day conservatives to the demonisation of Jews in 1930s Germany.  This was 'abhorrent' said Disney, but when her colleague Pedro Pascal likened Trump supporters to Nazis they never said a word and his job is safe.

The campaign to close down and bankrupt GB News before it even launches is an example of grassroots censorship, also known as cancel culture.  The left-wing Twitter mob are incensed about the idea that conservative and libertarian voices could launch a station that would disrupt the leftist broadcast monopoly.

Then there is the silencing of debate around coronavirus, with only one set of opinions allowed on existing broadcast media and pop ups that warn users when viewing and sharing Covid material on social media sites (our Facebook pages have been tagged in this way for several weeks).

Who decides what the facts are?  Presumably, they will be the same sort of woke metropolitan elites who will decide what is and isn't offensive as we move into the Great Reset.

We live in truly disturbing times.