It has been a bit of a marathon this week, with twelve principal council by-elections to report on. So, if you’re sitting comfortably…
Our featured story this week comes from Mole Valley Liberal Democrats, whose gain from the Tories in the Capel, Leigh, and Newdigate ward leaves them the largest party on Mole Valley District Council. The campaign capitalised on Iain Murdoch’s previous experience as councillor for the area, promoting Iain as the ‘listening’ candidate and recalling his former success in opposing the Conservative-run County Council’s unpopular nearby incinerator. The Focus team built on Iain’s reputation with three A3 spot-colour Focuses and a varied target mail campaign in which they emphasised the potential for becoming the biggest group on the council in letters to our members and supporters, whilst pushing the ‘listening candidate’ and ‘local candidate’ themes in letters out to soft Tories and Labour. With a lot of help coming in from neighbouring parties, particularly in the Surrey area, blue letters went out in double-quick time and 40% new canvass data was added, taking canvass coverage over the last four years to 75%. Whilst some residents became a little concerned by the fourth time they had been knocked up on election day, the quick delivery of Eve of Poll/Good Morning literature, alongside a ‘polling day’ leaflet mid-way through the day and a ‘time is running out’ card delivered near the end, ensured enough of our vote came out to see the Tories off by a handsome 60 votes. The Green Party and UKIP limped in as also-rans, although UKIP’s ‘It’s a Two Horse Race’ and ‘Lib Dems Can’t Win Here’ bar-charts proved good for a laugh – their shameless plagiarism of Liberal Democrat artwork techniques almost got their vote into triple figures this time!
Whilst Labour’s successful defences in the Harworth ward of Bassetlaw District and the Manor Castle ward of Sheffield were hardly surprising, their gains from the Liberal Democrats in the Barton and Sandhills ward of Oxford and a win over the Tories in Medway’s River made it a reasonable day at the office. The Conservatives held on in six of their seats; Great Missenden and the succinctly named Ashley Green, Latimer and Chenies ward on Chiltern DC; Abbey in East Staffordshire; the Hersham North seat on Elmbridge District Council; Andover South on Hampshire County Council; and the Ashwick Chilcompton and Stratton ward of Mendip District. More disappointing, the Conservative victory in Swansea boosted their representation in the city to five. Rounding out the results are the St George’s Hill Independents, who held the St George’s Hill ward on Elmbridge.
The net results for the week, therefore, are Labour up two, with the Tories and Lib Dems down one apiece. Latest in a series of close second places, we came within 25 votes in Great Missenden, 51 votes in Medip, and 72 in Hampshire. No prizes for coming second, but a strange thought that for just another 125 votes we could have been reporting another three gains! Congratulations to all, and the best of luck to our teams in the field.
Craig Whittall
ALDC By-Elections Team