There were four principal local council by-elections held on Thursday 13th October. There were two Labour holds and two Tory holds. There were no parish or town council by-election results reported to ALDC. In Sleaford West and Leasingham Division of Lincolnshire County council we ran minimal campaign, one leaflet, no canvassing and a candidate that did not live in the division. This is not normally a recipe for success and so it proved to be. Standing a candidate is always the right thing to do (and this includes Police Commissioner elections!) but when outright victory is unlikely, it’s important that you set specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely organisational targets. Often this will be about developing membership and delivery networks. Just putting a single leaflet across the whole division without structure or purpose can be and often is pointless and demoralising. It would, for instance, have made more sense to put three different leaflets out in a third of the ward. If you are not sure on what your best strategy is for a by-election, ring ALDC, your region or contact your nearest campaigns officer.
For those outside Lincolnshire the result for the Independent candidate may look unlikely. In Lincolnshire the Independents are an organised party with a leader. They stand candidates at every level of government including at the General Election and have their own website and organisational structure. They are a party machine masquerading as honourable amateurs. They are not unique but have been a notable obstruction to Lib Dem progress in the County.
ALDC is asking every local party who has local elections in May 2012 to let us know NOW the details of all candidates that area has already in place. Elections take place in Scotland, Wales and in many parts of England.
Each year ALDC provides a free support programme for Liberal Democrat local election candidates and organisers – in the next few weeks we’ll be sending out a Liberal Democrat “Candidates’ Handbook”. This is being followed by regular emails and mailings. But we can only send the information if we have the know who your candidates are.
Register your candidates online or If it’s easier just send these by email to david.ball@aldc.org.
Don’t forget to receive our full advice service candidates will need to be members of ALDC. To help we’re offering HALF PRICE membership of ALDC for all 2012 local election candidates
Other results
South Ribble BC, Bamber Bridge EastGravesham BC, Meopham NorthBarnsley MBC, St Helen’s