The local Liberal Democrats hard at work in Wantage
Last Thursday saw four principal by-elections. In Wantage Charlton (Vale of White Horse DC) the Liberal Democrat missed out on taking the seat by just 49 votes. The by-election, caused by the conviction of the previous Conservative councillor, saw the Tories hold the seat with 41.9% (-5.3%). Jim Sabbald, the Liberal Democrat candidate, took 38.4% (+2.5%). Labour came third with 11% and the Greens last with 8.8%. However the by-election on Wantage Town Council caused by the disqualification of the same former councillor saw Jim Sabbald gain the seat with 39.9% of the vote. The Conservatives finished runner up with 37.6% and the same Labour and Green candidates did marginally better than their District results coming third and fourth again.
The Liberal Democrats did not stand candidates in the other three principal by-elections. In Coal Aston ward in North East Derbyshire the Conservatives held on with 46.3%, Labour were second with 36.5% and UKIP came third on 17.2%. In Belle Vue ward in north Cumbria Labour saw a 20.1% drop in their vote but still held the seat; the Conservative vote remained stable and UKIP (who did not stand last time) took 19%. In Flintshire’s Flint Trelawny ward the successful Labour candidate came just 89 votes ahead of UKIP. Labour saw a 17.8% drop in their support and UKIP (who again did not stand last time) took 28.8%. An independent candidate took third place with 26.7% and the Conservatives came last with 6% of the vote.
For all the detailed results see the ALDC elections page: https://www.aldc.org/category/by-election-results/