Thursday saw three principal council by-elections contested, with an additional election fought on Friday. There was a gain for Labour from the Mansfield Independent Forum in Netherfield on Mansfield DC. The MIF didn’t field a candidate as Labour increased their share of the vote by 12.1% to win by 122 votes ahead of UKIP.
Elsewhere UKIP held their seat in the Thurrock BC ward of Aveley & Uplands after a hard fought campaign with the Conservatives who finished second. The UKIP candidate polled 41% to win with a majority of 227 votes.
There was a hold for Labour in Longholme ward on Rossendale BC, with the party’s candidate winning ahead of the Conservatives by 115 votes.
The contest on Adur DC saw a rare by-election held on a Friday, with the Conservatives holding their seat in St Mary’s ward with 38.4% of the vote.
No Liberal Democrat candidates were fielded in this weeks round of elections.