By-Election Report- 10th September 2015

Seven principal council seats were up for grabs in yesterday’s set of by-elections. There was an encouraging result for the Liberal Democrats in Tunbridge Wells (BC), with the party’s vote share increasing by 23.9% from the ward’s previous election in May. With 39.3% of the vote, Trevor Poile fell agonisingly close to securing a gain from the Conservatives, with the Tories holding their seat with a 49 vote majority.

There was another second place finish for the Liberal Democrats in Maidstone (BC), with Rosaline Janko polling 24.1% in finishing 53 votes behind the Conservative candidate, securing a minor vote increase of 2.1% from earlier this year.

The by-election in Leith Walk ward in Edinburgh (UA) for two seats, resulted in an SNP hold and a Labour gain from the Scottish Greens. Lib Dem candidate Mo Hussain came fifth out of ten candidates, receiving 4% of the first preference votes. Also in Scotland Liberal Democrat Jane Davidson won 162 first preference votes in Midlothian West ward, a 4.3% vote share decrease from from years ago. The SNP successfully held their seat in the ward.

No Liberal Democrat candidates fielded in the contests in Sandwell (MB) and Thurrock (DC), which resulted in two comfortable holds for Labour.

Elsewhere, there was Liberal Democrat success in Barwell, with Shani Smith winning a seat on the town’s Parish Council. The party won with 54.6% to secure a gain from Labour.

Next week sees five by-elections taking place in principal councils in England and Scotland. Liberal Democrats will be hoping for positive results in Haringey (LB), with Jenni Hollis and Derin Adebiyi standing for the party in Woodside and Noel Park wards. Liberal Democrat candidates are also being fielded in contests on Richmondshire and South Cambridgeshire District Councils. No Lib Dem candidate will be fielded in the Ayr East by-election in South Ayrshire (UA).

For more information on the results from last week please click here. If you would like more information on all the forthcoming by-elections and details on who to contact for help, click here.