By Election Results – 9 March 2017

There were seven by-elections in principal by-elections this evening – and the first success was a full slate of Lib Dem candidates! Labour didn’t stand in two of the seven elections.

Huge thank you to the candidates for standing, and the teams around them who organised the paperwork, delivered leaflets and knocked on doors!

The night kicked off with a fantastic gain from the Conservatives in the West Oxfordshire ward of Hailey, Minster Lovell & Leafield.  Our candidate Kieran Mullins crossed the finishing line with 567 votes compared to the Conservatives 506. What a great result and a huge swing! Well done everyone and congratulations to our newest Lib Dem councillor.

Hailey, Minster Lovell & Leafield (W. Oxfordshire):
LD Kieran Mullins 567 [46.7%; +34.0]
Conservative 506 [41.5%; +3.8]
Labour 71 [5.8%; -4.5]
Green 38 [3.1%; -2.8]
UKIP 31 [2.9%; +2.9]
[Ind 0 [0.0%; 33.4%]
Liberal Democrat gain from Conservatives
Percentage change from 2015

This also means that we are now the second biggest party on West Oxfordshire DC.

Two by elections in Hertfordshire saw us standing in two wards that we did not contest last time.  This is great news! So a big thank you to Brendan Wyer for standing in Waltham Ward, Broxbourne BC and Freja Waterhouse in Hertford Castle, East Hertfordshire DC.

In the East Midlands, Simon Ferrigno represented the Lib Dems in Derwent Ward, Derby.  The seat was won by the Conservatives who took it from UKIP.  Over in Exton Ward, Rutland, the Tories held the seat and our candidate was Joanna Burrows who increased the Lib Dem vote share by 11.6%.  Well done and thanks to both Simon and Joanna for standing in the by elections tonight.

In Stratford-upon-Avon’s Red Horse Ward, the Conservatives held the seat but our candidate Philip Vial increased the Lib Dem vote to 29.8% and moved from third to second place.  A great result for the team there, thank you!

There was one other by-election today Harrow, which is counting on Friday morning. This post will be updated when the results are in!

Overall, is was a bad night for Labour who failed to stand a full slate and lost a seat to the Conservatives, and a similar story for UKIP.

For the Lib Dems – we proved again that we can move forward and win seats.  Good work everyone who worked on this weeks by elections!