COUNCIL BY-ELECTIONS 13.02.20

There were six local by-elections last night - all in southern and central England.  Four seats were being defended by the Conservatives, one by Labour and one Independent.  Labour's share of the vote was down in three of the five seats it contested, but they gained a seat from the Conservatives in Whaley Bridge - the first Labour gain in a council election since December 5th.  You'll know the name Whaley Bridge from events last August when widespread flooding almost led to the collapse of the local dam.  Perhaps this was a backlash against the government's response to that disaster?  The swing to Labour certainly bucks the national trend.

Elsewhere the Tory vote largely held firm - up in four, down in two.  Three seas were held, one lost and there was a gain from Labour in Hertfordshire.

Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire County Council

Lab: 1,851 (50.4%) +22.8%
Con: 1,048 (28.5%) -6.1%
Lib Dem: 721 (19.6%) -14.0%
Ind: 52 (1.4%) New

Lab GAIN from Con

Yoxall, East Staffordshire Borough Council

Con: 431 (78.5%) -9.0%
Lab: 118 (21.5%) +9.0%

Con HOLD

Borehamwood Kenilworth, Hertsmere Borough Council

Con: 776 (49.0%) +3.5%
Lab: 655 (41.3%) -13.2%
Lib Dem: 104 (6.6%) New
Green: 50 (3.2%) New

Con GAIN from Lab

St Ives East, Huntingdonshire District Council

Con: 558 (46.5%) +0.7%

Ind: 429 (35.8%) New

Lib Dem: 109 (9.1%) -15.7%

Lab: 103 (8.6%) -20.8%

Con HOLD

Cliffsend & Pegwell, Thanet District Council

Con: 516 (50.9%) +14.2%
Green: 290 (28.5%) +10.4%
Lab: 109 (10.7%) -4.4%
Ind: 101 (9.9%) -5.8%

Con HOLD

Milford, Waverley Borough Council

Ind: 452 (50.6%) +16.3%
Con: 328 (36.7%) +17.3%
Ind: 113 (12.7%) New

Ind GAIN from Ind