Political

Great Lib Dem win Tandridge and a very near-miss in Newcastle

One week to go in the Richmond Park Parliamentary by-election, but eight council by-elections tonight including a Liberal Democrat defence.

The Liberal Democrat defence saw not only a hold but a huge swing from the Tories. Congratulation Dorinda Cooper and team:

Dorinda Cooper and Vince Cable

There’s a great story behind her win, which you can read about here.

That was so nearly followed by a dramatic gain from Labour in Newcastle, but Labour just hung on. Back when the Liberal Democrats ran Newcastle Council, this was a reliably Liberal Democrat ward, but by May 2015 the party had fallen to fourth winning only 1 vote for every 5 Labour ones. So frustrating as this near miss is, there are good signs here of the party returning to strength:

There was also a slightly further near miss in the former Liberal Democrat constituency of Somerton and Frome, but in a ward the party has not previously won:

There was sadly no Lib Dem candidate in Mansfield:

Elsewhere the pattern of occasional Conservative gains from Labour continued:

In other results:

More results as they come…

Note: there was a ninth by-election due, but only a Conservative candidate was nominated for the vacancy on St Edmundsbury Council, Suffolk and so they were elected unopposed. Another reminder of why the Liberal Democrats should always put up candidates.

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