Dramatic Lib Dem gain in ward not contested for previous seven times

Ten normal council by-elections this week plus another City of London Corporation content. The latter is, as usual, an all-independent affair (and is, in fact, one of a pair, the other being uncontested).

With the ten normal ones, the run in recent weeks of Lib Dem full slates comes to an end with the party contesting eight out of ten this time. That is at least two up on the number of candidates the party had the last time each of these wards was contested. It is also a reminder of how valuable preparatory work is by local, regional and state parties to help ensure we move towards always standing.

Old Town, Barnsley

Kevin Bennett was the Liberal Democrat, ensuring the party fought the ward for the second contest in a row after nine previous contests without a Lib Dem:

D&V are the Democrats and Veterans party.

Aldgate, City of London

An all-indepndent contest.

Cockerton, Darlington

Charlie Curry was the Liberal Democrat:

Verwood East, East Dorset

No Liberal Democrat, as last time and in fact no many candidates all round:

Oxshott and Stoke d’Abernon, Elmbridge

Dorothy Ford was the Lib Dem candidate in a ward the party didn’t fight last time. This contest was a chance for the Conservatives to lose their slim hold on the council over the Lib Dems / residents combo (24 seats each until this contest) – something the Conservatives had previously done in the May 2016 local elections too. This time they kept their slim hold on the council:

Rural West, Hartlepool

No Liberal Democrat candidate, continuing the run of five previous contests since the ward was created without a Lib Dem standing:

Chailey and Wivelsfield, Lewes

Marion Hughes was the Liberal Democrat candidate in a ward that was repeatedly Conservative even when Norman Baker was winning the Parliamentary seat.

Yare and All Saints, Norfolk

Andrew Thorpe was the Liberal Democrat candidate.

Oakham South West, Rutland

Joanna Burrows was the Liberal Democrat, returning to the pattern of the party regularly contesting this ward after the no-show in 2015. And oh so close to winning:

Pakefield, Waveney

Adam Robertson was the Liberal Democrat candidate.

Southwold and Reydon, Waveney

David Beavan was the Liberal Democrat candidate in a ward the party had not contested any of the previous seven times it was up since the ward’s creation. And now he is the councillor with quite the swing:

These by-election results round-ups cover principal authority by-elections. See my post The danger in celebrating parish and town council wins for your own party for the reasons to avoid straying too often into covering town, parish or community council by-elections.