Lib Dems hold Oxford seat with impressive 60% vote share

A quartet of council by-elections this week, featuring two Liberal Democrat defences and a full slate of Lib Dem candidates – an improvement on when these wards were last fought as one went without the party putting up anyone.

Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh, Highland

A very tough Liberal Democrat defence because of the nature of council by-elections in Scotland. With the usual contests being via STV in multi-member wards, when a vacancy comes up it is filled by the alternative vote (AV). That makes sense. It also means that you can have won a seat in a ward with a vote share under STV that is well short of what is required to win under AV – and so it is very common for seats to change hands in Scottish by-elections, and by large margins.

George Scott stood for the Liberal Democrats, trying to defend the seat yet starting with the party having finished fourth on first preferences.

Belgrave, Leicester

Hash Chandarana stood for the Liberal Democrats in a ward the party did not contest last time:

Wolvercote, Oxford

A Liberal Democrat defence following the death of Angie Goff. Liz Wade stood to succeed her, and scored an impressive result:

The Byfleets, Surrey

The Liberal Democrat candidate was Ellen Nicholson:

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.