Three by-elections, three Lib Dems and a set of promising results

Three council by-elections in the week the Lib Dem leader announced when he’s standing down, and all three with Lib Dem candidates. That is one up on last time these wards were contested, hooray.

Wingate, Durham

Edwin Simpson stood for the Liberal Democrats and what a good thing he did:

Norbury and Pollards Hill, Croydon

Guy Burchett stood for the Liberal Democrats, in one of the London boroughs that has often been one of the weakest for the party but where we contested the ward this time, unlike last:

Coxford, Southampton

Liberal Democrat local government strength took its big hit in Southampton not during the coalition years but before that, with the Liberal Democrats being wiped out in 2008 as part of a Conservative landslide.

Sam Chapman stood for the Lib Dems in a ward that party had won until 2007. Good to a strong increase in the vote this time, putting the party back challenging seriously in such wards:

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.