By-election results: Tories fail against Lib Dems

Amongst the council by-elections held yesterday, there were two in Lib Dem held wards in southern England. These were just the sorts of places where – if the Tories were really making inroads into Lib Dem support – the Tories should have been scoring big swings, if not wins, from the Lib Dems.

The actual result? Two Lib Dem holds with increased majorities:

Cambridge City, Trumpington
LD Andy Blackhurst 858 (51.4; +5.9), Con 618 (37.0; +1.3), Lab 109 (6.5;
-2.6), Green 85 (5.1; -4.6).
Swing: 2.3% Tory to Lib Dem

Reading UA, Tilehurst
LD Ricky Duveen 919 (47.8; +6.4), Con 586 (30.5; -0.1), Lab 317 (16.5;
-5.7), Green 79 (4.1; -1.6), The Roman Party 21 (1.1; +1.1).
Swing: 3.3% Tory to Lib Dem