Political

Disappointing end to the month for Lib Dems with this week’s council by-election

One contest. No Liberal Democrat.

Although sometimes the local circumstances behind the absence of a Liberal Democrat candidate certainly deserve support rather than censure, we also shouldn’t slip into accepting that not running candidates is just fine. It isn’t; we should aim higher even if hard pressed people can’t always succeed in reaching higher this time round.

Why does it matter? Because we can’t build up a loyal base of people who regularly support us if we don’t give them a chance to vote for us. Because we can’t practise new skills and learn new things as effectively if we don’t take the opportunities to learn on the job that by-elections offer. And because the point of being a political party rather than a pressure group, after all, is to take part in elections.

Here’s the result from Page Moss ward in Knowsley:

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.