Friday 26 September 2014

Local Council By-Elections September 2014

Party
Number of candidates
Total vote
%
+/- 
August
Average/
contest
+/- 
August
+/- Seats
Conservative
15
 4,965
    26.1%
  -1.0%
     331
     +50
    -2
Labour
14
 5,345
    28.1%
 +0.7%
     382
     +63
   +1
LibDem
11
 4,166
    21.9%
 +2.5%
     378
   +131
   +1
UKIP
13
 2,597
    13.7%
  -4.4%
     200
      -41
   +1
SNP*
  0
   
      

     
  
     0
Plaid Cymru**
  0
   
    
     
   
     0
Green
  8
    716
      3.8%
  -3.6%
       90
      -47
     0
BNP
  0
    
      

     
    
     0
TUSC
  2
      60 
      0.3%
 +0.1%
       30
     +14
    0
Independent***
  7
 1,082
      5.7%
 +4.3%
     155
     +91
    -1
Other****
  2
      76
      0.4%
 +0.4%
       38
     +38
     0

* There were no by-elections in Scotland.
** There was one by-election in Wales.
*** There were two independent clashes - a four-way split in Abergale Pensarn ward.
**** There were two 'others': Christian (33 votes) and English Democrats (43 votes).

Overall 19,007 votes were cast over 15 local authority (tier one and tier two) contests. All percentages are rounded to the nearest single decimal place. For comparison see August's results here.

For geeks this was an interesting and potentially significant month. As per normal the two main party votes were depressed but - good grief - look at the Liberal Democrats! Where on earth did that surge come from? Well, obviously a disproportionate number of contests took place in areas where they retain strong local presences. Then again, this is the second month on the trot they have outpolled UKIP. A quirk of the by-election draw or does it portend a firming up of the vote at Farage's expense? It's way too early to tell, but nonetheless it's a straw in the wind for the yellow party - not too many blow their way at present.

Elsewhere the Greens are down on last month, but their performance belies a more consistent approach to contesting seats wherever they can. This will pay dividends in the long run, a lesson still lost on those who would displace Labour with their chemically pure workers' party.

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