Friday 28 November 2014

Local Council By-Elections November 2014

Party
Number of Candidates
Total Vote
%
+/- Oct
Average/
contest
+/-
Oct
+/-
Seats
Conservative
23
14,393
  31.3%
+4.3%
     626
 +176
   +1
Labour
21
10,689
  23.3%
+0.1%
     509
   +69
    -4
LibDem
14
  4,101
    8.9%
 -3.6%
     293
    -51
     0
UKIP
17
  8,737
  19.0% 
+0.0%
     514
 +141
   +2
SNP*
  2
  2,419 
    5.3%
 -0.4%
  1,210
  -345  
  +1
Plaid Cymru**
  1
     104 
    0.2%   
+0.2%
     104 
 +104
     0
Green
13
  1,534
    3.3%
+0.8%
     118
   +22 
     0 
BNP
  0
         0
     
       
   
     0
TUSC
  6
     155
    0.3%
+0.3%
       26
      -9
     0
Independent***
13
  3,775
    8.2%  
+0.1%
     290
    -29
   +1
Other****
 1
      29
    0.1%
 -1.8%
       29
  -175
    -1

* There were two by-elections in Scotland.
** There was one by-election in Wales.
*** There were four independent clashes with three independents vying for one seat and four for another.
**** The only 'other' this month was Community Action (29 votes)

Overall, 45,936 votes were cast over 23 local authority (tier one and tier two) contests. All percentages are rounded to the nearest single decimal place. In sum eight council seats changed hands. For comparison see October's results here.

When compiling these results it did look hairy for a wee while. Until the results of the last three contests came in - crushing Labour wins in Oxford - UKIP were in a healthy second place. It's bad enough that for the first time since tracking local by-elections, the purples have overtaken the reds on vote averages. Can we lay this at the door of an over-preponderance of safe Tory seats? No. Eight of the contests took place in Conservative-held seats, nine in Labour. The seats lost by Labour were held by slim majorities. Comparing Tory and Labour strongholds, like for like Conservatives pile up the votes on higher turnouts while Labour doesn't. An acceptable argument in isolation but throughout this year, just like the polls, there has been a narrowing of the results. Still much to be done, then.

1 comment:

jimboo said...

In the Midlothian East byelection on the elimination of the Tory the Conservative vote transferred in the main to Labour giving Labour victory. I feel this is not the politics of right or left but those who support the UK and those opposed to it. There is a horrendous undercurrent and bitterness after the referendum.