Local Council By-Elections March 2015

Party	Number of Candidates	Total Vote	%	+/- Feb	Average/ contest	+/- Feb	+/- Seats
Conservative	8	4,321	21.1%	-4.5%	540	+155	+2
Labour	7	7,306	35.7%	-0.2%	1,044	+505	-2
LibDem	5	288	1.4%	-7.4%	57	-103	0
UKIP	3	1,148	5.6%	-9.5%	382	+98	-1
SNP*	3	4,326	21.2%	+21.2%	1,442	+1,442	+2
Plaid Cymru**	2	167	0.8%	-3.4%	313	-78	0
Green	4	647	3.2%	-3.3%	162	+78	0
TUSC	0						0
Independent***	4	1,243	6.1%	+3.0%	311	+194	0
Other****	1	1,004	4.9%	+3.8%	1,004	+924	-1

* There were three by-elections in Scotland.
** There were two by-elections in Wales.
*** There were no independent clashes.
**** 'Others' this month consisted of Llanwit First (1,004 votes)

Overall, 20,450 votes were cast over nine local authority (tier one and tier two) contests. All percentages are rounded to the nearest single decimal place. A total of five council seats changed hands. For comparison see February's results here.

Labour extends their lead over the Tories, reversing the terrible time the party had back in January. Not only has it managed that, but also the SNP have elbowed the blue team into third place - the first time that has happened since I began covering local authority by-elections. This is a month for other firsts too: the first time the Greens have beaten the Liberal Democrats (that vote, ouch!), and the only time I can remember UKIP polling such a meagre vote share. The three Scottish by-elections helped March look very bad from a right wing perspective, and there were a couple of nice contests in safe Labour areas. Yet for those who follow such things, this month's results can be taken as a morale boost for Labour and the SNP.

As far as I'm aware, April has three by-elections to look forward to. I know you can hardly wait either.