Local Council By-Elections October 2018

This month saw 34,915  votes cast over 21 local authority (tier one and tier two) contests. All percentages are rounded to the nearest single decimal place. Six council seats changed hands in total. For comparison with September's results, see here.

Party	Number of Candidates	Total Vote	%	+/-  Sept	+/- Oct 17	Average/ Contest	+/- Seats
Conservative	20	11,437	32.9%	-0.5%	+2.6%	572	-1
Labour	19	9,703	27.8%	-2.8%	-15.0%	511	-1
LibDem	15	7,097	20.3%	+5.8%	+9.0%	473	+2
UKIP	7	1,074	3.1%	+2.2%	-0.7%	153	-1
Green	9	1,803	5.2%	-2.4%	+3.2%	200	0
SNP	1	1,343	3.8%	-1.7%	+1.5%	1,343	0
PC**	0						0
Ind***	13	2.236	6.4%	+1.1%	+0.4%	172	+1
Other****	3	222	0.6%	-1.5%	-1.0%	74	0

* There was one by-election in Scotland
** There were no by-elections in Wales
*** There was only one Independent clash this months
**** Others this October consisted of Yorkshire Party (108), Women's Equality Party (84), Christian People's Alliance (30)

Polarisation might rule the national polls, but this month might tempt one to declare the return to three-party politics, at least where local election vote shares are concerned. The LibDems are back enjoying 15% plus scores fairly regularly again while the Tories and Labour slowly bleed council seats. Also noteworthy is a UKIP resurgence, and I use that term with a hint of sarcasm, as they break the three per cent barrier for the first time in a long time. This however is because of the double contest in Dorset on the 25th - UKIP did comparatively well and, coincidentally, these were the only two seats Labour didn't stand in this month.

Nothing more to add, really!

4th October
Cambridge CC, Soham North & Isleham Con hold
Chesterfield BC, Moor LDem gain from Lab
Hambleton DC, Thirsk Con hold

9th October
City of London, Castle Banyard Lab gain from Ind

11th October
Adur DC, Southlands Lab gain from UKIP
Halton UA, Ditton Lab hold
Hartlepool UA, Hard Ind gain from Lab
Warrington UA, Penketh & Cuerdley Ind gain from Lab
West Lancashire BC, Tanhouse Lab hold

18th October
Hackney LBC, Victoria Lab hold
Oxfordshire CC, Iffley Fields & St Marys Lab hold

25th October
Ashford BC, Kennington Con hold
Basingstoke and Deane BC, Norden Lab hold
Dorset CC, Ferndown Con hold
East Dorset DC, Ferndown Central Con hold
Hertfordshire CC, Three Rivers Rural LDem gain from Con
Mendip DC, Wells St Thomas LDem hold
North Lanarkshire UA, Coatbridge South Lab hold
South Derbys DC, Linton Con hold
Suffolk CC, Bosmere Con hold
Sutton LB, Belmont Con hold