Local Council By-Elections October 2020

The first set of by-elections since March! This month saw 5,601 votes cast over three local authority (tier one and tier two) contests. All percentages are rounded to the nearest single decimal place. No council seats changed hands. For comparison with last March's results, see here.

Party	Number of Candidates	Total Vote	%	+/-  March	+/- Oct 19	Avge/ Contest	+/- Seats
Conservative	1	1,658	29.6%	-8.9	-5.3	1,658	0
Labour	2	272	4.9%	-28.1	-12.1	136	0
LibDem	1	405	7.2%	-8.0	-15.2	405	0
Green	1	112	2.0%	-5.1	-3.2	112	0
SNP	1	1,683	30.0%	+25.7	+25.6	1,683	0
PC**	0						0
Ind***	6	1,471	26.3%	+24.3	+15.8	245	0
Other****	0						0

* There were three by-elections in Scotland
** There were no by-elections in Wales
*** There were two sets of Independent clashes this month
**** No Others this month

The first set of by-elections since the beginning of lockdown and ... they reveal precisely nothing. Two of the elections come with Scottish island weirdness. I.e. An oversupply of independent candidates and little party activity, though Labour do deserve a hand for popping its head up in the Orkneys. The one "conventional" by-election was Aberdeenshire, which the SNP successfully defended against a strong Tory challenge. While there are no lessons to be taken, except the parties ought to sort out their organisation in the Orkneys and Outer Hebrides, the good news is November has two more by-elections in store for us, both of which are SNP defences. Thin gruel for local election fans, but it's all that's going at the moment.


1st October
Orkney UA, North Isles, Ind hold

8th October
Eilean Siar UA, Na Hearadh agus Ceann a Deas nan Loch, Ind hold

15th October
Aberdeenshire UA, Ellon and District, SNP hold

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