Local Council By-Elections October 2021

This month saw 35,870 votes cast over 22 local authority contests. All percentages are rounded to the nearest single decimal place. Overall, six council seats changed hands. For comparison with September's results, see here.

Party	Number of Candidates	Total Vote	%	+/-  Sept	+/- Oct 20	Avge/ Contest	+/- Seats
Conservative	21	12,375	34.5%	+4.8	+4.9	589	0
Labour	19	8,535	23.8%	-9.0	+18.9	449	0
LibDem	14	7,897	22.0%	+6.1	+14.8	564	-1
Green	12	1,714	4.8%	-6.1	+2.8	143	0
SNP*	1	1,691	4.7%	+4.7	-25.3	1,691	+1
PC**	1	163	0.5%	+0.5	+0.5	163	0
Ind***	11	3,262	9.1%	+2.7	-17.2	297	+1
Other****	5	233	0.6%	-2.4	+0.6	47	-1

* There was one by-election in Scotland
** There were two by-elections in Wales
*** There were two Independent clashes
**** Others this month consisted of Bolton for Change (99), Communist Party of Britain (28), Reform UK (6), and TUSC (24, 76)

So much for a Labour recovery. Tell a lie, this month's by-elections were more skewed toward Tory and Liberal Democrat territory - it was never going to be a fantastic performance. Still, Labour - like the Tories - come out of October with the net result of the status quo. In fact, again this might be a straw in the wind, but the volatility we've seen in previous months of seats changing hands all over the place appears to have calmed down. Only six changing hands, it's positively snooze worthy.

Also missing this month was continuing evidence of the Green surge, who've performed well below the collective efforts of the Independents. Though they did enjoy some good results. Most notable was Wombourne in South Staffordshire where the Labour vote largely evaporated and the Greens came from nowhere to a close second to the Tories. With a heightened focus on environmental issues with COP26 and the Tory sewage scandal, if they don't do well in November when can they expect to do well? There's plenty of room for them next month - there are 30 contests to look forward to!

7th October
Flintshire, Penyffordd, Lab gain from Ind
Nottingham, St Ann's, Lab hold
Nottingham, Sherwood, Lab hold
Rushcliffe, Musters, LDem hold
Somerset, Comeytrowe and Trullm, LDem hold
Somerset West and Taunton, Wilton and Sherford, LDem hold
Waverley, Cranleigh East, LDem hold

14th October
Falkirk, Falkirk South, SNP gain from Lab
Harrow, Pinner South, Con hold
Surrey Heath, Frimley Green, Con gain from LDem
Wigan, Leigh West, Lab hold

21st October
Birmingham, Yardley East, LDem hold
Horsham, Forest, LDem hold
Newark and Sherwood, Rainworth South and Blidworth, Ind gain from Lab

28th October
Bolton, Bromley Cross, Con hold
Carlisle, Currock and Upperby, Lab gain from Oth
Luton, South, Lab hold
South Kesteven, Granthan Arnoldfield, Con hold
South Kesteven, Stamford All Saints, Ind gain from Con
South Staffordshire, Kinver, Con hold
South Staffordshire, Wombourne South East, Con hold
Wrexham, Gresford East and West, Con hold