This month saw 26,450 votes cast in 15 local authority contests. All percentages are rounded to the nearest single decimal place. Three council seats changed hands. For comparison with September's results, see here.
Party
|
Number of Candidates
|
Total Vote
|
%
|
+/- Sep
|
+/- Oct 22
|
Avge/
Contest |
+/-
Seats |
Conservative
|
15
| 6,092 |
23.0%
| -7.2 |
-5.8
|
406
|
-3
|
Labour
|
14
| 7,568 |
28.6%
| -3.2 |
-4.3
| 540
|
0
|
Lib Dem
|
13
| 5,316
|
20.1%
| -0.8 |
-0.1
|
409
|
+1
|
Green
|
10
| 4,462
|
16.9%
| +12.9
|
+8.0
|
446
|
+2
|
SNP*
|
0
| |
0
| ||||
PC**
|
0
| | |
0
| |||
Ind***
|
3
| 824 |
3.1%
|
-4.0
|
275
|
0
| |
Other****
|
9
|
8.3%
| +6.9 |
-7.0
|
243
|
0
|
* There were no by-elections in Scotland
** There were no by-elections in Wales
*** There was one Independent clash this month
**** Others consisted of Coventry Citizens (107), People Against Bureaucrcy (644), Reform (98, 29), Residents for Guildford and Villages (1,095), SPGB (9), TUSC (144, 37), UKIP (25)
Only three seats changed hands, what a boring month! Actually, no. The Tory decline in local government continues, but more significant is yet another strong Green performance. It came out top winning two seats, got its highest proportion of the popular vote ever recorded on this blog, and managed an average votes cast per candidate performance better than the Tories and the Liberal Democrats! This comes with caveats, and in this case it would be that four of the contests took place in areas of Green strength and aren't generalisable. But then again, a steady stream of by-election gains and new bars set for popular votes does suggest the party is on the rise. If you're a Green supporter, another milestone worth celebrating.
It's also worth noting the Lib Dem's strength as well. Now stabilising at 20% in by-election round ups suggests the stain of the tuition fee/coalition government betrayal is now largely exorcised, at least where the punters who turn up for council by-elections are concerned. Their challenge is to translate this into a coalition that can knock over Tories in dozens of parliamentary seats, and here they're ably assisted by the government's awful record.
4th October:
Haringey, South Tottenham, Lab hold
Haringey, White Hart Lane, Lab hold
5th October:
Lambeth, Vauxhall, Lab hold
Tamworth, Amington, Lab hold
12th October:
Cheltenham, Prestbury, Oth hold
Suffolk, Woodbridge, LDem hold
19th October:
Shropshire, Alveley & Claverley, LDem gain from Con
Surrey, Horsleys, Oth hold
Worcester, Warndon Parish South, Grn gain from Con
Worcestershire, Warndon Parish, Grn gain from Con
26th October:
Burnley, Trinity, Grn hold
Coventry, Earlsdon, Lab hold
Herefordshire, Golden Valley South, Ind hold
Lancashire, Burnley Central West, Grn hold
Waltham Forest, Highams Hill, Lab hold
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