Local Council By-Elections December 2023

This month saw 20,444 votes cast in 14 local authority contests. All percentages are rounded to the nearest single decimal place. Only three council seats changed hands. For comparison with November's results, see here.

Party	Number of Candidates	Total Vote	%	+/- Nov	+/- Dec 22	Avge/ Contest	+/- Seats
Conservative	15	7,035	34.4%	+15.0	+3.2	469	-3
Labour	14	3,219	15.7%	-11.7	-12.8	230	0
Lib Dem	14	8,363	40.9%	+22.7	+27.5	597	+3
Green	11	1,331	6.5%	-4.0	-0.5	121	0
SNP*	0						0
PC**	0						0
Ind***	4	460	2.3%	-12.4	-8.9	114	0
Other****	1	36	0.2%	-5.9	-0.3	36	0

* There were no by-elections in Scotland
** There was one by-election in Wales
*** There was one Independent clash
**** Others this month consisted solely of Reform (36)

There isn't a great deal to say about this month's crop of contests. As noted in the November write up, December was destined to be a Tory/Liberal Democrat clash and so it proved. Labour came in a distant third and the Lib Dems have triumphed with a three seat haul and, if memory serves, their highest share of the popular vote ever. Does it mean much? Not really. The results are reiterating the re-emergence of the Lib Dems as the protest party of choice for disgruntled Tory voters. Whether this carries through into a general election scenario is something we will find out next year.

For once, January is offering an embarrassment of riches where the number of contests are concerned. Normally the slowest month on the by-election calendar, we can look forward to 11 of them.

7th December
Bromley, Hayes & Coney Hall, Con hold
Denbighshire, Rhyl South West, Lab hold
Hertfordshire, Harpenden Rural, LDem gain from Con
North Norfolk, Briston, LDem hold
St Albans, Sandridge & Wheathampstead, LDem hold

14th December
Cotswold, Lechlade, Kempsford & Fairford South, LDem hold
North Kesteven, Billinghay Rural, LDem gain from Con
Rugby, Dunsmore, LDem gain from Con, Con hold
Swale, Abbey, LDem hold
Three Rivers, Chorleywood South & Maple Cross, LDem hold
Warwickshire, Dunsmore & Leam Valley, Con hold

21st December
Blaby, Glen Parva, LDem hold
Isle of Wight, Ventnor & St Lawrence, Con hold
Leicestershire, Blaby & Glen Parva, LDem hold

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