Quarter Four By-Election Results 2023

This quarter 83,859 votes were cast in 55 local authority contests. All percentages are rounded to the nearest single decimal place. 16 council seats changed hands. For comparison you can view Quarter three's results here.

Party	Number of Candidates	Total Vote	%	+/-  Q3	+/- Q4 2022	Average	+/- Seats
Conservative	53	20,305	24.2%	-3.3	-4.3	383	-7
Labour	48	20,902	24.9%	-5.6	-5.8	435	+2
LibDem	48	20,420	24.4%	+5.0	+9.2	425	+9
Green	37	9,679	11.5%	+1.8	+3.0	262	+1
SNP*	2	1,205	1.4%	-0.6	-3.6	603	-1
PC**	1	201	0.2%	-0.4	-0.1	201	0
Ind***	39	6,671	8.0%	+0.9	-2.7	171	-3
Other****	23	4,476	5.3%	+3.2	+4.3	195	-1

* There were two by-elections in Scotland
** There were four by-elections in Wales
*** There were 10 Independent clashes
**** Others consisted of Alba (66), British Unionist Party (96), Coventry Citizens (107), Farnworth and Kearsley First (1,081), Freedom Alliance (7), Molesley Residents' Association (523), Monster Raving Loony (20), People Against Bureaucracy (644), Reform (58, 82, 121, 101, 98, 29, 36), Residents for Guildford and Villages (1,095), SPGB (9), TUSC (144, 37), UKIP (24, 25), Yorkshire Party (38, 35)

It's a three horse race! For once, the famed Liberal Democrat device would accurately describe the outcome of this quarter's popular vote. The Lib Dems have cleaned up in seat terms, but Labour just about edge it in raw votes cast. The Tories come in a close third but, fun fact, I believe this is the first time they have done so in a quarterly round up. The shape of things just around the corner, one hopes. Labour and the Greens will be happy to have finished the quarter and the year with net gains, and the Greens' ll.5% is a solid result from which to build.

As we build up to the general election, which will probably be the Spring but Autumn can't be ruled out, might we start seeing the Tory vote firm up as its support realise protest voting this close to the contest is pointless. Or will by-elections continue to register the seeping away of the Conservatives' lifeblood in local government?

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