Party | Number of Candidates | Total Vote | % | +/- Nov | +/- Dec17 | Average/ Contest | +/- Seats |
Conservative | 12 | 6,732 | 23.6% | -13.5% | -2.5% | 561 | 0 |
Labour | 10 | 8,614 | 30.2% | -4.2% | -10.9% | 861 | -1 |
LibDem | 10 | 5,262 | 18.5% | -1.8% | -1.1% | 526 | -2 |
UKIP | 5 | 265 | 0.9% | -0.3% | +0.0% | 53 | 0 |
Green | 7 | 1,463 | 5.1% | +1.7% | +1.3% | 209 | 0 |
SNP | 2 | 2,342 | 8.2% | +8.2% | +8.2% | 1,171 | +1 |
PC** | 0 | 0 | |||||
Ind*** | 5 | 2,926 | 10.3% | +1.8% | 585 | +1 | |
Other**** | 3 | 890 | 3.1% | +1.4% | +3.1% | 297 | +1 |
* There were two by-elections in Scotland
** No by-elections in Wales this month
*** There was one independent clash
**** Others this month consisted of Scottish Libertarian (8), Ashfield Independents (856), Democrats and Veterans (26)
And so 2018's by-elections draw to a close with a set of results that say absolutely nothing about the national picture. With only 12 contests to shout about (who wants to campaign when mince pies are better?), the healthy popular vote edge Labour has over the Tories means very little. Humph. Likewise, the fall in the Conservative vote has more to do with the geographic spread of challenges than a red insurgency. Double humph.
All in all, an unremarkable month. The LibDems continue to do well in terms of vote share, though we know from 2017 that good local results are no salve against falling badly at a general election. UKIP are nowhere and are likely to continue to be - even with Brexit nonsense set to come to a climax in 2019 their fash flirtation makes their revival as a mainstream anti-manistream party most unlikely. And happily for the Greens, they finish the year well.
Predictions will be held over to the year-end round up of results. Preview: who knows what's going to happen?
6th December
Highland UA, Wester Ross, Strathpeffer & Lochalsh SNP gain from LDem
Leicester UA, Walgrave Lab hold
Oxford BC, Overcote LDem hold
Surrey CC, The Byfleets Ind gain from Con
12th December
Ashfield DC, Sutton Junction & Harlow Wood Oth gain from Lab
13th December
Dumfries and Galloway UA, Dee and Glenkens Con hold
Haringey LB, West Green Lab hold
Harlow DC, Toddbrook Lab hold
Middlesbrough UA, Brambles & Thorntree Lab hold
20th December
Charnwood BC, Antsey Con gain from LDem
Cumbria CC, Kenty Estuary LDem hold
South Lakeland DC, Arnside & Milnthorpe LDem hold
1 comment:
Far be it from me to suggest posts, but this Chris Williamson business with him backing a petition in support of Gilad Atzmon ... as a Tory troll my initial reaction is one of delight to see a Corbynite being hounded for supporting an anti-semitic holocaust denier, but hang on a minute; Gilad Atzmon was not banned from promoting holocaust denial, he was banned from playing the saxophone. Is it right that an arm of the state can prevent someone from carrying out their day job because their political views are widely regarded as being abhorrent? Its one thing for me as an individual to decide I will boycott a musician because I don;t agree with their political opinions, for instance I might think not want to go and see a homophobic or racist musician perform, but its quite another thing for the state to choose on my behalf that I will not go and see them isn't it? If this policy were to be extended, e.g. a ban on people ho publically use the 'N' word, then rap would pretty much disappear from public venues wouldn't it?
Just curious what the left view is on this.
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