Local Council By-Elections February 2019

This month saw 26,136 votes cast over 10 local authority (tier one and tier two) contests. All percentages are rounded to the nearest single decimal place. No council seats changed hands. For comparison with December's results, see here.

Party	Number of Candidates	Total Vote	%	+/-  Jan	+/- Feb 18	Average/ Contest	+/- Seats
Conservative	10	6,267	24.0%	-12.5%	-12.5%	627	0
Labour	10	7,858	30.1%	+26.0%	+2.9%	786	-2
LibDem	9	6,854	26.2%	+9.8%	+6.1%	762	+1
UKIP	3	301	1.2%	-2.9%	+0.4%	100	0
Green	5	677	2.6%	+1.2%	-1.6%	135	0
SNP	0						0
PC**	1	831	3.2%	+3.2%	+3.2%	831	+1
Ind***	3	1,132	4.3%	-33.2%	-2.3%	377	-1
Other****	5	2,216	8.5%	+8.5%	+7.6%	443	+1

* There were no by-elections in Scotland
** There were two by-elections in Wales
*** There was no Independent clashes this month
**** Others this month consisted of the Women's Equality Party (46, 65), Aspire (1,012, 1,002), House Party (89)

Now there's a first. I've been covering these now for six years and this, I think, is the first time the Tories have come third in the by-election monthly tally. A symptom of their long-term decline? As much as I would prefer a centrist outfit like the Liberal Democrats to replace the blues as the main party of the British ruling class this, unfortunately, has more to do with the distribution of contests than anything else.

Still, that is a very good LibDem result, far, far outperforming its national polling figures. There is no doubt about it. They have re-won their position as the go to for none-of-the-above voters in by-elections. And following Brexit, whenever that happens, they are likely to sustain this position.

Is there anything else worthy of note? Not really, except Aspire - the 'other' party that did very well in a couple of by-elections, taking a seat off Labour - is the vehicle of former mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman . Clearly he still has some very substantial levels of support in that part of the world.

7th February
Bradford MBC, Bolton & Undercliffe LDem gain from Lab
Buckinghamshire CC, Totteridge & Bowerdean Lab gain from Ind
Lambeth LBC, Thornton Lab hold
Tower Hamlets LBC, Lansbury Lab hold
Tower Hamlets LBC, Shadwell Oth gain from Lab
Wokingham BC, Evendons LDem hold

14th February
Vale of Glamorgan, Rhoose Con hold

21st February
Cardiff UA, Ely PC gain from Lab
Northamptonshire CC, Oundle Con hold

28th Feb
Stroud DC, Berkley Vale Con hold