Local Council By-Elections March 2023

This month saw 37,794 votes cast in 17 local authority contests. All percentages are rounded to the nearest single decimal place. Four council seats changed hands. For comparison with February's results, see here.

Party	Number of Candidates	Total Vote	%	+/-  Feb	+/- Mar 22	Avge/ Contest	+/- Seats
Conservative	15	8,899	23.5%	-6.6	-12.7	593	-1
Labour	15	9,299	24.6%	-3.7	+9.5	620	0
Lib Dem	13	8,077	21.4%	+1.8	-18.0	621	+2
Green	12	3,467	9.2%	+0.4	+5.1	289	+1
SNP*	2	2,288	6.1%	+0.7	+6.1	728	-2
PC**	1	833	2.2%	+0.8	+2.2	833	0
Ind***	16	4,372	11.2%	+6.9	-6.5	273	0
Other****	11	559	1.5%	-0.4	-0.6	51	0

* There were two by-elections in Scotland
** There was one by-election in Wales
*** There were three Independent clashes
**** Others this month consisted of Breakthrough Party (120), Christian People's Alliance (35), Libertarian (20), Monster Raving Loony (22), Reform (40, 110, 37), Scottish Family Party (90, 50), TUSC (23, 12)

What a quiet month! Only four seats changing hands, Labour ending its run of net gains, the Tories only being down one, the main two parties' votes depressed by strong showings from the Liberal Democrats and Independents. There's nothing much to be said. The Greens turned in a solid performance. The Indies were flattered by two City of London by-elections, the Breakthrough Party put in a creditable first try - just compare their score to TUSC, who were almost outperformed by the Monster Raving Loonies this month. But in all, March was electoral tumbleweed.

I'm sorry to sat things won't get much better in April. As far as I can tell, there are only three by-elections scheduled.

2nd March:
Kent, Hythe West, Grn gain from Con
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Byker, Lab hold
Oxford, Littlemore, Lab hold
Oxfordshire, Rose Hill & Littlemore, Lab hold
Staffordshire, Watling South, Con hold
Tamworth, Belgrave, Con hold

9th March:
Edinburgh, Corstorphine/Murrayfield, LDem gain from SNP
Haringey, Tottenham Hale, Lab hold
Hounslow, Heston West, Lab hold

16 March:
South Cambridgeshire, Cottenham, LDem hold
Stirling, Dunblane & Bridge of Allan, Con gain from SNP

23 March:
City of London, Castle Baynard, Ind hold
City of London, Cripplegate, Ind hold
North Northamptonshire, Rushden South, Con hold

30 March:
Anglesey, Aethwy, PC hold
Barking & Dagenham, Heath, Lab hold
Gloucester, Westgate, LDem gain from Con