This month saw 18,325 votes cast in 10 local authority contests. All percentages are rounded to the nearest single decimal place. Six council seats changed hands. For comparison with January's results, see here.
Party
|
Number of Candidates
|
Total Vote
|
%
|
+/- Jan
|
+/- Feb 25
|
Avge/
Contest |
+/-
Seats |
Conservative
|
8
| 3,316 |
18.1%
| +3.0 |
-5.9
|
415
|
0
|
Labour
|
9
| 3,817 |
20.8%
| +5.9 |
-3.4
| 424
|
-5
|
Lib Dem
|
8
| 1,,897
|
10.4%
| -7.5 |
-8.8
|
237
|
+1
|
Reform
|
9
| 3,666
|
20.0%
| -5.3 |
+1.5
|
407
| +2
|
Green
|
7
| 2,888
|
15.6%
| +1.5
|
+8.6
|
413
|
+1
|
SNP*
|
0
|
0
| |||||
PC**
|
3
| 970 |
5.3%
| +5.3 |
+5.3
| 323
|
+1
|
Ind***
|
15
| 1,117 |
6.1%
|
+4.4
|
74
|
0
| |
Other****
|
2
|
3.6%
| +1.7 |
+2.8
|
327
|
0 |
* There were no by-elections in Scotland
** There were three by-elections in Wale
*** There were three Independent clashe
**** Others this month consisted of One Leicester (638) and TUSC (16)
What an interesting month. Labour still handed out seats to all and sundry, and yet for the first time in a year it came out on top of the popular vote! A somewhat lame consolation for the drubbing it got in Gorton and Denton. Butthat also means something else, and that's Reform didn't top the polls either. In fact, you'd have to go back to April last year to find their popular vote tally in the runner up spot. Obviously, by-election aggregates coem with a skip load of caveats. They reflect local conditions. Concentrated strength in one area can inflate vote totals. And so on. Nevertheless, it's interesting that as Reform are beginning to falter in the polls their by-election hauls have also plateaued and declined slightly. Something to keep an eye on.
Also, a new month records another high where the Greens are concerned, and something of a low for the Liberal Democrats. We've awaited the Green surge to show up in council votes, so perhaps this is sign that following the membership surge and now the triumph in Manchester its by-election totals will start looking like the party's polling figures.
Next month is a slightly busier time with 15 contests to look forward to - four Independent, four Lib Dem, two Labour, two Green, two Conservative, and one Reform defences.
5 February
City of London, Coleman Street, Ind hold
North Somerset, Clevedon South, Lab hold
Ynys Mon, Ynys Gybi, Ref gain from PC
10 February
Pembrokeshire, Fishguard North East, PC gain from Lab
12 February
Bradford, Worth Valley, Con hold
Peterborough, Fletton & Woodston, Ref gain from Lab
19 February
Caerphilly, Van, PC gain from Lab
Leicester, Stoneygate, Grn gain from Lab
Redcar & Cleveland, Zetland, LDem gain from Lab
26 February
Southampton, Shirley (2027), LDem hold
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