Post by middleenglander on Feb 29, 2020 9:46:27 GMT
There were 22 by-elections for 23 seats during January and February with 6 (26%) changing hands. The results can be summarised by:
^ West Suffolk Independent (2)
^^ 14 Independents contested 9 seats
Conservatives gained 1 seat from Labour but lost 2 County Council seats won in 2017, 1 to Labour and 1 to Liberal Democrats
* gained Hertsmere: Borehamwood Kenilworth from Labour with nearly a 8% majority on a swing of around 8% since 2019
- 3 member new ward elected 2 Labour and 1 Conservative in 2019; previous 2 member ward had elected 5 Conservative, 5 Labour since 2002
* lost Cambridgeshire, Duxford to Liberal Democrat (current district councillor within division) with a 19% majority and 20½% swing since 2017
- single member new division won by Conservative with 22% majority in 2017; previous division was Conservative in 2013 but Liberal Democrat in 2005 & 2009
* lost Derbyshire: Whaley Bridge to Labour (recently defeated MP) with a 22% majority and a swing of 14½% since 2017
- single member division won by a Liberal Democrat in 2013 (previous division was Liberal Democrat in 2005 and 2009) and Conservative by 1% in 2017
In addition to the 1 gain from and 1 loss to the Conservatives, Labour lost 2 other seats
* lost Brent: Alperton to the Liberal Democrats with a majority of over 9% and approaching a 30% swing since 2018 and 11½% swing since 2014
- previous Labour Councillor had resigned following a High Court action whilst the Labour candidate was suspended from the party during the election
- 3 member ward that elected 3 Labour in 2018 and 2014, 2 Labour / 1 Liberal Democrat in 2010 and 3 Liberal Democrat in 2006 and 2002
* lost Manchester: Clayton & Openshaw to an Independent with a 4% majority and a swing of 2½% since 2019 and over 20% since 2018
- 3 member new ward that elected 3 Labour in 2018 and 1 Labour in 2019 when new Councillor lost by only 12 votes
Plaid Cymru gained Wrexham: Gwersyllt North from an Independent, polling 36% share and a 20% majority in an 8 candidate contest
- single member ward elected an Independent in 2017 but Labour in 2012, 2008 and 2004 (all over 64% share); Plaid Cymru previously contested only 2012
To be continued
| Party | Candidates | Defended | Retained | Gained | Lost | Won | retention rate |
| Conservative | 23 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 82% |
Labour | 20 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 70% |
Liberal Democrat | 17 | 2 | 2 | ||||
Plaid Cymru | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
SNP | 1 | ||||||
Green | 14 | ||||||
UKIP | 1 | ||||||
Localist Group ^ | 2 | ||||||
Independent ^^ | 14 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 50% |
No Description | 1 | ||||||
Total | 94 | 23 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 23 | 74% |
^ West Suffolk Independent (2)
^^ 14 Independents contested 9 seats
Conservatives gained 1 seat from Labour but lost 2 County Council seats won in 2017, 1 to Labour and 1 to Liberal Democrats
* gained Hertsmere: Borehamwood Kenilworth from Labour with nearly a 8% majority on a swing of around 8% since 2019
- 3 member new ward elected 2 Labour and 1 Conservative in 2019; previous 2 member ward had elected 5 Conservative, 5 Labour since 2002
* lost Cambridgeshire, Duxford to Liberal Democrat (current district councillor within division) with a 19% majority and 20½% swing since 2017
- single member new division won by Conservative with 22% majority in 2017; previous division was Conservative in 2013 but Liberal Democrat in 2005 & 2009
* lost Derbyshire: Whaley Bridge to Labour (recently defeated MP) with a 22% majority and a swing of 14½% since 2017
- single member division won by a Liberal Democrat in 2013 (previous division was Liberal Democrat in 2005 and 2009) and Conservative by 1% in 2017
In addition to the 1 gain from and 1 loss to the Conservatives, Labour lost 2 other seats
* lost Brent: Alperton to the Liberal Democrats with a majority of over 9% and approaching a 30% swing since 2018 and 11½% swing since 2014
- previous Labour Councillor had resigned following a High Court action whilst the Labour candidate was suspended from the party during the election
- 3 member ward that elected 3 Labour in 2018 and 2014, 2 Labour / 1 Liberal Democrat in 2010 and 3 Liberal Democrat in 2006 and 2002
* lost Manchester: Clayton & Openshaw to an Independent with a 4% majority and a swing of 2½% since 2019 and over 20% since 2018
- 3 member new ward that elected 3 Labour in 2018 and 1 Labour in 2019 when new Councillor lost by only 12 votes
Plaid Cymru gained Wrexham: Gwersyllt North from an Independent, polling 36% share and a 20% majority in an 8 candidate contest
- single member ward elected an Independent in 2017 but Labour in 2012, 2008 and 2004 (all over 64% share); Plaid Cymru previously contested only 2012
To be continued