Local Council By-elections 19th March 2020

[Tony Otim]

CLACKMANNANSHIRE UA; Clackmannanshire East (Con resigned)
Candidates:
BIGGAM, John Shier (Liberal Democrat)
COYNE, Denis (Conservative)
HUNTER, Carolynne (Labour)
LEITCH, Stephen (SNP)
ROBERTSON, Marion (Green)

Clackmannanshire East takes in Clackmannan itself and Dollar as its main settlements.

2017: Con 1452; SNP 692, 363; Lab 706; LD 151; Grn 132
There were only very minor boundary changes in 2017 in the South West corner of the ward, near Alloa.
2012: SNP 781, 259; Con 817; Lab 745
2007: SNP 669, 420; Con 1040; Lab 951; LD 409

Marion Robertson stood here for the Greens in 2017.

Currrent Council: SNP 8; Lab 5; Con 3; Ind 1; 1 vacancy



COVENTRY CC; Upper Stoke (Lab died)
Candidates:
BROWN, Chrissie Lynn (Green)
HAYRE, Gurdev Singh (Labour)
NELLIST, Jane Elzabeth (Socialist Alternative)
SOHAL, Gurdeep Singh (Conservative)

2019: Lab 1538; Con 621; UKIP 501; Grn 394
2018: Lab 1965; Con 775; Grn 268; LD 204
2016: Lab 1873; UKIP 546; LD 424; Con 354; Grn 150; TUSC 89
2015: Lab 3368; Con 1273; UKIP 1227; LD 629; Grn 260; TUSC 215
2014: Lab 1912; UKIP 809; LD 417; Con 389; Grn 134; BNP 94; TUSC 56
2012: Lab 2024; LD 682; Con 275; Grn 213; BNP 156; SocAlt 120
2011: Lab 2536; LD 799; Con 508; BNP 193; Grn 159; SocAlt 95
2010: Lab 3439; LD 1983; Con 1127; BNP 480; SocAlt 185
2008: LD 1694; Lab 1506; Con 482; Grn 172
2007: Lab 1620; LD 1617; Con 521; BNP 291; Ind 183, 25
2006: Lab 1792; LD 1762; Con 455;
2004: LD 2119, 2047, 1865; Lab 1776, 1504, 1480; Con 526, 480, 457; Soc Alt 251

Current Council: Lab 39; Con 13; Ind 1; 1 vacancy



TEST VALLEY DC; Chilworth, Nursling and Rownhams (Con died)
Candidates:
DUNLEAVEY, Karen Linda (Liberal Democrat)
SWAIN, Terese Ann (Conservative)

2019: Con 1187, 1123, 1114; LD 612, 517, 470; Lab 236

Karen Dunleavey was the top-placed Lib Dem last May.

Current Council: Con 23; LD 12; Andover Alliance 4; Andover Independents 3; 1 vacancy



THANET DC; Newington (Lab resigned)
Candidates:
BIRCHALL, Grahame George (Independent)
GERRARD, Katie (Green)
KING, Mary Elizabeth (Labour)
SHONK, Trevor Leslie (Conservative)

2019: Lab 412, 365; Grn 209; Con 188, 181
Jun 16by: UKIP 295; Lab 281; Con 125; LD 33
Jan 16by: Lab 288; UKIP 229; Con 156; Ind 49; Grn 20; LD 12; Ind 10
2015: UKIP 884, 845; Lab728, 713; Con 390, 363
2011: Lab 705, 702; Con 370, 351
2007: Lab 471, 438; Ramsgate First 268, 196; Con 208, 197; UKIP 116
2003: Lab 532, 498; Ind 235; Con 144, 140

Katie Gerrard was the Green candidate last May. Grahame Birchall was the Indy who got 10 votes in the Jan 16 by-election.

Current Council: Con 25; Lab 19; Thanet Independents 7; Grn 3; Ind 1; 1 vacancy.

[Chris from Brum]

Mar 2, 2020 11:11:49 GMT Tony Otim said:

CLACKMANNANSHIRE UA; Clackmannanshire East (Con resigned)
Candidates:
BIGGAM, John Shier (Liberal Democrat)
COYNE, Denis (Conservative)
HUNTER, Carolynne (Labour)
LEITCH, Stephen (SNP)
ROBERTSON, Marion (Green)

Clackmannanshire East takes in Clackmannan itself and Dollar as its main settlements.

2017: Con 1452; SNP 692, 363; Lab 706; LD 151; Grn 132
There were only very minor boundary changes in 2017 in the South West corner of the ward, near Alloa.
2012: SNP 781, 259; Con 817; Lab 745
2007: SNP 669, 420; Con 1040; Lab 951; LD 409

Marion Robertson stood here for the Greens in 2017.

Currrent Council: SNP 8; Lab 5; Con 3; Ind 1; 1 vacancy



COVENTRY CC; Upper Stoke (Lab died)
Candidates:
BROWN, Chrissie Lynn (Green)
HAYRE, Gurdev Singh (Labour)
NELLIST, Jane Elzabeth (Socialist Alternative)
SOHAL, Gurdeep Singh (Conservative)

2019: Lab 1538; Con 621; UKIP 501; Grn 394
2018: Lab 1965; Con 775; Grn 268; LD 204
2016: Lab 1873; UKIP 546; LD 424; Con 354; Grn 150; TUSC 89
2015: Lab 3368; Con 1273; UKIP 1227; LD 629; Grn 260; TUSC 215
2014: Lab 1912; UKIP 809; LD 417; Con 389; Grn 134; BNP 94; TUSC 56
2012: Lab 2024; LD 682; Con 275; Grn 213; BNP 156; SocAlt 120
2011: Lab 2536; LD 799; Con 508; BNP 193; Grn 159; SocAlt 95
2010: Lab 3439; LD 1983; Con 1127; BNP 480; SocAlt 185
2008: LD 1694; Lab 1506; Con 482; Grn 172
2007: Lab 1620; LD 1617; Con 521; BNP 291; Ind 183, 25
2006: Lab 1792; LD 1762; Con 455;
2004: LD 2119, 2047, 1865; Lab 1776, 1504, 1480; Con 526, 480, 457; Soc Alt 251

Current Council: Lab 39; Con 13; Ind 1; 1 vacancy



TEST VALLEY DC; Chilworth, Nursling and Rownhams (Con died)
Candidates:
DUNLEAVEY, Karen Linda (Liberal Democrat)
SWAIN, Terese Ann (Conservative)

2019: Con 1187, 1123, 1114; LD 612, 517, 470; Lab 236

Karen Dunleavey was the top-placed Lib Dem last May.

Current Council: Con 23; LD 12; Andover Alliance 4; Andover Independents 3; 1 vacancy



THANET DC; Newington (Lab resigned)
Candidates:
BIRCHALL, Grahame George (Independent)
GERRARD, Katie (Green)
KING, Mary Elizabeth (Labour)
SHONK, Trevor Leslie (Conservative)

2019: Lab 412, 365; Grn 209; Con 188, 181
Jun 16by: UKIP 295; Lab 281; Con 125; LD 33
Jan 16by: Lab 288; UKIP 229; Con 156; Ind 49; Grn 20; LD 12; Ind 10
2015: UKIP 884, 845; Lab728, 713; Con 390, 363
2011: Lab 705, 702; Con 370, 351
2007: Lab 471, 438; Ramsgate First 268, 196; Con 208, 197; UKIP 116
2003: Lab 532, 498; Ind 235; Con 144, 140

Katie Gerrard was the Green candidate last May. Grahame Birchall was the Indy who got 10 votes in the Jan 16 by-election.

Current Council: Con 25; Lab 19; Thanet Independents 7; Grn 3; Ind 1; 1 vacancy.

Should we assume a family connection between the Soc Alt candidate in Coventry and former Militant MP Dave Nellist?

[Davıd Boothroyd]

Jane Nellist is Dave Nellist's wife.

[greenchristian]

Mar 2, 2020 12:26:43 GMT Davıd Boothroyd said:

Jane Nellist is Dave Nellist's wife.

Indeed she is. She's also a prominent trade union official in the NEU (and, previously, the NUT) at the local level.

[Andrew_S]

It can't be long before these local by-elections are also suspended.

[Davıd Boothroyd]

The legislation will have to be introduced next week; we'll see what it provides for.

[arnieg]

Is anyone involved in any of these doing any terrestrial canvassing?

Are you getting any hostile responses?

"I don't want your nasty Tory/Socialist/... germs"

[greenchristian]

Mar 13, 2020 20:04:39 GMT arnieg said:

Is anyone involved in any of these doing any terrestrial canvassing?

Are you getting any hostile responses?

"I don't want your nasty Tory/Socialist/... germs"

I doubt it. Green Party advice is that doorknocking is a high risk activity, and should not be happening, but leafletting is probably OK. I would assume that other parties are sending out similar advice to their activists.

[Crimson King]

Mar 13, 2020 20:10:47 GMT greenchristian said:

Mar 13, 2020 20:04:39 GMT arnieg said:

Is anyone involved in any of these doing any terrestrial canvassing?

Are you getting any hostile responses?

"I don't want your nasty Tory/Socialist/... germs"

I doubt it. Green Party advice is that doorknocking is a high risk activity, and should not be happening, but leafletting is probably OK. I would assume that other parties are sending out similar advice to their activists.

I’m quite sure door knocking isnt that much of a risk

[greenchristian]

Mar 13, 2020 23:25:55 GMT Crimson King said:

Mar 13, 2020 20:10:47 GMT greenchristian said:

I doubt it. Green Party advice is that doorknocking is a high risk activity, and should not be happening, but leafletting is probably OK. I would assume that other parties are sending out similar advice to their activists.

I’m quite sure door knocking isnt that much of a risk

I'm just repeating what's in the e-mail I received. It's probably better to be safe than sorry, and suspending doorknocking is definitely in line with the whole social distancing thing.

[Adam in Stroud]

Mar 13, 2020 23:25:55 GMT Crimson King said:

Mar 13, 2020 20:10:47 GMT greenchristian said:

I doubt it. Green Party advice is that doorknocking is a high risk activity, and should not be happening, but leafletting is probably OK. I would assume that other parties are sending out similar advice to their activists.

I’m quite sure door knocking isnt that much of a risk

There is another aspect to this, which is that even if completely safe, once canvassing is thought to be risky by the general public then it is going to be counter-productive anyway. My guess is that we are at that point now and likely to stay that way for a month or so at least.

[greenchristian]

Mar 13, 2020 23:37:39 GMT Adam in Stroud said:

Mar 13, 2020 23:25:55 GMT Crimson King said:

I’m quite sure door knocking isnt that much of a risk

There is another aspect to this, which is that even if completely safe, once canvassing is thought to be risky by the general public then it is going to be counter-productive anyway. My guess is that we are at that point now and likely to stay that way for a month or so at least.

And, in any case, most doorknocking that was planned for the next month or two would have been either voter ID or knocking up. Obviously the latter is now irrelevant outside the remaining by-elections (assuming they aren't also cancelled), and the former will give you data that's a year out of date by the time the election actually happens.

[owainsutton]

Mar 13, 2020 23:25:55 GMT Crimson King said:

Mar 13, 2020 20:10:47 GMT greenchristian said:

I doubt it. Green Party advice is that doorknocking is a high risk activity, and should not be happening, but leafletting is probably OK. I would assume that other parties are sending out similar advice to their activists.

I’m quite sure door knocking isnt that much of a risk

A high risk politically, if not medically.

[evergreenadam]

Mar 14, 2020 9:12:01 GMT @barnabymarder said:

My job involves knocking on selected people's doors, and so far, touch wood, there's no sign that things are any more difficult than usual. In fact last week was well above average for the time of year.

They will all be at home now, bound to be more productive than usual. People might be glad of a chat.

[tonygreaves]

Mar 13, 2020 20:02:41 GMT Davıd Boothroyd said:

The legislation will have to be introduced next week; we'll see what it provides for.

Indeed. Slightly complicated to suspend or stop campaigns where the notices have been issued.

[The Bishop]

Looking like these could be the last local byelections for a while.

[nigelashton]

Mar 17, 2020 11:19:10 GMT The Bishop said:

Looking like these could be the last local byelections for a while.

Yes, according to the Government, the Emergency Coronavirus legislation will "postpone the local, mayoral and Police and Crime Commissioner elections that were due to take place in England in May this year until May 2021. Provision will also be made to postpone other electoral events over the course of the year (such as by-elections)"

[froome]

The 4 new councillors who are elected tomorrow are going to find themselves in a very odd situation. Their councils will almost certainly not be meeting in person, and presumably nor their party groups, and any contact they have with other councillors and with officers will be only via computer or phone. They will also face the difficulty of how they have contact with their constituents. And if any are over 70 or have underlying medical issues, they will of necessity have to be operating in self isolation.

[evergreenadam]

Mar 18, 2020 5:34:57 GMT nigelashton said:

Mar 17, 2020 11:19:10 GMT The Bishop said:

Looking like these could be the last local byelections for a while.

Yes, according to the Government, the Emergency Coronavirus legislation will "postpone the local, mayoral and Police and Crime Commissioner elections that were due to take place in England in May this year until May 2021. Provision will also be made to postpone other electoral events over the course of the year (such as by-elections)"

Does the term of the new Councillors/Mayors elected in 2021 get shortened by one year? Otherwise the electoral cycle of bi annual elections for London Boroughs and London Mayor will be permantly disrupted.

[martinwhelton]

Mar 18, 2020 12:50:13 GMT evergreenadam said:

Mar 18, 2020 5:34:57 GMT nigelashton said:

Yes, according to the Government, the Emergency Coronavirus legislation will "postpone the local, mayoral and Police and Crime Commissioner elections that were due to take place in England in May this year until May 2021. Provision will also be made to postpone other electoral events over the course of the year (such as by-elections)"

Does the term of the new Councillors/Mayors elected in 2021 get shortened by one year? Otherwise the electoral cycle of bi annual elections for London Boroughs and London Mayor will be permantly disrupted.

It is likely to be a 3-year term of office. For many of the Mets(and some districts), councillors will be having a one-year term as they will be having all-out elections due to rewarding.