Local Council by-elections 29th July 2021

[Tony Otim]

Bizarrely, this week we have 2 cases of candidates fighting by-elections caused by their own resignations:

BASILDON DC; Pitsea North West (Lab resigned)
Candidates:
BATEMAN, Christopher David (For Britain)
HOGG, Jake (Basildon Community Residents Party)
HOWARD, Martin Keith (Liberal Democrat)
McGURRAN, Aidan (Labour)
TERSON, Stuart (Conservative)
TOOLEY, Daniel Charles Raymond (Reform UK)

2021:Lab 1101; Con 987; Bas Comm Res 213; LD 63
2019: Lab 885; Con 696; LD 246
2018: Lab 956; Con 655; UKIP 342; Dem & Vet 74
2016: Lab 955; UKIP 720; Con 480
2015: UKIP 1731; Lab 1611; Con 1424; LD 149
2014: UKIP 1156; Lab 906; Con 427; LD 73
2012: Lab 932; Con 564; UKIP 323; LD 97
2011: Lab 1111; Con 702; UKIP 391; LD 143
2010: Con 1654; Lab 1508; LD 770; BNP 460; UKIP 453
2008: Con 945; Lab 739; BNP 370; UKIP 266
2007: Lab 734; Con 714; BNP 362; UKIP 167; LD 162
2006: Con 1014; Lab 882; LD 388
2004: Con 838; Lab 789; LD 458
2003: Lab 738; Con 541; LD 248
2002: Lab 997, 893, 856; Con 543, 491, 456; LD 238, 229

Stuart Terson (Con), Jake Hogg (Res) and Martin Howard (LD) all stood for their respective parties in May, Martin Howard having previously also stood 2002-2007, 2010-2015 and 2019. Aidan McGurran (Lab) has been county councillor for Pitsea division since May. Daniel Tooley and Martin Howard also stood in that election.

Current Council: Con 22 24; Lab 11; Ind Grp 4; Absolute Ind 2; Wickford Ind 2; 1 vacancy



BASSETLAW DC; East Retford South (Lab resigned)
Candidates:
INTRONA, Mike (Conservative)
NAPIER, James Trebor Arthur (Labour)
RICHARDS, Helen Margaret (Independent).

2019: Lab 697, 679; UKIP 228; Con 197, 179
2015: Lab 1194, 1186; Con 689; UKIP 488
2014: Lab 642; UKIP 314; Con 220
2012: Lab 831; Con 331
2010: Lab 1287; Con 730
2008: Con 526; Lab 459
2006: Lab 618; Con 468
2004: Lab 746; Con 575
2002: Lab 591, 527; Con 283, 261

Helen Richards (Ind) is the Labour incumbent who resigned, having come second in 2015 and first in 2019. She was also the Labour candidate for Retford East divison (Notts CC) in May. Mike Introna (Con) is county councillor for Retford East since May and was the UKIP candidate in this ward in 2019. James Napier (Lab) was the Labour candidate in Retford West division in May).

Current Council: Lab 35; Con 7; Ind 4; LD 1; 1 vacancy



HARROGATE DC; Knaresborough Scriven Park (Con resigned)
Candidates:
ALEXANDER, Harvey (UKIP)
CALVERT, Sharon (Labour)
GOSTLOW, Hannah (Liberal Democrats)
RENTON, Jaqui (Conservative)

2018: Con 457; LD 441; Lab 291

Current Council: Con 30; LD 7; Ripon Ind 2; 1 vacancy



NORFOLK CC; Gaywood South (Con resigned)
Candidates:
BARTRUM, Micaela (Labour)
COLWELL, Rob (Liberal Democrat)
STONE, Michael (UKIP)
TALBOT, Robin Lee (Independent)
TRASK, Phil (Conservative)

2021: Con 980; Lab 724; LD 228; UKIP 99
2017: Con 857; Lab 758; LD 370; UKIP 230
2013: Lab 835; UKIP 758; Con 466; LD 173
2009: Con 865; Lab 551; LD 435; UKIP 376; BNP 273; Grn 196
2005: Lab 2130; Con 1765; LD 926

Michael Stone has been UKIP candidate here in every election since 2009. Rob Colwell has stood for the Lib Dems here in the last 2 elections and Micaela Bartrum was the Labour candidate this May.

Current Council: Con 57; Lab 12; LD 8; Grn 3; Ind 2; Ind (non-aligned) 1; 1 vacancy.



SOUTH TYNESIDE MBC; Felgate and Hedworth (Ind resigned)
Candidates:
HILL, Kelly Louise (Green)
POTTS, Jay (Labour)
ROBERTSON, John Andrew (Independent)
SMITH, Chris (Conservative)
WILKINSON, David (Liberal Democrats)

2021: Lab 1264; Ind 643, 61; Con 290; Grn 69
2019: Ind 1163; Lab 959; LD 199; Con 108
2018: Lab 1365; Ind 460; LD 325; Con 140; Grn 61
2016: Lab 1541; Con 282; Grn 248
2015: Lab 2042; UKIP 1075; Con 329; Grn 131
2014: Lab 163; UKIP 981; Con 132
2012: Lab 1226; Ind 786; BNP 83; Con 81; Lib 33
2011: Ind 1234; Lab 1101; Con 113; BNP 76
2010: Ind 1492; Lab 1478; Con 336; BNP 236
2008: Ind 1212; Lab 1090; Con 209
2007: Ind 1169; Lab 855; Con 150; Grn 139
2006: Ind 1162; Lab 852; Con 187
2004: Lab 1116, 1071, 1011; Con 647

John Robertson (Ind) was the councillor whose resignation triggered the by-election. He was also the unsuccessful Indy in 2018. Kelly Hill was the Green candidate here in May. The Indies elected in 2006/2010 & 2011 were the defeated UKIP candidates in 2014 & 2015. The 2008 indy was defeated as an indy in 2012. The 2007 indy didn’t re-stand.

Current Council: Lab 44; South Tyneside Ind Grp 4; Grn 3; Ind Con 1; Con 1; 1 vacancy

[MeirionGwril]

Fi yw'r ail!

[The Bishop]

Not just one but two resignees standing in their resultant contests, will certainly be interesting to observe the fallout from this.

[froome]

It must also be very unusual for all 5 by-elections to have been triggered by resignations.

The Knaresborough by-election certainly should be interesting, and is a lovely place to visit if anyone is planning on helping out.

Looking at the composition of Basildon council, I love the idea of Absolute Independents. Presumably all other independents are really fakes.

[Pete Whitehead]

Jul 25, 2021 13:11:51 GMT froome said:

It must also be very unusual for all 5 by-elections to have been triggered by resignations.

The Knaresborough by-election certainly should be interesting, and is a lovely place to visit if anyone is planning on helping out.

Looking at the composition of Basildon council, I love the idea of Absolute Independents. Presumably all other independents are really fakes.

According to the council website there is no such group and there are in fact 24 Conservative councillors. Perhaps that has changed since Tony made his post

[Tony Otim]

Jul 25, 2021 14:18:15 GMT Pete Whitehead said:

Jul 25, 2021 13:11:51 GMT froome said:

It must also be very unusual for all 5 by-elections to have been triggered by resignations.

The Knaresborough by-election certainly should be interesting, and is a lovely place to visit if anyone is planning on helping out.

Looking at the composition of Basildon council, I love the idea of Absolute Independents. Presumably all other independents are really fakes.

According to the council website there is no such group and there are in fact 24 Conservative councillors. Perhaps that has changed since Tony made his post

It must have. Opening post now updated.

I promise I don't make this shit up...

Also, highlights the misnomer of the group in the first place...

[Davıd Boothroyd]

Jul 25, 2021 14:18:15 GMT Pete Whitehead said:

Jul 25, 2021 13:11:51 GMT froome said:

It must also be very unusual for all 5 by-elections to have been triggered by resignations.

The Knaresborough by-election certainly should be interesting, and is a lovely place to visit if anyone is planning on helping out.

Looking at the composition of Basildon council, I love the idea of Absolute Independents. Presumably all other independents are really fakes.

According to the council website there is no such group and there are in fact 24 Conservative councillors. Perhaps that has changed since Tony made his post

The 'Absolute Independent' councillors were Peter Blake (Burstead) and Kevin Holliman (Wickford North). Blake left the Conservative Party in July 2020. Holliman, originally UKIP, became a Wickford Independent, then joined the Conservatives in September 2016, formed the Absolute Independent group with Blake over the last winter. But now both are back in the Conservatives and with important jobs.

[froome]

So the Absolute Independents were actually the fake ones...

[finsobruce]

Jul 25, 2021 15:11:57 GMT froome said:

So the Absolute Independents were actually the fake ones...

Absolutely.

[andrew111]

Jul 25, 2021 15:35:09 GMT finsobruce said:

Jul 25, 2021 15:11:57 GMT froome said:

So the Absolute Independents were actually the fake ones...

Absolutely.

Like a great may "Independents"


aka Fifth Columnists!

[finsobruce]

Jul 25, 2021 16:23:35 GMT andrew111 said:

Jul 25, 2021 15:35:09 GMT finsobruce said:

Absolutely.

Like a great may "Independents"


aka Fifth Columnists!

Second Columnists now. There's been cutbacks.

[Chris from Brum]

Andrew's Previews are here.

[minionofmidas]

This Mr Robertson is great entertainment value.

[Davıd Boothroyd]

Except if you happen to work in the council offices when he's got a grievance.

[iang]

FWIW, most people in the prediction competition seem to think Robertson will either lose narrowly to Labour or win. I wonder if his various "exploits" will have an impact on the result. Any local knowledge from anyone?

[andrewteale]

For what it's worth I found Robertson one of the most unpleasant people I've ever had to research. At some point I need to go down to the office supply shop for an overflow Councillors Behaving Badly file.

[Terry Weldon]

Jul 29, 2021 21:31:04 GMT andrewteale said:

For what it's worth I found Robertson one of the most unpleasant people I've ever had to research. At some point I need to go down to the office supply shop for an overflow Councillors Behaving Badly file.

If he should win, I would see that as a very poor reflection on S Tyneside voters.

[timmullen1]

Norfolk County Council would appear to be counting tomorrow:

South Tyneside, Knaresborough definitely counting tonight, but I can’t see any action on Twitter from either Basildon or Bassetlaw.

[peterl]

Wow, I had actually forgotten its Thursday.

[agbutler]

Basildon Tory gain