Local Council by-elections 15th September 2022

[Tony Otim]

BOLTON MBC; Rumworth (Lab resigned)
Candidates:
COOPER, Charles (Liberal Democrat)
JOHNSON, Alan (Green)
MAKAR, Rose (Reform UK & Bolton for Change)
PATEL, Ayyub Chota (Conservative)
PATEL, Ismail (Labour)

2022:Lab 2017; Con 1297; Grn 226; Ref/B4C 62; LD 55
2021: Lab 2417; Con 1100; Grn 196; LD 90
2019: Lab 2514; Con 380; Grn 275;UKIP 221; LD 72
2018: Lab2570; Con 379; Grn 251; Ind 111; Ld 85
Oct 16by: Lab 2125; UKIP 251; Con 167; Grn 126; LD 96
2016: Lab 2568; Con 373; UKIP 354; Grn 179; LD 82
2015: Lab 4555; Con 747; Grn 457; LD 136
2014: Lab 2876; UKIP 492; Con 317; Grn 200; LD 66
2012: Lab 2394; Con 294; Grn 274; LD 88
2011: Lab 2677; Con 374; Grn 300; LD 119
2010: Lab 3928; LD 855; Con 825
2008: Lab 1875; LD 647; Left List 444
2007: Lab 2079; Con 668; LD 480
2006: Lab 2028; Con 932
2004: Lab 1734, 1706, 1683; LD 1316, 1228, 991; Con 633, 598, 567; Resp 540; Soc Lab 136

The Conservative stood here in May, the Lib Dem in the last 3 elections and the Green in ever election since 2011. This seat would have been up next year anyway, but there will of course be all-ups on new boundaries next May.

Current Council: Con 23; Lab 18; LD 5; Farnworth & Kearsley First 3; Bolton Ind Grp 2; Horwich & Blackrod First Ind 2; One Kearsley 2; Ind 2; Crompton Ind 1; Little lever & Dary Lever First 1; 1 vacancy



MANSFIELD DC; Oak Tree (Mansfied Ind died)
Candidates:
CANLIN, Gemma (Mansfield Independents)
HENSHAW, Paul Nigel (Labour)
SMITH, Neil Paul (Conservative)
TASKER, Julie Margaret (Freedom Alliance)
TOOLEY-OKONKWO, Milo Elijah (TUSC)

2019: Mansfield Ind 274; Lab 163; Con 51
2015: Lab 552; Mansfield Ind 351
2011: Lab 346; Mansfield Ind 138; Con 118; LD 21

The deceased councillor was elected here in the last 3 elections – twice for Labour and once for the Mansfield Independents.

Current Council: Mansfield Ind 13; Lab 13; Ind 7; Con 2; 1 vacancy



MID SUSSEX DC; Bolney (Con resigned)
Candidates:
ADAMS, Kristy Lyn (Conservative)
FOSTER, Andrew William (Labour)
JACKSON, Fiona (Liberal Democrat)
KELLY, Sue (Green)
MOCKFORD, Norman Frank William (Independent)
VON THUNDERCLAP, Baron (Official Monster Raving Loony Party)

2019: Con 420; LD 162; Grn 115; UKIP 98; Lab 55
May 17by: Con 562; LD 201; UKIP 59; OMRLP 33
2015: Con 859; LD 467; UKIP 320
Nov 14by: Con 261; UKIP 187; LD 161
2011: Con 745; LD 217; UKIP 148
2007: Con 577; LD 179; UKIP 116
2003: Con 603; LD 112; Lab 59; OMRLP 36

Sue Kelly contested the ward for the Greens in 2019. Fiona Jackson stood in the Hurstpierpoint & Bolney division of West Sussex CC for the Lib Dems last May, coming a strong second. Baron Von Thunderclap also contested that division last May and has stood in this ward in 2017 and 2003.

EDIT: Norman Mockford, the independent, stood for the Lib Dems in 2011 in East Grinstead Baldwins along with Julie Mockford. In 2019, Julie was elected in that ward for the Conservatives whilst Norman opposed her as an independent. He also stood as an independent in one of the East Grinstead county divisions last year.

Current Council: Con 32; LD 13; Grn 4; Ind 4; 1 vacancy

[finsobruce]

Aug 20, 2022 11:25:34 GMT Tony Otim said:

MID SUSSEX DC; Bolney (Con resigned)
Candidates:
ADAMS, Kristy Lyn (Conservative)
FOSTER, Andrew William (Labour)
JACKSON, Fiona (Liberal Democrat)
KELLY, Sue (Green)
MOCKFORD, Norman Frank William (Independent)
VON THUNDERCLAP, Baron (Official Monster Raving Loony Party)

Is Baron Von Thunderclap a New Man? And is there something in the air that indicates how well he might do?

[batman]

if he wins, the revolution truly is here. Although I don't think the Tories know what it's like to lose in Bolney.

[The Bishop]

Is there any indication yet of whether these are going ahead or not?

[J.G.Harston]

Sept 9, 2022 9:22:04 GMT The Bishop said:

Is there any indication yet of whether these are going ahead or not?

There is no legal procedure to suspend an election in progress* - which is what the thing that ends next Thursday is. It is going ahead, because it is already going ahead, and has been going ahead for the last four weeks. To cancel it would require cancelling it five weeks ago.

*Other than a General Election.

[The Bishop]

I'm sure there was something done to stop planned local byelections once the Covid pandemic was raging in spring 2020. Wasn't there?

[J.G.Harston]

Sept 9, 2022 9:27:01 GMT The Bishop said:

I'm sure there was something done to stop planned local byelections once the Covid pandemic was raging in spring 2020. Wasn't there?

Yes, to stop *calling* them - not to stop ones that were already in the middle of happening.

[carolus]

Sept 9, 2022 9:24:58 GMT J.G.Harston said:

Sept 9, 2022 9:22:04 GMT The Bishop said:

Is there any indication yet of whether these are going ahead or not?

There is no legal procedure to suspend an election in progress* - which is what the thing that ends next Thursday is. It is going ahead, because it is already going ahead, and has been going ahead for the last four weeks. To cancel it would require cancelling it five weeks ago.

*Other than a General Election.

This is surely incorrect in that polls can be countermanded in at least some circumstances (e.g. the event of the death of a candidate) at any point before the declaration of result.

In an event, I'm quite confident the government, should they wish to do so, would manage to make appropriate legislation if the RO's powers do not already cover the current situation.

[The Bishop]

I'm absolutely sure that some that were already in progress were called off.

[ricmk]

I'm not sure JGH is right here.
Primary legislation was needed to suspend by-elections for COVID including those in progress.
On the Thursday before lockdown, some elections went ahead, and others were postponed only after returning officers received guidance from cabinet office that they would not be prosecuted for calling off the by-elections as they had no authority to do so.

Not even a General Election can stop a parliamentary by-election. This happened with the Manchester Gorton by-election in 2017. Campaigning well underway when Theresa May requested and the Commons approved a general election. The returning officer took advice and had to continue with preparations - again a parliamentary motion was required - recorded at hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2017-04-20/debates/E11A5F46-DE00-4194-8AD3-03C26419127F/ManchesterGorton(Writ)

[J.G.Harston]

Sept 9, 2022 9:33:35 GMT carolus said:

Sept 9, 2022 9:24:58 GMT J.G.Harston said:

There is no legal procedure to suspend an election in progress* - which is what the thing that ends next Thursday is. It is going ahead, because it is already going ahead, and has been going ahead for the last four weeks. To cancel it would require cancelling it five weeks ago.

*Other than a General Election.

This is surely incorrect in that polls can be countermanded in at least some circumstances (e.g. the event of the death of a candidate) at any point before the declaration of result.

In an event, I'm quite confident the government, should they wish to do so, would manage to make appropriate legislation if the RO's powers do not already cover the current situation.

Yes, that's countermanding a poll - not suspending or cancelling one - and specifically specified in legislation. Once an election is in progress - and "in progress" means the whole five(?)-week progress - the only thing that stops it is death of a candidate.

DB would be able to give chapter and verse, but will be understandably busy.

[carolus]

Sept 9, 2022 9:37:52 GMT J.G.Harston said:

Sept 9, 2022 9:33:35 GMT carolus said:

This is surely incorrect in that polls can be countermanded in at least some circumstances (e.g. the event of the death of a candidate) at any point before the declaration of result.

In an event, I'm quite confident the government, should they wish to do so, would manage to make appropriate legislation if the RO's powers do not already cover the current situation.

Yes, that's countermanding a poll - not suspending or cancelling one - and specifically specified in legislation. Once an election is in progress - and "in progress" means the whole five(?)-week progress - the only thing that stops it is death of a candidate.

DB would be able to give chapter and verse, but will be understandably busy.

The point being that there do currently exist some methods to stop an election happening even at this stage, so it's not some divine law that elections must always go ahead.

In any event The Bishop is quite correct, elections were cancelled/suspended/whatever due to covid. See vote-2012.proboards.com/thread/13828/local-council-elections-26th-march

[greenchristian]

Sept 9, 2022 9:35:15 GMT ricmk said:

I'm not sure JGH is right here.
Primary legislation was needed to suspend by-elections for COVID including those in progress.
On the Thursday before lockdown, some elections went ahead, and others were postponed only after returning officers received guidance from cabinet office that they would not be prosecuted for calling off the by-elections as they had no authority to do so.

Specifically one by-election went ahead, whilst two others were illegally cancelled - though this was declared legal after the fact.

[minionofmidas]

Somehow I don't really think the death and replacement of a ceremonial head of state is comparable to wars, pandemics and other emergencies. Even though it is a once-in-a-lifetime event to most of us.

That parties cancel canvassing blitzes is presumably due to the fear of being perceived as crass and impious by the voters rather than an expectation that the vote will be cancelled.
(I am prepared to be proven wrong.)

[kevinf]

Cancellation would presumably need primary legislation and Parliament isn’t sitting.

[johnloony]

As I understand it, the death of a sovereign in the mibble of a general election campaign causes the general election to be delayed, but I don’t know why some people might assume that this would also apply to local elections or by-elections.

[johnloony]

Aug 20, 2022 11:36:43 GMT finsobruce said:

Aug 20, 2022 11:25:34 GMT Tony Otim said:

MID SUSSEX DC; Bolney (Con resigned)
Candidates:
ADAMS, Kristy Lyn (Conservative)
FOSTER, Andrew William (Labour)
JACKSON, Fiona (Liberal Democrat)
KELLY, Sue (Green)
MOCKFORD, Norman Frank William (Independent)
VON THUNDERCLAP, Baron (Official Monster Raving Loony Party)

Is Baron Von Thunderclap a New Man? And is there something in the air that indicates how well he might do?

He is a big tall hairy bloke with a beard. Whether he is or is not a new man depends on what you think defines “new”. He has stood in multiple general elections, so is a veteran rather than new.

[tonyhill]

You either missed the joke or are ignoring it.

[finsobruce]

Sept 9, 2022 17:58:50 GMT tonyhill said:

You either missed the joke or are ignoring it.

Probably accidental...Mentions the Queen, i've just realised.

[middleenglander]

We are away for a few days but I will do the usual analysis when we return.