Local Council by-elections 17th November 2022

[Tony Otim]

BLACKBURN WITH DARWEN UA; Darwen South (Ind elected as Con* disqualified for non-attendance)
Candidates:
CROOK, Janine (Conservative)
DAVIES, Mark Peter (Liberal Democrat)
JACKSON, Matt (Labour)

2022: Con 880; Lab 731; LD 299
2021: Con 1037; Lab 509; LD 374
2019: Con 949; Lab 648; For Britain 220
2018: Con 934, 874, 817; Lab 624, 598, 577; LD 574, 545

Vacancy is for 2021-24 term. Matt Jackson was the unsuccessful Labour candidate this May.

* The councillor had been suspended before polling day and so was elected as Conservative but always sat as an independent.

Current Council: Lab 36; Con 13; LD 1; 1 vacancy



BOLSOVER DC; Pinxton (Lab resigned)
Candidates:
HINMAN, Mark Andrew (Labour)
SIDDLE, Julian Roy (Conservative)

May 21by: Lab 442; Con 299; Ind 140; LD 14 (Lab gain from Ind)
2019: Ind 405, 221; Lab 299, 278; LD 63

Julian Siddle has been county councillor for South Normanton and Pinxton Division since last May.

Current Council: Lab 19; Ind Grp 10; Comm Ind 4; Con 3; 1 vacancy



BLACKPOOL UA; Greenlands (Con died)
Candidates:
BENFOLD, Kev (Liberal Democrat)
WARNE, Jane Elizabeth Ann (Conservative)
WRIGHT, Peter (Labour)

2019: Con 757, 718; Lab 702, 675
2015: Lab 1280, 1191; Con 1129, 1061; UKIP 692
2011: Lab 861, 851; Con 816, 758; Ind 295; UKIP 258; LD 142
2007: Con 948, 896; Lab 786, 687; BNP 370; LD 314
2003: Lab 1209, 1146; Con 1012, 1008; LD 445

Current Council: Lab 19; Con 15; Non-Aligned Ind 4; Blackpool Ind 3;



GLASGOW UA; Linn (Lab died)
Candidates:
BELL, Jen (Green)
CARSON, John (Labour)
FRASER, Kirsty (Alba)
HO, Christopher (UKIP)
LANG-TAIT, Chris (SNP)
MacDOUGALL, George Willis (Scottish Socialist)
McCAULEY, Joe (Liberal Democrat)
McMILLAN, Di (Freedom Alliacnce)
SUTHERLAND, Pauline (Conservative)

2022: SNP 1934, 1070; Lab 2152, 724; Con 1035; No Desc 849; LD 572; Grn 544; Alba 114
2017: SNP 1646, 1032, 448; Lab 1348,1029; Con 1395; Ind 744, 69; LD 676; Grn 288; Sol 57; UKIP 58

Joe McCaualey was the Lib Dem candidate earlier this year. John Carson stood for Labour in Anderston, City & Yorkhill, Christopher Ho for UKIP in Greater Pollok, Di McMillan for the Freedom Alliance in Partick East/Kelvinside and Pauline Sutherland for the Conservatives in Drumchapel/Anniesland.

Current Council: SNP 37; Lab 35; Grn 10; Con 2;



OLDHAM MBC; Hollinwood (Lab died)
Candidates:
CADMAN, Dominic (Liberal Democrat)
GHAFOOR, Kamran (Conservative)
LAWRENCE, John (National Housing Party Putting UK First)
ROBERTS, Hannah Jane (Labour)
WHITEHEAD, Barbara Victoria (Independent)

2022: Lab 1010; Con 313; NHP 174; LD 151; Northern Heart 67
2021: Lab 1036; Con 478; Proud of Oldham & Saddleworth 361; LD 101
2019: Lab 990; UKIP 457; Con 123; LD 118; Grn 76
2018: Lab 1198, 1184; Con 353, 262; LD 122, 106
2016: Lab 1157; UKIP 615; Con 171; LD 86
2015: Lab 2089; UKIP 1118; Con 399; LD 137; Grn 126
2014: Lab 1094; UKIP 813; Con 155; LD 122
2012: Lab 1266; LD 456; Con 155
2011: Lab 1394; LD 563; Ind 339
2010: Lab 1653; LD 1281; Con 568; Ind 269
2008: LD 1268;Lab 992; Con 208
2007: LD 943; Lab 905; Con 285; Grn 94
2006: LD 1009; Lab 906; Con 352; Grn 202
2004: Lab 1138, 1107, 1066; LD 989, 837, 720; Con 551, 451; Grn 356

Vacancy is for the term elected this year, but there are all outs on new boundaries next year anyway. John Lawrence stood here in May for the National Housing Party.

Current Council: Lab 34; LD 9; Con 9; Failsworth Ind Party 5; Ind 2; 1 vacancy



RHONDDA CYNON TAF UA; Abercynon (Lab resigned)
Candidates:
BAXTER, Jeffrey Lee (Green)
DENNIS, Andrew James (Labour)
ROBINSON, Adam (Conservative)
SKINNER, Matt (Plaid Cymru)

2022: Lab 918, 851; PC 234; Propel 192; Con 154

Matt Skinner was the Plaid candidate here in May.

Current Council: Lab 58; PC 8; Ind 6; Con 2; 1 vacancy



SHETLAND UA; Shetland West (Ind resigned)
Candidates:
NICOLSON, Debra (Green)
PENNINGTON, Zara (SNP)
ROBINSON, Mark (Independent)

2022: Ind 298, 135, 128, 43, 21, 5; Grn 69; SNP 59

All 3 candidates stood here in May –Mark Robinson was the indy who got 128,finishing under 7 votes behind the second elected indy (the one who has now resigned) after transfers.

Current Council: Ind 19; Grn 1; Lab 1; SNP 1; 1 vacancy



SUFFOLK CC; Beccles (Grn resigned)
Candidates:
LEVER, Ash (Green)
NEWSOME, Christian Donald (Labour)
SMITH, Letitia (Conservative)

2021: Grn 2594, 2131; Con 2020, 1769; Lab 374, 368
2017: Con 2241, 2031; Grn 2189, 1446; Lab 541, 388; UKIP 224, 194; LD 105, 96
2013: Con 1822, 1449; Grn 1322, 918; Lab 973,868; UKIP 856; LD 135, 111
2009: Con 2021, 1782; Grn 1473, 1018; Lab 746, 704; LD 604, 386
2005: Con 3104, 2255; Lab 2757, 2714; LD 1280, 1139; Grn 822, 383

Christian Newsome was top Labour candidate here last year.

Current Council: Con 55; Grn 8; Lab 5; LD 4; West Suffolk Ind 1; Ind 1; 1 vacancy

[phil156]

They all count on Thursday evening except of course Shetland

[peterl]

Nov 16, 2022 21:36:36 GMT phil156 said:

They all count on Thursday evening except of course Shetland

I'm pleased to see that next day counts, at least for by elections, are becoming far more of a rarity. The Shetland Isles is one of the few places that really have an excuse for it, having to collect ballot boxes from various islands.

[iainbhx]

Nov 16, 2022 21:57:36 GMT peterl said:

Nov 16, 2022 21:36:36 GMT phil156 said:

They all count on Thursday evening except of course Shetland

I'm pleased to see that next day counts, at least for by elections, are becoming far more of a rarity. The Shetland Isles is one of the few places that really have an excuse for it, having to collect ballot boxes from various islands.

There are no off mainland polling stations for this Shetland by-election.

[peterl]

Nov 16, 2022 22:36:36 GMT iainbhx said:

Nov 16, 2022 21:57:36 GMT peterl said:

I'm pleased to see that next day counts, at least for by elections, are becoming far more of a rarity. The Shetland Isles is one of the few places that really have an excuse for it, having to collect ballot boxes from various islands.

There are no off mainland polling stations for this Shetland by-election.

Okay, well they still have to do a whole series of rounds of counting, so we'll let them off nonetheless.

[La Fontaine]

Nov 16, 2022 22:37:38 GMT peterl said:

Nov 16, 2022 22:36:36 GMT iainbhx said:

There are no off mainland polling stations for this Shetland by-election.

Okay, well they still have to do a whole series of rounds of counting, so we'll let them off nonetheless.

Only three candidates, so two rounds at most.

[peterl]

Nov 16, 2022 22:50:06 GMT La Fontaine said:

Nov 16, 2022 22:37:38 GMT peterl said:

Okay, well they still have to do a whole series of rounds of counting, so we'll let them off nonetheless.

Only three candidates, so two rounds at most.

Yes, they are rather running out of excuses

[tonyhill]

And probably only about 300 votes to count.

[yellowperil]

Nov 17, 2022 6:54:45 GMT tonyhill said:

And probably only about 300 votes to count.

but they will still be well ahead of California.

[lackeroftalent]

Andrew Teale's preview is up.

medium.com/britainelects/previewing-the-eight-by-elections-of-17th-november-2022-655fa533e05

[minionofmidas]

Nov 16, 2022 22:36:36 GMT iainbhx said:

Nov 16, 2022 21:57:36 GMT peterl said:

I'm pleased to see that next day counts, at least for by elections, are becoming far more of a rarity. The Shetland Isles is one of the few places that really have an excuse for it, having to collect ballot boxes from various islands.

There are no off mainland polling stations for this Shetland by-election.

All polling stations in Shetland are off the mainland.

Then again all polling stations in the British Isles are off the mainland.

[grahammurray]

Nov 16, 2022 21:57:36 GMT peterl said:

Nov 16, 2022 21:36:36 GMT phil156 said:

They all count on Thursday evening except of course Shetland

I'm pleased to see that next day counts, at least for by elections, are becoming far more of a rarity. The Shetland Isles is one of the few places that really have an excuse for it, having to collect ballot boxes from various islands.

What's the problem with next day counts and why should councils need to have an excuse to carry them out?

[Rutlander]

Nov 17, 2022 14:55:36 GMT minionofmidas said:

Nov 16, 2022 22:36:36 GMT iainbhx said:

There are no off mainland polling stations for this Shetland by-election.

All polling stations in Shetland are off the mainland.

Then again all polling stations in the British Isles are off the mainland.

But how many polling stations in Shetland are on the Mainland?

[minionofmidas]

Nov 17, 2022 15:23:40 GMT Rutlander said:

Nov 17, 2022 14:55:36 GMT minionofmidas said:

All polling stations in Shetland are off the mainland.

Then again all polling stations in the British Isles are off the mainland.

But how many polling stations in Shetland are on the Mainland?

Certainly more than in England and Wales!

[peterl]

Nov 17, 2022 15:07:30 GMT grahammurray said:

Nov 16, 2022 21:57:36 GMT peterl said:

I'm pleased to see that next day counts, at least for by elections, are becoming far more of a rarity. The Shetland Isles is one of the few places that really have an excuse for it, having to collect ballot boxes from various islands.

What's the problem with next day counts and why should councils need to have an excuse to carry them out?

There is absolutely no reason to delay getting the result unless there is something that genuinely makes an immediate count difficult. Also, leaving the ballot papers unattended overnight can give the perception, whether right or wrong, that there could be a risk of them being interfered with. Probably not in the Shetland Isles, but in a place where there is history of election malpractice (say Tower Hamlets) it coud help to undermine public confidence.

[grahammurray]

Nov 17, 2022 18:12:40 GMT peterl said:

Nov 17, 2022 15:07:30 GMT grahammurray said:

What's the problem with next day counts and why should councils need to have an excuse to carry them out?

There is absolutely no reason to delay getting the result unless there is something that genuinely makes an immediate count difficult. Also, leaving the ballot papers unattended overnight can give the perception, whether right or wrong, that there could be a risk of them being interfered with. Probably not in the Shetland Isles, but in a place where there is history of election malpractice (say Tower Hamlets) it coud help to undermine public confidence.

Of the results that have been counted the day after the election at all sorts of levels, which ones do have you resaons to have concerns about?

[peterl]

Nov 17, 2022 18:52:25 GMT grahammurray said:

Nov 17, 2022 18:12:40 GMT peterl said:

There is absolutely no reason to delay getting the result unless there is something that genuinely makes an immediate count difficult. Also, leaving the ballot papers unattended overnight can give the perception, whether right or wrong, that there could be a risk of them being interfered with. Probably not in the Shetland Isles, but in a place where there is history of election malpractice (say Tower Hamlets) it coud help to undermine public confidence.

Of the results that have been counted the day after the election at all sorts of levels, which ones do have you resaons to have concerns about?

Its not so much that I have concerns personally, as I said its a matter of perception. An immediate count helps to give one extra little bit of confidence in the system.

[timmullen1]

Nov 17, 2022 18:12:40 GMT peterl said:

Nov 17, 2022 15:07:30 GMT grahammurray said:

What's the problem with next day counts and why should councils need to have an excuse to carry them out?

There is absolutely no reason to delay getting the result unless there is something that genuinely makes an immediate count difficult. Also, leaving the ballot papers unattended overnight can give the perception, whether right or wrong, that there could be a risk of them being interfered with. Probably not in the Shetland Isles, but in a place where there is history of election malpractice (say Tower Hamlets) it coud help to undermine public confidence.

I spent a night in Stoke’s nuclear bunker under the Civic Centre with the Deputy Returning Officer, BNP Agent and all the (full) ballot boxes; he was convinced there was a conspiracy to interfere with said papers, and the Returning Officer agreed he could stay with them, at which point the Labour candidates decided he shouldn’t be left alone, and drew lots for who should stay with him. The atmosphere wasn’t helped by the fact that the Dep RO should have been on honeymoon so was in a bad mood to begin with.

[andrewp]

Rhondda, Cynon, Taf. Abercynon

Lab 520
PC 56
Con 56
Green 18

[CatholicLeft]

Nov 17, 2022 22:57:06 GMT andrewp said:

Rhondda, Cynon, Taf. Abercynon

Lab 520
PC 56
Con 56
Green 18

Great result for Labour, shocking for Plaid.