Local Council by-elections 30th November/1st December 2022

[Tony Otim]

30th November

SURREY CC; Sunbury Common & Ashford Common (Con died)
Candidates:
BOPARAI, Harry (Liberal Democrat)
COUCHMAN, Helen Elizabeth (TUSC)
ISLAM, Naz (Conservative)
MUSTAFA, Khalid (Labour)
O’BRIEN, Rory (Reform UK)

2021: Con 1509; LD 610; Lab 522; Grn 274; Ind 175; RefUK 147
2017: Con 1406; LD 1041; Lab 402; UKIP 266; Grn 80
2013: LD 1025; UKIP 658; Con 549; Lab 358

The Labour and Reform candidates stood here last May.

Current Council: Con 45; LD 14; Ind 4; Res Ass 4; Farnham Res 3; Res for Guildford Villages 2; Grn 2; ; Lab 2; Ashtead Ind 1; Ditton & Weston Green Res 1; Nork & Tattenhams Res Ass 1; Res Ass & Ind 1; 1 vacancy




1st December:

ARUN DC; Arundel & Walberton (Grn disqualified for non-attendance)
Candidates:
McAULIFFE, Stephen (Green)
TRABUCCO, Mario (Conservative)
WARD, Michael (Labour)

2019: Con 1088, 923, 852; Grn 884; LD 642, 546; Lab 423; UKIP 388
2015: Con 2691, 2448, 1994; Ind 1166; UKIP 1151; Lab 938

Michael Ward was the Labour candidate here in 2019, and also contested the Arundel & Courtwick division last May (which contains a bit over half of this ward).

Current Council: Con 23; LD 16; Ind 6; Arun Ind Grp 4; Grn 2; Ind Ind 1; Lab 1; 1 vacancy



KING’S LYNN & WEST NORFOLK DC; Gaywood Clock (Lab died)
Elected Unopposed:
WARE, Alex (Labour)

2019: Lab 196; UKIP 148; Con 133

Current Council: Con 29; Grp of Ind 11; Lab 9; Ind 3; LD 2; Grn 1;



NORFOLK CC; Gaywood North & Central (Con resigned)
Candidates:
FAIRWEATHER, Vicky Holly (Green)
JOHNSON, Richard Leslie (Labour)
SAYERS, David (Liberal Democrat)
YOUNG, Sheila Patricia (Conservative)

2021: Con 1031; Lab 616; LD 131; UKIP 61
2017: Con 871; Lab 621; UKIP 226; LD 120; Ind 71
2013: UKIP 697; Lab 625; Con 478; LD 158
2009: Con 1090; Lab 445; LD 369; BNP 346; Grn 322
2005: Lab 1906; Con 1771; LD 772

Sheila Young was Conservative councillor for the division 2017-2021, and was previously a district councillor on Kings Lynn and West Norfolk for Spellowfield ward (2012-2019) which is not part of this division.

Current Council: Con 56; Lab 12; LD 9; Grn 3; Ind 2; Ind (non-aligned) 1; 1 vacancy



SOUTHAMPTON UA; Bitterne (Con died)
Candidates:
FORD, Callum Daniel John (Conservative)
FRAMPTON, Yvonne Carole (Labour)
McGEORGE, Nick (Liberal Democrat)
MELDRUM, Ronald Nicholas (Green)
WELLMAN, Mabel (TUSC)

2022: Con 1248; Lab 1097; Grn 141; LD 117; TUSC 47
2021: Con 1642; Lab 999; Grn 182; LD 116
2019: Con 1062; Lab 941; UKIP 421; Grn 206; LD 141
2018: Con 1528; Lab 1233; LD 118; Grn 114; Ind 96
2016: Lab 1150; Con 783; UKIP 541; LD 132; Grn 128; TUSC 42
2015: Lab 2324; Con 1935; UKIP 1043; Grn 254; LD 240; TUSC 41
2014: Lab 1153; UKIP 966; Con 963; LD 140; TUSC 55
2012: Lab 1416; Con 1217; UKIP 210; LD 133; TUSC 77
2011: Lab 1626; Con 1277; LD 290; TUSC 163
2010: Lab 2464; Con 1922; LD 1171
2008: Con 1494; Lab 1034; LD 387
2007: Lab 1373; Con 961; LD 510
2006: Lab 1273; Con 849; LD 481; BNP 466
2004: Lab 1145; Con 888; LD 491; BNP 317
2003: Lab 1268; Con 740; LD 487; BNP 288; UKIP 84
2002: Lab 1432, 1420, 1366; Con 709, 616, 563; LD 349, 347, 341

The deceased councillor was first elected in 2018 and again this May, but there are all-outs on new boundaries next May. This ward will remain almost completely unchanged, although the name changes to Thornhill. The Labour and Lib Dem candidates stood here in May.

Current Council: Lab 26; Con 20; LD 1; 1 vacancy



WAVERLEY DC; Chiddingfold & Dunsfold (Con died)
Candidates:
AITKEN, Rebecca Faith (Labour)
BUSBY, Dave (Liberal Democrat)
MITCHELL, Ian David (Conservative)

2019: Con 617, 606; Grn 406; LD 344; Lab 121
2015: Con 1445, 1306; Lab 460; UKIP 418
2011: Con 1244, 1040; Lab 411
2007: Con 1121, 1063; Lab 218
2003: Con 739, 719; LD 229, 190; Lab 129, 119

Assuming it is the same person and not someone else with the same name, Ian Mitchell was the UKIP candidate here in 2015. This ward will be split in the new boundaries for next year’s elections with a single member Chiddingfold ward and Dunsfold being joined with Alford and Hascombe in a new 2-member ward.

Current Council: Con 18; LD 16; Farnham Res 15; Ind 3; Grn 2; Lab 2; 1 vacancy



WEST LOTHIAN UA; Broxburn, Uphall & Winchburgh (Lab died)
Candidates:
BOYLE, Tony (Labour)
CLARKE, Peter John (Liberal Democrat)
COTTER, Chris (Green)
EWEN, Debbie (Alba)
HORNE, Chris (Independent)
LAIDLAW, Steven Robert (Independent)
SMITH, Douglas (Conservative)
ULLATHORNE, Thomas George (SNP)

2022: SNP 1990, 880; Lab 1305, 724; Con 1215; Grn 298; LD 255; Alba 95; Family 91
2017: SNP 1898, 583, 422; Con 1897; Lab 1324, 313; Grn 256; LD 217; TUSC 57
2012: Lab 1161, 1088; SNP 1551, 617; Save St Johns Hospital 766; Con 316
2007: Lab 1668, 1139; SNP 1562, 987; Save St Johns Hospital 1047; Con 559; LD 431

Tony Boyle was Labour councillor for the ward 2012-17 when he did not re-stand. Chris Horne was the Conservative councillor for the ward 2017-2022, he stood unsuccessfully for the Tories in Linlithgow in May. Thomas Ullathorne stood for the SNP in East Livingston & East Calder in May.

Current Council: SNP 15; Lab 11; Con 4; LD 1; Ind 1; 1 vacancy

[jamesdoyle]

Gaywood Clock is a great name. I wonder if it's the best...

[John Chanin]

Nov 10, 2022 11:54:25 GMT jamesdoyle said:

Gaywood Clock is a great name. I wonder if it's the best...

it is indeed a large war memorial in the form of a clock, sitting on an undistinguished suburban street. 

[carlton43]

Nov 10, 2022 11:54:25 GMT jamesdoyle said:

Gaywood Clock is a great name. I wonder if it's the best...

Sounds like a smoothie card-sharp from the Mississippi steamers.

[jamesdoyle]

Nov 10, 2022 15:24:58 GMT carlton43 said:

Nov 10, 2022 11:54:25 GMT jamesdoyle said:

Gaywood Clock is a great name. I wonder if it's the best...

Sounds like a smoothie card-sharp from the Mississippi steamers.

Gaywood Horloge would be even better.

[Terry Weldon]

Nov 7, 2022 20:22:23 GMT Tony Otim said:

30th November

SURREY CC; Sunbury Common & Ashford Common (Con died)
Candidates:
BOPARAI, Harry (Liberal Democrat)
COUCHMAN, Helen Elizabeth (TUSC)
ISLAM, Naz (Conservative)
MUSTAFA, Khalid (Labour)
O’BRIEN, Rory (Reform UK)

2021: Con 1509; LD 610; Lab 522; Grn 274; Ind 175; RefUK 147
2017: Con 1406; LD 1041; Lab 402; UKIP 266; Grn 80
2013: LD 1025; UKIP 658; Con 549; Lab 358

The Labour and Reform candidates stood here last May.

Current Council: Con 45; LD 14; Ind 4; Res Ass 4; Farnham Res 3; Res for Guildford Villages 2; Grn 2; ; Lab 2; Ashtead Ind 1; Ditton & Weston Green Res 1; Nork & Tattenhams Res Ass 1; Res Ass & Ind 1; 1 vacancy




1st December:

ARUN DC; Arundel & Walberton (Grn disqualified for non-attendance)
Candidates:
McAULIFFE, Stephen (Green)
TRABUCCO, Mario (Conservative)
WARD, Michael (Labour)

2019: Con 1088, 923, 852; Grn 884; LD 642, 546; Lab 423; UKIP 388
2015: Con 2691, 2448, 1994; Ind 1166; UKIP 1151; Lab 938

Michael Ward was the Labour candidate here in 2019, and also contested the Arundel & Courtwick division last May (which contains a bit over half of this ward).

Current Council: Con 23; LD 16; Ind 6; Arun Ind Grp 4; Grn 2; Ind Ind 1; Lab 1; 1 vacancy



KING’S LYNN & WEST NORFOLK DC; Gaywood Clock (Lab died)
Elected Unopposed:
WARE, Alex (Labour)

2019: Lab 196; UKIP 148; Con 133

Current Council: Con 29; Grp of Ind 11; Lab 9; Ind 3; LD 2; Grn 1;



NORFOLK CC; Gaywood North & Central (Con resigned)
Candidates:
FAIRWEATHER, Vicky Holly (Green)
JOHNSON, Richard Leslie (Labour)
SAYERS, David (Liberal Democrat)
YOUNG, Sheila Patricia (Conservative)

2021: Con 1031; Lab 616; LD 131; UKIP 61
2017: Con 871; Lab 621; UKIP 226; LD 120; Ind 71
2013: UKIP 697; Lab 625; Con 478; LD 158
2009: Con 1090; Lab 445; LD 369; BNP 346; Grn 322
2005: Lab 1906; Con 1771; LD 772

Sheila Young was Conservative councillor for the division 2017-2021, and was previously a district councillor on Kings Lynn and West Norfolk for Spellowfield ward (2012-2019) which is not part of this division.

Current Council: Con 56; Lab 12; LD 9; Grn 3; Ind 2; Ind (non-aligned) 1; 1 vacancy



SOUTHAMPTON UA; Bitterne (Con died)
Candidates:
FORD, Callum Daniel John (Conservative)
FRAMPTON, Yvonne Carole (Labour)
McGEORGE, Nick (Liberal Democrat)
MELDRUM, Ronald Nicholas (Green)
WELLMAN, Mabel (TUSC)

2022: Con 1248; Lab 1097; Grn 141; LD 117; TUSC 47
2021: Con 1642; Lab 999; Grn 182; LD 116
2019: Con 1062; Lab 941; UKIP 421; Grn 206; LD 141
2018: Con 1528; Lab 1233; LD 118; Grn 114; Ind 96
2016: Lab 1150; Con 783; UKIP 541; LD 132; Grn 128; TUSC 42
2015: Lab 2324; Con 1935; UKIP 1043; Grn 254; LD 240; TUSC 41
2014: Lab 1153; UKIP 966; Con 963; LD 140; TUSC 55
2012: Lab 1416; Con 1217; UKIP 210; LD 133; TUSC 77
2011: Lab 1626; Con 1277; LD 290; TUSC 163
2010: Lab 2464; Con 1922; LD 1171
2008: Con 1494; Lab 1034; LD 387
2007: Lab 1373; Con 961; LD 510
2006: Lab 1273; Con 849; LD 481; BNP 466
2004: Lab 1145; Con 888; LD 491; BNP 317
2003: Lab 1268; Con 740; LD 487; BNP 288; UKIP 84
2002: Lab 1432, 1420, 1366; Con 709, 616, 563; LD 349, 347, 341

The deceased councillor was first elected in 2018 and again this May, but there are all-outs on new boundaries next May. This ward will remain almost completely unchanged, although the name changes to Thornhill. The Labour and Lib Dem candidates stood here in May.

Current Council: Lab 26; Con 20; LD 1; 1 vacancy



WAVERLEY DC; Chiddingfold & Dunsfold (Con died)
Candidates:
AITKEN, Rebecca Faith (Labour)
BUSBY, Dave (Liberal Democrat)
MITCHELL, Ian David (Conservative)

2019: Con 617, 606; Grn 406; LD 344; Lab 121
2015: Con 1445, 1306; Lab 460; UKIP 418
2011: Con 1244, 1040; Lab 411
2007: Con 1121, 1063; Lab 218
2003: Con 739, 719; LD 229, 190; Lab 129, 119

Assuming it is the same person and not someone else with the same name, Ian Mitchell was the UKIP candidate here in 2015. This ward will be split in the new boundaries for next year’s elections with a single member Chiddingfold ward and Dunsfold being joined with Alford and Hascombe in a new 2-member ward.

Current Council: Con 18; LD 16; Farnham Res 15; Ind 3; Grn 2; Lab 2; 1 vacancy



WEST LOTHIAN UA; Broxburn, Uphall & Winchburgh (Lab died)
Candidates:
BOYLE, Tony (Labour)
CLARKE, Peter John (Liberal Democrat)
COTTER, Chris (Green)
EWEN, Debbie (Alba)
HORNE, Chris (Independent)
LAIDLAW, Steven Robert (Independent)
SMITH, Douglas (Conservative)
ULLATHORNE, Thomas George (SNP)

2022: SNP 1990, 880; Lab 1305, 724; Con 1215; Grn 298; LD 255; Alba 95; Family 91
2017: SNP 1898, 583, 422; Con 1897; Lab 1324, 313; Grn 256; LD 217; TUSC 57
2012: Lab 1161, 1088; SNP 1551, 617; Save St Johns Hospital 766; Con 316
2007: Lab 1668, 1139; SNP 1562, 987; Save St Johns Hospital 1047; Con 559; LD 431

Tony Boyle was Labour councillor for the ward 2012-17 when he did not re-stand. Chris Horne was the Conservative councillor for the ward 2017-2022, he stood unsuccessfully for the Tories in Linlithgow in May. Thomas Ullathorne stood for the SNP in East Livingston & East Calder in May.

Current Council: SNP 15; Lab 11; Con 4; LD 1; Ind 1; 1 vacancy

[Terry Weldon]

Local LibDems in Waverley also believe that the Tory candidate in Chiddingfold is a former UKIP candidate.In 2019 we had only a paper candidate, but for the past two years, local activists have been working the ward pretty hard. By the time the vacancy arose, we already had a strong team in place to hit the ground running.

The Greens withdrew their candidate just before nominations closed, precisely to leave a clear path for the LD.

[mrtoad]

Southampton Bitterne should be a really interesting one. I'm from Southampton - but somewhat the other side of the city (I'm from Test, Bitterne is in Itchen). As the name change from May 2023 suggests, it's slightly misnamed as a ward. Bitterne is a district centre for a large part of the city east of the Itchen; the shops are mostly in Peartree ward and there are parts of Harefield and Sholing wards that would identify as Bitterne. The biggest single component of the ward is Thornhill, a large 1960s council-built estate. Thornhill doesn't have a great reputation in Southampton - it's a rather bleak and windy place, and has had severe social problems for a long time (incidentally, my cousin was deacon of a church there in the late 1980s/ early 1990s). There's another more traditionally laid-out council estate on the other side of the busy Bursledon Road; all the roads there are named after composers. That estate would probably identify as part of Sholing rather than Bitterne. There are also some inter-war private suburban housing and bungalows in the north of the ward. None of the ward is what you would call upmarket.

The ward boundaries haven't changed that much over the years. Traditionally it was close in a good Tory year (Lab by 1.4% in 1982, Con by 0.8% in 1987, Lab by 0.7% in 1992, Lab by 0.8% in 2000) but in a peak Labour year it turned in big majorities. From 2008 on - when the Tories gained it with a larger than normal majority for a good year - it has been clearly marginal and Labour didn't pull away massively even in 2012. The undertow of white working class, less-educated wards like Bitterne towards the right was clearly underway in the lead-up to the Conservative gain of Southampton Itchen in 2015. The Labour vote has been pretty consistently in the 950-1,250 range since (except for GE 2015) while the Conservative vote has bounced around a lot. I'd expect a Lab gain in the ward on a pretty dismal turnout, although having a sitting councillor will be useful in the all-out elections in May 2023.

[batman]

Some may recall that in recent by-elections in Spelthorne there has been a pact whereby Labour, Greens & Liberal Democrats have not stood against each other. This does not apply, however, to County Council elections, only in borough elections. Thus there are opposing Labour & Lib Dem candidates on November 30, in the Spelthorne constituency, but on this occasion no Green.

[timrollpickering]

The Lib Dem in Sunbury Common & Ashford Common appears to have been on a political journey over recent years. Assuming he's the same person, he apparently did a parliamentary candidates training in 2015 as a Unite rep, then in 2016 in a referendum debate he confronted David Cameron about levels of immigration, then in 2018 he was living & standing in Hounslow for the Conservatives and then the following year was the Brexit Party candidate in Hayes and Harlington.

He has just added then a statement on the Democracy Club Candidates database that is not particularly Lib Dem in nature and continues the anti-open borders theme along with a dose of anti-crime rhetoric.

[finsobruce]

Nov 28, 2022 15:23:24 GMT timrollpickering said:

The Lib Dem in Sunbury Common & Ashford Common appears to have been on a political journey over recent years. Assuming he's the same person, he apparently did a parliamentary candidates training in 2015 as a Unite rep, then in 2016 in a referendum debate he confronted David Cameron about levels of immigration, then in 2018 he was living & standing in Hounslow for the Conservatives and then the following year was the RefUK candidate in Hayes and Harlington.

He has just added then a statement on the Democracy Club Candidates database that is not particularly Lib Dem in nature and continues the anti-open borders theme along with a dose of anti-crime rhetoric.

There are journeys, and then there are journeys

[ricmk]

Nov 16, 2022 6:44:01 GMT Terry Weldon said:

Local LibDems in Waverley also believe that the Tory candidate in Chiddingfold is a former UKIP candidate.In 2019 we had only a paper candidate, but for the past two years, local activists have been working the ward pretty hard. By the time the vacancy arose, we already had a strong team in place to hit the ground running.

The Greens withdrew their candidate just before nominations closed, precisely to leave a clear path for the LD.

Repost from ex-Labour MP Nick Palmer in ‚another place‘

An upset in prospect in a Thursday by-election in my patch - the Tories have suspended their candidate in the (hitherto comfortably Tory-held) Chiddingford and Dunsfold Waverley Borough Council by-election on Thursday having discovered that he made a social media post that "could be considered to be inappropriate" - they have halted their campaign. The LibDems have targeted the seat, and Labour are standing as well.

The seat is classic Blue Wall and noted for some extremely expensive large houses - I've done a bit of (frankly not very fruitful) phone canvassing there and lots of homes have 5 or more voters. Ironically, the seat will disappear due to redistricting in May, so LibDems and Labour didn't try to trigger it when one of the current councillors sadly died, but the Tories went ahead and called it anyway.

[Deleted]

"redistricting"? Where is all this American crap coming from in our politics? (see also "early voting")

[Terry Weldon]

More on the Tory late withdrawal, from "Waverley Web".

waverleyweb.org/2022/11/30/endorsed-by-the-chancellor-and-sacked-by-south-west-surrey-conservatives/


"Today SW Surrey Conservatives have announced they are suspending their By-Election candidate Ian Mitchell due to his inappropriate social media posts.
He said Mr Hunt was a “fence-sitter” on the EU, called the new prime minister Rishi Sunak a “tax dodging billionaire”, and has called the UK’s foreign aid budget, immigration issues and benefits system “a drain on society”.


Just days ago, Hunt wrote to Chiddingfold residents encouraging them to vote for a man who had previously been rude about him, and about the PM. What does this say about their due diligence?

[Terry Weldon]

Nov 30, 2022 10:19:42 GMT Terry Weldon said:

More on the Tory late withdrawal, from "Waverley Web".

waverleyweb.org/2022/11/30/endorsed-by-the-chancellor-and-sacked-by-south-west-surrey-conservatives/


"Today SW Surrey Conservatives have announced they are suspending their By-Election candidate Ian Mitchell due to his inappropriate social media posts.
He said Mr Hunt was a “fence-sitter” on the EU, called the new prime minister Rishi Sunak a “tax dodging billionaire”, and has called the UK’s foreign aid budget, immigration issues and benefits system “a drain on society”.


Just days ago, Hunt wrote to Chiddingfold residents encouraging them to vote for a man who had previously been rude about him, and about the PM. What does this say about their due diligence?

[minionofmidas]

Nov 30, 2022 10:19:42 GMT Terry Weldon said:

called the new prime minister Rishi Sunak a “tax dodging billionaire”

can't see the issue w/ regards to that one?

[Defenestrated Fipplebox]

Nov 30, 2022 10:19:42 GMT Terry Weldon said:

More on the Tory late withdrawal, from "Waverley Web".

waverleyweb.org/2022/11/30/endorsed-by-the-chancellor-and-sacked-by-south-west-surrey-conservatives/


"Today SW Surrey Conservatives have announced they are suspending their By-Election candidate Ian Mitchell due to his inappropriate social media posts.
He said Mr Hunt was a “fence-sitter” on the EU, called the new prime minister Rishi Sunak a “tax dodging billionaire”, and has called the UK’s foreign aid budget, immigration issues and benefits system “a drain on society”.


Just days ago, Hunt wrote to Chiddingfold residents encouraging them to vote for a man who had previously been rude about him, and about the PM. What does this say about their due diligence?

Don't understand the need for this suspension, what is inappropriate enough about any of those statements to warrant such a suspension?

[jamesdoyle]

The Wednesday preview: medium.com/britainelects/previewing-the-sunbury-common-and-ashford-common-surrey-by-election-of-30th-november-2022-15600c360bea

[carlton43]

Nov 30, 2022 10:19:42 GMT Terry Weldon said:

More on the Tory late withdrawal, from "Waverley Web".

waverleyweb.org/2022/11/30/endorsed-by-the-chancellor-and-sacked-by-south-west-surrey-conservatives/


"Today SW Surrey Conservatives have announced they are suspending their By-Election candidate Ian Mitchell due to his inappropriate social media posts.
He said Mr Hunt was a “fence-sitter” on the EU, called the new prime minister Rishi Sunak a “tax dodging billionaire”, and has called the UK’s foreign aid budget, immigration issues and benefits system “a drain on society”.


Just days ago, Hunt wrote to Chiddingfold residents encouraging them to vote for a man who had previously been rude about him, and about the PM. What does this say about their due diligence?

He just had to be suspended by the present party because he is absolutely correct in all  of those assertions.

[Terry Weldon]

Nov 30, 2022 10:56:59 GMT Defenestrated Fipplebox said:

Nov 30, 2022 10:19:42 GMT Terry Weldon said:

More on the Tory late withdrawal, from "Waverley Web".

waverleyweb.org/2022/11/30/endorsed-by-the-chancellor-and-sacked-by-south-west-surrey-conservatives/


"Today SW Surrey Conservatives have announced they are suspending their By-Election candidate Ian Mitchell due to his inappropriate social media posts.
He said Mr Hunt was a “fence-sitter” on the EU, called the new prime minister Rishi Sunak a “tax dodging billionaire”, and has called the UK’s foreign aid budget, immigration issues and benefits system “a drain on society”.


Just days ago, Hunt wrote to Chiddingfold residents encouraging them to vote for a man who had previously been rude about him, and about the PM. What does this say about their due diligence?

Don't understand the need for this suspension, what is inappropriate enough about any of those statements to warrant such a suspension?