Local Council by-elections 8th December 2022

[Tony Otim]

BRIGHTON & HOVE UA; Wish (Con died)
Candidates:
MOUNTAIN, Patricia Ann (UKIP)
REVELL, Peter Alan (Conservative)
SANKEY, Bella (Labour)
STONE, Stewart Malcolm (Liberal Democrat)
SYKES, Ollie (Green)

2019: Con 1531, 1421; Lab 1275, 1107; Grn 973, 521; LD 262; UKIP 121
2015: Con 2102, 2054; Lab 1856, 1764; Grn 819, 457; LD 308; UKIP 300, 219; Ind 183, 108
2011: Lab 1348, 1144; Con 1310, 1183; Grn 540, 299; Ind 301, 244; LD 170, 119; UKIP 100
2007: Con 1596, 1523; Lab 814, 801; Grn 458, 271; LD 269, 250; Protest Vote 229
2003: Con 1616, 1522; Lab 1368, 1242; LD 454, 296; Grn 324, 215

The ward is not significantly changed by the proposed boundary changes for next year - both gaining  and losing some territory with Westbourne to the East

Current Council: Grn 20; Lab 15; Con 11; Ind 7; 1 vacancy
(of the 7 Independents, 1 was elected as such, 1 was elected as Conservative and 5 as Labour)



COLCHESTER DC; Highwoods (2x Highwoods Grp resigned)
Candidates:
BACON, Pauline Ann (Labour)
BICKERSTETH, Catherine (Labour)
JAY, Alison Mary (Liberal Democrats)
LINGHORN-BAKER, David Edward William (Conservative)
MARTIN, Richard James (Conservative)
WHYBORN, Chantelle-Louise (Liberal Democrat)

2022: Lab 833; Con 773; LD 435
2021: Ind 780; Con 664; Lab 401; LD 188; Grn 135; RefUK 64
2019: Ind 1119; Con 409; Lab 247; LD 196; Grn 155
2018: Ind 926; Con 563; Lab 314; LD 161; Grn 75
2016: Ind 1126, 1038, 954; Con 690, 588, 522; Lab 287, 285, 283; LD 273; UKIP 251; Grn 139, 92, 91

Vacancies are for 2019-2023 and 2021-2024 terms. Catherine Bickersteth was the Labour candidate in the recent Lexden & Braiswick by-election. David Linghorn-Baker stood for the Conservatives in Mile End and Highwoods division last May.

Current Council: Con 19; LD 14; Lab 13; Grn 2; Ind 1; 2 vacancies (The indy was elected as Green).



DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY UA; Mid Galloway & Wigtown West (Lab resigned)
Candidates:
GIBSON, Ian (SNP)
HOOPER-JONES, Daniel (Green)
MARSH, Richard (Conservative)
McCUTCHEON, John Peter (Labour)
McDONALD, Iain (Liberal Democrat)

2022: Con 1529, 964; SNP 1505; Lab 559; Grn 405
Jan 20by: Con 2177; SNP 898; Grn 225; Lab 220
2017: Con 1403, 723; Ind 976, 475, 48; SNP 701, 572; Lab 368; Grn 116

John McCutcheon (assuming the same person) was the last-placed indy in 2017.

Current Council: Con 16; SNP 11; Lab 8; Ind 5; LD 1; Not specified 1; 1 vacancy



LINCOLNSHIRE CC; Spalding West (Ind died)
Candidates:
HASAN, Manzur (South Holland Independents)
REDGATE, Paul Alexander (Conservative)

2021: South Holland Ind 1627; Con 390
2017: Ind 1026; Con 976; Lab 221

Manzur Hasan was the runner-up for South Holland Independents in neighbouring Spalding South last May and is sitting district councillor for Spalding St Johns (which is split between the 2 divisions) since 2019. Paul Redgate is sitting district councillor for Whaplode & Holbeach St Johns (not in this division) since 2019.

Current Council: Con 54; Lab 4; Ind Grp 4; LD 3; South Holland Ind 2; Ind (non-aligned) 2; 1 vacancy



MEDWAY UA; Peninsula (Ind died)
Candidates:
CROZER, George Josiah Thomas (Independent)
HODGES, David Christopher Graham (Labour)
JACKSON, Sharon Leigh (Independent)
OGUNFEMI, Harold (Conservative)
RIST, Ben Darryl (Liberal Democrat)
SPALDING, Chris (Independent)
SUTTON, Julian Charles (Green)

2019: Ind 1413, 1125, 734, 512; Con 1157, 834, 792; UKIP 1002; Lab 449, 399, 298; Grn 446, 442, 371
2015: UKIP 2866, 2619, 2310; Con 2722, 2461, 2440; Lab 1200, 1091, 931; Ind 691; TUSC 147
Nov 14by: UKIP 2850; Con 1965; Lab 716; Grn 314; LD 60 (a rare by-election where the councillor had resigned after changing parties and won again for his new party)
2011: Con 2557, 2307, 2125; Lab 975, 898, 879; ED 535, 476; Grn 351; LD 298, 282
2007: Con 2396, 2054, 2036; Ind 1376; Lab 646, 561, 511; UKIP 427; LD 251, 122, 94
2003: Con 2640, 2503, 2451; Lab 776, 658, 621; LD 195, 182, 169; UKIP 159


The deceased councillor was first elected for UKIP in 2015 and re-elected as an independent in 2019. The other incumbent indy first stood for the English Democrats in 2011, then unsuccessfully as an indy in 2015 before topping the poll last time.

Chris Spalding stood as an independent in 2021 Strood North by-election and stood here in 2019 (getting 512 votes). Harold Ogunfemi was the 3rd Conservative here in 2019. George Crozer stood here as an independent back on 2007.

With the new boundaries for next year, this ward in carved up between 3 different ward – the North East corner is taken off to form a new single member All Saints ward, the majority of the rest will form the new 3-member Hoo St Werburgh & High Halston, with remainder going into the new Strood Rural, which also gives a bit to Hoo St Werburgh as well.

Current Council: Con 32; Lab 20; Ind 2; 1 vacancy



NORTH DEVON DC; Landkey (North Devon Ind elected as Con resigned)
Candidates:
AGNEW, Nicholas John (Labour)
HAWORTH-BOOTH, Mark (Green)
HOARE, David William (Conservative)
NEL, Victoria Clare (Liberal Democrats)

2019: Con 558, 533; LD 475, 453; Grn 208, 188; Lab 103

Victoria Nel was the top Liberal Democrat in 2019 and Mark Haworth-Booth the second Green. Victoria Nel also stood in Chumleigh & Landkey county division in May 21.

Current Council: LD 21; Con 9; Ind 7; Grn 2; N Devon Ind 2; 1 vacancy



SOUTH HOLLAND DC; Spalding Monks House (Ind died)
Candidates:
CHAUHAN, Sam (South Holland Independents)
TIMEWELL, Stephen Peter (Conservative)

2019: Ind 889, 438; Con 336; Lab 116, 68; Grn 80, 56
2015: Ind 1398; Con 1026; UKIP 817
2011: Ind 955; Con 697; Lab 402
2007: Ind 726; Con 501, 477; Lab 297

Current Council: Con 24; Ind 11; Not specified 1; 1 vacancy

[dundas]

Anyone any idea why the district locals call West Hove is named Wish instead?

[Rutlander]

In Brighton ("Hove, actually"), Pat Mountain was interim leader of UKIP from 2019 to 2020 and a fairly frequent candidate.

[yellowperil]

Nov 16, 2022 8:02:07 GMT dundas said:

Anyone any idea why the district locals call West Hove is named Wish instead?

Wish we knew that....

[John Chanin]

Nov 16, 2022 8:02:07 GMT dundas said:

Anyone any idea why the district locals call West Hove is named Wish instead?

There’s a Wish Park in the middle of it.

[CatholicLeft]

The end of the Highwood Independents is interesting as the Oxford family has dominated politics there for 20 -odd years, first as Liberal Democrats. Phil Oxford didn't defend in May and Labour took the seat. Labour could take the leadership of the coalition if they gain both seats.

[minionofmidas]

"Brighton & Hove UA wish Con died" reads like a newspaper headline we'll never see, though not because it was never true.

[East Anglian Lefty]

Nov 25, 2022 21:45:41 GMT CatholicLeft said:

The end of the Highwood Independents is interesting as the Oxford family has dominated politics there for 20 -odd years, first as Liberal Democrats. Phil Oxford didn't defend in May and Labour took the seat. Labour could take the leadership of the coalition if they gain both seats.

20 years ago when the Oxfords first got elected and the bulk of the electorate of Highwoods lived in the big houses south of Tesco, Labour could never have hoped to win there. The stuff built since then (some of it where I used to play football, extremely badly, back in the day) isn't exactly proletarian but it is significantly younger and has some private renters so I suspect that is where the Labour vote comes from.

[batman]

I am hoping to make it down to Hove on polling day. I think there is reason for optimism.

[timrollpickering]

Also a contested City of London Aldermanic election (yes I know they're not quite by-elections but where else do you put them?):

City of London; Aldgate (Independent resignation to seek re-election)
Candidates:
Elizabeth Anne Lange (Independent)
Susan Langley (Independent)
Shai Umradia (Independent)

2022 (councillors) Ind 203, Ind 195, Ind 194, Ind 192, Ind (Shai Umradia) 178, Ind 88, Ind 82
2018 (Alderman): Ind (Susan Landley) 174, Ind (Peter Hewitt) 54
2017 (councillors): Ind x5 Unopposed
2013 (councillors): Ind 152, Ind 152, Ind 150, Ind 139, Ind 123, Ind 122
2012 (Alderman): Ind (Peter Hewitt) Unopposed

Diamond Geezer's guide to the ward

The 2022 council election saw incumbent Hugh Morris beaten in last place whilst incumbent Andrien Meyers and four first time candidates won. The 2018 Alderman election was a rare defeat of an incumbent (often they're unopposed).

Susan Langley was first elected in 2018 and is seeking re-election earlier than the norm, presumably so as to have a clear term available for seeking the key posts. Shai Umradia is a sitting councillor for the ward first elected earlier this year. Elizabeth Anne Lange seems to be a first time candidate.

The incumbent Aldermen in Farringdon Without and Queenhithe are both uncontested for re-election.

Current Council (according to the website): "Not specified" 119 (including 25 Aldermen including the three above), Labour 5, Missing from the website (still) 1

[mej111]

Nov 14, 2022 12:31:08 GMT Tony Otim said:

BRIGHTON & HOVE UA; Wish (Con died)
Candidates:
MOUNTAIN, Patricia Ann (UKIP)
REVELL, Peter Alan (Conservative)
SANKEY, Bella (Labour)
STONE, Stewart Malcolm (Liberal Democrat)
SYKES, Ollie (Green)

2019: Con 1531, 1421; Lab 1275, 1107; Grn 973, 521; LD 262; UKIP 121
2015: Con 2102, 2054; Lab 1856, 1764; Grn 819, 457; LD 308; UKIP 300, 219; Ind 183, 108
2011: Lab 1348, 1144; Con 1310, 1183; Grn 540, 299; Ind 301, 244; LD 170, 119; UKIP 100
2007: Con 1596, 1523; Lab 814, 801; Grn 458, 271; LD 269, 250; Protest Vote 229
2003: Con 1616, 1522; Lab 1368, 1242; LD 454, 296; Grn 324, 215

The ward is not significantly changed by the proposed boundary changes for next year - both gaining  and losing some territory with Westbourne to the East

Current Council: Grn 20; Lab 15; Con 11; Ind 7; 1 vacancy
(of the 7 Independents, 1 was elected as such, 1 was elected as Conservative and 5 as Labour)

One thing to add for this by-election is that the UKIP candidate (Patricia Mountain) is the former interim leader of UKIP from 2019-2020. Also I can see from twitter that local labour members have been campaigning pretty hard, local MP Peter Kyle was out today and (judging by a rough count from a photo) about 30 members too.

[Tony Otim]

Dec 3, 2022 19:15:01 GMT mej111 said:

Nov 14, 2022 12:31:08 GMT Tony Otim said:

BRIGHTON & HOVE UA; Wish (Con died)
Candidates:
MOUNTAIN, Patricia Ann (UKIP)
REVELL, Peter Alan (Conservative)
SANKEY, Bella (Labour)
STONE, Stewart Malcolm (Liberal Democrat)
SYKES, Ollie (Green)

2019: Con 1531, 1421; Lab 1275, 1107; Grn 973, 521; LD 262; UKIP 121
2015: Con 2102, 2054; Lab 1856, 1764; Grn 819, 457; LD 308; UKIP 300, 219; Ind 183, 108
2011: Lab 1348, 1144; Con 1310, 1183; Grn 540, 299; Ind 301, 244; LD 170, 119; UKIP 100
2007: Con 1596, 1523; Lab 814, 801; Grn 458, 271; LD 269, 250; Protest Vote 229
2003: Con 1616, 1522; Lab 1368, 1242; LD 454, 296; Grn 324, 215

The ward is not significantly changed by the proposed boundary changes for next year - both gaining  and losing some territory with Westbourne to the East

Current Council: Grn 20; Lab 15; Con 11; Ind 7; 1 vacancy
(of the 7 Independents, 1 was elected as such, 1 was elected as Conservative and 5 as Labour)

One thing to add for this by-election is that the UKIP candidate (Patricia Mountain) is the former interim leader of UKIP from 2019-2020. Also I can see from twitter that local labour members have been campaigning pretty hard, local MP Peter Kyle was out today and (judging by a rough count from a photo) about 30 members too.

Another thing to add, that I hadn't picked up originally is that Ollie Sykes is a former councillor for Brunswick & Adelaide ward (2011-19) and was Green candidate for Hove constituency in the 2019 GE.

[batman]

Dec 1, 2022 23:35:29 GMT batman said:

I am hoping to make it down to Hove on polling day. I think there is reason for optimism.

can't do it now, have to work that day after having to go off sick a couple of days. But I fancy they'll be fine without me & will have loads of party workers

[phil156]

A bit long drawn out this week on the declarations 

Lincolnshire, Medway, North Devon & South Holland are Thursday evening

Brighton, Colchester & Dumfries & Galloway are Friday morning

[jamesdoyle]

Dec 6, 2022 12:19:58 GMT Tony Otim said:

Dec 3, 2022 19:15:01 GMT mej111 said:

One thing to add for this by-election is that the UKIP candidate (Patricia Mountain) is the former interim leader of UKIP from 2019-2020. Also I can see from twitter that local labour members have been campaigning pretty hard, local MP Peter Kyle was out today and (judging by a rough count from a photo) about 30 members too.

Another thing to add, that I hadn't picked up originally is that Ollie Sykes is a former councillor for Brunswick & Adelaide ward (2011-19) and was Green candidate for Hove constituency in the 2019 GE.

Ollie is also a very nice guy, and was one of only a few B&H Greens who made the arduous trip to Worthing to canvass for me. His brother Stefan lives in Worthing, and was briefly a Green member, but went (back) to Labour when Corbyn became leader.

[The Bishop]

Dec 7, 2022 13:17:06 GMT phil156 said:

A bit long drawn out this week on the declarations 

Lincolnshire, Medway, North Devon & South Holland are Thursday evening

Brighton, Colchester & Dumfries & Galloway are Friday morning

Brighton and Colchester not being able to count on Thursday night isn't terribly impressive tbh.

[John Chanin]

Dec 8, 2022 12:05:50 GMT The Bishop said:

Dec 7, 2022 13:17:06 GMT phil156 said:

A bit long drawn out this week on the declarations 

Lincolnshire, Medway, North Devon & South Holland are Thursday evening

Brighton, Colchester & Dumfries & Galloway are Friday morning

Brighton and Colchester not being able to count on Thursday night isn't terribly impressive tbh.

I’ve never understood the obsession with this.  Why not count the following day when it’s cheaper, and you have regular staff on site to do it.  And everyone can have a good night’s sleep.

[owainsutton]

Nov 14, 2022 12:31:08 GMT Tony Otim said:

MEDWAY UA; Peninsula (Ind died)
Candidates:
CROZER, George Josiah Thomas (Independent)
HODGES, David Christopher Graham (Labour)
JACKSON, Sharon Leigh (Independent)
OGUNFEMI, Harold (Conservative)
RIST, Ben Darryl (Liberal Democrat)
SPALDING, Chris (Independent)
SUTTON, Julian Charles (Green)

2019: Ind 1413, 1125, 734, 512; Con 1157, 834, 792; UKIP 1002; Lab 449, 399, 298; Grn 446, 442, 371

Looks like an error's crept into the indy results here.

[batman]

Dec 8, 2022 12:17:52 GMT John Chanin said:

Dec 8, 2022 12:05:50 GMT The Bishop said:

Brighton and Colchester not being able to count on Thursday night isn't terribly impressive tbh.

I’ve never understood the obsession with this.  Why not count the following day when it’s cheaper, and you have regular staff on site to do it.  And everyone can have a good night’s sleep.

ah but we can't John, we lose sleep worrying about the results. Well I exaggerate, but it might well be true of the candidates in a closely contested ward or constituency.

[batman]

Mind you, when we made a minor electoral breakthrough in Mortlake in a 1997 by-election (our vote went up 11%), I couldn't sleep for sheer excitement, but even more for working out how to capitalise on it (which we managed to do the next year). That was counted on the night as are all elections except London-wide ones in this borough.