Local Council by-elections 3rd August 2023

[Tony Otim]

DUDLEY MBC; Cradley & Wollescote (Lab died)
Candidates:
FRIEL, Siobhan (TUSC)
GARDENER, Rachael Anne (Labour)
HILL, Steve (Conservative)
KHAN, Kash (Green)
PRIEST, Ryan (Liberal Democrat)

2023: Lab 1061; LD 1040; Con 517; Grn 89; TUSC 24
2022: Lab 1153; LD 915; Con 905
2021: Con 1395; Lab 1232; LD 346; Black Country 199
2019: Lab 1180; Con 849; UKIP 440; Black Country 251; LD 128
2018: Lab 1425; Con 704; UKIP 487; Grn 148
2016: Lab 1478; UKIP 685; Con 529; Grn 109
2015: Lab 2602; Con 1704; UKIP 1427; Grn 218
2014: Lab 1460; UKIP 1057; Con 623; Grn 136
2012: Lab 1741; Con 474; UKIP 383; Grn 105; LD 88
2011: Lab 2106; Con 865; UKIP 289; BNP 179; Grn 109; LD 106
2010: Lab 2629; Con 1677; LD 824; BNP 488; UKIP 428; Grn 91
2008: Lab 1187; Con 1025; UKIP 679; Ind 236
2007: Lab 1504; Con 1062; UKIP 650; Grn 153
2006: Lab 1699; Con 1429
2004: Lab 1420, 1407, 1297; Con 1163, 1154, 957; LD 758

Vacancy is for the 2023-27 term. The Lib Dem, Green and TUSC candidates all stood here this year, with the Lib Dem having contested every election since 2019.

Current Council: Con 43; Lab 26; Ind 1; 2 vacancies



EAST SUSSEX CC; Meads (Con died)
Candidates:
MANNION, David (Labour)
MARTIN, Claire Marie (Green)
TAYLOR, Nicholas Brian (Conservative)
WRIGHT, Brett Anthony (Liberal Democrat)

2021: Con 1770; LD 1552; Grn 235; Lab 228; RefUK 95
2017: Con 2213; LD 918; Lab 236; Grn 187; UKIP 157

The deceased councillor was Barry Taylor – I’m not sure if Nicholas is a relative.
Boundaries are the same for the Eatbourne district ward which this May elected 1 LD and 2 Con:
LD 1630, 1515, 1457; Con 1585, 1536, 1508; Lab 311, 309, 276; Grn 297, 247; RefUK 184, 156 when Nicholas Taylor was the unsuccessful Conservative, Davd Mannion was the top Labour candidate and Claire Martin the second Green.

Current Council: Con 25; LD 11; Lab 5; Grn 4  5; Ind Dem 2; Ind 1; 2 1 vacancies (Which means that the Conservatives need to hold s to retain an outright majority).



NORFOLK CC; Freebridge Lynn (Con died)
Candidates:
CROFTS, John Peter (Liberal Democrat)
DE WHALLEY, Andrew Michael (Green)
MARRIAGE, Lesley (Labour)
MORRIS, Olivia Victoria (Conservative)

2021: Con 1670; Grn 510; Lab 403
2017: Con 1535; Grn 483; Lab 353; LD 182; UKIP 130
2013: Con 917; Grn 773; UKIP 589; Lab 389; LD 76
2009: Con 1690; LD 431; Grn 385; Lab 347; BNP 248
2005: Con 2670; Lab 1345; LD 1041

Andrew de Whalley has contested the division at the last 4 elections for the Greens and is also district councillor for Gayton & Grimston ward (half in this division) since 2019.

Current council: Con 54; Lab 12; LD 10; Grn 4; Ind 2; Ind non-aligned 1; 1 vacancy



READING UA; Norcot (Lab died)
Candidates:
BOTTOM, Jen (TUSC)
FRENCH, Marie (Liberal Democrat)
GULLIVER, Alan John (Independent)
McGOLDRICK, Finn (Labour)
SHEPPARD, Lizzy (Conservative)
WALKEM, Richard Peter (Green)

2023: Lab 1202; Con 371; Grn 206; LD 126; Ind 71; Lib 57; TUSC 39
2022: Lab 1390, 1319, 1286; Con 473, 439, 422; Grn 419; LD 271; Ind 180; TUSC 114

Vacancy is for the 2023-27 term. The Green, Independent and TUSC candidates stood here in May and last year.

Current Council: Lab 31; Grn 7; Con 5; LD 3; Ind 1; 1 vacancy

[markgoodair]

Looks a real opportunity to get a breakthrough for the Liberal Democrats in Dudley.

[Chris from Brum]

Jul 25, 2023 12:02:09 GMT markgoodair said:

Looks a real opportunity to get a breakthrough for the Liberal Democrats in Dudley.

Fingers crossed, and it will be no secret that it's being worked hard.  If it is won - still a big if - then Ryan will be the only Lib Dem councillor in the four Black Country boroughs, since we lost our last two in Walsall a couple of years ago. 

[iang]

Been in Cradley today. Labour delivering a candidate orientated A3, but apparently this is their only leaflet so far - think I was delivering our fourth. Saw no sign of Tory activity but understand they are working it seriously. (Our literature looks to squeeze them as is unsurprising). Saw a Green leaflet which was remarkably poorly spelt and punctuated.

[Chris from Brum]

Cradley, btw, should not be confused with nearby Cradley Heath, once home to a renowned speedway team, which is in the borough of Sandwell. That is the corner of Halesowen and Rowley Regis which is in Sandwell, Halesowen being in Dudley borough.

And pronunciation wise, you add a "y" to the end of Cradle in both cases.

[iainbhx]

Jul 26, 2023 18:51:14 GMT Chris from Brum said:

Cradley, btw, should not be confused with nearby Cradley Heath, once home to a renowned speedway team, which is in the borough of Sandwell. That is the corner of Halesowen and Rowley Regis which is in Sandwell, Halesowen being in Dudley borough.

And pronunciation wise, you add a "y" to the end of Cradle in both cases.

If you are a truly ancient gammer, you'll actually say Cradley different more like Craedli.

[yellowperil]

I will take a strong family interest in two of these elections. As I think I already said somewhere, my big brother and sister in law are Meads voters, and my younger son used to be a Norcot voter but now is next door in Tilehurst ward. Quite a time to be coming back to the prediction competition.

[batman]

I have a cousin with whom I am broigus (I will explain the meaning of that on request) who lives in the Tilehurst Road. I don't know which ward he votes in though. He is a member of the Conservative Party along with his recently-naturalised wife & their son who has, at the age of only 19, already been defeated in two local elections for the Conservatives in the Welwyn Hatfield district. I am not broigus with my cousin's wife or children.

[kevinf]

Jul 28, 2023 21:15:23 GMT batman said:

I have a cousin with whom I am broigus (I will explain the meaning of that on request) who lives in the Tilehurst Road. I don't know which ward he votes in though. He is a member of the Conservative Party along with his recently-naturalised wife & their son who has, at the age of only 19, already been defeated in two local elections for the Conservatives in the Welwyn Hatfield district. I am not broigus with my cousin's wife or children.

Ah, just looked it up. Useful term!

[batman]

yes and it's one that we argumentative Jews frequently enough have to employ

[CatholicLeft]

Jul 31, 2023 16:33:57 GMT batman said:

yes and it's one that we argumentative Jews frequently enough have to employ

My eldest sister's life-long best friend, Sharon Twemlow, Higher Broughton raised, who sadly died from Covid (whilst loudly declaring it didn't exist), taught my sister many Yiddish phrases, which she liberally includes in many conversations.
My sister was quite surprised when, out at a meal and happily chatting about the family, a Jewish man asked her if her parents were not farshemt that their son had become a Catholic priest. Michelle, my big sister, didn't know what he meant, but Sharon, visiting from Florida (long story), said: "No, we kvell over Gerard's choice".
Sharon told my sister, Michelle, that, due to how she used Yiddish phrases, he assumed she was Jewish, so I must have been a convert.

[Delighted Of Tunbridge Wells]

Jul 28, 2023 21:15:23 GMT batman said:

I have a cousin with whom I am broigus (I will explain the meaning of that on request) who lives in the Tilehurst Road. I don't know which ward he votes in though. He is a member of the Conservative Party along with his recently-naturalised wife & their son who has, at the age of only 19, already been defeated in two local elections for the Conservatives in the Welwyn Hatfield district. I am not broigus with my cousin's wife or children.

Tilehurst Road will be Coley, Southcote or Battle. Both Norcot and Tilehurst proper are much further west.

[Delighted Of Tunbridge Wells]

Jul 28, 2023 20:52:04 GMT yellowperil said:

I will take a strong family interest in two of these elections. As I think I already said somewhere, my big brother and sister in law are Meads voters, and my younger son used to be a Norcot voter but now is next door in Tilehurst ward. Quite a time to be coming back to the prediction competition.

Yeah, on top of the fact it's a solid Labour ward, Colette Dennis was a much loved community councillor, so it's not going to be a very interesting election sadly.

[phil156]

I apolguise for last week as some of you asked about who was counting - I was away Im afraid

This week they all count except Norfolk which is in the morning

Catch you all tonight

[southernliberal]

A slight correction on the Dudley contest - Dudley is facing all up elections due to boundary changes in May therefore the victor will only serve for a nine month term before the May 2024 elections.

[Tony Otim]

Aug 3, 2023 8:18:26 GMT southernliberal said:

A slight correction on the Dudley contest - Dudley is facing all up elections due to boundary changes in May therefore the victor will only serve for a nine month term before the May 2024 elections.

Thanks - I hadn't picked up on that.

[John Chanin]

medium.com/britainelects/previewing-the-four-local-by-elections-of-3rd-august-2023-b147e2a05e0a

[Pete Whitehead]

Aug 3, 2023 8:57:47 GMT Tony Otim said:

Aug 3, 2023 8:18:26 GMT southernliberal said:

A slight correction on the Dudley contest - Dudley is facing all up elections due to boundary changes in May therefore the victor will only serve for a nine month term before the May 2024 elections.

Thanks - I hadn't picked up on that.

It appears Andrew hadn't either..

[greenman]

Just want to remind everyone that the Green candidate went from fifth and 9.3% in West Deepwade, in South Norfolk, in 2021 to winning with 29.8% in July this year. Now there is not a former Conservative running in Freebridge Lynn, as there was in West Deepwade, so maybe the circumstances are different.

[Toylyyev]

Aug 3, 2023 13:35:07 GMT greenman said:

Just want to remind everyone that the Green candidate went from fifth and 9.3% in West Deepwade, in South Norfolk, in 2021 to winning with 29.8% in July this year. Now there is not a former Conservative running in Freebridge Lynn, as there was in West Deepwade, so maybe the circumstances are different.

A test for the LibDem letterbox indigestion theorem overseen below the line here

www.facebook.com/RobColwellGaywoodSouth/posts/pfbid0PYfDmZXTAue4KGNYbAKBGuQKVLpCqNr5gKf5xXzP519oEShJjnSHyXo5aray192zl

Please stop putting leaflets thru my door ! 3 in as many days !