Local Council by-elections 31st August 2023

[Tony Otim]

CAERPHILLY UA; Penmaen (Lab died)
Candidates:
DAVIES, Elizabeth (Labour)
EDWARDS-ETHERIDGE, George (Independent)
ERRINGTON, Jonathan David (Liberal Democrat)
JONES, Clayton Francis (Gwlad)
MARTIN, Imogen (Conservative)
SHORT, Andrew (Plaid Cymru)

2022: Lab 831, 775; PC 458, 454

Andrew Short was the top Plaid Cymru candidate last year.

Current Council: Lab 44; PC 18; Ind 6; 1 vacancy



DERBYSHIRE CC; Swadlincote South (Con died)
Candidates:
GEDDES, Jacqueline Andrea Marie (Conservative)
HAYNES, Alan Steven (Labour)

2021: Con 1457; Lab 798; Grn 207
2017: Con 1098; Lab 1028; UKIP 198; LD 93
2013: Lab 1067; Con 669; UKIP 582; LD 48

Alan Haynes was elected district councillor for Church Gresley ward (South Derbyshire – in this division) in May, topping the poll. Jacqueline Geddes also stood in that ward in May, coming 5th. Labour would have comfortably carried this division in May.

Current Council: Con 41; Lab 15; LD 4; RefUK 2; Grn 1; 1 vacancy



KIRKLEES MBC; Batley East (Lab resigned)
Candidates:
DOCKRAT, Ebrahim Ismail (Labour)
DUFFY, Simon (Green)
KATENGA, Bikatshi (Yorkshire Party)
LONG, Stephen James (Liberal Democrat)
SMITH, Beverley Ann (Conservative)
STEELE, Mark Andrew (SDP)

2023: Lab 1978; Con 1964; LD 262; Grn 256
2022: Lab 2170; Workers Party 1611; Con 734; Grn 201; LD 152
2021: Lab 3520; Con 1160; Grn 308; LD 139; RefUK 83
2019: Lab 3183; Con 778; Grn 384; LD 172
2018: Lab 3293; Con 811; Grn 162; LD 141
Oct 17by: Lab 2640; Con 443; Heavy Woolen District 140; LD 136; Grn 70
2016: Lab 3487; Con 594; Ind 512; LD 248; Grn 156
2015: Lab 5321; Con 2194; LD 463; Grn 359; TUSC 122
2014: Lab 2670; Ind 1356; Con 527; Grn 386; LD 252; TUSC 181
2012: Lab 3876; Con 740; Ind 462; LD 230
2011: Lab 3834; Con 1028; LD 333; Ind 295; Grn 212
2010: Lab 4843; Con 1774; LD 1274; BNP 678; Grn 186
2008: Lab 3060; Con 823; BNP 759; LD 653; Grn 296
2007: Lab 2793; LD 1147; Con 852; BNP 754; Grn 185
2006: Lab 2779; LD 1103; BNP 869; Con 621; Grn 232
2004: Lab 3024, 2697, 2370; LD 2008, 1750, 1564; Con 1053, 758, 639; BNP 958; Grn 553

Vacancy is for the 2021-24 term. Simon Duffy stood here for the Greens in May and last year.

Current Council: Lab 38; Con 18; LD 8; Grn 3; Ind 1; 1 vacancy

[andrewp]

That was some swing to the Conservatives in Batley East in May, about 15% since last year. Very nearly a somewhat freakish gain. Presumably there was a religion factor?

[East Anglian Lefty]

It would appear so - May was the first time since 2015 that the Conservatives stood a candidate with an Asian name in that ward, and also the first time since 2015 that they had broken 25% in the ward.

[The Bishop]

And they appear to have taken many of those who voted for Galloway's outfit the previous year.

Given that, the name of their candidate this time is interesting.

[batman]

yes, it is surprising that this is the candidate they've chosen.

[Deleted]

Which begs the question. Sans Galloway's outfit, would the Conservatives have won Batley & Spen in 2021?

[borisminor]

Aug 26, 2023 17:12:10 GMT @weld said:

Which begs the question. Sans Galloway's outfit, would the Conservatives have won Batley & Spen in 2021?

Almost certainly not. Labour would have picked up votes in Batley to stretch their majority even further. Galloway almost certainly had a negligible presence in Cleckheaton, Birstall and Birkenshaw, and Liversedge and Gomersal. This was only an 'interesting' by-election because of Galloway.

[phil156]

They are all counting on Thursday Derbyshire say between 12 to 12.30am for their result

[Chris from Brum]

andrewteale has this to say: medium.com/britainelects/previewing-the-three-local-by-elections-of-31st-august-2023-e8d8abeb5d49

[carolus]

Derbyshire, Swadlincote South - Labour gain

Lab 786 - 62.2% (+29.4%)

Con 477 - 37.8% (-21.4%)

No Green.

[carolus]

Caerphilly, Penmaen - Labour hold.

Lab 457 - 35.1% (-29.4%)

PC 346 - 26.6% (-8.9%)

Ind 247 - 19.0% (+19.0%)

LD 125 - 9.6% (+9.6%)

Con 120 - 9.2% (+9.2%)

Gwlad 8 - 0.6% (+0.6%)

[manchesterman]

[Sibboleth]

I presume that Edwards-Etheridge is a relation of Kevin Etheridge?

[ElectionMapsUK]

Batley East Turnout: 23.2%

[gramps191919]

🚨 BREAKING 🚨
BY-ELECTION RESULT 31st Aug
KIRKLEES MBC; Batley East
Labour 2248
Green 145
Yorkshire Party 42
LONG, Stephen James (Liberal Democrat) 178
Conservative 413
SDP 24

[manchesterman]

[matureleft]

Aug 31, 2023 22:18:46 GMT carolus said:

Derbyshire, Swadlincote South - Labour gain

Lab 786 - 62.2% (+29.4%)

Con 477 - 37.8% (-21.4%)

No Green.

Grim turnout (but holding a by-election at the very end of August would scarcely have people turning out in droves). These vote shares are about what I’d expect in current circumstances here. A solid Labour win in what used, long ago, to be near fortress territory (but with a lot fewer houses). 

[jamesdoyle]

GWBWI

This week, it's a one horse race.

Lab +155
Grn -1
LDm +0
Con -114

[batman]

yes I was just thinking it was a pretty good week for us despite the underwhelming result in Caerphilly.

[bungle]

I'm surprised that the neither the Liberal Democrats nor Greens did not have a go in Swadlincote South. It is a more propitious time for both than say 5 - 10 years ago, and yet back then the Lib Dems often fielded at least a paper candidate in by-elections in this southern tip of the district (usually Lorraine Johnson). Also the Lib Dems now have council representation and a group - although admittedly their ward is distant from here.

As noted in the South Derbyshire almanac profile, there is a strong two-party culture here and this by-election is consistent with that. A decent enough performance by Labour given the two-horse race.