Local Council by-elections 9th November 2023

[Tony Otim]

LEWISHAM LBC; Deptford (Lab resigned)
Candidates:
ATKINSON, Dawn (Labour)
CROSSLEY, Tim (Green)
HARDING, Alan Francis (Liberal Democrat)
QADAR, Siama (Conservative)

2022: Lab 2095, 1791, 1632; Grn 742, 729; Con 323, 213, 196; TUSC 275; LD 267, 241, 151; Ind 214, 107, 103, 77;

Tim Crossley was one of the Green candidates in Ladywell last year, whilst Alan Harding (LD) stood in Perry Vale.

Current Council: Lab 53; 1 vacancy



LINCOLNSHIRE CC; Grantham North (Con died)
Candidates:
COOK, Jonathan Michael (Labour)
GAYFER, Anne Elizabeth (Green)
HARRISON, Tim (Independent)
MARTIN, Paul Michael (Conservative)
SWEET, Nat (Liberal Democrat)
WARD, Dean Anthony William (Independent)

2021: Con 2130; Lab 525; Grn 353
2017: Con 2119; Lab 412; LD 168; Grn 152

Paul Michael Martin (Con) is sitting councillor for Grantham Arnoldfield (About half in this division) since May (He was also the UKIP candidate for Grantham St Wulframs in 2015). Tim Harrison (Ind) is sitting councillor for Grantham St Wulfram’s ward (see below, mainly in this division). The division as a whole would have been very close between Conservative and Independent in May. Dean Ward (Ind) was Conservative councillor for Grantham Arnoldfield (2015-2023) and stood for the Conservatives in Belmont ward in May. Anne Gayfer stood in Grantam St Wulfram’s in 2019 and in Grantham St Vincents in May (missing a seat by 25 votes). Jonathan Cook (Lab) stood in Grantham Barrowby in May (missing a seat by 15 votes).

Current Council: Con 53; Ind Grp 4; South Holland Ind 4; Lab 4; LD 3; Ind (non-aligned) 1; 1 vacancy



POWYS UA; Crickhowell with Cwmdu & Tretower (2 x Ind elected as LD resigned)
Candidates:
ALLAN, Zoe Claire (Labour)
GAMES, Sam (Independent)
HALL, Claire Catherine (Liberal Democrat)
HARRIS, Rosemarie (Conservative)
MARKINSON, David Dennis (Independent)
MASEFIELD, Chloe (Liberal Democrat)
THOMAS, David Lloyd (Consevative)

2022: LD 736, 725; Con 512, 459.

Sam Games (Ind) and David Thomas (Con) were the two Conservative candidates here last year. On old boundaries Games had contested Crickhowell as an Independent in 2017 and Thomas as a Conservative in 2008. Last year, Zoe Allan (Lab) stood in Llanidloes, Rosemaroes Harris (Con) stood as an independent in Llangattock & Llangynidr (she was councillor for the old Llangynidr ward as an independent 2012-22) and David Markinson (Ind) stood in Llandrinio.

Current Council: LD 19; Con 14; Lab 9; Ind 8; Ind for Powys 6; Nor Specified 5; PC 3; Grn 1; 3 vacancies



SOUTH HOLLAND DC; Spalding St Pauls (South Holland Ind resigned)
Candidates:
BROWNING, Vanessa (South Holland Ind)
FORMAN, Aidan James (Labour)
SCALESE, Glynis Pearl (Conservative)
TIMEWELL, Stephen Peter (True Independent)
WHEELER, Julian Ashley (Independent)

2023: SHI 458, 385; Con 269, 197
2019: Ind 398; Con 355, 312
2015: Con 889, 767; UKIP 865
2011: Con 542, 492; Ind 428; BNP 220
2007: Con 469, 386; Ind 325, 312

Glynis Scalese (Con) was councillor for the ward 2019-2023 and unsuccessful candidate in 2015 and this May. In May Aidan Forman (Lab) stood in Spalding Wygate and Stephen Timewell for the Conservatives in Spalding Monks House (where he was the incumbent since a 2022 by-election).

Current Council: Con 19; South Holland Ind 14; Ind 3; 1 vacancy



SOUTH KESTEVEN; Grantham St Wulfram’s (Con died)
Candidates:
BAILEY, Matt (Conservative)
COOK, Jonathan Michael (Labour)
GAYFER, Anne Elizabeth (Green)
OSBORN, James Antony (Liberal Democrat)
SWINBURN, Susan Elizabeth (Independent)
WARD, Dean Anthony William (Independent)

2023: Ind 588, 471; Con 523, 390; Lab 321
Nov 22by: Con 359; Ind 307; Lab 174; Grn 75
2019: Con 720, 628; Grn 280, 266; Lab 204, 198
2015: Con 1409, 1296; UKIP 685; Lab 639, 620

Elizabeth Swinburn was the unsuccessful Indy in May. . Dean Ward (Ind) was Conservative councillor for Grantham Arnoldfield (2015-2023) and stood for the Conservatives in Belmont ward in May. Anne Gayfer stood here in 2019 and in Grantham St Vincents in May (missing a seat by 25 votes). Jonathan Cook (Lab) stood in Grantham Barrowby in May (missing a seat by 15 votes).

Current Council: South Kesteven Coalition 26 (Con 23; SK Ind Grp 3 ); Dem Ind Grp 7; Grantham Ind 7; Ind 5; Grn 4; LD 4; Lab 2; 1 vacancy





I've not covered the Hackney Mayoral by-election as there is already a separate thread for that..

[skyep]

my brother actually lives in deptford ward. historically a labour voter, i always thought he was a little bit tory leaning compared to myself but i dont know if hes ever actually voted for them. i think he voted lib dems when labour were less popular after the iraq war etc, and i remember he supported ken livingston over frank dobson.

will have to ask him if hes been aware of much of a campaign for this by-election

[alderman]

Twitter feed of the Labour Candidate, a former Mayoress of Lewisham seems to suggest they are running an active campaign even if it is a slam dunk.

[Deleted]

Greens need a 15% swing to take a seat in Deptford, which seems like a tall order for them.

[YL]

Oct 16, 2023 10:36:20 GMT Tony Otim said:

SOUTH HOLLAND DC; Spalding St Pauls (South Holland Ind resigned)
Candidates:
BROWNING, Vanessa (South Holland Ind)
FORMAN, Aidan James (Labour)
SCALESE, Glynis Pearl (Conservative)
TIMEWELL, Stephen Peter (True Independent)
WHEELER, Julian Ashley (Independent)

2023: SHI 458, 385; Con 269, 197
2019: Ind 398; Con 355, 312
2015: Con 889, 767; UKIP 865
2011: Con 542, 492; Ind 428; BNP 220
2007: Con 469, 386; Ind 325, 312

Glynis Scalese (Con) was councillor for the ward 2019-2023 and unsuccessful candidate in 2015 and this May. In May Aidan Forman (Lab) stood in Spalding Wygate and Stephen Timewell for the Conservatives in Spalding Monks House (where he was the incumbent since a 2022 by-election).

Current Council: Con 19; South Holland Ind 14; Ind 3; 1 vacancy

"True Independent"? That doesn't seem to be a registered description of any party.

[iang]

Is there a story behind the South Holland election featuring an Independent, a "True Independent" and a "South Holland Independent" - some sort of split?

[carolus]

Nov 3, 2023 9:07:23 GMT iang said:

Is there a story behind the South Holland election featuring an Independent, a "True Independent" and a "South Holland Independent" - some sort of split?

The South Holland Independents are a major local party, that  have arisen as a result of no party other than Con having any sort of strength whatsoever - UKIP won two in 2015, and Lab won one seat in 2003.

The Independent listed by Tony Otim is actually a No Description, who seems to make a point of not being part of any party or grouping.

The True Independent, as flagged by YL appears to be an invalid description, but I imagine it's another "SHI are sellouts", or possibly "SHI are not local enough".

[Clark]

Once again and rather annoyingly for Psephologist's, Independents galore skewing the main party vote next week too.

[doktorb🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️]

I've emailed South Holland Council to ask about the potentially incorrect ballot paper description.


(Day off work so might as well do something.)

[greenman]

Am I correct in understanding that if the Conservatives lose Grantham St Wulfram's and an Independent not linked to the Conservative's wins that the Council could be run by a different coalition of parties. So it could come down to whether Swinburn is an Independent or a "Conservative Independent"?

[andrewp]

Nov 4, 2023 12:39:52 GMT greenman said:

Am I correct in understanding that if the Conservatives lose Grantham St Wulfram's and an Independent not linked to the Conservative's wins that the Council could be run by a different coalition of parties. So it could come down to whether Swinburn is an Independent or a "Conservative Independent"?

It could be, but then it looks like that is the case anyway as there are 27 ‘South Kesteven coalition’ councillors and 29 others before this vacancy.

[Sibboleth]

Crickhowell used to have a surprisingly strong Labour vote, but the general view is that the gentrification of that part of the Usk Valley means that is very much a 'long ago and far away' sort of thing.

[doktorb🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️]

Nov 3, 2023 10:36:59 GMT doktorb🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ said:

I've emailed South Holland Council to ask about the potentially incorrect ballot paper description.


(Day off work so might as well do something.)

Good afternoon

The information on the Statement of Persons nominated was taken from the candidate nomination forms.

Should any person wish to challenge the outcome of the election they can do so and guidance can be found on the Electoral Commission website.

Kind regards
Rhonda

Democratic Services Manager|Deputy Monitoring Officer (SHDC)|

[Davıd Boothroyd]

An implicit acknowledgment that the 'True Independent' is unlawful, but also a passive unwillingness to take any action.

In theory anyone could petition on the basis that the RO should have either refused Timewell's nomination for an unauthorised description, or altered it to be lawful. But in practice it's extremely unlikely any petition would succeed given the minor difference between 'True Independent' and 'Independent'.

[greenman]

As someone whose entire paternal family was placed on a Nazi death list I am having a very hard time understanding and accepting some of the comments being made on this website towards the 46 Muslim councilors who have resigned from the Labour party - 742 to 746 "General Councilors and other notable defections". As someone who works with Canadian First Nations and has worked with Chilean and El Salvadorean refugees I understand the anguish over what is happening in Gaza. Are there no standards for conversations on this website, as some comments I have seen are, in my opinion, outright racist towards the Muslim councillors who have resigned.

[greenchristian]

Nov 7, 2023 23:00:20 GMT greenman said:

As someone whose entire paternal family was placed on a Nazi death list I am having a very hard time understanding and accepting some of the comments being made on this website towards the 46 Muslim councilors who have resigned from the Labour party - 742 to 746 "General Councilors and other notable defections". As someone who works with Canadian First Nations and has worked with Chilean and El Salvadorean refugees I understand the anguish over what is happening in Gaza. Are there no standards for conversations on this website, as some comments I have seen are, in my opinion, outright racist towards the Muslim councillors who have resigned.

If you have a problem with these posts you should use the report button to alert the moderation team or call out the posters for their specific comments on the thread itself. Posting about it in an entirely different thread (and, in the process, dragging that thread wildly off-topic) isn't going to achieve anything.

[dundas]

Nov 7, 2023 23:00:20 GMT greenman said:

As someone whose entire paternal family was placed on a Nazi death list I am having a very hard time understanding and accepting some of the comments being made on this website towards the 46 Muslim councilors who have resigned from the Labour party - 742 to 746 "General Councilors and other notable defections". As someone who works with Canadian First Nations and has worked with Chilean and El Salvadorean refugees I understand the anguish over what is happening in Gaza. Are there no standards for conversations on this website, as some comments I have seen are, in my opinion, outright racist towards the Muslim councillors who have resigned.

I've noticed this too, there was even some uncharacteristically casual homophobia bemoaning that carnal knowledge had taken place between males in a Gazan mosque.

[greenchristian]

Nov 8, 2023 20:15:40 GMT dundas said:

Nov 7, 2023 23:00:20 GMT greenman said:

As someone whose entire paternal family was placed on a Nazi death list I am having a very hard time understanding and accepting some of the comments being made on this website towards the 46 Muslim councilors who have resigned from the Labour party - 742 to 746 "General Councilors and other notable defections". As someone who works with Canadian First Nations and has worked with Chilean and El Salvadorean refugees I understand the anguish over what is happening in Gaza. Are there no standards for conversations on this website, as some comments I have seen are, in my opinion, outright racist towards the Muslim councillors who have resigned.

I've noticed this too, there was even some uncharacteristically casual homophobia bemoaning that carnal knowledge had taken place between males in a Gazan mosque.

So, as i already said before, use the report button (it's there for a reason). Or reply to the posts and point out that people are being homophobic.

If you're going to moan about that in the thread for this week's council by-elections you could at least have the decency to find a tenuous link between your "complaint" and one of this week's contests, or find a way to make your post entertaining for anyone who reads this thread but not that one. As it is, you're giving the impression that you're happy to moan about what people are posting in an entirely different discussion and don't really object to posts that you consider to be homophobic.

[stb12]

Yes, this thread really isn’t place and as mentioned already the report function is there

[iainbhx]

Nov 6, 2023 20:41:07 GMT Sibboleth said:

Crickhowell used to have a surprisingly strong Labour vote, but the general view is that the gentrification of that part of the Usk Valley means that is very much a 'long ago and far away' sort of thing.

45% Graduate. No, I didn't believe it until I looked it up.