Local council by-elections 8th February 2024

[Tony Otim]

BLAENAU GWENT UA; Ebbw Vale South (Lab elected as Ind resigned*)
Candidates:
MILLARD, Jonathan David (Independent)
POWELL, Jonathan (Green)
SMITH, Amy (Labour)

2022: Ind 385, 320, 260; Lab 354, 296; Con 97

Jonathan Millard was the indy who got 320 last time out and was Independent councillor for the ward on previous boundaries from 2017-22.

* The circumstances are rather unusual in that his employer was taken over by the local authority (at the request of the Welsh Government) thus making him ineligible to be a councillor.

Current Council: Lab 21; Ind 11; 1 vacancy



CHESHIRE EAST UA; Crewe Central (Lab resigned)
Candidates:
BROWNE, Te Ata (Green)
JAMSON, Kim (Labour)
MORRIS, Roger James (Conservative)
PULMAN, Vicky (Women’s Equality Party)
SILVESTER, Brian George (Putting Crewe First)

2023: Lab 448; Con 192; Crewe 1st 126; RefUK 53
2019: Lab 450; Con 139; LD 94; Ind 55
2015: Lab 879; UKIP 373; Con 213
2011: Lab 525; LD 226; Con 119

The Lib Dem candidate from 2011 and 2019 has rather a familiar name... None of the candidates have contested this ward previously – last May Te Ata Browne (Grn) stood in Haslington, Kim Jamson (Lab) in Wistaston (narrowly missing out on a seat) and Brian Silvester (whose history will be well known to forum regulars) in Crewe North.

Current Council: Con 33; Lab 30; Ind 14; LD 2; Non-grouped 2; 1 vacancy



GWYNEDD UA; Criccieth (Ind died)
Candidates:
ALLPORT, John (Independent)
GENTRY, Bernard (Conservative)
JOYCE, Andrew Richard (Liberal Democrat)
WILLIAMS, Sian (Plaid Cymru)

2022: Ind 263; PC 231; Lab 62

In 2022 Bernard Gentry (Con) stood in Arllechwedd and Andrew Joyce (LD) in Y Faenol.

Current Council: PC 44; Ind 22; Lib/Lab 2 (1 each); 1 vacancy



WEST NORTHAMPTONSHIRE UA; East Hunsbury & Shelfleys (Con resigned)
Candidates:
ROBERTSON-MARRIOTT, Clare (Labour)
SOAN, Daniel (Conservative)
SQUIRES, Carl Neville Mark (Liberal Democrat)

2021: Con 1923, 1878, 1715; Lab 911; LD 848, 792

All 3 candidates contested other wards last time out – Moulton (Lab), Delapre & Rushmere (Con) and Sixfields (LD).

Current Council: Con 63; Lab 20; LD 5; Ind 3; Ind (non-aligned) 1; 1 vacancy

[East Anglian Lefty]

Jan 15, 2024 10:09:14 GMT Tony Otim said:

BLAENAU GWENT UA; Ebbw Vale South (Lab elected as Ind resigned*)
Candidates:
MILLARD, Jonathan David (Independent)
POWELL, Jonathan (Green)
SMITH, Amy (Labour)

2022: Ind 385, 320, 260; Lab 354, 296; Con 97

Jonathan Millard was the indy who got 320 last time out and was Independent councillor for the ward on previous boundaries from 2017-22.

* The circumstances are rather unusual in that his employer was taken over by the local authority (at the request of the Welsh Government) thus making him ineligible to be a councillor.

Current Council: Lab 21; Ind 11; 1 vacancy

Does that make you ineligible straight away, or is it something that would prevent him from standing again in future?

[batman]

Bernard Gentry presumably being the former Conservative parliamentary candidate of that name. Ask the local gentry, and they will say it's elementary.

[Davıd Boothroyd]

Jan 15, 2024 10:28:45 GMT batman said:

Bernard Gentry presumably being the former Conservative parliamentary candidate of that name. Ask the local gentry, and they will say it's elementary.

Indeed - ex Lambeth Conservative councillor (Clapham Town ward 1994-1998, 2002-2006; Clapham Common ward 2014-2018).

[Tony Otim]

Jan 15, 2024 10:23:16 GMT East Anglian Lefty said:

Jan 15, 2024 10:09:14 GMT Tony Otim said:

BLAENAU GWENT UA; Ebbw Vale South (Lab elected as Ind resigned*)
Candidates:
MILLARD, Jonathan David (Independent)
POWELL, Jonathan (Green)
SMITH, Amy (Labour)

2022: Ind 385, 320, 260; Lab 354, 296; Con 97

Jonathan Millard was the indy who got 320 last time out and was Independent councillor for the ward on previous boundaries from 2017-22.

* The circumstances are rather unusual in that his employer was taken over by the local authority (at the request of the Welsh Government) thus making him ineligible to be a councillor.

Current Council: Lab 21; Ind 11; 1 vacancy

Does that make you ineligible straight away, or is it something that would prevent him from standing again in future?

David can probably clarify, but the way that it was reported certainly indicated that it made him ineligible straight away - I guess there's the same conflict of interest in being his own employer, etc...

[Davıd Boothroyd]

Jan 15, 2024 11:12:11 GMT Tony Otim said:

Jan 15, 2024 10:23:16 GMT East Anglian Lefty said:

Does that make you ineligible straight away, or is it something that would prevent him from standing again in future?

David can probably clarify, but the way that it was reported certainly indicated that it made him ineligible straight away - I guess there's the same conflict of interest in being his own employer, etc...

Yep. The legislation is clear: in s. 80 of the Local Government Act 1972 it is stated that holding any paid employment which is made or confirmed by the local authority is a disqualification from "being a member" not merely from being elected.

[phil156]

They all count on Thursday night except Blaenau Gwent which is Friday morning

[Chris from Brum]

Rise and shine, Andrew's Previews are here.

medium.com/britainelects/previewing-the-four-local-by-elections-of-8th-february-2024-378a37dede87

[iainbhx]

Turnout in Crewe Central is 16.46%. Considering the weather has been filthy today, better than I expected.

[Davıd Boothroyd]

GWYNEDD Criccieth

WILLIAMS, Sian (Plaid Cymru) 381
ALLPORT, John (Independent) 129
JOYCE, Andrew Richard (Liberal Democrat) 11
GENTRY, Bernard (Conservative) 9

Spoilt paper 1

[rhyfelwyr]

Feb 8, 2024 22:58:46 GMT Davıd Boothroyd said:

GWYNEDD Criccieth

WILLIAMS, Sian (Plaid Cymru) 381
ALLPORT, John (Independent) 129
JOYCE, Andrew Richard (Liberal Democrat) 11
GENTRY, Bernard (Conservative) 9

Spoilt paper 1

Mr Gentry and Mr Joyce getting in just ahead of the spoiled papers there.

[manchesterman]

Feb 8, 2024 22:58:46 GMT Davıd Boothroyd said:

GWYNEDD Criccieth

WILLIAMS, Sian (Plaid Cymru) 381
ALLPORT, John (Independent) 129
JOYCE, Andrew Richard (Liberal Democrat) 11
GENTRY, Bernard (Conservative) 9

Spoilt paper 1

PC 71.9%

IND 24.3%

LD 2.1%

Con 1.7%

[iainbhx]

CHESHIRE EAST UA, Crewe Central

Con 335
Lab 277
CF 128
WEP 22
Green 12

CON GAIN FROM LAB.

[manchesterman]

Feb 8, 2024 23:17:53 GMT iainbhx said:

CHESHIRE EAST UA, Crewe Central

Con 335
Lab 277
CF 128
WEP 22
Green 12

CON GAIN FROM LAB.

Con 43.3%

Lab 35.8%

PCF 16.5%

WEP 2.8%

Grn 1.6%

[mattbewilson]

Feb 8, 2024 23:17:53 GMT iainbhx said:

CHESHIRE EAST UA, Crewe Central

Con 335
Lab 277
CF 128
WEP 22
Green 12

CON GAIN FROM LAB.

quite incredible result. Despite a low turnout the Tories have actually doubled the total number of votes they got last may

[iainbhx]

Feb 8, 2024 23:25:21 GMT mattbewilson said:

Feb 8, 2024 23:17:53 GMT iainbhx said:

CHESHIRE EAST UA, Crewe Central

Con 335
Lab 277
CF 128
WEP 22
Green 12

CON GAIN FROM LAB.

quite incredible result. Despite a low turnout the Tories have actually doubled the total number of votes they got last may

I understand the Tory campaign has been very localist and not mentioned the C-word.

[aidypiez]

Lib dem gain in Northants

[timmullen]

Video of the Crewe declaration if anyone’s keen (health warning, it keeps freezing for me, but I’m not sure if it’s the actual video or the inclement weather that’s crashing my broadband regularly tonight).
x.com/journoontheedge/status/1755735983796944982?s=46&t=-bfLpLLaXY45nLW4GphmUQ

[carolus]

[manchesterman]

3 results - 3 gains.  All losses by 3 different parties. All gains by 3 different parties.

That can't happen all that often!