Local Council By-elections during 2013

[middleenglander]

There have been 170 by-elections to date during 2013, 52 in the period January to April and 118 on 2nd May. This thread aims to maintain a summary of the results and record gains and losses through to the end of the year. The details for January to April can be found on "2013 by-election results ahead of the May election" thread.

The May 2nd results saw 118 contests with 28 seats (24%) changing hands.

Party	Candidates	Defended	Retained	Gained	Lost	Won
Conservative	116	64	48	7	16	55
Labour	97	29	27	6	2	33
Lib Dems	77	20	11	3	9	14
UKIP	62			6		6
Greens	34	3	2		1	2
Independents	24	1	1	5		6
SNP	2
Plaid Cymru	2
Borders Party	1	1	1			1
Liberal	1			1		1
BNP	1
English Democrats	3
National Front	1
TUSAC	2
Others	3
Total	426	118	90	28	28	118

Conservatives gained 2 seats from Labour whilst losing 3 to them:
* gained Wellingborough BC, Earls Barton - 3 member "split" ward in 2003, 2007 & 2011 - on ~12% swing to Con since 2011
* gained Wycombe BC, Disraeli - 2 Con in 2007, 2 Lab 2003 & 2011 - on 7½% swing to Con since 2011
* lost Scarbough BC, Streonshalh - LD & Ind in 2003 & 2007 but 2 Con in 2011
* lost Stroud BC, Cam East - Con ward in last 4 elections - on 6% swing to Lab since 2011
* lost Tamworth BC, Wilnecote - Lab in 2012 but Con earlier - on 7% swing to Con since 2012

Conservatives gained 5 seats from Lib Dems whilst losing 3 to them:
* gained Cheltenham BC, Warden Hill - Con 2006, 2008, 2012 but LD 2010 - 2012 voting figures questionable
* gained Malvern Hills DC, Chase - 3 LD 2003, 3 Con 2007, 2 Con & 1 LD 2011 - small swing to Con since 2011
* gained South Cambridgeshire DC, Balsham - Con 2006, 2007, 2011 plus 2009 by, LD 2010 - on 13% swing to LD since 2011
* gained Spelthorne BC, Sunbury East - 3 Con 2003, 3 LD 2007, 2 Con & 1 LD 2011 - on small swing to LD since 2011
* gained Vale of White Horse DC, Greendown - LD in 2003, 2007 & 2011 - on 13% swing since 2011 
* lost South Cambridgeshire DC, Orwell & Barrington - Ind 2003, Con 2007 & 2011 - on 19% swing to LD since 2011
* lost South Ribble BC, Howick & Priory - 2 LD 2003, 2 Con 2007 & 2011 - on 11% swing to LD since 2011
* lost Vale of White Horse DC, Abingdon Peachcroft - 2 LD 2003 & 2005, 1 Con & 1 LD 2011 - on 6.8% swing to LD since 2011

Labour gained 2 seats from Lib Dems and 1 from Green but sitting as Labour:
* Ipswich BC, Alexandra - LD 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, Lab 2011, 2012 - on 2% swing to Lab since 2012 with UKIP second
* Mendip DC, Shepton West - 2 Con 2003 & 2007, 1 Con 1 LD 2011 - on 6% swing from LD since 2011 with Con second
and from Green
* Cambridge BC, Abbey - Lab 2006, 2007 & 2011, 2012, Green 2008 & 2010 - on small swing to Lab since 2012

UKIP gained 5 seats from Conservatives as well as 1 from the Lib Dems where there was a straight UKIP / Conservative contest:
* Adur DC, Southlands - Con in last 4 elections - on 19% swing since 2012 when Lab lost by 8 votes
* Basildon BC, Wickford Castledon - Con in last 4 elections - 2.7% UKIPmajority from nowhere when Con polled 60% in 2011
* Boston BC, Staniland South - 2 Lab unopposed 2003, 2 BBI 2007, 2 Con 2011 - where UKIP had 20% majority over Labour
* Epping Forest DC, Waltham Abbey Honey Lane - Con seat in last 6 elections - 2% UKIP majority from nowhere in UKIP / Con contest 
* Forest of Dean DC, Bromsberrow & Dymock - Ind 2003, Con 2007 & 2011 - 9% UKIP majority from nowhere in UKIP / Con contest
and UKIP gained from Lib Dem
* East Lindsey DC, Coningsby & Tattersall - 2 Con unopposed 2003, Con & LD 2007 & 2011 - 10% UKIP majority from nowhere in UKIP / Con contest.

Independents gained 4 seats from Conservatives and 1 from Lib Dems.
* East Devon DC, Feniton & Buckerall - Con 2003, 2007 & 2011 - 75% majority from nowhere in Ind / Con contest
* East Herts DC, Hertford Castle - 3 Con 2003, 2007, 2011 - 11% majority on 13% swing since 2011 in Ind / Con contest
* Runnymede BC, Chertsey South & Row Town - Con in last 6 contests but 2012 after tie - 3.2% majority in 4 way contest
* Scarborough BC, Esk Valley - 2 Con 2003 (unopposed), 2007 & 2011 - 50% majority after Con withdraws 
and from Lib Dem
* Uttlesford DC, Newport - 2 LD 2003 & 2007, 1 Con 1 LD 2011 - 4% majority over Con in 4 way contest

Liberal (not Democrat) gained 1 seat from Conservative:
* Ryedale DC, Pickering East - Ind / LD 2003, LD / Lib 2007, Con / Lib 2011 - 4% majority on 3½% swing to Lib since 2011.

[middleenglander]

There have been 170 seats contested so far in 2013 up to 2nd May, with 43 (25%) changing hands.

Party	Candidates	Defended	Retained	Gained	Lost	Won
Conservative	167	80	55	8	25	63
Labour	145	54	50	10	4	60
Lib Dems	119	26	16	8	10	24
UKIP	91			9		9
Greens	54	3	2		1	2
Independents *	43	4	3	7	1	10
SNP	5	2			2
Plaid Cymru	3
Resident Groups **	10	1	1			1
Liberal	1			1		1
BNP	8
English Democrats	6
National Front	2
TUSAC	9
Others	8
Total	670	170	127	43	43	170

* 43 Independent candidates contested 38 seats
** candidates from 10 Resident Groups, including The Border Party, contested 9 seats

Conservatives gained 3 seats from Labour and 5 from Lib Dems
- losing 5 to Labour, 6 to Lib Dems, 8 to UKIP, 5 to Independents and 1 to a Liberal
Labour gained 5 seats from Conservatives, 3 from Lib Dems, 1 from SNP and 1 from Green
- losing 3 to Conservative and 1 to Lib Dems
Lib Dems gained 6 seats from Conservatives, 1 from Labour and 1 from an Independent
- losing 5 seats to Conservatives, 3 to Labour, 1 to UKIP and 1 to an Independent
UKIP gained 8 seats from Conservatives and 1 from Lib Dems
Greens lost 1 seat to Labour
Independents gained 5 seats from Conservatives, 1 from Lib Dems and 1 from SNP
- losing 1 seat to a Lib Dem
SNP lost 1 seat to Labour and 1 to an Independent
Liberal gained 1 seat from Conservatives

[middleenglander]

There were 8 by-elections in the later weeks of May with 4 (50%) changing hands. There was also a deferred County Council election in Somerset, Coker which the Conservatives gained from Lib Dems although this is not included within the statistics.

Party	Candidates	Defended	Retained	Gained	Lost	Won
Conservatives	7	3	1		2	1
Labour	8	4	3	1	1	4
Lib Dems	6
UKIP	4			2		2
Residents Association	1			1		1
BNP	2
Greens	2	1			1
TUSAC	2
Independents	3
Total	35	8	4	4	4	8

Conservatives lost 2 seats, 1 to Labour and 1 to UKIP
* Labour gained Weymouth & Portland, Melcombe Regis on a swing of around 8% since 2012 and 2011
   - seat was Lib Dems for many years and late councillor elected in 2012 had previously been Lib Dem
* UKIP gained Thanet, Cliftonville East at first attempt following jailing of previous councillor

* Labour lost Rotherham, Rawmarsh to UKIP who had not contested the 2012 elections
    - although UKIP had polled 32% in 2008 followed by 13% / 14% in 2010 and 2011

* Whitwell Residents Association gained Bolsover, Whitwell from Greens who did not defend the seat
   - Residents won the second seat in 2011 and both seats in 2007 as well as 2003

[middleenglander]

There were 18 by-elections during June with 8 (44%) changing hands.

Party	Candidates	Defended	Retained	Gained	Lost	Won	Retention rate
Conservatives	18	8	3		5	3	37%
Labour	16	6	6	6		12	100%
Lib Dems	11	1			1		0%
SNP	2	1			1		0%
UKIP	15	1		1	1	1	0%
BNP	3
Green	8
National Front	1
TUSAC	4
Health Concern	1			1		1
Independents **	10	1	1			1	100%
Militant Elvis	1
Newcastle 1st	1
Pirate	1
Total	92	18	10	8	8	18	56%

** There were 10 Independents contesting 6 seats.

Conservatives lost 5 seats, all to Labour:
*  Dartford, Newtown on a swing of 9½% (top), 11½% (average) since 2011 - UKIP polled 23%
    - 3 Labour elected in 2003, 2 Conservative with 1 Labour in 2007 and 3 Conservatives in 2011
*  Kirklees, Liversidge & Gomersal on a 7½% swing since 2012, when late councillor elected, and 4½% since 2011 - no UKIP
    - first time Labour has won the ward since it was created in 2004
*  Nottingham, Wollaton West on a 14% swing since 2011 in only ward where Conservatives won all 3 seats in 2011 - UKIP 12%
    - swing was 12% in neighbouring Wollaton East & Lenton Abbey by-election during April 2013
*  Plymouth, Southway with Conservatives falling to 3rd on a 10% swing since 2011 - UKIP 26%, a 6½% swing from Labour since 2012
    - Conservatives narrowly gained the seat from Labour in 2010 but Labour won in both 2011 and 2012
*  South Tyneside, Cleadon & East Bolden on a swing of 5½% since 2012 but 2½% swing to Conservatives since 2011 - UKIP 26%
    - late councillor was sitting as UKIP but won as Conservative in 2010, Labour won 2011, Conservative 2012.

Labour also gained Edinburgh, Liberton & Gilmerton from SNP on a very small first preference vote swing to SNP since 2012 - UKIP 3%
- also no swing since 2007 although there was a 7½% swing Labour to SNP since September 2010 by-election

UKIP gained Kings Lynn & West Norfolk, Watlington from Lib Dems who did not contest the seat - UKIP poll 45%
- Conservatives won in 2003, Lib Dem in 2007 and again in 2011 when Conservatives did not contest the seat.

Health Concern regained the Worcestershire, Stourport-on-Severn seat lost to UKIP in May on a 2½% swing since then
- 2005 saw 1 Health Concern 1 Conservative elected, 2009 2 Health Concern and 2013 originally 1 Health Concern 1 UKIP

[middleenglander]

There were 18 by-elections in July with 8 (44%) changing hands.

Party	Candidates	Defended	Retained	Gained	Lost	Won	Retention rate
Conservatives	18	7	3	2	4	5	43%
Labour	16	6	6	1		7	100%
Lib Dems	10	2		2	2	2	0%
Plaid Cymru	1
UKIP	11
Greens	4	1			1		0%
Independents *	8	2	1	3	1	4	50%
National Front	1
SPGB	1
TUSAC	3
No Description	1
Total	74	18	10	8	8	18	56%

* 8 candidates contesting 7 seats

Conservatives gained 2 seats, 1 from Lib Dems and 1 from an Independent, whilst losing 4 seats, 2 to Lib Dems and 2 to Independents
- gained Kingston-upon-Thames, Beverley from Lib Dems on ~9% swing since 2010 following resignation in disgrace of former Council Leader
- gained third seat in South Cambridgeshire, Sawston from an Independent in ward where Conservatives easily won in other years
- lost Broadlands, Aylesham to a Lib Dem on a ~10% swing in a "split" ward where 2 Conservatives and 1 Lib Dem were elected in both 2011 and 2007
- lost Vale of White Horse, Fitzharris to a Lib Dem on a ~4% swing in a "split" ward in 2011 where Lib Dems won both seats in 2007
- lost Conwy, Caerhun on a ~10% swing to a long serving Independent who regained the seat lost narrowly in 2012
- lost North Somerset, Weston-super-Mare to an Independent who had previously been a well known Conservative
Labour gained Brighton & Hove, Hanover & Elm Grove from Greens on a ~11% swing since 2011 in a traditional Green ward
Independent gained Forest Heath, Exning from a Lib Dem, who did not contest the seat, in a straight fight with a former Conservative ward councillor

There have now been 44 by-elections since the main May elections with 20 (45%) changing hands:
- Conservatives have gained 2 seats but lost 11, 6 to Labour, 2 each to Lib Dems and Independents and 1 to UKIP
- Labour have gained 8 seats, 6 from Conservatives, 1 Green and 1 SNP, whilst losing a seat to UKIP
- Lib Dems have gained 2 seats from Conservatives whilst losing 1 each to Conservatives, UKIP and Independent
- Greens lost both seats defended, 1 to Labour and 1 to a Residents Association
- UKIP gained 3 seats, 1 each from Conservative, Labour and Lib Dems, whilst losing a seat to Health Concern
- SNP lost 1 seat to Labour
- Health Concern gained 1 seat from UKIP
- Whitwell Residents Association gained 1 seat from a Green, who did not defend the seat
- Independents gained 3 seats, 2 from Conservatives and 1 from Lib Dem, who did not contest the seat, whilst losing 1 to a Conservative

A fuller analysis to be undertaken at the end of August. 
 

[middleenglander]

There were 18 by-elections during August with 6 (33%) changing hands.

Party	Candidates	Defended	Retained	Gained	Lost	Won	Retention rate
Conservatives	18	7	4	2	3	6	57%
Labour	17	6	6	3		9	100%
Lib Dems	12	1	1	1		2	100%
UKIP	14	2			2		0%
Plaid Cymru	1	1	1			1	100%
Greens	5
TUSAC	3
Eng Dems	2
Kidderminster Health	1
Putting Hartlepool 1st	1
United People	1
Independents	6	1			1
No Description	1
Total	82	18	12	6	6	18	67%

Conservatives gained 2 seats, 1 each from Independents and UKIP, whilst losing 3 seats, 2 to Labour and 1 to Lib Dems
- gained Scarborough, Newby from an Independent in a "split" ward on a swing of 13% since 2011 when 2 Independents 1 Conservative elected
- regained Worcestershire, St Mary's from UKIP on a swing of nearly 3% since May 2013 having gained the seat from Labour in 2009
- lost Lincoln, Bracebridge to Labour on a swing of 3% since 2012 and 7½% since 2011
  - Labour now have 2 of the 3 seats having previously gained 1 in 2012
- lost Scarborough, Ramshill to Labour in "split" ward on a swing of 6% since 2011 when 1 Conservative & 1 Independent elected
   - 2007 saw 1 Conservative & 1 Lib Dem elected whilst in 2003 it was 1 Conservative & 1 Labour
- lost Ribble Valley, Littlemoor to Lib Dems in a "split" ward on a swing of 15% since 2011
   - 1 Lib Dem & 1 Conservative elected in 2011 but 2 Lib Dems in both 2007 and 2003

Labour also gained Norfolk, Thetford West from UKIP on as swing of 3½% since May 2013
- UKIP had gained the seat from Lib Dems with a majority of 1 over Labour in May but who won in 2005 with  48% share

[middleenglander]

There have been 62 by-elections since the main May elections with 26 (42%) changing hands.

Party	Candidates	Defended	Retained	Gained	Lost	Won	Retention rate
Conservative	61	25	11	4	14	15	44%
Labour	57	22	21	11	1	32	95%
Lib Dems	39	4	1	3	3	4	25%
UKIP	44	3		3	3	3	0%
SNP	2	1			1		0%
Plaid Cymru	2	1	1			1	100%
Green	19	2			2		0%
Kidderminster Health	2			1		1
Resident Association	1			1		1
Independents *	27	4	2	3	2	5	50%
BNP	5
Eng Dems	2
National Front	2
SPGB	1
TUSAC	12
Militant Elvis	1
Newcastle 1st	1
Pirate	1
Putting Hartlepool 1st	1
United People	1
No Description	2
Total	283	62	36	26	26	62	58%

* 27 Independent candidates contesting 22 seats

Conservatives gained 2 seats from Independents and 1 each from Lib Dems and UKIP
- whilst losing 8 to Labour, 3 to Lib Dems, 2 to Independents and 1 to UKIP
Labour gained 8 seats from Conservatives and 1 each from Green, SNP and UKIP
- whilst losing 1 seat to UKIP
Lib Dems gained 3 seats from Conservatives 
- whilst losing 1 each to Conservatives, UKIP and Independent 
UKIP gained 1 seat each from Conservatives, Labour and Lib Dem (who did not contest the seat)
- whilst losing 1 each to Conservatives, Labour and Kidderminster Health Concern
Independents gained 2 seats from Conservatives and 1 from Lib Dems (who did not contest the seat)
- whilst losing 2 to Conservatives
SNP lost 1 seat to Labour
Greens lost 1 seat each to Labour and Residents Association
Kidderminster Health Concern gained 1 seat from UKIP
Whitwell Residents Association gained 1 seat from Green (who did not contest the seat)

The Conservative retention rate of 44% compares to 75% on May 2nd and again 44% during January to April 2013.

[middleenglander]

There have been 232 by-elections so far during 2013 with 69 (30%) changing hands.

Party	Candidates	Defended	Retained	Gained	Lost	Won	Retention rate
Conservatives	228	105	66	12	39	78	63%
Labour	202	76	71	21	5	92	93%
Lib Dems	158	30	17	11	13	28	57%
UKIP	135	3		12	3	12	0%
SNP	7	3			3		0%
Plaid Cymru	5	1	1			1	100%
Green	73	5	2		3	2	40%
Resident Groups *	12	1	1	1		2	100%
Kidderminster Health	2			1		1
Liberal	1			1		1
Independents  **	70	8	5	10	3	15	50%
BNP	13
English Democrats	8
National Front	4
Socialist Party (GB)	3
TUSAC	21
Others	11
Total	953	232	163	69	69	232	70%

* 12 Resident candidates contested 11 seats
** 70 Independent candidates contested 60 seats.

Conservatives had candidates in 98% of the contests, Labour in 87%, Lib Dems 68% with UKIP standing in 58%.

Conservatives gained 3 seats from Labour, 6 from Lib Dems, 2 from Independents and 1 UKIP
- whilst losing 13 to Labour, 9 each to Lib Dems and UKIP, 7 to Independents and 1 Liberal
Labour gained 13 seats from Conservatives, 3 from Lib Dems, 2 each from Green and SNP and 1 from UKIP
- whilst losing 3 to Conservatives, 1 Lib Dem and 1 UKIP
Lib Dems gained 1 seat from Labour, 9 from Conservatives and 1 Independent
- whilst losing 6 to Conservatives, 3 to Labour and 2 each to UKIP and Independents
UKIP gained 9 seats from Conservatives, 1 from Labour and 2 Lib Dems
- whilst losing 1 seat each to Conservatives, Labour and Kidderminster Health Concern
Independents gained 7 seats each from Conservatives, 2 from Lib Dems and 1 from SNP
- whilst losing 2 seats to Conservatives and 1 to Lib Dems
SNP lost 2 seats to Labour and 1 to Independents
Greens lost 2 seats to Labour and 1 to Whitwell Residents Association
Kidderminster Health Concern gained 1 seat from UKIP
Liberal gained 1 seat from Conservatives
Whitwell Residents Association gained 1 seat from Greens

[middleenglander]

There have been 30 local council by-elections during September with 9 (30%) changing hands.

Party	Candidates	Defended	Retained	Gained	Lost	Won	Retention rate
Conservative	30	13	11	2	2	13	85%
Labour	25	10	9	1	1	10	90%
Liberal Democrats	19	4	1	1	3	2	25%
UKIP	28			3		3
Green	9			1		1
Independents *	9	2		1	2	1	0%
BNP	1
English Democrats	1	1			1		0%
National Front	1
Tendring 1st	1
Total	124	30	21	9	9	30	30%

* 9 Independents contested 7 seats

The Conservatives gained a seat from the Lib Dems and another from an Independent whist losing one seat to UKIP and another to an Independent
- gained their third seat in Woking, Maybury & Shearwater from a Lib Dem who was disqualified for electoral malpractice on a double digit swing
- gained the single member East Lindsey, Frithville ward in a straight fight with UKIP from an Independent who did not contest the election
- lost Canterbury, Seasalter - a normally safe 3 member ward - to UKIP on a 5½% swing since an earlier by-election in May 2013
- lost Central Bedfordshire, Dunstable Northfields to an Independent, a former Labour colleague of an Independent who came top of the 2 member ward in 2011

Labour gained a seat from the Lib Dems whilst losing one to UKIP
- narrowly gained Oxford North won by the Lib Dems in 2008 and 2010 but Labour in 2012 on a 3½% swing from Labour to Lib Dems since 2012
- lost Sevenoaks, Crockenhill & West Hill to UKIP, gained in 2012 by-election by widow of former councillor, an unopposed Independent in 2011 but previously Lib Dem 

Lib Dems gained a seat from an Independent in Cornwall but lost the Woking seat to a Conservative, the Oxford one to Labour and one in Torridge to a Green
- gained Cornwall, Wadebridge East by 9 votes from an Independent having lost by 4 votes to the resigning Independent in May 2013
- lost Torridge, Torrington to a Green whilst not defending the seat in a ward that elected Conservative, Independent and Lib Dem in both 2011 and 2007

UKIP gained the Canterbury seat from Conservatives, the one in Sevenoaks from Labour and a seat in Boston from English Democrats who did not contest the election
 - gained Boston, Fenside a 2 member ward won by Eng Dems in 2011, 1 winning as BNP in 2008 by-election, Boston Bypass Independents in 2007 and Labour in 2003

Greens won the seat in Torridge, Torrington whilst English Democrats did not defend their seat in Boston, Fenside.


 

[middleenglander]

There have been 29 by-elections during October with 5 (17%) changing hands.

Party	Candidates	Seats defended	Seats retained	Seats gained	Seats lost	Seats won	Retention rate
Conservative	29	11	9		2	9	82%
Labour	27	10	10	4		14	100%
Lib Dems	21	5	5	1		6	100%
UKIP	25
Green	12
SNP	4	2			2		0%
Plaid Cymru	2
Independent *	11	1			1		0%
Border	1
BNP	3
English Democrats	1
TUSAC	1
Other (12)	12
Total	149	29	24	5	5	29	83%

* 11 candidates contesting 9 seats

Labour gained 1 seat each from Conservatives and an Independent and 2 seats from SNP,
*  Charnwood, Shepshed West from Conservatives on a 6% / 7% swing from both 2011 and 2007
   - Labour won both seats in 2003, Conservatives gained both in 2007 with a majority of 51 over top Labour and retained both in 2011 with a similar majority of 26
*  East Lindsey, Chapel St Leonards from an Independent on one third of the vote having not contested seat in 2011 and 2007, polling 20% in 2003
*  Glasgow, Govan on a ~7% swing SNP to Labour since 2012 but ~3½% swing Labour to SNP since 2007
*  South Lanarkshire, Hamilton South on little change to shares since 2012 and ~2½% swing Labour to SNP since 2007

Lib Dems gained Carlisle, Dalton from Conservatives with a majority of 30 (2.3%)
- Lib Dems won the seat in 2012 with majority of 28%, 2008 by 10% , 2006 with a 1% majority and 2004 by a majority of 1 vote
- Conservatives won the seat in 2011 with majority of 27%, 2010 by 13%, 2007 by 22%, 2003 by 7% and 2002 by 14%, the resigning councillor elected in 2007 & 2011

[middleenglander]

There have been 25 by-elections during November with 8 (32%) changing hands.

Party	Candidates	Defended	Retained	Gained	Lost	Won	Retention rate
Conservatives	24	7	6	1	1	7	86%
Labour	21	12	10	3	2	13	83%
Lib Dems	21	2		1	2	1	0%
SNP	1	1			1
UKIP	21
Green	12
Independents *	14	2		1	2	1	0%
Resident Groups  **	5	1	1	2		3	100%
BNP	2
TUSAC	5
Socialist (GB)	1
Elvis	1
Total	128	25	17	8	8	25	68%

* 14 Independent candidates contested 10 seats
** 2 x Its Our County (Herefordshire), City Independent (Stoke-on-Trent), Wear Valley Independent (Durham) and Harrow 1st

Conservatives gained a seat from the Lib Dems but lost one to Its Our County
* gained South Cambridgeshire, Comberton, a single member ward, from the resigning Lib Dem on a swing of 31% since 2011
* lost Herefordshire, Pontrilas, a single member ward, to Its Our County on a swing of 23% since 2011

Labour gained 2 seats from Independents and 1 from Lib Dems whilst losing 1 to Lib Dems and 1 to a Resident Group
* gained Allerdale, Seaton and Cumbria, Seaton following the death of an Independent who served on both Authorities
  - UKIP were second in both contests, 3.7% behind in Allerdale and 10.8% in Cumbria
* gained Scarborough, Eastfield where the Lib Dem candidate withdrew for personal reasons after nominations closed
* lost Kirklees, Golcar to a Lib Dem, who was defeated in 2012 when due to become Mayor
  - swing Labour to Lib Dems was 11% since both 2012 and 2011 when Labour gained the seats whilst Lib Dem retained seat in 2010
* lost Stoke-on-Trent, Baddeley, Milton & Norton to City Independents with Conservatives coming second pushing Labour to third
   - 3 member split ward in 2011 with Conservative topping poll and Labour 2nd and 3rd and Community Voice narrowly 4th

Independents gained Highland, Landward Caithness from SNP who was the last of 4 councillors elected in 2012 
- SNP share of 21% was little changed from a May 2013 by-election but up some 5% on 2012

[middleenglander]

There have been 316 principal local council by-elections in the 11 months to the end of November with 91 (29%) changing hands.

Party	Candidates	Defended	Retained	Gained	Lost	Won	Retention Rate
Conservative	311	136	92	15	44	107	68%
Labour	275	108	100	29	8	129	93%
Lib Dems	219	41	23	14	18	37	56%
UKIP	209	3		15	3	15	0%
SNP	12	6			6		0%
Plaid Cymru	7	1	1			1	100%
Green	106	5	2	1	3	3	40%
Kidderminster Health	2			1		1
Liberal	1			1		1
Resident Groups *	20	2	2	3		5	100%
Independent **	104	13	5	12	8	17	38%
BNP	19
English Democrat	10	1			1		0%
National Front	5
Socialist (GB)	4
TUSAC	27
Other	23
Total	1,354	316	225	91	91	316	71%

*   Resident Groups had 20 candidates contesting 19 seats
** There were 104 Independents contesting 86 seats 

Conservatives had official candidates in in 98.4% of the by-elections, Labour in 87%, Lib Dems in 69% whilst UKIP contested 66%.

Conservatives gained 3 seats from Labour, 8 from Lib Dems, 3 from Independents and 1 from UKIP
- whilst losing 14 seats to Labour, 10 to Lib Dems, 8 to Independents, 10 to UKIP and 1 each to a Liberal and a Resident Group

Labour gained 14 seats from Conservatives, 5 from Lib Dems, 3 from Independents, 4 from SNP, 2 from Greens and 1 from UKIP
- whilst losing 3 to Conservatives, 2 to Lib Dems, 1 to a Resident Group and 2 to UKIP

Liberal Democrats gained 10 seats from Conservatives, 2 from Labour and 2 from Independents
- whilst losing 8 to Conservatives, 5 to Labour, 2 each to Independents and UKIP and 1 to Green

UKIP gained 10 seats from Conservatives, 2 from both Labour and Lib Dems and 1 from English Democrats 
- whilst losing 1 each to Conservative, Labour and Kidderminster Health

Independents gained 8 seats from Conservatives and 2 each from Lib Dems and SNP
- whilst losing 3 each to Conservatives and Labour and 2 to Lib Dems

It Our County gained a Herefordshire seat from Conservatives,
City Independents gained one in Stoke-0n-Trent from Labour and
Whitewell Residents gained one in Bolsover from a Green

Greens gained a seat from Lib Dems whilst losing 2 to Labour and one to a Resident Group
SNP lost 4 seats to Labour and 2 to Independents
Kidderminster Health Concern gained a seat from UKIP
English Democrats lost a seat to UKIP and
Liberal gained a seat from Conservatives

[middleenglander]

There have been 21 by-elections during December, including one which the Conservatives retained unopposed, with 6 (29%) changing hands.

Party	Candidates	Defended	Retained	Gained	Lost	Won	Retention rate
Conservative	21	9	6	2	3	8	67%
Labour	15	9	8	1	1	9	89%
Lib Dems	14	1		1	1	1	0%
UKIP	19
SNP	2
Plaid Cymru	2
Resident Groups *	3	1		1	1	1	0%
Independent **	10	1	1			1	100%
No Description	1			1		1
Green	8
BNP	2
English Democrats	2
TUSAC	7
Britannica	1
Christian	1
Communist	1
Liberal	1
No Bedroom Tax	1
Pirate	1
Scottish Democrat Alliance	1
Scottish Socialist	1
Total	114	21	15	6	6	21	71%

*   candidates representing Lincolnshire Independent Group, South Woodhanm Ferrars Independents and Swanscombe & Greenhithe Residents Association

** 10 Independent candidates contested 7 seats

Conservatives gained 1 seat from both Labour and Lib Dems whilst losing a seat to each of Lib Dems, South Woodham Ferrars Independents and No Description
* gained Nuneaton & Bedworth, Arbury from Labour on a  13% swing since 2012 and 1.8% since 2010; Conservatives won in 2006 & 2008, Labour 2010 & 2012
* gained South Bucks, Iver Village & Richings Park from Lib Dems whose share fell by over 30% since 2011; in 2003 3 Cons elected, 2007 2 LD, 1 Con, 2011 2 Con, 1 LD 
* lost Lincolnshire, Scotter Rural to Lib Dems on a 22% swing since May 2013, probably due in part to the Conservative candidate being from well outside the divsion
* lost Chelmsford, Southwoodham - Elmwood & Woodvale to South Woodham Ferrars Independent on a 5½% swing since 2011
* lost West Lindsey, Scotter to No Description (the Chairman of Parish Council), probablyl due in part to the Conservative candidate being from well outside the ward

Labour gained Dartford, Swanscombe from Swanscombe & Greenhithe Residents Association by 1 vote on a 22% swing since 2011

[middleenglander]

There have been 337 principal local council by-elections during 2013, including those on 2nd May, with 97 (29%) changing hands.

Party	Candidates	Defended	Retained	Gained	Lost	Won	Retention Rate
Conservative	332	145	98	17	47	115	68%
Labour	290	117	108	30	9	138	92%
Lib Dems	233	42	23	15	19	38	55%
UKIP	228	3		15	3	15	0%
SNP	14	6			6		0%
Plaid Cymru	9	1	1			1	100%
Green	114	5	2	1	3	3	40%
Kidderminster Health	2			1		1
Liberal	2			1		1
Resident Groups *	23	3	2	4	1	6	67%
Independent **	115	14	6	13	8	19	43%
BNP	21
English Democrat	12	1			1		0%
National Front	5
Socialist (GB)	4
TUSAC	34
Other	30
Total	1,468	337	240	97	97	337	71%

*   Resident Groups had 23 candidates contesting 22 seats
** There were 114 Independents contesting 93 seats plus in addition the No Description winner in West Lindsey, Scotter 

Conservatives had official candidates in in 98.5% of the by-elections, Labour in 86%, Lib Dems in 69% whilst UKIP contested 68%.

Conservatives gained 4 seats from Labour, 9 from Lib Dems, 3 from Independents and 1 from UKIP
- whilst losing 14 seats to Labour, 11 to Lib Dems, 9 to Independents / No Description, 10 to UKIP, 2 to Resident Groups and 1 a Liberal

Labour gained 14 seats from Conservatives, 5 from Lib Dems, 3 from Independents, 4 from SNP, 2 from Greens and 1 from each of a Resident Group and UKIP
- whilst losing 4 to Conservatives, 2 to Lib Dems, 1 to a Resident Group and 2 to UKIP

Liberal Democrats gained 11 seats from Conservatives, 2 from Labour and 2 from Independents
- whilst losing 9 to Conservatives, 5 to Labour, 2 each to Independents and UKIP and 1 to Green

UKIP gained 10 seats from Conservatives, 2 from both Labour and Lib Dems and 1 from English Democrats 
- whilst losing 1 each to Conservative, Labour and Kidderminster Health

Independents / No Description gained 9 seats from Conservatives and 2 each from Lib Dems and SNP
- whilst losing 3 each to Conservatives and Labour and 2 to Lib Dems

City Independents gained a seat in Stoke-on-Trent from Labour
It Our County gained a Herefordshire seat from Conservatives,
South Woodham Ferrars Independents gained a seat in Chelmsford from Conservatives
Whitewell Residents gained one in Bolsover from a Green whilst
Swanscombe & Greenhithe Residents association lost a seat to Labour in Dartford

Greens gained a seat from Lib Dems whilst losing 2 to Labour and one to a Resident Group
SNP lost 4 seats to Labour and 2 to Independents
Kidderminster Health Concern gained a seat from UKIP
English Democrats lost a seat to UKIP and
Liberal gained a seat from Conservatives