Local Council by-elections 21st November 2024

[Tony Otim]

Another full week this week, with two being caused by councillors behaving badly:

DACORUM DC; Bennetts End (Ind died)
Candidates:
GREENFIELD, Lin (Labour)
GRIFFITHS, Margaret Patricia (Conservative)
HARRIS, Lloyd (Liberal Democrat)
LAMBERT, Andrew Kevin (Green)
MORRIS, Christopher James (Reform UK)

2023: Lab 500, 391; Ind 483; Con 359, 313; Grn 166; LD 129, 124
2019: Con 538, 529; Lab 485, 479; LD 248, 192; Grn 238
2015: Con 1193, 1014; Lab 889, 824; UKIP 701; Grn 281; LD 229, 141
2011: Con 701, 639; Lab 593, 515; LD 210, 204; ED 195
2007: Con 721, 655; Lab 537, 525; LD 206, 175; Grn 128

Lin Greenfield was the unsuccessful Labour candidate in 2023 and Andy Lambert was the Green one. Margaret Griffiths (Con) is former cllr for Leverstock Green from 2007 until 2023 when she was defeated. Lloyd Harris (LD) stood in Watling last May


DACORUM DC; Hemel Hempstead Town (LD resigned)
Candidates:
FAWZI, Mohamed (Labour)
HARDEN, Neil (Conservative)
PATTNI, Aatish Ashok (Liberal Democrat)
SUTHERLAND, Silvi (Reform UK)
TALBOT, Christine Elizabeth (Green)

2023: LD 621, 555; Lab 358, 337; Con 351, 307
2019: Con 364, 356; Lab 349, 314; LD 345, 306; Grn 193; UKIP 177
2015: Con 998, 746; Lab 790, 696; UKIP 442; LD 287, 237
2011: Con 573, 550; Lab 534, 522; LD 242, 214
2007: Lab 404, 388; Con 396, 358; LD 183, 181; Grn 112

Neil Harden (Con) is also a former cllr for Leverstock Green from 2021 by-election to 2023 when he was defeated. Silvi Sutherland is a former UKIP candidate for both Dacorum and Hertfordshire CC.

Current Council: LD 18; Con 17; Ind 10; Lab 4; 2 vacancies



DARTFORD DC; Greenhithe & Knockhall (Swanscombe & Greenhithe Res Ass died)
Candidates:
BROWN, Michael David (Reform UK)
GOSINE, Sacha Navindra (Green)
JOHNSTON, Dawn Margaret (Swanscombe & Greenhithe Residents)
NWACHUKWU, Edith (Conservative)
SUMMERS, Peter Samuel (Labour)

2023: SGRA 623, 354, 335; Con 499, 359, 345; Lab 270, 224, 205
2019: SGRA 538, 536, 406; Con 473, 365, 343; Lab 209, 158, 157; UKIP 134

Dawn Johnston was the second residents candidate here in 2023. Sacha Gosine (Grn) was the Labour candidate for Swanscombe & Greenhithe county division (see below) in 2021 and is former Labour cllr for Ebbsfleet ward (2019-23). In 2023, Michael Brown (Ref) stood in Heath ward, Edith Nwachukwu (Con) in Ebbsfleet and Peter Summers in Joyden’s Wood.

Current Council: Con 29; Lab 10; Grn 1; Unspecified 1; 1 vacancy



GLASGOW UA; Drumchapel Anniesland (Lab resigned following election as MP for Glasgow West)
Candidates:
GIWA, Adekemi (SNP)
KERR, Elspeth (Independent)
LAVELLE, Christopher (Green)
LYONS, Allan Douglas (Reform UK)
MORRISON, Steven (Conservative)
RANKIN, Davena (Labour)
SHIELDS, Michael Edward (Liberal Democrat)

2022: Lab 2011, 747; SNP 1446, 945, 350; Con 689; Grn 438; Ind 376; LD 118; SSP 106
2017: SNP 1842, 827, 678; Lab 1871, 941; Con 873; Grn 322; UKIP 94; SSP 51; Sol 35

Elspeth Kerr (Ind) was elected for the SNP here in 2017 and stood as an independent in 2022. Steven Morrison (Con) stood in Garscadden/Scotstounhill in 2022 and Michael Shields (LD) stood in Langside. Davena Rankin (Lab) was the Conservative candidate for Glasgow South back at the 2010 General Election.


GLASGOW UA; Maryhill (Lab resigned)
Candidates:
DURIE, Nick (Alba)
FINN, Lorna Margaret (SNP)
GARRITY, Marie (Labour)
GOMERSALL, Ellie (Green)
McCOURT, Susan (Conservative)
McGOWAN, David Jamie (Reform UK)
O’MALLEY, Daniel John (Liberal Democrat)

2022: SNP 1279, 1106; Lab 1523, 402; Grn 696; Con 463; LD 136; Frdm All 58
2017: SNP 1418, 1315; Lab 1210, 421; Con 606; Grn 505; LD 255

Daniel O’Malley (LD) and Nick Durie (Alba) both contested Glasgow North (which contains this ward) at the General Election. O’Malley also contested the Hillhead by-election earlier in the year. Lorna Finn (SNP) stood in Dennistoun in 2022 (and 2017), Ellie Gomersall (Grn) in Cardonald and Susan McCourt (Con) in Anderston/City/Yorkhill. Marie Garrity (Lab) is a former cllr for East Centre, but did not defend her seat in 2022.


GLASGOW UA; North East (Lab resigned following election as MP for Glasgow North East)
Candidates:
HADDOW, Thomas (Conservative)
McALLISTER, Anne (TUSC)
McDONALD, Hayley (Green)
McGREGOR, Robert Matthew James (Reform UK)
McLAUGHLIN, Peter (Liberal Democrat)
McNAB, Mary (Labour)
RILEY, Kilian (SNP)

2022: Lab 1532, 447; SNP 1305, 612; Con 389; Grn 136; TUSC 52; Libtn 28
2017: SNP 971, 739; Lab 1176, 342; Con 524; Ind 427; Grn 102; Sol 34

Peter McLaughlin was the Lib Dem candidate for Glasgow South at the General Election. Anne McAllister was the TUSC candidate here in 2022. Mary McNab (Lab) stood in Baillieston in 2022, whilst Killian Riley (SNP) stood in East Centre. Thomas Haddow (Con) has stood a number of times for council, Holyrood and Westminster, but that last was for Glasgow SW in 2019 General Election.

Current Council: SNP 36; Lab 31; Grn 11; Con 2; Ind 1; 4 vacancies



GOSPORT DC; Harbourside & Town (Lab died)
Candidates:
BERGIN, Paddy (Reform UK)
BRYANT, Tynan James (Labour)
ENGLEFIELD, Lisa Grace (Heritage)
EWIN, Mike (Liberal Democrat)
FLETCHER, Dale (Independent)
MEENAGHAN, Lesley Mary Doris (Conservative)

2024: Lab 465; Con 435; Ind 107; LD 96; Grn 43
2022: Lab 751, 626; Con 474, 374; LD 166; Ind 75

Vacancy is for the 2024-28 term. Both Lesley Meenaghan (Con) and Mike Ewin (LD) stood here in May, with Meenaghan having been the top Conservative in 2022. She had been elected Cllr for the Town ward on previous boundaries in 2021 and on the same date was elected county cllr for the Leesland & Town division which contains this ward. Dale Fletcher (Ind) contested the Grange and Alver by-election on GE day in July and stood here in 2022, also contesting the county division in 2021. This May, Paddy Bergin (Ref) and Tynan Bryant (Lab) stood in Forton and Lisa Englefield (Heritage) in Elson. Englefield also contested Gosport at the General Election. Bergin is a former Conservative candidate in the district,

Current Council: LD 15; Con 10; Lab 2; 1 vacancy



HIGHLAND UA; Fort William & Ardnamuchan (LD resigned following election as MP for Inverness, Skye & West Ross-shire)
Candidates:
BAXTER, Andrew Phillip (Liberal Democrat)
BEHNER-COADY, Marit (Greens)
CARSTAIRS, Susan (Labour)
FAWCETT, Fiona (Conservative)
LUMB, Nathan (Scottish Liberatarian)
MACHIN, Rebecca (SNP)

2022: LD 1500; SNP 1341; Con 404; Grn 385; Ind 373
Dec 21by: SNP 905; Con 485; Grn 328; LD 231; Ind 194, 88, 56
2017: Ind 1550, 177; SNP 932, 437; Con 530; Lab 344; LD 192

Fiona Fawcett was the Conservative candidate for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross at the General Election (this ward is split between Inverness, Skye & West Ross-shire and Argyll, Bute & South Lochaber) and was the defeated Conservative here in 2022. Andrew Baxter (LD) first stood here as a Conservative in 2007, was elected as an independent in 2012 and 2017, and stood for the Conservatives again in Cromarty Firth in 2022. Susan Carstairs (Lab) stood in Caol & Mallaig in 2017.

Current Council: SNP 21; Highland Ind 16; LD 13; Highland All 7; Con 6; Grn 4; Non-aligned 3; Lab 2; Alba 1;



HORSHAM DC; Denne (LD resigned following election as MP for Horsham)
Candidates:
HEWSON, Ben (Liberal Democrat)
McGILLIVRAY, Cameron Scott (Labour)
NUIN SMITH, Jennifer Helen (Green)
SWEENEY, Cheryl (Conservative)

2023: LD 1337, 1204, 1153; Con 790, 780, 752; Lab 327, 287, 253; Grn 237, 219, 210
Mar 22by: LD 832; Con 628; Lab 241; Grn 107
2019: LD 1287, 1221, 1216; Con 871, 849, 780; Lab 368, 312, 280

Jennifer Nuin Smith was the Green candidate in February’s Southwater North by-election.

Current Council: LD 26; Con 12; Grn 9; 1 vacancy



KENT CC; Swanscombe & Greenhithe (Swanscombe & Greenhithe Res Ass died)
Candidates:
AKINTOMIDE-AKINWAMIDE, Victoria (Labour)
EDIE, Laura Helen Ker (Green)
GALE, Carol Mary (Conservative)
JOHNSTON, Dawn Margaret (Swanscombe & Greenhithes Residents Association)
MALLON, Thomas (Reform UK)
WILLIS, James Martin (Liberal Democrat)

2021: SGRA 1421; Lab 1130; Con 911; RefUK 55
2017: SGRA 1093; Con 634; Lab 634; UKIP 208

Laura Edie was the Green candidate for Dartford at the General Election, she contested Dartford North East division in 2021 and is sitting district cllr for Newtown ward (not in this division) – originally elected as Labour, but as Green in 2023. Victoria Akintomide-Akinwamide (Lab) is sitting district Cllr for Ebbsfleet ward (which is in this division). Carol Gale (Con) is sitting district cllr for Greenhithe & Knockhall ward (see above, also in this division). Dawn Johnston (SGRA) was came 4th for 3 seats in Greenhithe & Knockhall in 2023, missing out on Gale’s seat by 5 votes. In the district elections last May, Labour would just have come top in this division ahead of the Conservatives, but there was a lot of split voting with incumbents running long way ahead of party colleagues and the residents didn’t contest Ebbsfleet ward.

Current Council: Con 59; Lab 7; LD 6; Grn 5; Ind 2; Swale Ind 1; 1 vacancy



RUTLAND UA; Oakham North East (LD died)
Candidates:
CALLAGHAN, Ben (Reform UK)
CHATFIELD, Linda Louise (Liberal Democrat)
CLARK, Christopher St John Eric (Conservative)
ROSS, Katie (Labour)

2023: LD 497, 427; Con 197
2019: Con 377; Ind 347; Grn 225

I’m guessing Linda Chatfield is related the other sitting LD cllr here, Mark Chatfield. Christopher Clark (Con) stood in Oakham NW in 2023.

Current Council: LD 10; Ind 7; Con 6; Lab 2; Grn 1; 1 vacancy



SEFTON MBC; Litherland (No desc elected as Lab resigned after conviction for indecent images of children).
Candidates:
BURGESS, Katie Maria (Conservative)
COLBERT, Jack (Green)
GARNER, Julia (Labour)
IVESON-BERKELEY, Darcy (Reform UK)
O’NEILL, Conor Anthony (TUSC)
SMITH, Ian (Workers Party)

2024: Lab 1526; Ind 249; Grn 142; Con 99; LD 47
2023: Lab 1556; Ind 262; Grn 155; Con 110
2022: Lab 1703; Ind 285; Con 121; NIP 97
2021: Lab 1484; Ind 507; Con 154; Grn 146; Ind 34
2019: Lab 1659; LD 192; Con 155
2018: Lab 1851; Con 192; Grn 148
2016: Lab 1753; Con 160; Grn 154
2015: Lab 4352; Grn 459; LD 348
2014: Lab 1713; UKIP 483; Con 143
2012: Lab 1705; UKIP 174; Con 159; LD 95
2011: Lab 2132; Con 235; LD 151
2010: Lab 3278; LD 625; Con 347; UKIP 312; BNP 132
2008: Lab 1078; UKIP 458; Con 288
2007: Lab 1292; Con 209; UKIP 209; BNP 133
2006: Lab 1110; LD 321; Con 260
2004: Lab 1609, 1602, 1601; LD 614, 565, 450; Con 433

Vacancy is for the 2023-27 term. Ian Smith was the indy here in May and last year and the Workers Party candidate for Bootle (which contains this ward) at the General Election. Both Smith and Burgess (Con) stood in both the July Linacre and the June St Oswald by-elections. Conor O’Neill (TUSC) also stood in St Oswald in the by-election and in May. Burgess stood in Blundellsands in May.

Current Council: Lab 49; LD 9; Con 4; Ind 2; Grn 1; 1 vacancy



SOMERSET UA; Blackmoor Vale (LD resigned following election as MP for Glastonbury & Somerton)
Candidates:
BURT, Hayward (Conservative)
CHAMBERS, Gregory Lawrence (Labour)
EBBSWORTH, Peter Martin (Green)
ELLARD, Howard (Liberal Democrat)

2022: LD 1814, 1590; Con 1443, 1328

Hayward Burt was the top Conservative here in 2022 and was previously South Somerset district cllr for Blackmoor Vale ward from 2019. Gregory Chambers (Lab) stood in Martock in 2022.


SOMERSET UA; Rowbarton & Staplegrove (LD resigned)
Candidates:
DEBENHAM, Alan William (Green)
DOHERTY, Moya Patrica (Labour)
O’DONNELL, Nick (Liberal Democrat)
PRIOR-SANKEY, Pete (Conservative)

2022: LD 1627, 1378; Con 880, 783; Lab 367

In 2022, Alan Debenham (Grn) and Peter Prior-Sankey stood in Bishop’s Hull & Taunton West and Nick O’Donnell (LD) in Monkton & North Curry. Debenham contested this division at the county council elections in 2017.

Current Council: LD 59; Con 33; Grn 5; Lab 5; Ind 3; Unaligned 3; 2 vacancies




SWALE DC; Murston (Ind elected as Swale Ind disqualified for non-attendance (this also followed him being charged with multiple sexual offences)
Candidates:
BENCYCH, Mariusz (Conservative)
BOBBETT, Ian Michael (Reform UK)
ESEKU, Rakel Morenike (Labour)
POLLARD, Carrie (Swale Independents)
STENNINGS, Alexander (Liberal Democrat)

2023: Swale Ind 593; Lab 397; Con 211, 171; LD 139, 127; Grn 119
2019: Swale Ind 705; Con 314; Lab 297, 275; Ind 227; LD 124

Alexander Stennings was the top Lib Dem here in 2023.

Current Council: Lab 16; Swale Ind All 11; Con 10; LD 5; Grn 3; Ind 1; 1 vacancy

[lackeroftalent]

Oct 28, 2024 17:07:24 GMT Tony Otim said:

SOMERSET UA; Blackmoor Vale (LD resigned following election as MP for Glastonbury & Somerton)
Candidates:
BURT, Hayward (Conservative)
CHAMBERS, Gregory Lawrence (Labour)
EBBSWORTH, Peter Martin (Green)
ELLARD, Howard (Liberal Democrat)

2022: LD 1814, 1590; Con 1443, 1328

Hayward Burt was the top Conservative here in 2022 and was previously South Somerset district cllr for Blackmoor Vale ward from 2019. Gregory Chambers (Lab) stood in Martock in 2022.


SOMERSET UA; Rowbarton & Staplegrove (LD resigned)
Candidates:
DEBENHAM, Alan William (Green)
DOHERTY, Moya Patrica (Labour)
O’DONNELL, Nick (Liberal Democrat)
PRIOR-SANKEY, Pete (Conservative)

2022: LD 1627, 1378; Con 880, 783; Lab 367

In 2022, Alan Debenham (Grn) and Peter Prior-Sankey stood in Bishop’s Hull & Taunton West and Nick O’Donnell (LD) in Monkton & North Curry. Debenham contested this division at the county council elections in 2017.

Current Council: LD 59; Con 33; Grn 5; Lab 5; Ind 3; Unaligned 3; 2 vacancies

Had to go back to check my memories.

Alan Debenham represented Bishops Hull ward on Taunton Council from 1991-2003, elected as an Independent in 1991, an Independent Green in 1995 and as an official Green Party candidate in 1999.

[andrewp]

Oct 28, 2024 18:51:03 GMT lackeroftalent said:

Oct 28, 2024 17:07:24 GMT Tony Otim said:

SOMERSET UA; Blackmoor Vale (LD resigned following election as MP for Glastonbury & Somerton)
Candidates:
BURT, Hayward (Conservative)
CHAMBERS, Gregory Lawrence (Labour)
EBBSWORTH, Peter Martin (Green)
ELLARD, Howard (Liberal Democrat)

2022: LD 1814, 1590; Con 1443, 1328

Hayward Burt was the top Conservative here in 2022 and was previously South Somerset district cllr for Blackmoor Vale ward from 2019. Gregory Chambers (Lab) stood in Martock in 2022.


SOMERSET UA; Rowbarton & Staplegrove (LD resigned)
Candidates:
DEBENHAM, Alan William (Green)
DOHERTY, Moya Patrica (Labour)
O’DONNELL, Nick (Liberal Democrat)
PRIOR-SANKEY, Pete (Conservative)

2022: LD 1627, 1378; Con 880, 783; Lab 367

In 2022, Alan Debenham (Grn) and Peter Prior-Sankey stood in Bishop’s Hull & Taunton West and Nick O’Donnell (LD) in Monkton & North Curry. Debenham contested this division at the county council elections in 2017.

Current Council: LD 59; Con 33; Grn 5; Lab 5; Ind 3; Unaligned 3; 2 vacancies

Had to go back to check my memories.

Alan Debenham represented Bishops Hull ward on Taunton Council from 1991-2003, elected as an Independent in 1991, an Independent Green in 1995 and as an official Green Party candidate in 1999.

He was also a Labour Taunton Deane councillor in the 1970s. He’s 84 and a frequent ( constant ) letter writer to the local paper and is often on his own in the Town Centre with a Green Party stall. 

Pete Prior- Sankey is the son of Hazel Prior Sankey who was a LD Somerset county councillor for 30 years but is an Independent now.

[Merseymike]

Jack Colbert was a Sefton LibDem councillor (Molyneux ward) - he announced that he wanted to leave when he lost. Labour did not want him as a candidate and then he stood for UKIP - he is now a Green candidate.

[batman]

so he's in the Would-Be-Councillor Party rather than the Councillor Party.

[listener]

A very interesting back story to the Green Party candidate in Dartford (Greenhithe and Knockhall)

www.kentonline.co.uk/dartford/news/i-no-longer-feel-it-s-safe-for-me-former-labour-election-307982/

[carolus]

A few months ago, in the height of summer, I walked the section of the England coastal path from Dartford to Gravesend. As you might guess, this passes through the Greenhithe & Knockhall ward, and so I'd like to regale the forum with some deep insight about the upcoming byelections. Unfortunately, the footpath runs just about as close to the northern boundary of the ward as it's possible to get without being sucked down into the Thames mud. Even more unfortunately, I've just looked at a map and many of the points of interest I was going to mention (The aggregates wharf, Ebbsfleet United Football Stadium, Northfleet Beach, a garage with a job lot of route-masters and other old buses) are just outside the ward.

Some things that I did see in the ward:
- an abandoned WW1 concrete barge, which I now learn is ACW 10, thanks to an extremely comprehensive website about concrete ships
- some houses that were unremarkable
- Swanscombe Marshes, which had plenty of interesting wildlife and very quickly felt very remote indeed, despite the huge industry on the other side of the Thames, and Greenhithe and Northfleet to the West and East.
- The 400kV Thames Crossing, which is a pair of 190m tall electricity pylons, one on each side of the river, and the high voltage capable between them, as well as some additional feeder pylons that appeared to be specially designed to deal with the the tension and vast change in height. These really are enormous, and could be seen from a very long way away and the path eventually passes directly beneath the one in the ward.

I didn't see any sign of the byelection, since it was June. Good walk though.

[froome]

Oct 29, 2024 0:43:58 GMT carolus said:

A few months ago, in the height of summer, I walked the section of the England coastal path from Dartford to Gravesend. As you might guess, this passes through the Greenhithe & Knockhall ward, and so I'd like to regale the forum with some deep insight about the upcoming byelections. Unfortunately, the footpath runs just about as close to the northern boundary of the ward as it's possible to get without being sucked down into the Thames mud. Even more unfortunately, I've just looked at a map and many of the points of interest I was going to mention (The aggregates wharf, Ebbsfleet United Football Stadium, Northfleet Beach, a garage with a job lot of route-masters and other old buses) are just outside the ward.

Some things that I did see in the ward:
- an abandoned WW1 concrete barge, which I now learn is ACW 10, thanks to an extremely comprehensive website about concrete ships
- some houses that were unremarkable
- Swanscombe Marshes, which had plenty of interesting wildlife and very quickly felt very remote indeed, despite the huge industry on the other side of the Thames, and Greenhithe and Northfleet to the West and East.
- The 400kV Thames Crossing, which is a pair of 190m tall electricity pylons, one on each side of the river, and the high voltage capable between them, as well as some additional feeder pylons that appeared to be specially designed to deal with the the tension and vast change in height. These really are enormous, and could be seen from a very long way away and the path eventually passes directly beneath the one in the ward.

I didn't see any sign of the byelection, since it was June. Good walk though.

There are a surprisingly large number of areas which this description would suit along the Thames estuary. It is a fascinating area.

[jamesdoyle]

Oct 28, 2024 17:07:24 GMT Tony Otim said:

HORSHAM DC; Denne (LD resigned following election as MP for Horsham)

I've nothing of note to add about Horsham, but I've just quoted this because I will never ever get tired of reading that.

[listener]

Carolus, wow! My wife and I walked the whole of the Kentish Thames Path from Dartford to Allhallows beside the Isle of Grain in Spring this year, at a leisurely pace, taking five days to do so. A section of the path near Allhallows runs along the foreshore and is only accessible at very low tide. We mistimed it and I was sucked down into the Thames mud ..... I recommend the whole walk with fascinating views of the Thames Estuary and its wildlife, flocks of seabirds and herds of horses and foals. Reminiscences also of the marshes and the hulks waiting to transport convicts to Australia, as featured in Great Expectations, but all of this is downstream from Swanscombe and Greenhithe.

What you did not mention was the historic riverside at Greenhithe and the refurbished Ingress Abbey, part of which is now the official residence of the Lithuanian Ambassador. I wonder if he gets a vote?

[Rutlander]

Oct 28, 2024 17:07:24 GMT Tony Otim said:

Another full week this week
....

RUTLAND UA; Oakham North East (LD died)
Candidates:
CALLAGHAN, Ben (Reform UK)
CHATFIELD, Linda Louise (Liberal Democrat)
CLARK, Christopher St John Eric (Conservative)
ROSS, Katie (Labour)

2023: LD 497, 427; Con 197
2019: Con 377; Ind 347; Grn 225

I’m guessing Linda Chatfield is related the other sitting LD cllr here, Mark Chatfield. Christopher Clark (Con) stood in Oakham NW in 2023.

Current Council: LD 10; Ind 7; Con 6; Lab 2; Grn 1; 1 vacancy

...

Linda Chatfield's husband is the sitting LD cllr for the ward. She and Christopher Clark (Con) are both town councillors.
Ben Callaghan (now Reform) was elected as an Independent for Oakham South East in 2015.
Katie Ross (LAB) shares her surname and address (in Uppingham) with a sitting Labour cllr (her father, I think)

(Two of the candidates are "address in Rutland" on the SoPN but give their addresses on the Notice of Appointment of Agents)

[carolus]

Oct 29, 2024 8:56:03 GMT froome said:

There are a surprisingly large number of areas which this description would suit along the Thames estuary. It is a fascinating area.

There are men in the village of Erith
Whom nobody seeth or heareth,
And there looms on the marge
Of the river a barge,
Which nobody roweth or steereth.

The whole area combines a natural bleakness with frequent reminders that it's not an area that has never seen use, but rather that has been actively abandoned. The occasional activity seems only to emphasise it the feeling of isolation.

Until I started walking in the area I'd never really considered that such places existed in the UK, and certainly not so close to London. Nor that Gravesend would seem to be bastion of civilisation.

listener - I started the Gravesend to Allhallows section a little while ago, but rain stopped play when I was near Cliffe. I enjoyed the horses on that section, and noted with interest the guided missile rails leading down to the river by Cliffe Fort. Haven't got around yet to finishing it, but once I have some free time and the weather, tides and buses all look promising I'll head back. My long term plan is to keep making my way bit by bit along the coastal path, but we shall see how that goes.

Perhaps we should hope for some rural Medway byelections in the near future.

[phil156]

The following are counting on Thursday night and the rest will be Friday morning

Glasgow all 3, Gosport, Sefton, Somerset both,

[hempie]

DACORUM DC; Hemel Hempstead Town (LD resigned)
Local newspaper coverage of the candidates:
www.hemeltoday.co.uk/news/politics/meet-the-candidates-vying-to-become-a-councillor-in-hemel-hempstead-at-next-by-election-4866257

I would add that Mohamed Fawzi has been a community campaigner/advocate for many years in the town. I think this is the first time he has stepped forward for election. Neil Harden was a councillor for Boxmoor ward for many years before losing in 2019 when the Lib Dems defeated all 3 Conservatives in a formerly solid ward, mainly due to his (and others) handling of issues surrounding the local leisure centre. He was also Mike Penning's PA for a number of years.

[hempie]

Dacorum, Bennetts End:
Local newspaper coverage:
www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/all-the-candidates-for-bennetts-end-by-election-in-dacorum/ar-AA1u22YL

I used to live in this ward until my road was moved by boundary changes to Leverstock Green Ward. I could never really grasp why it consistently returned Conservative councillors from 2007 to 2019 other than the incompetence of the local Labour party. I vividly recall the 2015 count where the ward was one of the first to be declared and the euphoria in the Conservative ranks when they realised they had retained the seats - I think Mike Penning looked happier at that moment than when he retained his parliamentary seat! The Labour people at the count just looked totally bemused and dejected.
Lloyd Harris has been a stalwart of the local Lib Dems for many years. He was a councillor in Highfield and was their local agent for a number of years. I suspect he is running to make up the numbers here.

[Pete Whitehead]

I know Silvi Sutherland - I imagine she will be running quite an active campaign

[Rutlander]

Oct 29, 2024 10:48:12 GMT Rutlander said:

Oct 28, 2024 17:07:24 GMT Tony Otim said:

Another full week this week
....

RUTLAND UA; Oakham North East (LD died)
Candidates:
CALLAGHAN, Ben (Reform UK)
CHATFIELD, Linda Louise (Liberal Democrat)
CLARK, Christopher St John Eric (Conservative)
ROSS, Katie (Labour)

2023: LD 497, 427; Con 197
2019: Con 377; Ind 347; Grn 225

I’m guessing Linda Chatfield is related the other sitting LD cllr here, Mark Chatfield. Christopher Clark (Con) stood in Oakham NW in 2023.

Current Council: LD 10; Ind 7; Con 6; Lab 2; Grn 1; 1 vacancy

...

Linda Chatfield's husband is the sitting LD cllr for the ward. She and Christopher Clark (Con) are both town councillors.
Ben Callaghan (now Reform) was elected as an Independent for Oakham South East in 2015.
Katie Ross (LAB) shares her surname and address (in Uppingham) with a sitting Labour cllr (her father, I think)

(Two of the candidates are "address in Rutland" on the SoPN but give their addresses on the Notice of Appointment of Agents)

I recall a by-election here when Labour, feeling confident, brought a bottle of fizz to the count; their candidate came 3rd of 3. I am not expecting LAB to win this time either.

[minionofmidas]

andrewspreviews.substack.com/p/previewing-the-15-council-by-elections

Features a misprint far too beautiful to correct, and now I'm scared to point it out

[YL]

Nov 21, 2024 7:38:10 GMT minionofmidas said:

andrewspreviews.substack.com/p/previewing-the-15-council-by-elections

Features a misprint far too beautiful to correct, and now I'm scared to point it out

Are you referring to the bellringers of St Mungo’s Cathedral?

(Also, the rickety ferry is at Corran, not Coggan.)

[batman]

Nov 21, 2024 7:38:10 GMT minionofmidas said:

andrewspreviews.substack.com/p/previewing-the-15-council-by-elections

Features a misprint far too beautiful to correct, and now I'm scared to point it out

does it chime into my observation of what the misprint is?