By-elections - September 29th

[maxque]

Tyldesley - Blackpool UA - Eddie Collett (Labour) died, aged 58. He was a councillor since 1991 (at the time Blackpool was a Lancashire district, it only became a unitary in 1997), except for the 2007-2011 term (he represented Alexandra ward before 2003). He was the Mayor in 2013-2014, a former Deputy Leader and a Cabinet Member.

2015: Lab 1145/1145, Con 872/741, UKIP 658, LD 167, Ind 144
2011: Lab 1137/1105, Con 689/667
2007: Con 833/802, Lab 775/749, LD 327
2003: Lab 1387/1294, Con 872/740, LD 435

David Collett (Labour Party)
Moira Graham (Conservative and Unionist Party)
Paul Hindley (Liberal Democrats)
Kim Knight (UK Independence Party (UKIP))

Brynmawr - Blaenau Gwent - John Hopkins (Independent) died. He was a councillor since 1991, first on Blaenau Gwent District and then, after 1995, on the Unitary. He was a former Council Leader and the leader of the Labour Group (until he resigned in 2007, about to face a non-confidence vote from other Labour councillors) and Independent Group (until he resigned in 2014 due to ill health). He left Labour in 2009, due to disagreements about school closings.

2012: Ind 943/713/643/499, Lab 708/487/399
2008: Ind 1283/585/536, Lab 1071/695/645, People’s Voice 296
2004: Lab 1599/1255/1098, Ind 803, LD 514

People’s Voice was the group of supporters of Peter Law, the late Independent MP (and Labour AM) for Blaenau Gwent.
The two Labour councillors of 2008 stood as Independents in 2012 (and one of them was reelected)

Julian Gardner (Welsh Labour / Llafur Cymru)
Wayne Hodgins (Independent)

Stow - Cotswold DC - Barry Dare (Conservative) died at the age of 79. He was a councillor since 2003, representing Blockley before 2015. He had a longer career on Gloucestershire County Council, where he was a member for 20 years (1993-2005 for Moreton-in-the-Marsh, 2005-2013 for Moreton-Stow). He was also the Conservative group leader from 2002 to 2010 and, as such, Leader of the Council from 2005 to 2010. He was also, 5 decades ago, a councillor for the Municipal Borough of Twickenham.

2015: Con 783, LD 613

Dilys Neill (Liberal Democrats)
David Penman (Conservative Party Candidate)

Adeyfield West - Dacorum BC - Sharon Adshead (Conservative) died, at the age of 63. She was a councillor since 2015 and is the mother of Graham Adshead, councillor for Adeyfield East.

2015: Con 763/706, LD 715/463, Lab 696/450, UKIP 672
Mar 2013 by: LD 363, Lab 278, Con 229, UKIP 193, ED 51
2011: Con 619/594, Lab 611/592, LD 209/204
Mar 2010 by: Con 486, Lab 429, LD 362, BNP 203
2007: Lab 518/502, Con 508/481, LD 200/178

Rachel Biggs (UK Independence Party (UKIP))
Gary Cook (The Labour Party Candidate)
Adrian England (Liberal Democrats)
Tony Gallagher (The Conservative Party Candidate)
Angela Lynch (The Green Party)

Allestree - Derby UA - Richard Smalley (Conservative) resigned ten days after the May elections, as it has been found he used the address of a friend in Allestree on his nomination paper, despite not living in Derby (and not being eligible for election). Age 49, he was previously a councillor for Oakwood between 2002 and 2008 and returned to Council in 2016.
2016-2020 term

2016: Con 2820, Lab 785, LD 534, UKIP 508
2015: Con 4867, Lab 1835, UKIP 1005, LD 883
2014: Con 2621, Lab 998, UKIP 925, LD 289
2012: Con 2040, Lab 1289, UKIP 647, LD 179, Grn 172
2011: Con 3486, Lab 1756, LD 579
2010: Con 4908, LD 1841, Lab 1608
Oct 2009 by: Con 1988, LD 1037, Lab 532, BNP 242
2008: Con 3234, Lab 739, LD 633, BNP 563
2007: Con 3172, Lab 940, LD 801
2006: Con 3228, Lab 962, LD 763
2004: Con 2879, Lab 1246, UKIP 1174, LD 1038
2003: Con 2132, LD 1053, Lab 1021
2002: Con 2726/2621/2529, Lab 1274/1159/920, LD 721/559/488

Marten Kats (The Green Party - Say No To Racism)
Gaurav Pandey (UK Independence Party (UKIP))
Ged Potter (The Conservative Party Candidate)
Deena Smith (Liberal Democrat)
Oleg Sotnicenko (Labour Party)

Glaven Valley - North Norfolk DC - Andrew Wells (Liberal Democrat) resigned, due to accepting a job offer from a London-based international law firm. Aged 27, he was a councillor since 2015 and the Leader of the Liberal Democrat group.

2015: LD 634, Con 438, UKIP 148, Lab 78, Grn 53
2011: Con 500, LD 232, Lab 95, Grn 84, UKIP 83
2007: Con 569, LD 431
2003: Con 623, LD 275, Grn 52

Stephen Burke (Labour Party)
John Dymond (UK Independence Party (UKIP))
Alicia Hull (The Green Party)
Andrew Livsey (Conservative Party Candidate)
Karen Ward (Liberal Democrat Candidate)

Finedon - Wellingborough BC - John Bailey (Conservative) died. He was a very long-serving councillor, serving on the Wellingborough Borough Council since its creation in 1973, and before that on the Wellingborough Urban District from 1967 to 1973. He was the Mayor in 1976-1977 and 2004-2005 and the Leader between 2005 and 2011. He was the Housing Chair for 27 years and was the Audit Chair at the time of his death. He was also a County Councillor between 1970 and 2013 (he was the Mayor for his last year) and a parish councillor since 1983. During his working life, he was a programmer and database administrator.

2015: Con 1250/944, Lab 720, UKIP 698
2011: Con 935/847, Lab 612
2007: Con 909/720, Lab 539
2003: Con 768/652, Lab 527/407

Steve Ayland (Labour Party)
Barbara Bailey (The Conservative Party Candidate)
Allan Shipham (United Kingdom Independence Party)
John Wheaver (Liberal Democrat)

Cherry Willingham - West Lindsay DC - Alexander Bridgwood (Conservative) resigned to join the armed forces. Aged 24, he was first elected councillor in 2015.

2015: Con 1726/1696/1540, Lincolnshire Independents 1561, Lab 1151/997

Wendy Beckett (Labour Party)
Trevor Bridgwood (UK Independence Party (UKIP))
Maureen Palmer (The Conservative Party Candidate)

[The Bishop]

Hopkins stood for Labour in the 2006 Assembly by-election, didn't he? I didn't know that he had left the party later.

[Sibboleth]

Sept 27, 2016 12:09:06 GMT The Bishop said:

Hopkins stood for Labour in the 2006 Assembly by-election, didn't he? I didn't know that he had left the party later.

Ah local politics in Wales...

[gwynthegriff]

Sept 27, 2016 12:03:36 GMT maxque said:

Cherry Willingham - West Lindsay DC - Alexander Bridgwood (Conservative) resigned to join the armed forces. Aged 24, he was first elected councillor in 2015.

2015: Con 1726/1696/1540, Lincolnshire Independents 1561, Lab 1151/997

Wendy Beckett (Labour Party)
Trevor Bridgwood (UK Independence Party (UKIP))
Maureen Palmer (The Conservative Party Candidate)

Coincidence?

[Khunanup]

Sept 27, 2016 12:03:36 GMT maxque said:

Cherry Willingham - West Lindsay DC - Alexander Bridgwood (Conservative) resigned to join the armed forces. Aged 24, he was first elected councillor in 2015.

2015: Con 1726/1696/1540, Lincolnshire Independents 1561, Lab 1151/997

Wendy Beckett (Labour Party)
Trevor Bridgwood (UK Independence Party (UKIP))
Maureen Palmer (The Conservative Party Candidate)

Wonder if any relation by marriage to Margaret Beckett? If so a relation of mine as well (her husband Leo's third cousin was my late grandad) but not one I'm aware of.

There are quite a few Beckett's round in West Lindsey/North Kesteven though!

[andrewteale]

Sept 27, 2016 12:20:04 GMT gwynthegriff said:

Sept 27, 2016 12:03:36 GMT maxque said:

Cherry Willingham - West Lindsay DC - Alexander Bridgwood (Conservative) resigned to join the armed forces. Aged 24, he was first elected councillor in 2015.

2015: Con 1726/1696/1540, Lincolnshire Independents 1561, Lab 1151/997

Wendy Beckett (Labour Party)
Trevor Bridgwood (UK Independence Party (UKIP))
Maureen Palmer (The Conservative Party Candidate)

Coincidence?

Trevor is Alexander's dad.

[hempie]

My take on what I have seen so far in Adeyfield West. I have seen 2 leaflets from the Lib Dems, 1 + a calling card from Labour, 1 from UKIP and 1 from the Greens. I have seen no Conservative leaflets on any mats when I have been leafleting, that is not to say that there haven't been any. So far I have seen 2 Lib Dem window posters and none from anyone else. The only candidate who lives in the ward is the Lib Dem. The Labour & Green candidates live in neighbouring wards, the Conservative lives miles away on the other side of town and the UKIP candidate even further away (nearer to Berkhamsted than Adeyfield). Possibly looking like a 3 way (Con, LD, Lab) split) and may well be decided by the polling day activity. Having said that even yesterday I was coming across people who had no idea there was an election on Thursday.
On Thursday I will try to see what has been happening on the ground. With only 2 polling stations (and 1 of them accounts for 90% of the electorate)the "action" (if any)will be concentrated. The main polling station is not well placed (in the middle of a development with poor vehicle access, should be fun!)

[Pete Whitehead]

Sept 27, 2016 13:52:21 GMT hempie said:

My take on what I have seen so far in Adeyfield West. I have seen 2 leaflets from the Lib Dems, 1 + a calling card from Labour, 1 from UKIP and 1 from the Greens. I have seen no Conservative leaflets on any mats when I have been leafleting, that is not to say that there haven't been any. So far I have seen 2 Lib Dem window posters and none from anyone else. The only candidate who lives in the ward is the Lib Dem. The Labour & Green candidates live in neighbouring wards, the Conservative lives miles away on the other side of town and the UKIP candidate even further away (nearer to Berkhamsted than Adeyfield). Possibly looking like a 3 way (Con, LD, Lab) split) and may well be decided by the polling day activity. Having said that even yesterday I was coming across people who had no idea there was an election on Thursday.
On Thursday I will try to see what has been happening on the ground. With only 2 polling stations (and 1 of them accounts for 90% of the electorate)the "action" (if any)will be concentrated. The main polling station is not well placed (in the middle of a development with poor vehicle access, should be fun!)

Not according to her address on the SOPN which is in the Hemel Town ward and only a few metres from the boundary with Adeyfield West. She did used to live at Bourne End but hasn't done for some time (though I know her leaflet does mention it quite a bit)

[theolo]

Glaven Valley - North Norfolk DC
Stephen Burke formerly of LBHF

[lancastrian]

How often is the Conservative and Unionist description used in England?

[Robert Waller]

Sept 27, 2016 13:34:48 GMT Khunanup said:

Sept 27, 2016 12:03:36 GMT maxque said:

Cherry Willingham - West Lindsay DC - Alexander Bridgwood (Conservative) resigned to join the armed forces. Aged 24, he was first elected councillor in 2015.

2015: Con 1726/1696/1540, Lincolnshire Independents 1561, Lab 1151/997

Wendy Beckett (Labour Party)
Trevor Bridgwood (UK Independence Party (UKIP))
Maureen Palmer (The Conservative Party Candidate)

Wonder if any relation by marriage to Margaret Beckett? If so a relation of mine as well (her husband Leo's third cousin was my late grandad) but not one I'm aware of.

There are quite a few Beckett's round in West Lindsey/North Kesteven though!

I looked up Wendy Beckett, and her Wikipedia page starts

"better known as Sister Wendy, is a British hermit, consecrated virgin, and art historian"


I think we need more hermits in politics.

[gwynthegriff]

Sept 27, 2016 17:09:38 GMT Robert Waller said:

Sept 27, 2016 13:34:48 GMT Khunanup said:

Wonder if any relation by marriage to Margaret Beckett? If so a relation of mine as well (her husband Leo's third cousin was my late grandad) but not one I'm aware of.

There are quite a few Beckett's round in West Lindsey/North Kesteven though!

I looked up Wendy Beckett, and her Wikipedia page starts

"better known as Sister Wendy, is a British hermit, consecrated virgin, and art historian"


I think we need more hermits in politics.

Consecrated virgins aren't too commonplace either.

[maxque]

Sept 27, 2016 17:01:43 GMT lancastrian said:

How often is the Conservative and Unionist description used in England?

Not quite often, but I seen it used in Cumbria, too. Seems to be a North West thing.

[Adam in Stroud]

Sept 27, 2016 19:20:35 GMT maxque said:

Sept 27, 2016 17:01:43 GMT lancastrian said:

How often is the Conservative and Unionist description used in England?

Not quite often, but I seen it used in Cumbria, too. Seems to be a North West thing.

Derives from the Liberal Unionists, doesn't it?  I'd have thought you might find it in Birmingham still, that having been Neville Chamberlain's fiefdom.

[finsobruce]

Sept 27, 2016 23:17:43 GMT Adam in Stroud said:

Sept 27, 2016 19:20:35 GMT maxque said:

Not quite often, but I seen it used in Cumbria, too. Seems to be a North West thing.

Derives from the Liberal Unionists, doesn't it?  I'd have thought you might find it in Birmingham still, that having been Neville Chamberlain's fiefdom.

Scotland where the Liberal Unionists helped the Tories break the Liberal dominance was probably the biggest area for the party name. I think it was the only name (ie not standing as Conservative) used until the 1960s???

[maxque]

"Scottish Conservative and Unionist" is what I've seen on all Scottish by-elections ballots.

[maxque]

Sept 27, 2016 15:11:16 GMT theolo said:

Glaven Valley - North Norfolk DC
Stephen Burke formerly of LBHF

Yes, he was also the leader for a year in 2005-2006 (just before Labour lost the borough).

[hempie]

Okay I have done my stint in Adeyfield West for today. From what I have seen since I last reported:
Lib Dems have put out an eve of poll leaflet and in some parts an election day "Rise & Shine". Quite a bit of activity today and telling at both polling stations. He was the only candidate I saw doing the rounds.
Labour have been campaigning quite hard, several activists out and about today. Telling at both stations.
Conservatives claim they have done a lot of canvassing (I haven't seen any evidence of it) and again have activists working in the ward. Tellers at both stations (where I was a couple of councillors from other wards)
UKIP nothing seen of them so far today, no telling operation.
Green - telling at the main station for part of the day only. Some election day leaflets delivered.
By 2:30 approximately 200 votes cast at the main station (out of approx. 3,7000) and just 23 at the small station (approx. 400 voters). I haven't heard anything about levels of postal voting.
Funniest comment today when I was telling was from the Labour teller who thought it was "deceitful" for the Lib Dem candidate to claim he was the only candidate living in the ward - the truth is that he is the only one who lives in the ward! He was unhappy because the Labour candidate also lives in Adeyfield - but in the East ward (which he knew full well).

I may well be proved wrong but it looks to me like a Lib Dem win here.

[Pete Whitehead]

My sons' nanny lives in Adeyfield West - I'm annoyed that I forgot when I saw her on Tuesday to remind her about (or alert her to) this by-election. Hopefully she will be aware, or her partner will ensure she votes. Both are UKIP voters but she tends more toward the apathetic. I didn't imagine I would be able to draw any great insights from her about how the campaign may be going (and being post-operative was unfortunately unable to help myself). I'm disappointed to hear that Hemel UKIP have not organised a telling operation as the importance of this cannot be underestimated IMO and they are an active branch

[Robert Waller]

Andrew Teale's usual entertaining and informative preview

election-data.co.uk/by-election-previews-29-9-16