Changing hands

Almost half the contests held over the summer resulted in a seat changing hands.

The Conservatives continue to be the main loser, but it was by no means one-way traffic, with defeats inflicted on both Labour and the Greens.  

Liberal Democrats enjoyed most success, making six gains, four of which were from the Conservatives.  

There were two Conservative gains from Labour. The first was in Swindon’s St Margaret and South Marston ward, which Labour won last May, when it also took council control. This time, the Conservatives won by 25 votes.  

In early September, there was a repeat outcome in Broadland’s Thorpe St Andrew North West ward. Labour won this ward in an October 2022 by-election and won all three ward seats last May.  

But just weeks after that success, one of the Labour councillors – elected by just 33 votes – resigned citing work pressures. Voters sometimes punish parties for early resignations and the Conservatives benefited.

There was a third Conservative success, in Spelthorne’s Ashford Town ward, where the Green elected in May resigned his seat in July. 

Both Labour and the Greens tipped the balance by winning Conservative seats elsewhere.  

In Plymouth’s fifth by-election of the year, Labour defended St Peter and Waterfront, with former local MP Alison Raynsford (formerly Seabeck) elected, while former Liberal Democrat Stefan Krizanac took the Plymstock Dunstone seat under new colours.

Results last May suggested it was unlikely the Conservatives could defend a vacancy in Dudley’s St James’s ward. Then, Labour had a winning margin of more than 300 votes, but, on a reduced turnout, that was reduced to 100 at this by-election.

Labour also had success in Derbyshire’s Swadlincote South division, which returned Labour in 2013 but favoured the Conservatives thereafter. The absence of a Green this time made Labour’s task easier.

But Labour is making a habit of undermining favourable headlines by incurring losses. Another example saw Independent Jackie Young take Middlesbrough’s Ayresome seat, vacated by Labour’s Antony High just a month after being elected last May.

In East Sussex, it was the Greens’ Anne Cross who benefited when the Liberal Democrats withdrew their nominated candidate in the Heathfield and Mayfield division. A Liberal Democrat gain in Meads ward a week later resulted in the Conservatives losing control of the county. 

This was a good week for the Liberal Democrats, who also took Norfolk’s Freebridge Lynn division from the Conservatives, overcoming a 45-point majority.  

Another gain, where Labour won by just 21 votes last May, saw the perseverance of Liberal Democrat Ryan Priest finally pay off in Dudley’s Cradley and Wollescote ward.

Further Liberal Democrat gains from Conservatives came in Somerset and Shropshire, with a 13-point swing in the former’s Castle Cary ward dwarfed by a 31-point swing that led to an eight-vote Liberal Democrat victory in the latter’s Worfield division. 

There was a further Liberal Democrat gain, from Isle of Wight independent party Vectis. Despite not contesting in 2021, Liberal Democrat Sarah Redrup polled almost half the votes in Wootton Bridge.

For more detailed analysis of these and other recent by-elections, please view the spreadsheet.