Leading the way
The last month produced a small crop of by-elections but two-thirds of them saw a seat change hands amid some surprising results.
elections
Changing face of local government
The face of local government in England is undergoing incremental yet quite radical change.
By-elections review 2023
Losing more than 1,000 councillors last May, and suffering regular by-election defeats, the Conservatives must be hoping fortunes improve as the next General Election looms.
One step forward…
Labour’s victory in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West parliamentary by-election ensures that the imminent contests in Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth will be examined for further evidence of a resurgence.
Changing hands
Almost half of the local by-election contests held over the summer resulted in a seat changing hands.
Voter ID ‘stopped some people voting’
The Electoral Commission has called for the Government to ensure future elections are as accessible as possible in a new report on voter ID arrangements.
Giving electors a voice
In the latest batch of by-elections, the Greens continued to make gains, one each from Labour and Conservative, but lost a seat of their own.
14,000 unable to vote due to ID changes
Around 14,000 people were unable to vote at the May local elections in England because they did not have correct photo identification, according to the Electoral Commission.
Swings and competitions
These latest by-elections, which include some county contests held on 4 May, largely support the general pattern of voting seen in the main local elections.
A stronger liberal voice in local government
I am still getting over the Liberal Democrats’ fantastic set of local election results from May.