Tories gain in East London in latest council by-elections » Local Government » 24dash.com

Tories gained from Labour at east London's Barking and Dagenham Borough amid mixed fortunes in three London council by-elections.

Their candidate Terry Justice took a seat at Chadwell Heath - at one time a residents' association stronghold.

The result doubles Conservatives' strength on the council to two members.

However at nearby South Hornchurch in Havering Borough, Tories could only manage to come third behind the BNP with independent Michael Burton winning from the Havering Residents Association.

The third London contest at Christchurch, Bexley saw Conservatives hold on but with their majority halved.

At Chadwell Heath the votes for Tories and Labour were almost exactly the same as those cast in the ward for Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone in the May 1 London mayoral election.

But at Bexley and Havering there was a big drop in Conservative support over the past two months.

The only other seat change this week was the gain from independent by Liberal Democrat Gordon Austin at Unstone, North East Derbyshire District. His margin over Tories was just nine votes.

Analysis of five comparable results suggest a projected 16.8% nationwide Tory lead over Labour - lower than the recent trend.

A further result is expected from Mid Sussex District later today.

RESULTS:

Barking and Dagenham London Borough - Chadwell Heath: C 842, Lab 691, BNP 564, Ukip 142, Ind 11. (May 2006 - Three seats Lab 1101, 999, 987, C 873, 734, 583, Ind 560, Ukip 385, 376). C gain from Lab. Swing 8.9% Lab to C.

Bexley London Borough - Christchurch: C 1192, Lib Dem 459, BNP 431, Lab 411. (May 2006 - Three seats C 2205, 2188, 2098, Lab 733, 633, 621, Lib Dem 513, 504, 443). C hold. Swing 10.6% C to Lib Dem.

Derbyshire County - Eckington: Lab 824, C 658, Ind 300, BNP 253, Ind 150, Lib Dem 113. (May 2005 - Lab 2573, C 885, Lib Dem 702, Ind 453). Lab hold. Swing 14.6% Lab to C.

Havering London Borough - South Hornchurch: Ind 661, BNP 518, C 438, Lab 416, Residents 287, Ukip 64, English Democrats 28, Residents Association of London 17, No description 17. (May 2006 - Three seats Residents 878, Lab 821, C 812, Residents 788, 757, C 742, Lab 741, 733, Ind 687, 656, 623, C 620, Green 204, 191, Residents Association of London 186). Ind gain from Residents. Swing 1% Lab to C.

Mid Sussex District - Burgess Hill St Andrews - Two seats Result expected later today. (May 2007 - Two seats Lib Dem 750, 709, C 485, 462, Lab 116).

North East Derbyshire District - Killamarsh West: Lab 480, C 342, Ind 167, Lib Dem 51. (May 2007 - Three seats Lab unopposed). Lab hold.

North East Derbyshire District - Unstone: Lib Dem 169, C 160, Lab 146, Ind 66. (May 2007 - Ind 270, Lab 180). Lib Dem gain from Ind.

Rother District - Bexhill Sackville - C 571, Lib Dem 491, Lab 93. (May 2007 - Two seats C 660, 642, Lib Dem 564, 533, Ind 200, Lab 114). C hold. Swing 0.1% Lib Dem to C.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats easily defended their two vacancies at Burgess Hill St Andrews at Mid Sussex.

Analysis of four wards fought both times by all three major parties gives a projected line-up of: C 43.4%, Lab 29.1%, Lib Dem 20.4%.

RESULT:

Mid Sussex District - Burgess Hill St Andrews - Two seats Lib Dem 876, 829, C 561, 501, Green 65, Lab 40. (May 2007 - Two seats Lib Dem 750, 709, C 485, 462, Lab 116). Lib Dem hold. Swing 1.1% C to Lib Dem.