Latest council by-elections - Tory lead follows Labour bounce » Local Government » 24dash.com

A Cameron comeback followed the Brown bounce in the latest council by-elections after the party conference season.

Analysis of four comparable contests suggested a projected 14% nationwide Tory lead, compared with 1.5% last week.

Conservatives recaptured Lincolnshire County Council's Bourne Abbey division where the former Tory councillor had switched to independent.

In what was a marginal seat last fought on the same day as the 2005 general election, Labour tumbled from second place to fourth, behind the BNP. There was a Tory loss when Leominster town mayor Peter McCaull won as an independent at Leominster South, Herefordshire County.

Results at Castle, Oswestry Borough and Kirkleatham, Redcar and Cleveland Borough are due to be declared later today.

RESULTS:

Braintree District - Witham West: C 508, Lab 373, Lib Dem 182, Green 178 . (May 2007 - Two seats C 864, Lab 584, 539, Green 357, Lib Dem 341). C hold. Swing 1.8% C to Lab.

Herefordshire County - Leominster South: Ind 515, C 397, Green 200, Lib Dem 131 . (May 2007 - Two seats C 827, 634, Green 393, Ind 387, Lib Dem 267). Ind gain from C. Swing 2.3% C to Lib Dem.

Hillingdon London Borough - Ruislip West: C 1351, Lib Dem 860, Lab 147.
BNP 111, Green 55, National Front 52 . (May 2006 - Three seats C 1974, 1890, 1831, Lib Dem 1201, 972, 930, Green 374, Lab 316, 295). C hold.
Swing 2.4% C to Lib Dem.

Lincolnshire County - Bourne Abbey: C 760, Ind 355, BNP 239, Lab 202, Lib Dem 198, Green 42, Ukip 41 . (May 2005 - C 2362, Lab 1988). C gained from Ind. Swing 10.9% Lab to C.

Swale Borough - Teynham and Lynsted: C 463, Lab 189, Lib Dem 78 . (May
2007 - C 802, Lab 368, Lib Dem 164). C hold. Swing 2.5% Lab to C.

Taunton Deane Borough - Ruishton and Creech: C 902, Lib Dem 700. (May
2007 - Two seats C 816, 743, Lib Dem 668, 556, Green 165). C hold. Swing 0.9% Lib Dem to C.

The Liberal Democrats enjoyed a double success in results declared later, gaining a seat from Labour in a poll at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and capturing a Tory seat on Oswestry Borough Council.

Results: Redcar and Cleveland Borough - Kirkleatham: Lib Dem 1,031, Lab 486, C 204, BNP 106 . (May 2007 - Two seats Lab 698. 691, Lib Dem 508, 503, C 438).

Oswestry Borough - Castle: Lib Dem 198, C 174, Ind 139. (May 2007 - Two seats C 439, 361, LD 274).