Triple blow for Tories in latest council by-elections » Local Government » 24dash.com

Liberal Democrats dealt a heavy blow to Tories in the latest council by-elections, taking three seats off them.

But there was also triumph for Labour which made one gain from Lib Dems amid indications supporting recent poll findings of a slip in Conservatives' nationwide lead.

Analysis of eight comparable results this month suggests a 9.4% projected Tory margin over Labour.

A calculation based on five wards fought both times by all three major parties gives a line-up of C 36.4%, Lib Dem 27.5%, Lab 26.1%.

Liberal Democrat Edith Longden gained at Blackbrook, High Peak Borough, Derbyshire.

Party candidate John Oxenham won by 15 votes at St Austell Bay, Cornwall Council.

Lib Dems' third gain came at Alveston, Stratford-on-Avon District, Warwickshire where Anthony Cronin won in a ward where the party had also returned another councillor in the 2008 main polls.

Labour's victor, Allan Harvey, took a Halewood South seat at Knowsley Borough, Merseyside which is next door to Liverpool where Lib Dems head for next May's main council polls with a majority of just two seats.

The city also contains a marginal Labour Commons constituency at Wavertree.

Results:

Cornwall Council - St Austell Bay: Lib Dem 690, C 675, Lab 66. (June 2009 - C 829, Lib Dem 468, Lab 98). Lib Dem gain from C. Swing 13.4% C to Lib Dem.

Flintshire County - Northop: Ind 343, C 280, Ind 227, Lab 197, Lib Dem 187. (May 2008 - Ind 910, Lab 403). Ind hold.

Fylde Borough - Clifton: C 386, Ratepayers 372, Lib Dem 241, Lab 80, Green 13. (May 2007 - C 837, 739, Ind 735, C 710, Lab 239). C hold. Swing 1% C to Lab.

Hertsmere Borough - Bushey Heath: C 748, Lib Dem 157, Lab 95. (May 2008 - C 1561, Lib Dem 177, Lab 162, Green 83). C hold. Swing 5.3% C to Lib Dem.

High Peak Borough - Blackbrook: Lib Dem 689, C 470, Lab 52. (May 2007 - C 959, 782, Lib Dem 649, 470). Lib Dem gain from C. Swing 20% C to Lib Dem.

Knowsley Borough - Halewood South: Lab 607, Lib Dem 486, BNP 113, TUSP 52, C 32, Ind 30. (May 2008 - Lib Dem 691, Lab 502, United Socialist Party 137, C 88, Ind 64). Lab gain from Lib Dem. Swing 10.9% Lib Dem to Lab.

Pembrokeshire County - St Dogmaels: Ind 483, Lib Dem 163, Ind 49. (May 2008 - Lib Dem 677, Ind 421; September 18 2007 by-election - Ind 496, Lib Dem 177, No description 160, C 57). Ind hold.

Stratford-on-Avon District - Alveston: LD 888, C 834, Lab 111, Green 58. (May 2008 - Lib Dem 1264, C 1088, Ukip 222). Lib Dem gain from C. Swing 1.9% Lib Dem to C.

Wirral Borough - Moreton West and Saughall Massie: C 2255, Lab 615, Lib Dem 134, Ind 121, Green 92. (May 2008 - C 2936, Lab 674, Lib Dem 237, Ukip 145, Green 137). C hold. Swing 1.9% C to Lab.