Labour 'holding its own' in latest council by-elections » Central government » 24dash.com

Labour lost a council seat to Liberal Democrats in the latest council by-elections but there were signs from overall voting figures that the party was holding its own amid the financial crisis.

Liberal Democrats' Tony Potter gained at St George West, Bristol City Council.

But they surrendered a seat to Tories' Geoff Wiseman after failing to field a candidate at Middle Rasen, West Lindsey District, Lincolnshire.

Conservatives also recovered the Isle of Wight Council's Mount Joy seat after the the previous councillor quit the party's group.

Analysis of seven comparable results gives a projected nationwide three-party line-up of C 41.0%, Lab 30.5%, Lib Dem 21.4%. The figures for the Cheshire and East Cheshire results, fought on the same ward boundary, were averaged in the calculations.

The Tory margin is well down on the 20% lead given in a BBC survey at May's main polls.

RESULTS:

Bristol City - St George West: Lib Dem 923, Lab 816, C 509, Ind 257, Green 116, English Democrats 93. (May 2007 - Lab 1118, C 1077, Lib Dem 729). Lib Dem gain from Lab. Swing 8.5% Lab to Lib Dem.

Cheshire County - Knutsford: C 1647, Lib Dem 818, Lab 342. (May 2005 - C 3229, Lib Dem 2127, Lab 1478). C hold. Swing 6.6% Lib Dem to C.

East Cheshire Council - Knutsford: C 1679, Lib Dem 817, Lab 318. (May 2008 - Three seats C 2396, 2352, 2328, Lib Dem 1000, 922, 904, Lab 769). C hold. Swing 2.1% C to Lib Dem.

East Hampshire District - Holybourne and Froyle: C 424, Lib Dem 352. (May 2007 - C 632, Lib Dem 220, Lab 74). C hold. Swing 17.6% C to Lib Dem.

Haringey London Borough - Alexandra: Lib Dem 1460, Lab 772, C 443, Green 221, BNP 27. (May 2006 - Three seats Lib Dem 1966, 1937, 1914, Lab 720, 680, 661, Green 521, 500, 404, C 310, 286, 270). Lib Dem hold. Swing 6.6% Lib Dem to Lab.

Kent County - Herne Bay: C 2474, Lib Dem 1524, Lab 537, BNP 399, Ukip 252. (May 2005 - Two seats C 5189, 5189, Lib Dem 4530, 3928, Lab 3207, 2879, Ukip 938). C hold. Swing 5.6% Lib Dem to C.

Isle of Wight Council - Mount Joy: C 286, Lib Dem 155, No description 150, Lab 38. (May 2005 - C 565, Lib Dem 356, Lab 221, Liberal Party 30).
C gain from Ind. Swing 1.5% Lib Dem to C.

Southwark London Borough - Rotherhithe: Lib Dem 1149, Lab 618, C 255. (May 2006 - Three seats Lib Dem 1134, 1102, 1036, Lab 601, 596, 514, C 403, 367, 359, Green 242, 233, 222). Lib Dem hold. Swing 1.6% Lab to Lib Dem.

West Lindsey District - Middle Rasen: C 400, Ukip 125. (May 2007 - Lib Dem 534, C 425, Ukip 111). C gain from Lib Dem.