A Good Week for the Lib Dems in Council By Elections
The Liberal Democrats' week started well with Jennie Brent, the Independent councillor for the Eastney & Craneswater Ward of Portsmouth City Council joining the Liberal Democrats and the Portsmouth City LD Group. Jennie had left the Conservatives early in the Summer when she became an Independent.
Then over in Essex, Cllr Andy Wood who represented the North Clacton Division of Essex County Council has also joined the Liberal Democrats
Meanwhile we continue to make progress in Cambs - in East Cambridgeshire District this time - as Liberal Democrat Victoria Charlesworth got a good result on 4th October and made a dent in the Tory majority with a 12.5% increase in vote share.
Soham North & Isleham (East Cambs District) result:
CONSERVATIVES: 48.8% (-17.4)
LIB DEMOCRATS : 30.0% (+12.5)
LABOUR: 10.9% (-5.5)
IND: 10.4% (+10.4)
Conservative HOLD.
However veteran campaigner, Tony Rogers, who had previously been the town's MP, won a seat frrom Labour in the Moor Ward on Chesterfield Borough Council on the same day. UKIP made a rare appearance.
Moor (Chesterfield Borough) result:
LIB DEMOCRATS: 47.1% (+12.1)
LABOUR: 39.4% (-9.9)
CONSERVATIVES: 7.4% (-8.3)
UKIP: 6.1% (+6.1)
Liberal Democrat GAIN from Labour.
Sadly, the local Liberal Democrats failed to run a candidate in Thirsk
Thirsk Ward (Hambledon District Council) result:
CONSERVATIVES: 65.4% (+13.4)
LABOUR : 24.2% (+24.2)
YORKSHIRE PARTY: 10.4% (+10.4)
Conservative HOLD.
No Independent candidates (-47.9) as previously
Finally, better news from Hertfordshire, to round off this short report.
Tony Lillico and the Liberal Democrat team made a gain from the Conservatives on Thursday in a by-election on London Colney Parish Council.The result was 233 to Liberal Dems and 215 to Tories - our first victory in London Colney in a long while and yet another sign that things are moving in the Lib Dem direction!