In addition to the Inverclyde by-election there were two local Council seats up for grabs on Thursday night. They were both successfully defended by the Conservatives but Labour continued their good run of by-election results by securing swings of over 10%. This was an especially impressive achievement in Wandsworth as Labour's performance in the capital last May was strong compared to the rest of the country.
I'll start in London where the Thamesfield ward in Wandsworth was vacant following the resignation of the Conservative Council Leader Edward Lister after his appointment as Boris Johnson's Chief of Staff in April. A hold was expected in this safe Tory ward and Mike Ryder didn't disappoint. He comfortably won with a majority of 475 but there was a significant swing towards the Labour candidate Christian Klapp. His hard work in the ward appears to have paid off as he increased his party's vote by 13.6% compared to last year's result. The swing was mostly from the Conservatives as, unusually, the Liberal Democrat vote held up well. The large Tory majority in Wandsworth was not under threat in this by-election and the next full Council elections are due to be held in 2014.
Thamesfield (Wandsworth) | |||
By-Election Candidate | Votes | Vote % | +/-* |
Mike Ryder (E) | 1497 | 45.8% | -10.1% |
Christian Klapp | 1022 | 31.3% | +13.6% |
Lisa Smart | 545 | 16.7% | -0.1% |
Marian Hoffman | 202 | 6.2% | -3.4% |
* compared to 2010 result
It was a similar story in the other by-election to take place this week. The vacancy in Cheshunt Central, Broxbourne BC (Hertfordshire) was caused by the resignation of Conservative Councillor Jason Brimson following his arrest on fraud charges. The circumstances of the by-election were not enough to prevent a Tory hold as Tony Siracusa still secured over half the vote for his party. Labour did manage a 14.4% swing but this was not enough to trouble the Conservatives in this safe ward. The Liberal Democrats were fielding a candidate in this ward for the first time in seven years and their reward was a paltry 24 votes, and last place behind UKIP and an Independent (who was a former Tory Councillor). The Conservatives enjoy a large majority in Broxbourne, where full Council elections are to take place next year on new boundaries.
Chesthunt Central (Broxbourne) | |||
By-Election Candidate | Votes | Vote % | +/-* |
Tony Siracusa (E) | 742 | 53.1% | -14.8% |
Richard Greenhill | 481 | 34.4% | +14.0% |
David Platt | 88 | 6.3% | +6.3% |
Joanne Welch | 62 | 4.4% | +4.4% |
Peter Huse | 24 | 1.7% | +1.7% |
* compared to 2011 result
Tom Harris
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