tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53784503711182631332024-03-27T06:37:47.296+00:00Britain VotesBritain Voteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982679942856883673noreply@blogger.comBlogger698125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5378450371118263133.post-87936965294900850162011-11-13T21:50:00.000+00:002011-11-13T21:50:03.760+00:00Britain-Votes.co.uk is moving house!!<span xmlns=''><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Britain-Votes.co.uk is pleased to announce that we are moving to a new site! After 21 months on Blogger we are having a little upgrade to WordPress; we think the new site looks a lot better and we can do a lot more with the new platform.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>We can assure you that the standard of content you have come to expect will continue in our new home and, as we get used to the platform, we intend to utilise the new features to improve our coverage.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>This site will remain here for a combination of sentimental and practical reasons, not least that if we ever have a problem with the new host server during a LiveBlog we can quickly switch back to here.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>If any of you subscribe to our RSS feed then you will need to switch onto <a href='http://britainvotes.survation.com/feed/'>THIS</a> one.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>So, thanks for following us over the last two years and we hope you will continue to enjoy this blog over on the new website.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Without further ado, please form an orderly queue and head to <a href='http://britainvotes.survation.com/2011/11/welcome/'>Britain-Votes.co.uk</a> !</span></p></span>Britain Voteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982679942856883673noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5378450371118263133.post-47886863686230965922011-11-13T15:25:00.001+00:002011-11-13T15:25:10.794+00:00Lib Dems win back another May loss; Labour’s night with three victories<span xmlns=''><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The Liberal Democrats pulled back another Council seat that they lost in May as they defeated the Conservatives in Ipswich on Thursday. That was not the only gain of the night as Labour put another nail in Respect's coffin by winning the by-election in Sparkbrook, Birmingham. Labour also enjoyed comfortable holds in the London Boroughs of Redbridge and Islington.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>I'll start in Ipswich where the St Margaret's ward was up for grabs following the <a href='http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/news/ipswich_councillor_quits_after_just_four_months_1_1014824'>resignation</a> of Conservative Councillor Sarah Stokes, barely four months after her election. The Tories have fallen short of winning this marginal ward in recent years but in the midst of a terrible night for the Liberal Democrats in May they managed to finally gain a seat here. The implication is that Stokes was not expecting her victory and her subsequent resignation left the Conservatives with a difficult defence against the recovering Lib Dems.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>As has been the case a number of times during the last few months the Liberal Democrats managed to regain a seat lost on May 5<sup>th</sup> as Cathy French won the by-election with a majority of 71. She enjoyed a 2.5% Con>LD swing to ensure that the Lib Dems hold all three seats in St Margarets again.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>It would seem the Liberal Democrats benefited from the lack of Green candidate, although as is usually the case in by-elections the low turnout meant all the parties received fewer votes than they did in May. Despite a <a href='http://britainvotes.blogspot.com/2011/11/by-election-preview-10th-november.html'>reportedly</a> strong campaign in the ward Labour actually slipped back relative to their May performance and may well have suffered from squeeze tactics from the two front runners.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>An interesting aspect of next May's local elections will be to see if the Liberal Democrats make these gains stick amidst a more national campaign. Opinion polling has not really registered the sort of recovery we are observing in by-elections and so we'll have to wait and see if the Lib Dems have touched their low water or whether there is still worse to come for the junior coalition partner.<br /></span></p><div><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:164px'/><col style='width:59px'/><col style='width:59px'/><col style='width:59px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>St Margaret's (Ipswich)</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Votes</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vote %</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+/-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Cathy French (E)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>942</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>41.8%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+6.8%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Stephen Ion</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>871</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>38.7%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+1.7%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Glen Chisholm</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>439</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>19.5%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-1.8%</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Although the Ipswich vacancy was top the billing last Thursday the night really belonged to Labour as they celebrated three victories across the country's two biggest cities. Their win in Sparkbrook, Birmingham was the most notable, especially as the result raises doubts about how much longer Respect will last in its current form. <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The by-election was taking place because Respect's Leader Salma Yaqoob <a href='http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2011/07/07/controversial-birmingham-councillor-salma-yaqoob-quits-over-health-fears-97319-29008094/'>resigned</a> due to ill-health and Labour would have immediately fancied their chances of gaining the seat having gained one of Respects three seats in the ward in May. Respect would also be without the personal vote of their Leader, who came a respectable second in Hall Green constituency in 2010 on the same day as she held her Council seat. Victoria Quinn managed to better Labour's performance in the spring and secured a 6.2% swing to easily win this by-election. <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>This loss leaves Respect with just one Councillor in Birmingham and a couple in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, where George Galloway sensationally became the party's first and only Member of Parliament in 2005. However, although the Respect group in Tower Hamlets has been reduced to a rump a new grouping in support of the elected Mayor of the Borough <a href='http://britainvotes.blogspot.com/2010/10/topsy-turvy-night-ends-with-big-defeat.html'>Lutfur Rahman</a> has a significant presence on the Council and it will be interesting to see if that survives through an election, or can be transferred beyond Tower Hamlets.<br /></span></p><div><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:43px'/><col style='width:43px'/><col style='width:43px'/><col style='width:36px'/><col style='width:7px'/><col style='width:43px'/><col style='width:10px'/><col style='width:33px'/><col style='width:26px'/><col style='width:17px'/><col style='width:43px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='11'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Birmingham City Council</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Lab</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Con</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>LD</span></p></td><td style='background: #d25a5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Res</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>56</span></p></td><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+1</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>39</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>24</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='background: #d25a5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1</span></p></td><td style='background: #d25a5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-1</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='11'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Sparkbrook</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Votes</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vote %</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+/-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Victoria Quinn (E)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>3932</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>56.7%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+6.9%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #d25a5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Mohammed Ishtiaq</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2301</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>33.2%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-5.6%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Adil Rashid</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>395</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>5.7%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-0.8%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #afe178; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Peter Tinsley</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>179</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2.6%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+0.4%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Sahar Rezazadeh</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>133</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1.9%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-0.8%</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>In London Labour successfully defended two marginal wards against the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats respectively. The more difficult defence was in Redbridge where Labour's sole Councillor in the Aldborough ward had <a href='http://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/news/news/labour_councillor_quits_aldborough_ward_newbury_park_due_to_workload_pressure_1_1076116'>resigned</a> because he couldn't keep up with the workload. They need not have worried as Debbie Thiara enjoyed a comfortable victory with a 7.7% swing from the 2010 result.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>In Islington Labour were defending the St Mary's ward against the Liberal Democrats and so a hold seemed likely given differing electoral fortunes of the two parties since the ward was last contested. Despite the somewhat controversial circumstances surrounding the vacancy Labour secured an easy victory, with Gary Poole's win representng a 9.7% swing from the Lib Dems to Labour compared to the 2010 result.<br /></span></p><div><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:43px'/><col style='width:43px'/><col style='width:43px'/><col style='width:36px'/><col style='width:7px'/><col style='width:43px'/><col style='width:10px'/><col style='width:33px'/><col style='width:26px'/><col style='width:16px'/><col style='width:43px'/><col style='width:42px'/><col style='width:164px'/><col style='width:51px'/><col style='width:8px'/><col style='width:49px'/><col style='width:10px'/><col style='width:61px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='11'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Redbridge London Borough Council</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Con</span></p></td><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Lab</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>LD</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Ind</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>29</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>25</span></p></td><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>7</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='11'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Aldborough</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='6'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>St Mary's (Islington)</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Votes</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vote %</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+/-</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Votes</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vote %</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+/-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Debbie Thiara (E)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1436</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>51.7%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+10.4%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Gary Poole (E)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1128</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>47.2%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+14.3%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Melvyn Marks</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1071</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>38.6%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-4.9%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Emily Fieran-Reed</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>641</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>26.8%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-5.1%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Christopher Greaves</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>87</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>3.1%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-12.0%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='background: #afe178; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Caroline Russell</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>317</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>13.3%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+1.4%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff64ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Paul Wiffen</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>83</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>3.0%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+3.0%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Oriel Hutchinson</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>282</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>11.8%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-8.3%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #afe178; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Clive Durdle</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>64</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2.3%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+2.3%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='background: #aa6ed2; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Walter Barfoot</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>22</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>0.9%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+0.9%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #aa6ed2; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Daniel Warville</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>34</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1.2%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+1.2%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><br /> </p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>Tom Harris</strong></span></p></span>Britain Voteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982679942856883673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5378450371118263133.post-36697219151480385942011-11-13T12:03:00.002+00:002011-11-15T01:50:24.071+00:00Welsh By-Election Preview: November 17th 2008<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" src="http://0.gvt0.com/vi/CqoCRsZG1ZQ/0.jpg" width="320" height="266"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CqoCRsZG1ZQ&fs=1&source=uds"><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CqoCRsZG1ZQ&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="266"></embed></object></span></div><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"Alea Jacta Est" announced Caesar as he led his troops across the Rubicon river near Rimini in 49BC. The phrase which roughly translates as "The die is cast" was a reference to the fact that Caesar was marching into an area controlled by Pompey and led to the formal establishment of the classical Roman empire and has come to mean in times since an action that means crossing a point of no return.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The 2008 local elections in Wales were seen at the time as a point of no return for Labour. Going into the elections with control of eight councils and 478 councillors, Labour came out of the elections losing control of all but two of the councils (losing their heartlands of Blaenau Gwent to NOC, Flintshire to NOC, Torfaen to NOC and Wrexham to NOC) and at the same time losing 130 councillors (27% of their defending councillors). The ward of Ruabon in Wrexham was a perfect demonstration of this.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In 2004, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:red;">Nicholas Colbourne </span>won the ward for Labour with a majority of 2 over Cyril Edwards (Independent) with <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#274e13;">Leon Price </span>polling 140 votes for Plaid Cymru and ending up in third some 10% behind in a five cornered contest. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:red;">Lab 29.56% </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">Ind 29.27% </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#274e13;">Plaid 19.80% </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:orange;">Lib Dem 10.74% </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#ea9999;">Forward Wales 10.60%</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#ea9999;"><br /></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In 2008 (having regained the Assembly constituency of Wrexham from John Marek of Forward Wales), Labour should have expected to hold on to wards like Ruabon, but the electorate had other ideas as on a swing of 15% from Labour to Plaid Cymru, Plaid gained the ward polling 44% of the vote (against Labour's 24% and a Non Party Independent candidate who polled 32%).</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Cllr. Leon Price became deputy leader of the Plaid Cymru grouping on the council and also served as <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background- line-height: 18px;color:white;" >Co-Chair of the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Committee but died in the middle of September. Plaid will seek to hold on to a ward that it gained at the height of Labour's unpopularity and have selected Pol Wong (a former martial arts champion) as their candidate. Labour (seeking to regain the seat) have chosen Dana Louise-Davies with the Conservatives selecting Adam Prescot Owen. Andy Kendrick is also standing again as a non party Independent and will hope to improve on his 32% vote share last time and perhaps gain the seat himself from Plaid. Polling opens at 7.00am and closes at 10.00pm with the polling station being located in the village hall of Ruabon.</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5378450371118263133.post-10793609487093628652011-11-10T18:30:00.001+00:002011-11-10T22:52:14.156+00:00By-Election Night Live: 10th November<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Should be a good night with four marginal wards up for grabs. Join us from 10.30pm...<br /><br /></span></span><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.coveritlive.com/index2.php/option=com_altcaster/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=f95ecf936d/height=550/width=470" scrolling="no" height="550px" width="470px" frameBorder ="0" allowTransparency="true" ><a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=f95ecf936d" >By-Election Night Live</a></iframe>Tom Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842647678841839576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5378450371118263133.post-10736754929214474992011-11-09T20:54:00.001+00:002011-11-09T21:29:17.929+00:00By-Election Preview (10th November)<span xmlns=''><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>There are four local council by-elections taking place tomorrow, all in marginal wards in urban England.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>Aldborough, Redbridge LBC</strong>; caused by the <a href='http://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/news/news/labour_councillor_quits_aldborough_ward_newbury_park_due_to_workload_pressure_1_1076116'>resignation</a> of Labour Councillor Mike Figg, allegedly because he couldn't keep up with the workload.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>One of the few wards in Greater London that contains any kind of rural area, this is the largest ward in Redbridge, running along the north side of the A12 Eastern Avenue up to the Barking/Dagenham border, and including the Fairlop Waters Country Park. The population of the ward is almost entirely squeezed into the south-west corner in the Aldborough Hatch area and the eastern part of Barkingside. It is served by Newbury Park and Barkingside underground stations on the Hainault Loop of the Central Line.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The ward's census areas are mostly in the middle or slightly below the middle of the deprivation indices; an interesting indicator from the 2001 census is a high Jewish population (12.6%).<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>In 2010 this was a split ward with Labour gaining one seat from the Conservatives who held the other two. At the 2008 GLA elections the Conservatives led Labour 38.5%-31.9% in the list vote and Boris led Ken by 45.3%-37.6%. With this ward being in the traditionally marginal constituency of Ilford North, and the Coalition currently running the hung Redbridge council, this by-election could be an interesting pointer. Candidates for the by-election are the three main parties plus the Greens, the BNP and UKIP.<br /></span></p><div><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:51px'/><col style='width:51px'/><col style='width:51px'/><col style='width:30px'/><col style='width:21px'/><col style='width:52px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Redbridge London Borough Council</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Con</span></p></td><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Lab</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>LD</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Ind</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vac</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>29</span></p></td><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>25</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>7</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Aldborough</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2010</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Melvyn Marks (Con)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>43.5%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Debbie Thiara (Lab)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>41.3%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Christopher Greaves (LD)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>15.2%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #afe178; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Clive Durdle (Grn)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #aa6ed2; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Daniel Warville (BNP)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff64ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Paul Wiffen (UKIP)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>St Margaret's, Ipswich BC</strong>; caused by the <a href='http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/news/ipswich_councillor_quits_after_just_four_months_1_1014824'>resignation</a> of Conservative Councillor Sarah Stokes, for personal reasons.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>This ward covers the north of the town, running from the edge of the town centre around Christchurch Park to the northern edge of the town. Mostly it is a well-off area with the exception of the area around Christchurch Park which is much more working-class.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The ward consistently voted Lib Dem from 2002 to 2010 but was normally marginal, and there were some very close battles with the Conservatives, particularly in 2007 (majority 43) and 2008 (majority 45). After years of trying, the Conservatives finally made a gain in May by just 60 votes, but the Conservative councillor has now resigned after just four months in office. The Lib Dems will be looking to gain the seat back.<br /></span></p><div><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:164px'/><col style='width:53px'/><col style='width:53px'/><col style='width:53px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>St Margaret's (Ipswich)</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>2011</strong></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2010</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2008</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Stephen Ion (Con)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>37.0%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>32.9%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>40.0%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Cathy French (LD)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>35.1%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>48.6%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>41.7%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Glen Chisholm (Lab)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>21.3%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>14.2%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>11.2%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #afe178; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>N/C (Grn)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>6.7%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>4.3%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>7.2%</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>St Mary's, Islington LBC</strong>; caused by the <a href='http://www.islingtontribune.com/news/2011/sep/councillor-joan-coupland-axed-not-attending-meetings'>disqualification</a> of a dissident Labour councillor who failed to attend any meetings of the council or its committees in six months. <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The heart of Islington, this ward stretches north along the A1 Upper Street from the Angel to the Highbury Corner roundabout and then north-west along the southern edge of the Holloway Road. It is served by Highbury and Islington station, a major interchange for the North London Line, the newly-extended East London Line, the Victoria Line and the Moorgate branch of the mainline rail network; the Moorgate branch's Essex Road station is also in the ward.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Islington has a trendy reputation (Boris Johnson lives in the ward St Peter's ward, where there was recently a <a href='http://britainvotes.blogspot.com/2011/08/lib-dems-pull-of-shock-gain-in-eton.html'>by-election</a>), but this is not yet reflected in the census figures; four of the ward's seven census areas are in the 20% most deprived in England, and the other three aren't much better off.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>This ward elected three Lib Dem councillors when it was created in 2002, but one of the Lib Dem councillors defected to Labour in 2005 (the one whose disqualification caused this by-election). She held her seat in her new colours in 2006 and Labour gained a second seat in the ward in 2010, when the Lib Dems generally performed poorly in a parliamentary constituency they were targeting. In 2008 Ken beat Boris here by 42.7%-37.0%. It will be interesting to see whether any Labour gain from not being in national government any longer is offset by them now running Islington council. Candidates for the by-election are the three main parties plus the Greens and the BNP.<br /></span></p><div><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:183px'/><col style='width:53px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>St Mary's (Islington)</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2010</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Gary Poole (Lab)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>32.9%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Emily Fieran-Reed (LD)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>32.0%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Oriel Hutchinson (Con)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>20.1%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #afe178; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Caroline Russell (Grn)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>11.9%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>N/C (Ind)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>3.2%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #aa6ed2; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Walter Barfoot (BNP)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>Sparkbrook, Birmingham MBC</strong>; caused by the <a href='http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2011/07/07/controversial-birmingham-councillor-salma-yaqoob-quits-over-health-fears-97319-29008094/'>resignation</a> of high-profile Respect Councillor and Party Leader Salma Yaqoob, due to ill-health.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Where do I start when describing Sparkbrook? It's an extremely depressed inner-city ward in southern Birmingham, including the Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath areas just outside the middle ring road. It is one of the largest wards in England by electorate, with 19,661 people eligible to vote in May's election. It has about twenty census areas, every single one of which is in the most deprived 20% in England. It is the home of the Balti Triangle, Birmingham's equivalent of Manchester's Curry Mile or London's Brick Lane. But there's one thing above all that defines its politics: the 59% of the population who (on slightly different boundaries) gave their religion in the 2001 census as Muslim.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>That fact has made Sparkbrook the only stronghold of the Respect party outside London, starting in 2006 when Yaqoob gained a seat from Labour on an enormous swing from the Lib Dems, who topped the poll here in 2004 and won two out of three seats. Respect gained the two Lib Dem seats in 2007 and 2008 and held a by-election in September 2009 after one of their councillors went bankrupt. <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Yaqoob was re-elected in 2010, polling more than 5,000 votes, and on the same day came a creditable second in the general election in Birmingham Hall Green, polling 25.1% to 32.9% for Labour; she could have cause to curse the boundary changes which abolished the much more strongly Muslim seat of Birmingham Sparkbrook & Small Heath. However, a change came in May when Labour gained a seat. Labour now have a chance to gain a second seat, and have selected a high-profile candidate in the shape of Victoria Quinn, partner of the veteran Labour group leader Sir Albert Bore, while Respect have selected their former councillor who lost his seat in May. With the ward's large Kashmiri population, Pakistan-style biraderi politics could be crucial in deciding the result.<br /></span></p><div><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:81px'/><col style='width:81px'/><col style='width:21px'/><col style='width:55px'/><col style='width:5px'/><col style='width:51px'/><col style='width:30px'/><col style='width:25px'/><col style='width:55px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='9'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Birmingham City Council</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Lab</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Con</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>LD</span></p></td><td style='background: #d25a5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Res</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vac</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>55</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>39</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>24</span></p></td><td style='background: #d25a5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='9'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Sparkbrook</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2011</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>2010</strong></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2009 b/e</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2008</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Victoria Quinn (Lab)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>49.8%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>34.2%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>35.4%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>41.3%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #d25a5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Mohammed Ishtiaq (Res)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>38.8%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>45.1%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>39.6%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>48.2%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Adil Rashid (LD)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>6.5%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>8.6%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>8.0%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>7.4%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Sahar Rezazadeh (Con)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2.8%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>9.1%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>12.7%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>5.9%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #afe178; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Peter Tinsley (Grn)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2.2%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>3.1%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>3.4%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>3.8%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>N/C (Ind)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>0.9%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>N/C (Comm. Ind. Party)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>4.3%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #aa6ed2; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>N/C (BNP)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1.7%</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><br /> </p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>Andrew Teale</strong></span></p></span>Britain Voteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982679942856883673noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5378450371118263133.post-63170120148817442732011-11-08T16:00:00.000+00:002011-11-08T16:00:21.362+00:00Kay’s Column: Spurned by women, Cameron courts the gay vote<span xmlns=""><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">David Cameron has been on the chase for gay votes after successfully scaring all of the women away.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">At the Conservative Party conference in Manchester <a href="http://www.metro.co.uk/news/877663-david-cameron-issues-rallying-cry-as-fears-of-double-dip-recession-grow">last month</a> he was urging his party to support his proposals to legalise gay marriage. More recently he angered <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15558769">some African leaders</a> by suggesting that the UK would reduce the amount of aid it gives to countries which fail to respect gay rights. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">At the conference Cameron said: "Conservatives believe in the ties that bind us; that society is stronger when we make vows to each other and support each other. I don't support gay marriage despite being a Conservative. I support gay marriage because I'm a Conservative."<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">None of this has anything to do with his ongoing and increasingly uphill (now bordering on vertical) battle to win back the lady's. Vote, that is.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">It would be hard to suggest that Cameron has a 'way with women', unless of course that 'way' involves sending them running in the opposite direction. Whilst, worryingly, he's grown on me a bit since becoming Prime Minister, the same cannot be said across the female spectrum.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">According to a recent YouGov poll one in three women think that David Cameron is a male chauvinistic pig.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Ok, that's not strictly true but he was voted as the most '<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2056126/Samantha-tells-Calm-dear--David-Cameron-makes-play-female-vote.html?ito=feeds-newsxml">male chauvinist</a> ' , although out of a pool of himself, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband is that really saying a lot? Even Pingu, a little animated penguin, would probably beat Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband in a chauvinisticity contest.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">And this is fine, actually, because that's what we want in our modern day politicians. We've moved away a bit from the aggressive, macho power hungry politics.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">We like our politicians to be clean shaven and well dressed, intelligent and thoughtful. Preferably not getting drunk or having affairs and all of that dirty business. The likes of Cameron are well advised in ensuring that they are perceived in the right way, ie. not menacing to children, looking interested when women are talking and so on.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Despite this he has managed to do enough to make all of the women in the country hate him (see '<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13207256">Calm Down Dear-Gate</a> for more).<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Obviously we don't all hate him. But his commons slip-ups, along with widespread reports that Tory policy <a href="http://www.thefword.org.uk/blog/2010/12/legal_aid_cuts">disproportionally affects women</a>, haven't done much to help him. This is of course largely referring to the cuts made to try and get the country's finances back on track which are said to affect women more than any other social group.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">To add to his woes another YouGov poll found that only 11 per cent of people felt that the Tory party '<a href="http://cdn.yougov.com/today_uk_import/yg-archives-pol-st-results-16-180911.pdf">best understands and reflects the views of women voters'</a>.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Unfortunately for Cameron his apologies and attempts to secure the 'pink vote' are unlikely to be enough to make amends.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">For any of you who have had the pleasure of knowing a woman we have a natural ability when it comes to remembering the things men have done to upset us.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Politics is no different.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Cameron will be hung out to dry for a while yet and it's unlikely that his actions on gay rights are likely to sway women's opinion because we're very, very stubborn.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">He might be trying to demonstrate his nicer side and keep as far away from the 'nasty party' image as much as possible but he should be wary, we won't be fooled.<br /></span></p><p><br /> </p><p><a href="http://kayleighroselewis.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><strong>Kayleigh Lewis</strong></span></a></p></span>Britain Voteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982679942856883673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5378450371118263133.post-17826083908361394632011-11-07T22:11:00.001+00:002011-11-07T22:11:02.427+00:00By-Election Watch (07/11/11)<span xmlns=''><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Here are this week's changes to the by-election <a href='http://britainvotes.blogspot.com/p/by-elections.html'>page</a>:<br /></span></p><div><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:169px'/><col style='width:64px'/><col style='width:103px'/><col style='width:134px'/><col style='width:74px'/><col style='width:74px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>Council</strong></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>Type</strong></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>Ward</strong></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>Defending Party</strong></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>Reason</strong></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>Date</strong></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Kingston-upon-Thames</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>London</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Coombe Vale</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Conservative (x2)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Resigned</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>15th Dec</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> </span> </p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Waveney</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>District</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Worlingham</span></p></td><td style='background: #dedede; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Independent</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Resigned</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>TBA</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Not much has changed since the last update, but as that was only five days ago I'm sure that has something to do with it!<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>We knew about the Kingston-upon-Thames vacancy last week but since then a date has been set and another Councillor in the ward has resigned.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The vacancy in Waveney has an interesting back story; the Conservative Councillor Andrew Draper was caught <a href='http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/drink_driving_councillor_assaulted_police_officer_in_lowestoft_1_1002838'>drink driving</a> and made matters worse by assaulting a police officer as they tried to handcuff him. This all happened in August and Draper had already resigned from the cabinet and left the Conservatives before finally vacating his Council seat today.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>(I think) Tomorrow is an important date for Council by-elections as the 'six-month' rule comes into force. Any vacancy in a seat up for election in 2012 will be left empty until May's elections. In practice, even if the term does not end next year vacant seats in wards which will be voting anyway may well be left until the big polling day anyway.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>We have four by-elections on Thursday, and they're in more interesting wards than last week's batch; the usual coverage will be provided.<br /></span></p><p><br /> </p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>Tom Harris</strong></span></p></span>Britain Voteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982679942856883673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5378450371118263133.post-80259545466618465062011-11-05T12:49:00.001+00:002011-11-06T17:45:46.544+00:00Lib Dems enjoy shock gain in the Highlands<span xmlns=''><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The Inverness South, Highland by-election confounded all expectations and resulted in a recently very rare Liberal Democrat gain from Labour. Labour's first preference vote was sharply down, which is possibly expected given the cloud under which the former Labour councillor resigned. <br /></span></p><div><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:30px'/><col style='width:29px'/><col style='width:30px'/><col style='width:30px'/><col style='width:30px'/><col style='width:29px'/><col style='width:29px'/><col style='width:29px'/><col style='width:21px'/><col style='width:8px'/><col style='width:34px'/><col style='width:29px'/><col style='width:8px'/><col style='width:21px'/><col style='width:29px'/><col style='width:29px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='16'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Highland Council</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='2'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>IND</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>LD</span></p></td><td style='background: #ffff78; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>SNP</span></p></td><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Lab</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid black 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>IMG</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>IAG</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid black 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>N-A</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>25</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>21</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+1</span></p></td><td style='background: #ffff78; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>17</span></p></td><td style='background: #ffff78; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>6</span></p></td><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-1</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>6</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>4</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='16'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Inverness South</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Votes</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='4'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vote %</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+/-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ffff78; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Ken Gowans</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>885</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>33.9%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+7.0%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Carolyn Caddick (E)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>747</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>28.7%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+5.6%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Katherine MacKenzie</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Arial'>308</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>11.8%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-5.3%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>David Bonsor</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Arial'>290</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>11.1%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+0.6%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #afe178; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Gale Falconer</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Arial'>157</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>6.0%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+6.0%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Donald Boyd (ChrP)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>126</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>4.8%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+4.8%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>David McGrath (Ind)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>94</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>3.6%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+3.6%</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The SNP benefitted from this the most in the first preference vote share, but the transfers from each round soon started closing the gap until the Lib Dems finally took the lead in the final round, winning by just seven votes.<br /><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:171px'/><col style='width:52px'/><col style='width:45px'/><col style='width:26px'/><col style='width:33px'/><col style='width:36px'/><col style='width:26px'/><col style='width:33px'/><col style='width:36px'/><col style='width:26px'/><col style='width:33px'/><col style='width:36px'/><col style='width:32px'/><col style='width:33px'/><col style='width:46px'/><col style='width:32px'/><col style='width:33px'/><col style='width:46px'/><col style='width:64px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='16'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Stage (Quota = 1304)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='middle'> </td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>1stP%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>3</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>4</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>5</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>6</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='middle'> </td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ffff78; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Ken Gowans (SNP)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>33.9%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>885</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>18</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>19%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>903</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>19</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>15%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>922</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>45</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>24%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>967</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>38</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>11%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>1005</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>79</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>21%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>1084</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='middle'><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>(41.6%)</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Carolyn Caddick (LD)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>28.7%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>747</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>14</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>15%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>761</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>16</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>12%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>777</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>53</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>28%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>830</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>141</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>42%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>971</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>120</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>32%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>1091</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='middle'><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>(41.8%)</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Katherine MacKenzie (Lab)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>11.8%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>308</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>11</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>12%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>319</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>8</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>6%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>327</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>30</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>16%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>357</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>22</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>6%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:red; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt; text-decoration:line-through'>379</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em> </em></span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='middle'><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'> </span> </p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>David Bonsor (Con)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>11.1%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>290</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>10</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>11%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>300</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>36</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>28%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>336</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>3</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>2%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:red; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt; text-decoration:line-through'>339</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em> </em></span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em> </em></span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='middle'><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'> </span> </p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #afe178; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Gale Falconer (Grn)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>6.0%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>157</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>15</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>16%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>172</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>17</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>13%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:red; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt; text-decoration:line-through'>189</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em> </em></span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em> </em></span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em> </em></span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='middle'><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'> </span> </p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Donald Boyd (ChrP)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>4.8%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>126</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>4</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>4%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:red; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt; text-decoration:line-through'>130</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em> </em></span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em> </em></span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em> </em></span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em> </em></span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='middle'><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'> </span> </p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>David McGrath (Ind)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>3.6%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:red; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt; text-decoration:line-through'>94</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em> </em></span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em> </em></span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em> </em></span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em> </em></span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em> </em></span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='middle'><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'> </span> </p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid black 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>No-Transfer</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>-</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>22</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>23%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>22</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>34</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>26%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>56</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>58</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>31%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>114</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>138</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>41%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>252</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>180</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>47%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>432</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='middle'><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>(16.6%)</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Christian Party had a relatively good result by their standard and their vote, along with the Independent candidate's, were the only ones to transfer more in favour to the SNP than the Liberal Democrats. The Greens were eliminated next, also with a fairly good result for them, breaking just slightly in favour of the Liberal Democrats. However, it was the Labour and Conservative transfers that gave the Liberal Democrats their winning advantage.<br /></p><p>The result, a genuine surprise, has given a lot of Lib Dem tweeters some hope and satisfaction today, although it remains to be seen if this is a sign of Lib Dem resilience in the Highlands, or just an example of local issues bolstering their support. As this is a <span style='text-decoration:line-through'>three</span> four member ward, there are still only likely to hold one seat here come next May based on the vote share they received here, so they will need to make progress on this scale on a much wider basis to make any progress, which for the moment still looks unlikely.<br /></p><p>The other of Thursday night's Scottish by-elections in Oban North & Lorn, Argyle & Bute proved to be by far the most predictable. The SNP considerably increased their share of the first preference votes, although it still took the elimination of all the other candidates for the SNP to finally defeat the Conservatives in the final round, without reaching quota.<br /></p><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:30px'/><col style='width:29px'/><col style='width:29px'/><col style='width:29px'/><col style='width:29px'/><col style='width:29px'/><col style='width:29px'/><col style='width:29px'/><col style='width:22px'/><col style='width:7px'/><col style='width:29px'/><col style='width:29px'/><col style='width:15px'/><col style='width:14px'/><col style='width:33px'/><col style='width:33px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='16'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Argyll & Bute Council</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='2'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>AoIC</span></p></td><td style='background: #ffff78; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>SNP</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>LD</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>AF</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Con</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>N-A</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>A&BICG</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>13</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='background: #ffff78; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>9</span></p></td><td style='background: #ffff78; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>6</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>3</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='16'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Oban North & Lorn</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Votes</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='4'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vote %</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+/-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ffff78; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Louise Glen-Lee (E)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1081</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>44.1%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+21.8%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Roy Rutherford</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>505</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>20.6%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+12.1%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Gwyneth Neal</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>438</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>17.9%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+17.9%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Graham Dale</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>260</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>10.6%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-4.0%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>George Doyle</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>165</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>6.7%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+2.9%</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Neal polled strongly and Doyle improved on his 2007 showing, but the overall Independent vote was sharply down, possibly due to a squeeze effect between the SNP and the Conservatives, or just because the reduced number of independent candidates failed to attract the voters who gave their first preferences to independents in 2007. The Lib Dem vote was pretty static compared to the other two parties' gains, and overall it's hard to draw comparisons for next year as it seems like the vote may be more dependent on the availability of Independent candidates than anything else.<br /><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:165px'/><col style='width:64px'/><col style='width:56px'/><col style='width:26px'/><col style='width:33px'/><col style='width:50px'/><col style='width:26px'/><col style='width:33px'/><col style='width:50px'/><col style='width:32px'/><col style='width:33px'/><col style='width:56px'/><col style='width:71px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='10'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Stage (Quota = 1225)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='middle'> </td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1stP%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>3</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>4</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='middle'> </td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ffff78; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Louise Glen-Lee (SNP)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>44.1%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1081</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>36</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>22%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1117</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>62</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>23%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1179</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>195</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>35%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>1374</strong></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>(56.1%)</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Roy Rutherford (Con)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>20.6%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>505</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>18</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>11%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>523</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>68</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>25%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>591</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>167</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>30%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>758</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>(31%)</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Gwyneth Neal (Ind)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>17.9%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>438</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>58</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>35%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>496</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>65</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>24%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:red; font-family:Trebuchet MS; text-decoration:line-through'>561</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em> </em></span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> </span> </p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Graham Dale (LD)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>10.6%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>260</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>13</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>8%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:red; font-family:Trebuchet MS; text-decoration:line-through'>273</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em> </em></span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em> </em></span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> </span> </p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>George Doyle (Ind)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>6.7%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:red; font-family:Trebuchet MS; text-decoration:line-through'>165</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em> </em></span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em> </em></span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em> </em></span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> </span> </p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid black 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>No-Transfer</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>40</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>24%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>40</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>78</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>29%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>118</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:#7f7f7f; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>199</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'><em>35%</em></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>317</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>(12.9%)</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /> </p><p><a href='http://www.kristoferkeane.co.uk/'><strong>Kristofer Keane</strong></a></p></p></span></p></span>Britain Voteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982679942856883673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5378450371118263133.post-2140757663520937572011-11-04T20:56:00.001+00:002011-11-04T20:56:31.093+00:00No surprises as Tories notch up two easy holds<span xmlns=''><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The Conservatives were not troubled in either of yesterday's by-elections as they held two seats in the Midlands. <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>In Syston Ridgeway, Leicestershire CC Stephen Hampson maintained the Tories' share of the vote compared to the 2009 election, although the other parties switched around a bit. Labour improved on their last place two and a half years ago to beat the British Nationalists and the Liberal Democrats to second place.<br /></span></p><div><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:164px'/><col style='width:59px'/><col style='width:59px'/><col style='width:61px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Syston Ridgeway (Leicestershire)</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Votes</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vote %</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+/-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Stephen Hampson (E)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>981</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>52.1%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-0.5%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Colin Lovell</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>490</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>26.0%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+15.4%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #aa6ed2; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Cathy Duffy</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>279</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>14.8%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-4.5%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Richard Miller</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>132</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>7.0%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-10.4%</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Over in the West Midlands the Conservatives enjoyed an emphatic victory in Yoxall, East Staffordshire DC. The 84% of the vote Beryl Behague received was a 5% improvement on May in this straight fight with Labour.<br /></span></p><div><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:164px'/><col style='width:59px'/><col style='width:59px'/><col style='width:59px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Yoxall (East Staffordshire)</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Votes</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vote %</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+/-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Beryl Behague (E)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>478</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>84.3%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+5.0%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>John McKiernan</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>89</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>15.7%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-5.0%</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><br /> </p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>Tom Harris</strong></span></p></span>Britain Voteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982679942856883673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5378450371118263133.post-50210078702286514902011-11-03T18:00:00.000+00:002011-11-03T18:00:03.389+00:00By-Election Night Live: 3rd November<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I know at least one of the by-election counts are taking place tomorrow morning but we'll be on the look out for the others. </span></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Join us from 10.30...</span></span><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.coveritlive.com/index2.php/option=com_altcaster/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=f7c98c9016/height=550/width=470" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="550px" scrolling="no" width="470px">&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=f7c98c9016" &amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;By-Election Night Live&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;</iframe>Tom Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842647678841839576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5378450371118263133.post-91490328617586395292011-11-03T12:00:00.000+00:002011-11-03T12:00:01.236+00:00By-Election Preview (3rd November – Scottish Edition)<span xmlns=''><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>This week's two Scottish by-elections are coming from Oban North & Lorn ward of Argyll & Bute Council, and the Inverness South ward of Highland Council.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Addressing Argyll first, Oban North and Lorn is a largely rural ward covering a small portion of the north of Oban along with a wide rural expanse both to the north and south of the town. The by-election here was necessitated by the <a href='http://forargyll.com/2011/08/councillor-donald-macdonald/'>death</a> of Scottish Nationalist Councillor Donald MacDonald. In common with much of rural Scotland, Independent candidates dominated the election here back in 2007, winning 2 out of 4 seats and taking half of the vote between six candidates. The other seat here went to the Liberal Democrats, who formed an administration along with most of the Independents on the council.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>That pattern could be set to change however, with only two Independent candidates in this by-election, one of whom had stood in 2007 only taking 4% of the first preferences. The SNP look likely to be the strongest party in this by-election as they were quite comfortably ahead of the Lib Dems on first preferences last time around. Although the latter have the benefit of having the only party incumbent here, but it remains to be seen how much they will be affected in Argyll by their post-coalition drop in support across Scotland. <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The Conservatives had a low vote share last time though, and there is no Labour candidate in what is a county where they essentially do not exist, meaning there is little in the way of organised opposition to take advantage of any Lib Dem collapse. Doyle could potentially increase his vote in the reduced field of independent candidates, although Gwyneth Neal is likely to be the Independent to watch, with a seemingly wide-ranging number of positions across various boards and bodies in the area.<br /></span></p><div><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:66px'/><col style='width:66px'/><col style='width:66px'/><col style='width:66px'/><col style='width:66px'/><col style='width:1px'/><col style='width:66px'/><col style='width:66px'/><col style='width:66px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='9'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Argyll & Bute Council</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>AoIC</span></p></td><td style='background: #ffff78; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>SNP</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>LD</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>AF</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Con</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>N-A</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>A&BICG</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vac</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>13</span></p></td><td style='background: #ffff78; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>8</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>6</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>3</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='9'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Oban North & Lorn</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2007</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>N/C (Ind)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>50.7%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ffff78; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Louise Glen-Lee (SNP)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>22.4%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Graham Dale (LD)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>14.6%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Roy Rutherford (Con)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>8.5%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>George Doyle (Ind)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>3.9%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Gwyneth Neal (Ind)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>* AoIC = Alliance of Independent Councillors; AF = Argyll First; N-A = Non-Aligned; A&BICG = Argyll & Bute Independent Councillor Group.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Moving north to Inverness, the seat here was vacated by Labour Councillor John Holden after being <a href='http://www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk/News/Convicted-fraud-councillor-resigns-from-local-authority-08092011.htm'>jailed</a> for benefits fraud. Inverness South covers the south-eastern fringe of the city along with a vast expanse of virtually empty land sweeping to the south along the A9 road and the River Earn, and as a point of interest also contains the site of the Battle of Culloden which ended the Jacobite uprising of 1745.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Any uprising this time around is likely to be to the benefit of the SNP who took the most first preferences here in 2007. In contrast to the Oban seat, Inverness South has much more significant party political support with a seat each for the SNP, Liberal Democrats and Labour as well as one independent. Akin to Labour in Argyll, the Highland Council area is a Tory-free zone for councillors, although this was one of their relatively stronger wards in the region. This time around, all four main Scottish parties are contesting the seat along with the Greens, a new Independent candidate, and the Christian Party who are fielding their Scottish leader who lives in the city. <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The Christian Party poll relatively well here, and beat the Conservatives in an Inverness West by-election back in 2009. However, the likely contenders for the seat will be the SNP unless the Lib Dems can maintain their previous support here or if Labour can somehow increase their support despite their former councillor's departure under a cloud.<br /></span></p><div><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:38px'/><col style='width:31px'/><col style='width:41px'/><col style='width:39px'/><col style='width:41px'/><col style='width:38px'/><col style='width:39px'/><col style='width:40px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='8'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Highland Council</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>IND</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>LD</span></p></td><td style='background: #ffff78; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>SNP</span></p></td><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Lab</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>IMG</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>IAG</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>N-A</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vac</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>25</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>20</span></p></td><td style='background: #ffff78; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>17</span></p></td><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>6</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>6</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>4</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='8'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Inverness S</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2007</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ffff78; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Ken Gowans (SNP)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>27%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Carolyn Caddick (LD)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>23%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>N/C (Ind)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>22.4%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Katherine MacKenzie (Lab)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>17.1%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>David Bonsor (Con)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>10.5%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Donald Boyd (ChrP)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #afe178; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Gale Falconer (Grn)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>David McGrath (Ind)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='middle' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>* IMG = Independent Members Group; IAG = Independent Alliance Group.<br /></span></p><p><a href='http://www.kristoferkeane.co.uk/'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>Kristofer Keane</strong></span></a></p></span>Britain Voteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982679942856883673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5378450371118263133.post-78059008128078989442011-11-02T16:30:00.001+00:002011-11-08T18:50:38.067+00:00By-Election Preview (3rd November – English Edition)<span xmlns=""><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><em>We're back in the Midlands for this week's English by-elections and I'm not going to lie; they aren't exactly marginals! We have a couple from Scotland too though so look out for Kristofer Keane's article on them later this evening. First, here's Andrew Teale's preview of the elections in Leicestershire and East Staffordshire. <strong>TH<br /></strong></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><strong>Syston Ridgeway, Leicestershire County Council</strong>; caused by the <a href="http://www.inloughborough.com/news/100139/Council%20leader%20pays%20tribute%20to%20Mike%20Preston">death</a> of Conservative Councillor Mike Preston.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Located six miles north-east of Leicester on the Fosse Way and the road to Melton is the town of Syston. These days it's a commuter town for the city of Leicester, with Syston station having hourly trains to Leicester and Nottingham on the so-called Ivanhoe Line, and its politics basically reflects that. This county division combines the eastern half of the town with the even richer villages of Queniborough and Rearsby to the north and a rural area to the east as far as South Croxton. Only one of the division's six-and-a-half census areas (in central Syston) is within England's most deprived 40%, while two-and-a-half (Queniborough, Rearsby and another part of Syston) are in the least deprived 20%.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">In 2009 there was a large Conservative majority with the British National Party finishing a rather distant second with 19% of the vote. The BNP have performed well in this part of Leicestershire over the last few years and in May they held their seat in East Goscote ward of Charnwood council (one of only two seats the BNP won in May). East Goscote ward borders this county division and the BNP councillor is standing in this by-election against the three main parties.<br /></span></p><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse" border="0"><colgroup><col style="width:188px"><col style="width:52px"></colgroup><tbody valign="top"><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Syston Ridgeway (Lei'shire)</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >2009</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Stephen Hampson (Con)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >52.6%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #aa6ed2; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Cathy Duffy (BNP)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >19.4%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Richard Miller (LD)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >17.4%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Colin Lovell (Lab)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >10.6%</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><strong>Yoxall, East Staffordshire</strong>; caused by the <a href="http://www.uttoxeteradvertiser.co.uk/News/Former-mayor-quits-as-borough-councillor-29092011.htm">resignation</a> of a Conservative councillor who "wants to spend more time on his farm" - he was elected for the first time in May so perhaps decided that being a local councillor wasn't for him.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">East Staffordshire is a starkly divided local government district, with the usually-Labour brewing town of Burton-upon-Trent normally outvoted by the Tory town of Uttoxeter and the rural area of which this ward is a part. It consists of several villages on or just off the A515 Lichfield-Ashbourne road, with Yoxall itself at the south end, Newborough at the north end and Hoar Cross in between.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">May's result was an easy victory for the Conservatives, although from Labour's point of view is an improvement on the 87%/13% drubbing they got in 2007. The by-election is another straight Con/Lab fight.<br /></span></p><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse" border="0"><colgroup><col style="width:174px"><col style="width:52px"></colgroup><tbody valign="top"><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Yoxall (E. Staffs)</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >2011</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Beryl Behague (Con)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >79.3%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >John McKiernan (Lab)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >20.7%</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><br /> </p><p><a href="http://www.andrewteale.me.uk/leap/"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><strong>Andrew Teale</strong></span></a></p></span>Britain Voteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982679942856883673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5378450371118263133.post-64859995512581735182011-11-02T14:32:00.001+00:002011-11-02T14:32:56.426+00:00By-Election Watch (02/11/11)<span xmlns=''><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Here are this week's changes to the by-election <a href='http://britainvotes.blogspot.com/p/by-elections.html'>page</a>:<br /></span></p><div><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:173px'/><col style='width:71px'/><col style='width:235px'/><col style='width:132px'/><col style='width:74px'/><col style='width:75px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>Council</strong></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>Type</strong></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>Ward</strong></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>Defending Party</strong></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>Reason</strong></span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>Date</strong></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Ashford</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>District</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Beaver</span></p></td><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Labour</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Death</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>24th Nov</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Rochford</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>District</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Rayleigh Central</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Conservative</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Death</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1st Dec</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Somerset</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>County</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Brent</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Conservative</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Death</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1st Dec</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>South Lanarkshire</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Scotland</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Hamilton West & Earnock</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Independent</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Death</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>8th Dec</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> </span> </p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> </span> </p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Derbyshire Dales</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>District</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Bradwell</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Conservative</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Death</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>TBA</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Kingston-upon-Thames</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>London</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Coombe Vale</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Conservative</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Resigned</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>TBA</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Newcastle-under-Lyme</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>District</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Madeley</span></p></td><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Labour</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Death</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>TBA</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>South Lanarkshire</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Scotland</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Hamilton West & Earnock</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Independent</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Death</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>TBA</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Staffordshire</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>County</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Leek South</span></p></td><td style='background: #ff64ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>UKIP</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Death</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>TBA</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Staffordshire Moorlands</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>District</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Leek North</span></p></td><td style='background: #ff64ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>UKIP</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Death</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>TBA</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Suffolk</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>County</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Kesgrave & Rushmere St Andrew</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Conservative</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Death</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>TBA</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Suffolk Coastal</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>District</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Kesgrave East</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Conservative</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Death</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>TBA</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Walsall</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Metro.</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Birchills Leamore</span></p></td><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Labour</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Death</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>TBA</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Apologies for the late updates this week; I was away at the weekend and just haven't properly caught up yet.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Sadly, a number of new vacancies have reported over the last nine days, although it looks a bit worse than it is as in two cases the sitting Councillor held office at District <em>and</em> County level.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>There are nineteen by-elections taking place in November and plenty more to be arranged so it looks like we'll be busy up until December. The "six month rule" kicks in next week but as there are not as many Councils up for election next May our list is likely to remain quite long for the foreseeable future.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Andrew Teale's preview of this week's English by-elections will be up this evening.<br /></span></p><p><br /> </p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>Tom Harris</strong></span></p></span>Britain Voteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982679942856883673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5378450371118263133.post-79010296619597653002011-11-01T20:17:00.001+00:002011-11-01T20:17:14.390+00:00Labour make significant gains in the Midlands<span xmlns=''><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Labour were celebrating key victories in the Midlands last Thursday as they gained two seats from the Conservatives on tight Councils. In Walsall Labour followed up their gain in <a href='http://britainvotes.blogspot.com/2010/07/labour-continue-to-gain-seats-in.html'>Bloxwich West</a> last year with another in Bloxwich East, which now leaves control of the Council very much in the balance as both them and the Tories now hold 27 seats a piece on the 60 seat Council. Labour also put the pressure on the Conservatives in Newcastle-under-Lyme as their win in Newchapel reduced the Conservative/Liberal Demcorat coalition's majority on the Council to seven with another vacancy pending in the Borough. Labour may need to make a net gain of just four seats in May to take control of the Council.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The vacancy in Bloxwich West was caused by the <a href='http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2011/09/07/tributes-to-walsall-councillor-bill-tweddle-97319-29380148/'>death</a> of Conservative Councillor Bill Tweddle, who had held his seat very comfortably in 2008 with almost 60% of the vote. Since then Labour have won the other two seats in the ward, although their margin of victory in May was just 14 votes. Julie Fitzpatrick had a much less stressful evening as a 2% swing towards Labour since the spring election gave her a majority of 88 votes over the Conservative candidate Les Beeley.<br /></span></p><div><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:43px'/><col style='width:43px'/><col style='width:43px'/><col style='width:36px'/><col style='width:7px'/><col style='width:43px'/><col style='width:10px'/><col style='width:33px'/><col style='width:26px'/><col style='width:17px'/><col style='width:43px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='11'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Walsall Council</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Lab</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Con</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>LD</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Ind</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>27</span></p></td><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+1</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>27</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-1</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>5</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='11'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Bloxwich East</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Votes</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vote %</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+/-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Julie Fitzpatrick (E)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>922</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>48.0%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+5.2%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Les Beeley</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>834</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>43.5%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+1.1%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff64ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Derek Bennett (UKIP)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>98</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>5.1%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-3.0%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #fa6eaf; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Chris Newey (ED)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>49</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2.6%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+2.6%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #afe178; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Leandra Gebrakendan</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>16</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>0.8%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+0.8%</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Labour's victory in Newchapel, Newcastle-under-Lyme BC was much more emphatic as Elsie Bates secured a 5.4% swing from the Conservatives compared to the May result. It seems Labour benefited from the absence of Independent candidate Victor Jukes, who polled a respectable 18% in the spring. Most of his support seemed to head to Labour, although it is worth noting that due to the low turnout they received less actual votes than in May's election.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>UKIP's performance in this by-election is notable as they increased their vote share by 6% compared to May. It has been suggested that this may be as a result of last week's EU Referendum debate in Parliament but I am sceptical. UKIP are relatively well organised in Staffordshire and the increase in vote share (although, not in actual votes) is likely to be a reflection of their ability to commit activists to a by-election campaign. After all, they did marginally better in the 2010 by-election that took place in this very ward. The fact UKIP's results in the other by-elections last week were unremarkable suggests the anti-EU haven't significantly benefited from the news cycle at a local level.<br /></span></p><div><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:34px'/><col style='width:34px'/><col style='width:34px'/><col style='width:34px'/><col style='width:26px'/><col style='width:8px'/><col style='width:34px'/><col style='width:17px'/><col style='width:18px'/><col style='width:34px'/><col style='width:7px'/><col style='width:27px'/><col style='width:34px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='13'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Newcastle-Under-Lyme Borough Council</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Lab</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Con</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>LD</span></p></td><td style='background: #ff64ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>UKIP</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid black 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vac</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>25</span></p></td><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+1</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>20</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-1</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>12</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='background: #ff64ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2</span></p></td><td style='background: #ff64ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='13'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Newchapel</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='5'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Votes</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vote %</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+/-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='5'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Elsie Bates (E)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>248</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>45.7%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+12.9%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='5'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Carl Thomson</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>160</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>29.5%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+2.1%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff64ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='5'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Tricia Harrison</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>118</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>21.7%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+6.3%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='5'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Colin Brown</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>17</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>3.1%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-3.3%</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Elsewhere the Conservatives held two safe county divisions in the north of England; Lancashire and Yorkshire to be precise. The Liberal Democrats also enjoyed a comfortable win in north Cornwall.<br /></span></p><div><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:164px'/><col style='width:51px'/><col style='width:10px'/><col style='width:53px'/><col style='width:13px'/><col style='width:63px'/><col style='width:31px'/><col style='width:164px'/><col style='width:51px'/><col style='width:10px'/><col style='width:49px'/><col style='width:13px'/><col style='width:62px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Wyreside (Lancashire)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='6'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Thornton Dale & The Wolds (North Yorkshire)</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Votes</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vote %</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+/-</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Votes</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vote %</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+/-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vivien Taylor (E)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2178</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>58.0%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-7.9%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Janet Sanderson (E)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1122</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>66.2%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+4.7%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Kevin Higginson</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>877</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>23.4%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+10.3%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Mike Beckett</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>574</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>33.8%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+4.2%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff64ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Simon Noble</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>361</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>9.6%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+9.6%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #afe178; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Sue White</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>339</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>9.0%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-12.1%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td></tr><tr style='height: 20px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Bude North & Stratton</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Votes</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vote %</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+/-</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>David Parsons (E)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>958</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>61.2%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-11.2%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Trevor Macey</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>395</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>25.2%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-2.4%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Adrian Jones</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>120</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>7.7%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+7.7%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Louise Emo</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>93</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>5.9%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+5.9%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td></tr></tbody></table></div><p> <br /> </p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>Tom Harris </strong></span></p></span>Britain Voteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982679942856883673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5378450371118263133.post-33479524688727380862011-10-30T13:03:00.000+00:002011-10-30T13:03:02.759+00:00October 2011 Local By-Election Summary<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<h1 style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">October 2011 Local By-election Summary: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">Votes Cast and Seats Won</span></span></h1><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;"><tbody>
<tr> <td style="border: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></td> <td style="border-left: none; border: solid black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Votes Cast<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-left: none; border: solid black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">% Votes Cast<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-left: none; border: solid black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.25pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Seats Won<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="border-left: none; border: solid black .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.25pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Change<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="background: red; border-top: none; border: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Labour<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: red; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">13,314<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: red; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">35.58%<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: red; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.25pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">11<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: red; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.25pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">+2<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="background: #33CCCC; border-top: none; border: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Conservatives<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: #33CCCC; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">12,544<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: #33CCCC; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">33.52%<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: #33CCCC; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.25pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">8<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: #33CCCC; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.25pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">-3<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="background: #FF6600; border-top: none; border: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lib Dems<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: #FF6600; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">5,439<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: #FF6600; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">14.53%<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: #FF6600; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.25pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: #FF6600; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.25pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Unchanged<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="background: #FF66FF; border-top: none; border: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">UKIP<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: #FF66FF; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1,755<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: #FF66FF; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">4.69%<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: #FF66FF; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.25pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">0<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: #FF66FF; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.25pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Unchanged<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="background: silver; border-top: none; border: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Independents<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: silver; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1,673<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: silver; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">4.47%<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: silver; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.25pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: silver; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.25pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">+1<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="background: yellow; border-top: none; border: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">SNP<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: yellow; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1,139<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: yellow; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">3.04%<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: yellow; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.25pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">0<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: yellow; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.25pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Unchanged<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="background: lime; border-top: none; border: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Green Party<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: lime; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">563<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: lime; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1.50%<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: lime; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.25pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">0<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: lime; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.25pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Unchanged<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="background: #666699; border-top: none; border: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">BNP<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: #666699; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">505<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: #666699; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1.35%<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: #666699; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.25pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">0<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: #666699; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.25pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Unchanged<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="background: black; border-top: none; border: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Other Parties<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: black; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">492<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: black; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.2pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1.31%<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: black; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.25pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">0<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> <td style="background: black; border-bottom: solid black .75pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid black .75pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid black .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black .75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.25pt;" valign="top" width="114"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Unchanged<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">GAINS and LOSSES<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;">Labour GAINS: </span></b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11pt;">Bloxwich East on Wallsall (from Con), Newchapel on Newcastle under Lyme (from Con)</span><span style="color: #ff9900; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: grey; font-size: 11pt;">Independent GAINS: </span></b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11pt;">Walton on Stafford (from Con)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It is now 18 months since the last general election and boy, what an 18 months it has been. From the heights of the first coaliton government since 1977 and the first one borne from a general election since February 1974 and the Downing Street Rose Garden love in, through the student riots last year following the Lib Dem U turn on student tuition fees, through the quite frankly disastrous set of elections in May of this year for the Liberal Democrats, the riots of the summer and just last week a massive backbench rebellion by 81 Conservative MP’s and 1 Liberal Democrat MP on the subject of an in/out referendum on Europe. But whilst that has been going up and down the United Kingdom there have been 280 local by-elections where (as the Liberal Democrats like to say) 508,040 real votes in real ballot boxes and overall those real votes are reflecting national opinion quite nicely. Labour and the Conservatives are battling for the lead (both on 32%), the Liberal Democrats are struggling to keep their heads above the Others (Lib Dem 18%, Others 18%) and of the Others, Independents lead with 5%, the SNP on 4%, Greens on 3%, UKIP on 2%, Plaid 1%, BNP 1%, Respect 0% and the myriad Others on 1% which is reflected in a general election would see the two main parties battling for the lead, the Liberal Democrats halved, the SNP winning their highest number of seats ever in a general election with the Greens winning an extra seat and local Independents winning in local battles.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But perhaps what is more interesting is how opinions have changed over the last year. In October 2010, Labour had a 6% lead over the Conservatives in the local by-elections held that month with the Liberal Democrats on a very respectable 20%. Now, the Conservatives have gained 4% on last October, Labour are unchanged and it’s the Liberal Democrats who have suffered (falling 6%) with the Other parties gaining 2% between them indicating a swing from Lib Dem to Con of 5%, Lib Dem to Lab of 3% and a swing from Lab to Con of 2% all of which proves that when it comes to elections of any type you can read what you want!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So what to look forward to in November, well November will be the last month of by-elections in Wales and Scotland as any vacancies created after December 1<sup>st</sup> will be filled in the local elections next May (as they will in any councils in England also voting) and so as well as reviewing the November elections next month, I will review all the Welsh by-elections over the last four years and see if we can get any indication of what the map of Wales may look like next May.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5378450371118263133.post-39497840136697387592011-10-29T20:33:00.002+01:002011-11-08T19:00:28.935+00:00Labour hold off SNP in North Lanarkshire<span xmlns=""><p>Coatbridge North & Glenboig saw an easy hold for Labour on first preferences alone. In the absence of the minor party and independent candidates seen in 2007 and 2009, both Labour and the SNP saw their vote share rise. However, the SNP fell short of catching Labour, who won a little over half the vote.<br /></p><p>Julie McAnulty's vote came in lower than the combined vote of the SNP and Julie's independent candidacy in 2009, suggesting that she may have lost some of her independent voters under her new party colours. She still performed well in a strongly Labour ward however, improving substantially on the SNP vote share in both 2007 and the 2009 by-election, with a percentage of the vote that would comfortably elect two SNP councillors here next May.<br /></p><p>The Conservative share fell again on both 2007 and 2009 despite the reduction in candidates, possibly a result of a tighter squeeze between Labour and the SNP or otherwise a decline in popularity that gives a gloomy forecast for their hopes of retaining their sole North Lanarkshire seat next year. The Lib Dems, standing for the first time, polled a slightly smaller share of the vote than the Green candidate in 2009.<br /></p><p>The turnout was very poor, with barely 1 in 5 registered voters turning out despite a day of unseasonably warm weather. This is still slightly better than the turnout seen at the last Lanarkshire by-election in East Kilbride West, but it's difficult to draw comparisons when considering that election was held during a severe all-day storm!<br /></p><p>With no change in seats, North Lanarkshire Council remains under the control of a safe Labour majority administration.<br /></p><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse" border="0"><colgroup><col style="width:30px"><col style="width:30px"><col style="width:30px"><col style="width:30px"><col style="width:30px"><col style="width:30px"><col style="width:30px"><col style="width:30px"><col style="width:0px"><col style="width:30px"><col style="width:29px"><col style="width:1px"><col style="width:30px"><col style="width:30px"></colgroup><tbody valign="top"><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="14" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >North Lanarkshire Council</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Lab</span></p></td><td style="background: #ffff78; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >SNP</span></p></td><td style="background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Ind</span></p></td><td style="background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="3" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Con</span></p></td><td style="background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="3" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >LD</span></p></td><td style="background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >CIA</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >41</span></p></td><td style="background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >-</span></p></td><td style="background: #ffff78; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >22</span></p></td><td style="background: #ffff78; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >-</span></p></td><td style="background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >4</span></p></td><td style="background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >-</span></p></td><td style="background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >1</span></p></td><td style="background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >-</span></p></td><td style="background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >1</span></p></td><td style="background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >-</span></p></td><td style="background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >1</span></p></td><td style="background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >-</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="14" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Coatbridge North & Glenboig</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="6" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Votes</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="3" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Vote %</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="3" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >+/-*</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="6" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Michael McPake (E)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >1529</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="3" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >52.4%</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="3" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >+3.1%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #ffff78; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="6" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Julie McAnulty</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >1139</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="3" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >39.0%</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="3" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >+10.4%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="6" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Robert Burgess</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >174</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="3" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >6.0%</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="3" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >-4.3%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="6" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Graham Dale</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >78</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="3" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >2.7%</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="3" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >+2.7%</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><span style="font-size:8pt;">* change from 2007<br /></span></p><p><br /> </p><p><a href="http://www.kristoferkeane.co.uk/"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><strong>Kristofer Keane</strong></span></a></p></span>Britain Voteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982679942856883673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5378450371118263133.post-82484845277711546382011-10-27T21:37:00.001+01:002011-10-27T21:39:32.937+01:00By-Election Night Live: 27th October<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Join us from 2230. There could be as many as 6 by-election results tonight, although I'm not confident are counting tonight or we'll hear about them!</span></span><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.coveritlive.com/index2.php/option=com_altcaster/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=2e3a0ddec9/height=550/width=470" scrolling="no" height="550px" width="470px" frameBorder ="0" allowTransparency="true" ><a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=2e3a0ddec9" >By-Election Night Live</a></iframe>Tom Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842647678841839576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5378450371118263133.post-41446724041656808502011-10-26T21:25:00.001+01:002011-10-26T21:25:30.980+01:00By-Election Preview (27th October – Scottish Edition)<span xmlns=''><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>This week's Scottish by-election comes from the Coatbridge North and Glenboig ward of North Lanarkshire Council, which covers Coatbridge's town centre and northern suburbs as well as the rural area to the north between Coatbridge and Cumbernauld, encompassing the villages of Glenboig, Marnoch and Annathill. This is also yet another one of those wards that's having a second by-election within the current local government term, which is somewhat statistically unlikely given the large number of seats that have seen no by-elections at all!<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Four candidates are contesting the seat this time around. Michael McPake is looking to defend the seat for Labour, which was previously held by the popular veteran councillor Tony Clarke who sadly passed away in August after a long battle with cancer. Out of three Labour candidates in 2007, Clarke won more than half of the Labour first preferences, although this may be in part due to topping the three alphabetically as well as any personal vote. There was a considerable Labour lead over the SNP in the 2007 first preferences, although this was somewhat reduced in the 2009 by-election. <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Potentially further reducing that Labour lead, the SNP candidate this time around is Julie McAnulty, who was the third-placed independent candidate behind Labour and the SNP in the 2009 by-election. McAnulty has a campaigning history in the area, specifically with the Save Monklands Campaign which fought to protect the A&E department of the local hospital. In 2009, her independent vote combined with the SNP vote would have given her a large lead over Labour, although with a large number of her votes transferring to Labour in 2009's final round, it's not a given that all her previous voters will still support her in her new party colours.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The Conservative candidate is Bob Burgess, a perennial council and parliamentary candidate, standing a second time here after also contesting the 2009 by-election. Meanwhile the Lib Dems are contesting this seat for the first time, and the SSP and Greens are not standing this time around.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Overall, this is a very safely Labour ward within one of Labour's last remaining stronghold towns after May's Holyrood elections. However, the personal popularity of the SNP candidate, as well as the voters she carries over as a previous independent candidate, will combine with the nationwide swing to the SNP to make this contest very competitive and too close to call. Campaigners on both the SNP and Labour sides have told me they think the final result will be very close, although each side is expecting their own candidate to win it.<br /></span></p><div><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:170px'/><col style='width:76px'/><col style='width:67px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Coatbridge North & Glenboig</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2009 b/e</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2007</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Michael McPake (Lab)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>37.2%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>49.2%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ffff78; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Julie McAnulty (SNP)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>30.5%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>28.6%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>N/C (Ind)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>13.5%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Robert Burgess (Con)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>8.8%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>10.3%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>N/C (Ind)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>5.3%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #afe178; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>N/C (Grn)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2.8%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #d25a5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>N/C (SSP)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2.0%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>3.2%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>N/C (Ind)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>8.7%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Graham Dale (LD)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><br /> </p><p><a href='http://www.kristoferkeane.co.uk/'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>Kristofer Keane</strong></span></a></p></span>Britain Voteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982679942856883673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5378450371118263133.post-25325589901281481452011-10-26T13:59:00.003+01:002011-10-27T21:37:19.496+01:00By-Election Preview (27th October - English Edition)<span xmlns=""><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><em>We have six by-elections this week with two key contests taking place in the West Midlands. The minority Conservative group in Walsall are hanging on to control by a thread and a Labour gain tomorrow in the marginal Bloxwich East would bring the two parties level in seats. The Tories are also at risk in Newcastle-under-Lyme where the Newchapel ward is up for grabs. They lead a coalition with the Liberal Democrats in the Staffordshire Borough but Labour have the most seats and will be looking to take control in next May's elections.<br /></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><em>Later today we have Kristofer Keane previewing the North Lanarkshire by-election, but without further ado I'll leave you with Andrew Teale's rundown of tomorrow's English contests. <strong>TH<br /></strong></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><strong>Bloxwich East, Walsall MBC</strong>; caused by the <a href="http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2011/09/07/tributes-to-walsall-councillor-bill-tweddle-97319-29380148/">death</a> of Conservative Councillor Bill Tweddle. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Arguably the northernmost town of the Black Country, Bloxwich became famous in the nineteenth century as the UK's foremost manufacturer of awl blades, as well as for other light metalworking. The town was swallowed up into Walsall county borough relatively early, and Walsall Corporation built council houses on much of the land now in this ward, which is entirely on the eastern side of the A34 Walsall-Stafford road; as a result most of the census areas rank highly in the indices of multiple deprivation. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">In Walsall this doesn't translate into a safe Labour ward because of Walsall Labour's wacky reputation; the three seats split 2C/1Lab when the ward was created in 2004 and stayed that way until this May; Labour held on by just thirteen votes in 2006, the Conservatives held in the following two years with increasing majorities (296 in 2007, 745 in 2008), and Labour held rather more comfortably in 2010 by 248 votes.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">The change finally came in May with a Labour gain by just 6 votes, and Labour now have a chance to gain the final Conservative seat in this by-election.<br /></span></p><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse" border="0"><colgroup><col style="width:73px"><col style="width:73px"><col style="width:58px"><col style="width:15px"><col style="width:38px"><col style="width:34px"><col style="width:19px"><col style="width:53px"></colgroup><tbody valign="top"><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="8" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Walsall Council</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Lab</span></p></td><td style="background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >LD</span></p></td><td style="background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Con</span></p></td><td style="background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Ind</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Vac</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >26</span></p></td><td style="background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >5</span></p></td><td style="background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >27</span></p></td><td style="background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >1</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >1</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="8" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Bloxwich East</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="3" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >2011</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >2010</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >2008</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="3" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Julie Fitzpatrick (Lab)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >42.8%</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >45.8%</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >25.4%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="3" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Les Beeley (Con)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >42.3%</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >39.8%</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >58.9%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #ff64ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="3" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Derek Bennett (UKIP)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >8.1%</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >-</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >-</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #d25a5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="3" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >N/C (DLP)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >3.8%</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >4.2%</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >6.8%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="3" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >N/C (LD)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >2.9%</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >10.1%</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >8.9%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #afe178; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="3" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Leandra Gebrakendan (Grn)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >-</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >-</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >-</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #fa6eaf; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="3" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Chris Newey (ED)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >-</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >-</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >-</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><strong>Newchapel, Newcastle-under-Lyme BC</strong> (Staffordshire); caused by the resignation of Conservative Councillor Christian Barber.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">The north-eastern corner of Newcastle-under-Lyme district, this ward covers a surprisingly hilly area between the towns of Kidsgrove and Biddulph which was once part of Kidsgrove Urban District. Running from Newchapel itself at the southern end, through Harriseahead and on to the hilltop village of Mow Cop, which rises to a summit of 335 metres (1100 feet) and straddles the Staffordshire/Cheshire border along the hill of the same name. The ward's two census areas are both in the middle of the deprivation indices.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">The politics of the ward are quite interesting; when it was created in 2002 the Lib Dems won both seats, but promptly lost them in 2003 (to the Conservatives) and 2004 (to Labour; there was no Conservative candidate that year, presumably they messed up their nomination papers). The Conservatives decisively gained the Labour seat in 2008 but performed relatively poorly in a February 2010 by-election which saw a close three-way race for second place won by UKIP, who are very well organised in this borough.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Labour gained the ward in May by 50 votes and will now be looking to gain the other seat.<br /></span></p><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse" border="0"><colgroup><col style="width:73px"><col style="width:73px"><col style="width:19px"><col style="width:54px"><col style="width:13px"><col style="width:60px"><col style="width:16px"><col style="width:57px"></colgroup><tbody valign="top"><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="8" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Newcastle-Under-Lyme Borough Council</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Lab</span></p></td><td style="background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Con</span></p></td><td style="background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >LD</span></p></td><td style="background: #ff64ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >UKIP</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Vac</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >24</span></p></td><td style="background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >20</span></p></td><td style="background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >12</span></p></td><td style="background: #ff64ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >2</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >2</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="8" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Newchapel</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="3" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >2011</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >2010 b/e</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >2008</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="3" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Elsie Bates (Lab)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >32.7%</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >22.2%</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >23.3%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="3" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Carl Thomson (Con)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >27.3%</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >33.5%</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >44.1%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="3" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >N/C (Ind)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >18.1%</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >-</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >-</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #ff64ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="3" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Tricia Harrison (UKIP)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >15.4%</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >23.8%</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >13.5%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="3" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Colin Brown (LD)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >6.5%</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >20.5%</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >19.1%</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><strong>Bude North and Stratton, Cornwall</strong> (Unitary); caused by the <a href="http://www.bude-today.co.uk/news.cfm?id=34878&headline=Bude%20resignation%20prompts%20October%20election">resignation</a> of Liberal Democrat Councillor Nathan Bale.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Cornwall's northernmost town, Bude is a Victorian seaside resort with good surfing conditions, while its twin town Stratton, about a mile inland, is a more ancient market town which was once the centre of one of Cornwall's ten <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundreds_of_Cornwall">hundreds</a>. Created in 2009 for the unitary Cornwall council, the ward is one of two-and-a-half wards within the area covered by Bude-Stratton town council; it contains the northern half of Bude, all of Stratton and the village of Flexbury just to the north of Bude.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">In 2009 it was a straight fight between Conservative and Liberal Democrats, with the latter winning a by landslide; the Lib Dem Councillor had previously represented Poughill and Stratton ward on North Cornwall district council. Poughill and Stratton ward normally split LD/Ind, while Bude ward was safe Lib Dem in 2007 but the two seats split in 2003 between Lib Dem and Mebyon Kernow, the Cornish nationalist movement, who were not far behind the two Lib Dem candidates in 2005 in the former Bude-Stratton county division.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Candidates for the by-election are the three main parties (and if there has ever previously been a Labour candidate here it's a very long time ago) plus an Independent amusingly named Louise Emo. It'll be interesting to see if there's an Emo vote here.<br /></span></p><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse" border="0"><colgroup><col style="width:39px"><col style="width:36px"><col style="width:36px"><col style="width:36px"><col style="width:38px"><col style="width:36px"><col style="width:38px"></colgroup><tbody valign="top"><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="7" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Cornwall Council</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Con</span></p></td><td style="background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >LD</span></p></td><td style="background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >IG</span></p></td><td style="background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >MK</span></p></td><td style="background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Lab</span></p></td><td style="background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Ind</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Vac</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >47</span></p></td><td style="background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >39</span></p></td><td style="background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >29</span></p></td><td style="background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >4</span></p></td><td style="background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >1</span></p></td><td style="background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >1</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >2</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="7" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Bude North & Stratton</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="5" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >2009</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="5" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >David Parsons (LD)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >72.4%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="5" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Trevor Macey (Con)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >27.6%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="5" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Louise Emo (Ind)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >-</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="5" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Adrian Jones (Lab)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >-</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Wyreside, Lancashire County Council; caused by the <a href="http://www.blackpoolcitizen.co.uk/news/9185549.Lancashire_County_Councillor_dies__77/">death</a> of Conservative Councillor Bob Mutch.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">This county division is basically the rural northern half of the Fylde peninsula, covering the area between Garstang and the Wyre estuary together with a few villages on the south side of the Wyre, the largest of which is Great Eccleston. The main settlements in the ward are Pilling, Preesall, Hambleton and Knott End-on-Sea, from which the ferry to Fleetwood departs that is the only link between Fleetwood and the rest of the Lancaster and Fleetwood parliamentary constituency. It's an agricultural and surprisingly low-lying area, with the main road from Pilling to Lancaster once regularly flooded by high tides. All of the division's census areas are within the 40% least deprived in England with the exception of Knott End, which has a significant retiree population.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">The division is safe Tory and wasn't seriously contested in 2009; in 2005 it was a straight fight between Tory and Labour, the Conservatives winning with just under two-thirds of the vote. I'm not sure of the reason for the Green strength as the Greens only stood in one of the constituent district wards in May (Pilling, polling 21%), but this division does border the Green-held county division of Lancaster Central. The same Green candidate is contesting the election.<br /></span></p><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse" border="0"><colgroup><col style="width:173px"><col style="width:52px"></colgroup><tbody valign="top"><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Wyreside (Lancashire)</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >2009</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Vivien Taylor (Con)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >65.9%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #afe178; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Sue White (Grn)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >21.1%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Kevin Higginson (Lab)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >13.1%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #ff64ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Simon Noble (UKIP)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >-</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><br /><strong>Thornton Dale and The Wolds, North Yorkshire County Council</strong>; caused by the <a href="http://luttonsandweaverthorpe.ryedaleconnect.org.uk/2011/07/county-councillor-ron-haigh-resigns/">resignation</a> of Conservative Councillor Ron Haigh in order to care for his wife.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">This is an enormously-sized division covering a swathe of countryside between Norton, Pickering and Scarborough. From the northern end it runs along the Whitby-Pickering road past the Hole of Horcum, down to the beautiful village of Thornton-le-Dale on the Pickering-Scarborough road (Thornton Dale ward), then across the low-lying Vale of Derwent to take in some small villages up on the Yorkshire Wolds (Rillington, Sherburn and Wolds wards). With the exception of Thornton-le-Dale, which is more upmarket, most of the census areas are in the middle of the deprivation indices. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">The 2009 result suggests that this should be an easy Conservative hold.<br /></span></p><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse" border="0"><colgroup><col style="width:228px"><col style="width:96px"></colgroup><tbody valign="top"><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" colspan="2" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Thornton Dale & The Wolds (North Yorkshire)</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >2009</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Janet Sanderson (Con)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >61.5%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Mike Beckett (LD)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >29.7%</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >N/C (Lab)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p style="text-align: center"><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >8.8%</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><br /> </p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><strong>Andrew Teale</strong></span></p></span>Britain Voteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982679942856883673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5378450371118263133.post-78831793438104939412011-10-25T14:20:00.001+01:002011-10-25T20:42:04.442+01:00By-Election Watch (25/10/11)<span xmlns=""><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Here are this week's changes to the by-election <a href="http://britainvotes.blogspot.com/p/by-elections.html">page</a>:<br /></span></p><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse" border="0"><colgroup><col style="width:83px"><col style="width:88px"><col style="width:104px"><col style="width:132px"><col style="width:93px"><col style="width:75px"></colgroup><tbody valign="top"><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" ><strong>Council</strong></span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" ><strong>Type</strong></span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" ><strong>Ward</strong></span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" ><strong>Defending Party</strong></span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" ><strong>Reason</strong></span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" ><strong>Date</strong></span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Wrexham</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Wales</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Ruabon</span></p></td><td style="background: #a0ff78; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Plaid Cymru</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Death</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >17th Nov</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Bradford</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Metro.</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Great Horton</span></p></td><td style="background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Labour</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Resigned</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >24th Nov</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Norfolk</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >County</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Lakenham</span></p></td><td style="background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Lib Dem</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Resigned</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >24th Nov</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Cornwall</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >County (U)</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Wendron</span></p></td><td style="background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Independent</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Death</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >24th Nov</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" > </span> </p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" > </span> </p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" > </span> </p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" > </span> </p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" > </span> </p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" > </span> </p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Adur</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >District</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Eastbrook</span></p></td><td style="background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Lib Dem</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Disqualified</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >TBA</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 22px"><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Tamworth</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >District</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Mercian</span></p></td><td style="background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Conservative</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >Death</span></p></td><td style="padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt" valign="bottom"><p><span style=" ;font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:black;" >TBA</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Our by-election list is a little bit shorter this week as just two new vacancies have replaced the nine that took place last week. We're going to be busy right up until December as there are currently at least four by-elections scheduled every week until the 24<sup>th</sup> November.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">As <a href="http://britainvotes.blogspot.com/2011/10/tories-squeak-home-in-sompting.html">mentioned</a> last week, it will be interesting to see if the Adur by-election is actually called or whether they hold it back until May next year. The Conservatives were very vocal in their <a href="http://www.eastworthingandshoreham.org.uk/news/election-called-cokeham-ward">opposition</a> to the last by-election taking place barely six months before the partial Council elections.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Of course, they were defending the seat last week and came very close to losing it to Labour.</span><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class=" down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"><img src="img/blank.gif" alt="Link" class="gl_link" border="0" /></span></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"> They will be strong favourites to gain the Eastbrook from the Liberal Democrats so they might be less inclined to brand this by-election a '<a href="http://www.shorehamherald.co.uk/community/readers-letters/wasteful_by_election_1_3095853">waste</a>' of money. <span style="text-decoration:line-through">The fact this term runs until 2014 could be used to differential the two by-elections</span> (see <a href="http://britainvotes.blogspot.com/2011/10/by-election-watch-251011.html#c6747549701337467206">comments</a>).<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">If a by-election does take place we will try and do a bit better with our pre-count coverage. At least we aren't strangers to the good political folk of Adur now!<br /></span></p><p><br /> </p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><strong>Tom Harris</strong></span></p></span>Britain Voteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982679942856883673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5378450371118263133.post-1174572472713499452011-10-23T17:00:00.005+01:002011-10-23T22:50:40.869+01:00Review: Three Days in May<span xmlns=''><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'><em>This is Kay's first, of hopefully many, weekly column pieces that will be a little bit different to the usual serious by-election and politics articles we have on this site. As we said the other day, the political blogosphere is full of bloggers who are firmly inside the 'political bubble'. Kay neither has the time nor the inclination to keep up with said bubble so hopefully this column will give a bit of perspective from someone who's interested in, but not too involved with, politics. Sometimes the column will take a look at a recent event or story, others [like today] it will review a show or film our readers might be interested in seeing. So without further ado, here's her take on the play 'Three Days in May'. <strong>TH<br /></strong></em></span></p><p><a href='http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/Three-Days-In-May-tickets/artist/5019149'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong><em>Three Days in May</em></strong></span></a><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong><em> is a political drama set in Churchill's War Cabinet. It documents the discussions and decisions leading to the country's decision to either sue for peace or stand up to Hitler's Nazi Germany. Made over three days, it is a decision that would change the World forever.<br /></em></strong></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>When Three Days in May began I was a bit concerned that it was actually going to feel about three days long.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The whole play is pretty much set around six characters and their time spent in one room. In here they discuss a matter that the kind of audience watching Three Days in May would probably already know inside out.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Given that the majority of the narrative is based around one room, the war cabinet, my expectations didn't go much beyond making it look realistic, which it does. However the set designer, Gary McCann did have a few clever artistic devices despite his restrictions.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The first was a map of Europe which showed where German troops were. This helped to visualise the urgency of the matter. It would be quite difficult to portray everything going on outside the cabinet when everything we are shown occurs within it. <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The second was the bureau of one Jock Colville, Churchill's personal secretary at the time, brilliantly played by James Alper. It is through Colville that much of the story is told. Everything within the war cabinet witnessed by us is also witnessed by him. McCann cleverly set his bureau in the foreground but to the left of the stage, this way he is always present but not obtrusive.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Alper opens the play with a recap about events so far to ensure that we're all up to speed. Whilst I was watching the show I couldn't help but find that this part was dragging. I think that this wasn't because the historical re-cap was too long, as it wasn't. I think it was more the anticipation to meet the characters.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Winston Churchill is played by the well known actor Warren Clarke, famed for his role as Detective Superintendent Andrew Daziel in the television crime-drama Daziel and Pascoe. Other notable appearances include a role in the cult film a Clockwork Orange. Clarke even once played a young Churchill in the 70s in a television mini-series called Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Billed as Clarkes "return to the stage for the first time in a decade" I'm sure that I was not alone in wanting to meet his version of the Churchill we all know so well. As expected, Clarke was superb. He didn't just capture the mannerisms and characteristics of him, he got the spirit too.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Though excellent the rest of the cast weren't to be overshadowed. Robert Demeger brought a troubled sensitivity to former-Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, whilst Jeremy Clyde gave Churchill a strong but well-reasoned opposition in his portrayal of Lord Halifax. The play only really got going when this trio started to try and find a solution to the very immediate problems facing Great Britain.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Despite a familiarity with the decisions made in the build up to Britain's involvement in the Second World War I'm not sure many of us had really considered how such decisions were made. It's hard to imagine that such difficult and World altering decisions were made over a series of meetings with so few people in one little room. <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>It's also remarkable that it was only down to a couple of people, the two Labour members of the cabinet were already sided with Churchill and this would have been enough. However despite Churchill's stubbornness on most matters he refused to make the decision without the support of either Lord Halifax or Chamberlain. <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>It's this conflict, and Ben Brown's clever dialogue, which keeps the audience engaged and keeps the pace moving. By the end although you already know what decision the war cabinet came to you are eager to discover how it came about.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>After a slightly staggering start Three Days in May really finds its feet. Alan Strachan's direction allows the story space to breathe which allows the audience to emerge themselves in it slowly but, eventually, fully.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Three Days in May will be showing at <a href='http://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/17/Trafalgar-Studios.aspx'>Trafalgar Studios</a> in London from Monday 31<sup>st</sup> October. If you get the chance, and regardless of how much history you know, go and let yourself be a part of one of the most important decisions ever made.<br /></span></p><p><br /> </p><p><a href='http://www.kayleighroselewis.wordpress.com'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>Kayleigh Lewis</strong></span></a></p></span>Britain Voteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982679942856883673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5378450371118263133.post-88433732794670439402011-10-23T13:01:00.002+01:002011-10-23T13:09:10.005+01:00Tories suffer the only loss of the week<span xmlns=''><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>A total of nice by-elections took place this week but just one seat changed hands. The Conservatives were the party on the receiving end of the sole gain as an Independent candidate enjoyed a comfortable victory in Stafford. This came two days after the Tories almost lost a seat to Labour in <a href='http://britainvotes.blogspot.com/2011/10/tories-squeak-home-in-sompting.html'>Adur</a>. In the only other seemingly marginal ward up for grabs this week the Liberal Democrats held off a challenge from the Conservatives; providing more evidence that the latter struggle more than their opponents to get their support to the polling stations on cold October days.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The surprise result of Thursday night came from the Walton ward in Stafford, where the Independent candidate Jill Hood enjoyed a 12.6% swing to gain a seat from the Conservatives. The by-election was taking place following the <a href='http://www.staffordshirenewsletter.co.uk/News/Stone-stalwart-dies.htm'>death</a> of a long-serving Conservative Councillor Mike Carey. Hood had narrowly missed out on a seat in May, falling 84 votes short of the third Tory candidate in the multi-member ward.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The main problem the Conservatives seem to have had in this by-election is getting their supporters to go out and vote. Their top candidate in the spring polled 1009 votes where as John O'Leary could only manage 371 on Thursday. In comparison, Hood managed to hold on to three-quarters of her support from May and ended up a comfortable winner.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The Conservatives still enjoy a large majority in Stafford with the next full Council elections not due to take place until 2015.<br /></span></p><div><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:164px'/><col style='width:59px'/><col style='width:59px'/><col style='width:59px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Walton (Stafford)</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Votes</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vote %</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+/-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Jill Hood (E)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>569</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>45.7%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+19.9%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>John O'Leary</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>371</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>29.8%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-5.3%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Lloyd Brown</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>306</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>24.6%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+1.7%</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The Conservatives were also involved in the other competitive by-election on Thursday in the Mole Valley DC ward of Bookham South. The Liberal Democrats were defending the seat following the <a href='http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/9179088.Councillors_pay_tribute_to_council_chairman/'>death</a> of Cllr. Anne Howarth. The Lib Dems held two of the three seats in the ward but the Tories had won the most recent contest in May. <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>In general, the Liberal Democrats have been recovering from their poor performance in May and this by-election proved no exception. Stella Brooks enjoyed a 3.5% swing since the spring election to win with a majority of 103 over the Tory candidate Gail Collett. <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The victory means the Liberal Democrats remain the largest party in Mole Valley; however the Conservatives currently control the Council in coalition with an Independent grouping. That is likely to remain the case until next May's partial elections, when Brooks will have to defend her seat again.<br /></span></p><div><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:43px'/><col style='width:43px'/><col style='width:43px'/><col style='width:36px'/><col style='width:7px'/><col style='width:43px'/><col style='width:10px'/><col style='width:33px'/><col style='width:26px'/><col style='width:17px'/><col style='width:43px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='11'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Mole Valley District Council</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>LD</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Con</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Ind</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>LIG</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>18</span></p></td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>17</span></p></td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>5</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1</span></p></td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='11'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Bookham South</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Votes</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vote %</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+/-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Stella Brooks (E)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1043</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>47.2%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+2.6%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Gail Collett</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>940</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>42.5%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-4.4%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff64ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Bob Cane</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='3'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>228</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>10.3%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+1.8%</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>As for the other six by-elections on Thursday there was relatively little movement in any of them from the last time the wards were contested. A running theme through the contests was that Labour have slipped back slightly from the vote shares they achieved in May this year.<br /></span></p><div><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:167px'/><col style='width:51px'/><col style='width:10px'/><col style='width:49px'/><col style='width:12px'/><col style='width:61px'/><col style='width:26px'/><col style='width:164px'/><col style='width:51px'/><col style='width:11px'/><col style='width:48px'/><col style='width:14px'/><col style='width:63px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Shortlands (Bromley)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid black 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='6'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Ellesmere Port Town (Cheshire West & Chester)</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Votes</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vote %</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+/-*</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Votes</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vote %</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+/-*</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>David Jefferys (E)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1480</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>59.5%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+1.5%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Lynn Clare (E)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>686</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>71.6%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-9.5%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Anuja Prashar</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>490</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>19.7%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+6.4%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Graham Pritchard</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>102</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>10.6%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-1.4%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Gareth Abbit</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>256</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>10.3%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-4.0%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='background: #d25a5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Kenny Spain (Soc)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>65</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>6.8%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+6.8%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff64ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Emmett Jenner</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>153</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>6.1%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+6.1%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='background: #ff64ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Andrew Roberts</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>64</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>6.7%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+6.7%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #afe178; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Anna Martin</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>75</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>3.0%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-11.5%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Hilary Chrusciezl</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>41</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>4.3%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-2.6%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #aa6ed2; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Michael Payne</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>35</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1.4%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+1.4%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>* Change from 2011</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>* Change from 2010</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Bradwell & South Hopton (Great Yarmouth)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='6'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Park Hall (Mansfield)</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Votes</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vote %</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+/-*</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Votes</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vote %</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+/-*</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Martin Plane (E)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>557</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>49.6%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+3.4%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Ann Norman (E)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>416</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>53.2%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-4.6%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Hilary Wainwright</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>407</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>36.2%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+0.3%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Linda Davidson (MIF)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>164</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>21.0%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-14.3%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff64ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Colin Aldred</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>159</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>14.2%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+1.4%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Mark Quick</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>157</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>20.1%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+13.1%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>* Change from 2011</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='background: #ff64ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Andrea Hamilton</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>25</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>3.2%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+3.2%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Fraser McFarland</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>20</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2.6%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+2.6%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>* Change from 2011</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='6'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Bridge (Nottingham)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='6'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Eccles (Salford)</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Votes</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vote %</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+/-*</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Votes</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vote %</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+/-*</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Michael Edwards (E)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1152</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>50.2%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-1.8%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Michael Wheeler (E)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1227</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>54.5%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-0.6%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Saghir Akhtar</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>892</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>38.9%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+2.7%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Nicholas Johnson</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>701</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>31.1%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+3.2%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Michael Illyas</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>172</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>7.5%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-4.3%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='background: #aa6ed2; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Kay Pollitt</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>147</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>6.5%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+6.5%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff64ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Andrew Taylor</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>50</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2.2%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+2.2%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Valerie Kelly</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>125</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>5.5%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-0.7%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>David Bishop (BPE)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>27</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>1.2%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+1.2%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='background: #dddddd; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Alan Valentine</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>53</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>2.4%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+2.4%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>* Change from 2011</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>* Change from 2011</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: none; border-right: none' vAlign='bottom' colspan='2'> </td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><br /> </p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>Tom Harris</strong></span></p></span>Britain Voteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982679942856883673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5378450371118263133.post-66862352946838470692011-10-20T18:30:00.000+01:002011-10-20T18:30:00.158+01:00By-Election Night Live: 20th October<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Join us from the more usual time of 10.30pm for all of tonight's by-election action.<br /></span></span><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.coveritlive.com/index2.php/option=com_altcaster/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=b8d87d00b3/height=550/width=470" scrolling="no" height="550px" width="470px" frameBorder ="0" allowTransparency="true" ><a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=b8d87d00b3" >By-Election Night Live</a></iframe>Tom Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17842647678841839576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5378450371118263133.post-69261124965407510592011-10-20T15:30:00.000+01:002011-10-20T15:30:03.324+01:00The Beauty of Democracy – Cokeham Style<span xmlns=''><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'><em>As some of you will know, the sometime Britain-Votes contributor Kayleigh Lewis accompanied me to the count on Tuesday. She is a trainee journalist and so she came along for the 'experience'. Here is her take on the evening's events... <strong>TH<br /></strong></em></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Tens (16) gathered on Tuesday night for the exhilarating climax of a hard fought campaign for the hearts and minds of Cokeham, Adur District Council. The ward is found in the tiny town of Sompting on the A27 somewhere between Brighton and Worthing but not particularly close to either. <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Here the results were counted up in a small local church which smelt exactly like… a small local church.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>There was no sign of the Green candidate. In fact I was asked by the Labour agent whether I was the Green candidate, which suggested that no-one knew who the Green candidate was……<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>However, there was somebody wearing a lot of green and masquerading as a potential Green candidate, but I wasn't fooled. This was just a regular guy in a green coat, green hat with a string around his chin and a generally outdoors-y appearance; he was actually a Labour member.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>There were other<span style='color:red'><br /> </span>fashion faux pas on display throughout the evening, such as the far-out UKIP candidates, ablaze with yellow upon purple, a feast for the eyes if ever there were one. This did make a change from a sea (puddle in this case) of suits and corduroy<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>As things heated up a few more keen observers arrived, though they were mostly elderly and might have just spent a bit more time getting to the venue.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>And there was still no sign of the Green candidate.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>There was a flurry of excitement as the counters counted, I noticed the founder of Britain-Votes.co.uk on tippy-toes trying to get a better look at the 'action'. The only other person sitting, stood up, as if to suggest that the time was now and the end to this fascinating event was nearing.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Unfortunately he appeared to be mistaken.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The political throng fidgeted, restless, eager, whilst the counters continued to count, I remained seated, ambivalent at best. Bored, my gaze turned to the window sill where I noticed a box of lost property. A small pink fleece seemed to be trying to escape out of the window. I sympathised.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Then an announcement, the winner (I think); it was nothing like the movies suggested, and certainly no champagne moment, but a winner nonetheless (hurrah)! Nicholas Piggott was elected, the returning Conservative, there were just six votes in it but the Labour party seemed almost as happy, although (visibly) it was more relief than joy.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Meanwhile the LibDems were putting on a brave face after coming last, getting less votes than the Green candidate who I'm not even sure campaigned. UKIP were neither up nor down from last May so their snazzy ensembles clearly didn't win over the classy people of Cokeham ward.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>So with all the fun over it was time to head home from my first, and possible last, by-election count. <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Needless to say there was still no sign of the Green candidate.<br /></span></p><p><br /> </p><p><a href='http://kayleighroselewis.wordpress.com/'><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>Kayleigh Lewis</strong></span></a><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong><br /> </strong></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'><em>Kay is planning to provide a weekend slot on Britain-Votes.co.uk which will be a bit more light-hearted than our usual content. Naturally, most political blogs are written by people who are firmly inside the 'political bubble' (this one is, certainly!) so hopefully Kay will be able to offer something a bit different as an interested, but not engrossed, observer.</em></span></p></span>Britain Voteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982679942856883673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5378450371118263133.post-57702839972432062702011-10-20T11:45:00.000+01:002011-10-20T12:02:51.919+01:00Tories squeak home in Sompting<span xmlns=''><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>In the unusual Tuesday by-election that took place earlier in the week the Conservatives were relieved to hang on to the Cokeham ward in Adur DC (West Sussex). It was the first count we had managed to attend since starting Britain-Votes and it may just have been my inexperience but I don't think those involved with the campaigns thought the result would be quite as close as it was.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The by-election was taking place following the death of Conservative Councillor Norman Wright. He had won his seat comfortably in 2008 but it would seem the presence of a UKIP candidate in 2010 reduced the Tories' majority.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Although they had come third in 2010 Labour were considered to be the Conservatives main challengers having held a seat in the ward as recently as 2006. Still, they required a 10.7% swing to take the seat which seemed a tall order.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Due to the late confirmation that we were able to attend (3pm on the afternoon) we hadn't done anywhere near as much groundwork with those involved in this by-election as we would have liked to (basically nothing after we'd tried and failed to get in contact with the campaigns). <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The novelty of two strangers turning up to the count drew odd looks rather than inquisitive conversation but we did manage to glean some information out of the Labour agent. Having come over to ask if Kay was the Green candidate (which indicated they hadn't actually met the Green candidate) she revealed they were hoping for, but not expecting, a win.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>It turned out they were just six votes behind the Conservatives, who were visibly relieved with Nicholas Pigott's narrow victory. Labour's perennial candidate in this ward Barry Mear will have high hopes of claiming victory in next year's election, although the low turnout (21.4%) will have surely helped his cause in this by-election.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>UKIP's share of the vote remained virtually unchanged from last May's but the Liberal Democrat's suffered an alarming collapse in their support. Having beating Labour to second place in 2010 the Lib Dems fell to last place, behind even the Green candidate who no-one had ever met. <br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Thing's really haven't been going well for them locally as this poor result comes just days after one of their two Councillors in Adur was <a href='http://www.shorehamherald.co.uk/news/adur_councillor_deselected_for_non_attendance_1_3136576'>booted off</a> the Council for poor attendance. It seems likely that the by-election will be scheduled to coincide with next May's elections given that the Tories <a href='http://www.eastworthingandshoreham.org.uk/news/election-called-cokeham-ward'>complained</a><br /> <a href='http://www.shorehamherald.co.uk/community/readers-letters/wasteful_by_election_1_3095853'>endlessly</a> about this one being called and the Liberal Democrats will surely have no interest in another humiliating defeat.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The Conservatives currently hold all but three seats in Adur with the next partial Council elections due to take place next May.<br /></span></p><div><table border='0' style='border-collapse:collapse'><colgroup><col style='width:184px'/><col style='width:68px'/><col style='width:68px'/><col style='width:68px'/></colgroup><tbody valign='top'><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: solid 0.5pt; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom' colspan='4'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Cokeham (Adur)</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>By-Election Candidate</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Votes</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Vote %</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+/-</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #4bd2ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Nicholas Pigott (E)</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>288</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>39.6%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-1.9%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff6e6e; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Barry Mear</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>282</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>38.8%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+18.7%*</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #ff64ff; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>David Bamber</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>91</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>12.5%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+0.7%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #afe178; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Jennie Tindall</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>35</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>4.8%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>+4.8%</span></p></td></tr><tr style='height: 22px'><td style='background: #faaa5a; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: solid 0.5pt; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Cyril Cannings</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>31</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>4.3%</span></p></td><td style='padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: solid 0.5pt; border-right: solid 0.5pt' vAlign='bottom'><p style='text-align: center'><span style='color:black; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>-22.4%</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:8pt'>* Due to a mix up with his nomination papers Mear appeared without a description on the 2010 ballot paper<br /></span></p><p><br /> </p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'><strong>Tom Harris<br /></strong></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'><em>Later this afternoon Kay will be posting her more light-hearted take on the evenings events. </em></span></p></span>Britain Voteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00982679942856883673noreply@blogger.com0