Lib Dems beaten in Burnley election

Liberal Democrats slumped from first place to third behind the BNP as Labour scored a landslide council by-election victory at Burnley Borough, Lancashire.

Winning candidate Beatrice Foster achieved an 11.8% swing at Rosegrove with Lowerhouse compared with last May's main polls - on the same day as the General Election when Lib Dems took the town's Commons seat.

The BNP boosted its vote share but fell well short of its performance in the ward in 2002 when it returned a councillor.

Lib Dems' percentage held up in this week's only other reported contest at Brunswick Park, Southwark Borough, south London, possibly because of tactical voting by Tories, but there was still a net swing to Labour.

RESULTS:

Burnley Borough - Rosegrove with Lowerhouse: Lab 521, BNP 288, Lib Dem 261, C 81, Ind 58. (May 2010 - Lib Dem 926, Lab 869, BNP 509, C 469). Lab gain from Lib Dem. Swing 11.8% Lib Dem to Lab.

Southwark London Borough - Brunswick: Lab 1981, Lib Dem 630, Green 231, C 129, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition 70. (May 2010 - Three seats Lab 2812, 2572, 2444, Lib Dem 1233, 1061, 872, Green 787, 740, C 592, Green 554, C 530, 496). Lab hold. Swing 5.5% Lib Dem to Lab.