By-elections boost for Labour

Labour scored a double gain from Tories at Braintree District in the heart of Essex man territory in the latest council by-elections.

However Conservatives managed to pick up a Green Party seat at Scarborough Borough, North Yorkshire.

Labour's Eric Lynch gained at Braintree East and party colleague Martin Green triumphed at Braintree South.

At Scarborough, Tory Michelle Donohue-Moncrieff won at Hertford from the Green Party which failed to field a candidate to defend the seat.

Analysis of six comparable contests suggests a projected 1.6% nationwide Labour lead over Conservatives.

This is smaller than the trend indicated by three other by-elections earlier this month but there was a large net switch in the two marginal Braintree wards.

RESULTS

Braintree District - Braintree East: Lab 554, C 388, Ukip 131, Green 76, No description 32. (May 2011 - Three seats Lab 762, C 759, Lab 756, 710, C 691, 668, Green 297). Labour gain from C. Swing 5.9% C to Lab.

Braintree District - Braintree South: Lab 596, C 476, Green 116. (May 2011 - Three seats C 844, 806, Lab 780, 711, 709, C 605, No description 408, Green 291). Lab gain from C. Swing 5.4% C to Lab.

Braintree District - Geat Notley and Braintree West: C 532, Lab 232, Ukip 155, Green 61. (May 2011 - Three seats C 1435, 1418, 1211, Lab 407, 362, 306, Green 274). C hold. Swing 8.8% C to Lab.

Broxtowe Borough- Toton and Chillwell Meadows: C 831, Lab 385, Lib Dem 300, Ukip 228 . (May 2011 - Three seats C 1529, 1491, 1413, Lab 926, 925, 837, Lib Dem 377, 334, Ukip 305, Lib Dem 304). C hold. Swing 3.1% Lab to C.

Fareham Borough - Portchester East: Lib Dem 1216, C 840, Lab 323, Green 90, Ind 77. (May 2010 - Two seats Lib Dem 3554, 3178, C 1929, 1231, Lab 721, 607). Lib Dem hold. Swing 8.5% Lib Dem to C.

Nottinghamshire County. - Chillwell and Toton: C 1958, Lib Dem 1375, Ukip 682. (June 2009 - Two seats - Two seats C 3388, 3356, Lab 1442, 1135, Lib Dem 1076, 998, Ukip 786, Green 658, BNP 546, Green 500). C hold. Swing 8.0% C to Lib Dem.

Scarborough Borough - Hertford: C 663, Lab 208, Ukip 126, Lib Dem 99. (May 2011 - Two seats Green 1192, C 902, 444, Lab 287). C gain from Green. Swing 11.7% Lab to C.

PA