Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Triple blow for Tories in council by-elections

Chris Mead,Press Association
Friday 27 November 2009 13:26 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Liberal Democrats dealt a heavy blow to Tories in the latest council by-elections, taking three seats off them.

But there was also triumph for Labour which made one gain from Lib Dems amid indications supporting recent poll findings of a slip in Conservatives' nationwide lead.

Analysis of eight comparable results this month suggests a 9.4 per cent projected Tory margin over Labour.

A calculation based on five wards fought both times by all three major parties gives a line-up of C 36.4 per cent, Lib Dem 27.5 per cent, Lab 26.1 per cent.

Liberal Democrat Edith Longden gained at Blackbrook, High Peak Borough, Derbyshire.

Party candidate John Oxenham won by 15 votes at St Austell Bay, Cornwall Council.

Lib Dems' third gain came at Alveston, Stratford-on-Avon District, Warwickshire where Anthony Cronin won in a ward where the party had also returned another councillor in the 2008 main polls.

Labour's victor, Allan Harvey, took a Halewood South seat at Knowsley Borough, Merseyside which is next door to Liverpool where Lib Dems head for next May's main council polls with a majority of just two seats.

The city also contains a marginal Labour Commons constituency at Wavertre

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in