Ukip finishes runner-up in three by-elections as Labour makes shock gain
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Your support makes all the difference.Labour scored a shock gain in the latest council by-elections. Candidate Fiona Brown took her party from nowhere to victory at Chapel St Leonards in Lincolnshire's East Lindsey District.
Tories, who were a close second in the 2011 main polls, came last this time.
Liberal Democrats defended seats at Oakfield, Aylesbury Vale District, Buckinghamshire and Halcon, Taunton Deane Borough, Somerset.
This may offer them hope of holding some of their existing strongholds in the general election, irrespective of how they do elsewhere.
Ukip was runner-up in three out of this week's four contests. However at Taunton Deane its vote share was 2.8 per cent down compared with another by-election on 2 May, the same day as the county and unitary authority polls in which the party performed strongly.
Tories held off a Green Party challenge at Abbeygate, St Edmundsbury Council, Suffolk.
RESULTS:
Aylesbury Vale District - Oakfield: Lib Dem 406, Ukip 325, C 173, Lab 145, Ind 118. (May 2011 - Two seats Lib Dem 475, 437, C 431, 419, Lab 336, 246, Ukip 205,164). Lib Dem hold. Swing 4.7% Lib Dem to Ukip.
East Lindsey District - Chapel St Leonards: Lab 382, Ukip 228, Ind 206, Ind 175, C 149. (May 2011 - Two seats Ind 801, 557, C 501, 457, English Democrats 266). Lab gain from Ind.
St Edmundsbury Borough - Abbeygate: C 359, Green 236, Ukip 85, Lib Dem 83, Lab 76. (May 2011 - Two seats C 1007, 744, Green 448, Lib Dem 317, Lab 282, 259; May 2, 2013 by-election - C 562, Green 399, Lab 154, Lib Dem 149). C hold. Swing 3.8% C to Green.
Taunton Deane Borough - Taunton Halcon: Lib Dem 282, Ukip 172, C 165, Lab 146. (May 2011 - Three seats Lib Dem 694, 539, 529, C 475, Lab 420. May 2 2013 by-election - Lib Dem 457, Ukip 295, C 179, Lab 159, Green 78). Lib Dem hold. Swing 3.9% C to Lib Dem.
PA
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