By Election report ALDC report including sensational Lib Dem victory in Leicestershire

There were two principal by-elections on Thursday, reports the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors (ALDC).

In Birstall Wanlip ward of Charnwood Borough Council, Simon Sansome won a sensational victory for the Liberal Democrats coming from third place. On his second attempt Simon took 15% of the defending Conservative's vote and achieved a 7% majority. The Labour vote remained stable at 27%.

The local team, pictured, put their victory down to running a campaign focused on local issues. They knocked on 2000 doors and put out 15,000 pieces of literature (including a very effective handwritten letter) highlighting their campaigns for a new school and community centre, to improve the park and ride scheme to nearby Leicester and to protect the character of Birstall.

In Cardiff, Labour held Canton ward despite a strong showing from Plaid. The ward has only ever had Labour councillors since Cardiff became a unitary authority. Despite this the nationalist candidate was just 229 votes away from the winning line and saw a 14% boost in their vote share. The Conservatives came third on 13% and the Greens fourth on 5% having lost 10% of their vote share. Matt Hemsley for the Liberal Democrats and the TUSC candidate both achieved around 3% of the vote.

Just one town council by-election was reported to ALDC. Tony Gubb got a respectable 21% in a Ware Town Council by-election and was just 70 votes behind the Conservative candidate who successfully retained the seat.
For all the detailed results see the ALDC elections page: http://www.aldc.org/category/by-election-results/

* ALDC is the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors and Campaigners