A quartet of Lib Dem by-election gains

A quartet of Lib Dem by-election gains amongst the ten held for vacancies on principal authorities this week:

The Ukip candidate in this Norfolk contest was the local county councillor.

Encouraged by these gains? You can join the Liberal Democrats here.

The big Labour vote share declines in the first two of those were also reflected in the Barnsbury result in London - and see also the Tory gain from Labour below. (The Labour vote share increases in the other two were caused by there not being a candidate last time - a curious mix of falling support yet also able to stand more candidates in these seats.)

In Barnsbury, Bradley Hillier-Smith and the team secured a sizeable increase in the Lib Dem vote, taking the party back into second place in Islington as Labour's vote fell in Jeremy Corbyn's home borough (although outside his Parliamentary seat).

Congratulations to Bradley and the team in Islington.

Here's what Bradley Hillier-Smith said on Facebook after the result:

Very chuffed with the result this eve. We came second place! Very proud of the positive campaign we have fought. We raised a half tonne of food and recruited 3 new volunteers for the local foodbank, increased donations and support for local mental health services, got national media coverage for our anti-racism campaign, and got the local party more active. Very humbled that hundreds voted for us. It's been a privilege to work with such an inspiring team. Huge heartfelt thank you to everyone who has helped, means a lot.

Not all is rosy, however, as other contests passed without any Lib Dem candidates or last place with a falling vote, reinforcing my regular point about the very patchy nature of the Lib Dem recovery:

That curate's egg summarised: ten seats, four gains, three without a Lib Dem candidate.

CORNWALL UA, NEWQUAY TREVIGLAS

LD Paul Summers 486 [57.8%; +32.9%]
Conservative 210 [25.0%; -2.1%]
Labour 87 [10.3%; -7.4%]
Independent 58 [6.9%; +6.9%]
LD gain from UKIP
Percentage change since 2013

WILTSHIRE UA, TROWBRIDGE GROVE

LD Chris Auckland 421 [45.9%; +45.9%

Conservative 196 [21.4%; +6.9%]
UKIP 123 [13.4%; +13.4%]
Labour 77 [8.4%; +8.4%]
Independent 74 [8.1%; +8.1%]
Green 27 [2.9%; +2.9%]
[Independent [0.0%; -85.6%]]
LD gain from Independent
Percentage change since 2013

CORNWALL UA, ST TEATH AND ST BREWARD

LD Dominic Fairman 620 [44.8%; +13.0%]
Independent 242 [17.5%; +17.5%]
Conservative 202 [14.6%; -2.1%]
Independent 181 [13.1%; +13.1%]
Independent 73 [5.3%; +5.3%]
Labour 66 [4.8%; +4.8%]
[Independent [0.0%; -51.5%]]
LD gain from Independent
Percentage change since 2013

NORTH NORFOLK DC, ASTLEY

LD Pierre Butikofer 319 [40.8%; +40.8%]
Conservative 198 [25.3%; -30.7%]
UKIP 133 [17.0%; +17.0%]
Green 81 [10.4%; -15.9%]
Labour 51 [6.5%; -11.3%]
LD gain from Conservative
Percentage change since 2015

ISLINGTON LB, BARNSBURY

Labour 1192 [51.6%; -4.1%]
LD Bradley Hillier-Smith 409 [17.7%; +7.1%]
Conservative 367 [15.9%; -2.9%]
Green 302 [13.1%; +0.7%]
Independent 40 [1.7%; +1.7%]
Labour hold
Percentage change since 2014

BRADFORD MB, WIBSEY

Labour 1207 [50.7%; +3.8%]
UKIP 655 [27.5%; +6.5%]
Conservative 451 [18.9%; +3.4%]
LD Angharad Griffiths 70 [2.9%; -1.5%]
Labour hold
Percentage change since 2016

NEWHAM LB, FOREST GATE NORTH

Labour 1150 [52.5%; -5.0%]
Green 681 [31.1%; +17.2%]
Conservative 301 [13.8%; +0.2%]
LD James Rumsby 57 [2.6%; -2.5%]
Labour held
Percentage change since 2014

SELBY DC, BRYAM & BROTHERTON

Conservative 251 [44.3%; +11.8%]
Labour 224 [39.6%; -4.4%]
Yorkshire First 91 [16.1%; +16.1%]
Conservative gain from Labour
Percentage change since 2015

GWYNEDD UA, Y FELINHELI

Plaid Cymru 614 [92.6%; -7.4%]
Conservative 49 [7.4%; +7.4%]
Plaid Cymru hold
Percentage change since 2012

GWYNEDD UA, MARCHOG

Independent 211 [65.3%; +65.3%]
Labour 112 [34.7%; -2.7%]
[Independent [0.0%; -62.6%]]
Independent gain from Independent
Percentage change since 2012