Lib Dems win another seat off the Conservatives in southern England: from 0% last time to 56% this time

Just the three council by-elections this week as the usual dip in their volume ahead of the May round of elections takes place. Two Conservative-held seats, one Labour-held seat and all three with Liberal Democrat candidates.

Rogate ward on Chichester Council was fought by Kate O'Kelly, already a county councillor and making her the first Lib Dem candidate in the ward since 2007 after four contests without one since. And it was certainly worth her standing as she continued the run of Lib Dem gains from the Conservatives across southern England:

Rogate (Chichester) result:

LDEM: 55.8% (+55.8)
CON: 40.1% (-27.3)
LAB: 2.6% (+2.6)
GRN: 1.5% (-18.2)

LDem GAIN from Con.

No UKIP (-12.9) as prev.

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Middleton Cheney (South Northamptonshire) result:

CON: 42.1% (-21.6)
LDEM: 34.1% (+34.1)
LAB: 19.7% (+19.7)
GRN: 4.1% (+4.1)

Conservative HOLD.

No Ind (-36.2) as prev.

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St Olaves (St Edmundsbury) result:

LAB: 58.6% (+27.0)
CON: 24.1% (-6.5)
IND: 12.4% (+12.4)
LDEM: 5.0% (+5.0)

Labour HOLD.

No Ind (-37.8) as prev.

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