Lib Dems gains in local contests
While Prime Minister Boris Johnson is determinedly seizing the political agenda, it is the Liberal Democrats who are making the electoral weather.
local by-elections
Parlous state of party politics
So far, local government has avoided most of the extremes of turbulence that seem to characterise current national politics.
Swing against the party establishment
The two main parties continue to struggle, and Liberal Democrats and Independents are taking advantage.
Local election results 2019
Multi-party politics is back with a vengeance, with a leap in the number of Liberal Democrat, Green and Independent councillors.
Political turmoil affects local contests
There’s no escaping the national political turmoil over Brexit, even for local council by-elections.
Rewarding perseverance
An interesting feature of the latest local by-election results is the contrasting fate of candidates who never gave up trying.
A tale of two Hamlets
Tower Hamlets is one of the most interesting local authorities, electorally speaking, and two by-elections to dissect is a delight.
Looking ahead to May’s local vote
The large majority of the more than 8,350 council seats that will fall vacant in May’s local elections were last contested four years ago on General Election day 2015.
Turnout highs and lows
With the attention of the political world firmly focused on the unfolding chaos at Westminster, local by-elections during the past few weeks have taken even more of a back seat than usual.
Resignations and casual vacancies
Just two seats from a total of 22 recent vacancies changed hands, with the Conservatives defeated in both cases.