Casual vacancies
Most, though not all, by-elections now being held are in councils that do not have contests scheduled for May.
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Voter ID and May polls
Although there have been no postal strikes since Christmas with their potential impact on postal voting, a cold January has done little to persuade a seemingly unenthused electorate to turn out in numbers.
Record low turnout
Wigan’s Ashton ward has established an unenviable record, recording the lowest turnout in any council by-election: just 5.3 per cent.
Turnovers, defeats and split decisions
Sixteen of the latest batch of 33 councillor vacancies (48 per cent) saw a seat change hands.
Local factors and surprise gains
Local factors and changing patterns of party competition continue to feature in recent by-elections, including two surprising Conservative gains from Labour.
Warning shots fired
We have a new Prime Minister – and although local elections will be nowhere near the top of her burgeoning agenda, seasoned observers know that the weekly results from up and down the country can be leading indicators of the ebb and flow of political fortunes.
Surprise victories and hopeless causes
For local Conservative associations fighting council by-elections, the misery continues.
Local elections dilemma
With the final result in the London Borough of Havering declared fully 96 hours after the polls closed, this year’s local elections truly were a slow burn.
Lib Dems and Greens make gains
There are another two Green gains from the Conservatives to report, bringing the total to 14 seats captured over the past year in by-elections.
Going to the polls
This year’s local elections in England and Wales encompass 5,600 seats in 168 councils. Labour is defending the largest number in both countries.