Labour keeps lead over Conservatives in council by-elections as conferences end

PA

Labour remains ahead of the Tories on balance in local by-elections as the party conference season comes to an end and MPs head back to Westminster on Monday.

Labour gained another two council seats while the Conservatives lost one and Ukip lost one in the latest contests.

That means the Tories have lost 14 seats and gained six while holding 24 in council by-elections since the snap general election in June. Labour has lost three but gained 14 while holding 21.

Net change in council seats since the 2017 general election.
Net change in council seats since the 2017 general election.

In the latest polls, Labour took a seat from the Conservatives in the Borehamwood Kenilworth ward of Hertsmere Borough Council in a by-election caused by the resignation of a Tory councillor.

Voting was: Lab 383, C 341, LD 144, Ind 91, Ukip 54. Turnout was 21.8%.

Labour's second victory came at Adur Council (Mash Barn ward) in a contest following the resignation of a Ukip councillor. Ukip did not defend the seat.

Voting was: Lab 490, C 384, LD 89, Green 31. Turnout 29%.

Elsewhere, Labour held two seats, at Cheshire East (Crewe East) and Salford (Claremont), while Conservatives held three, at Hinckley & Bosworth (Burbage Sketchley & Stretton), South Bucks (Burnham Lent Rise & Taplow) and Warwick (Stoneleigh & Cubbington).

Liberal Democrats comfortably held a seat at Redcar & Cleveland (St Germains).

The tally of council by-election results since the snap general election in June is now as follows:

C: up 6, down 14, held 24

Lab: up 14, down 3, held 21

LD: up 3, down 4, held 4

SNP: up 0, down 0, held 0

PC: up 0, down 0, held 0

Green: up 2, down 0, held 0

Ukip: up 0, down 2, held 0

Ind/Other: up 5, down 7, held 1

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