Labour boosted by Barnet Borough by-election victory

Labour advanced in the latest council by-elections with a spectacular gain from Tories in north London's Barnet Borough.

Party candidate Andreas Ioannidis triumphed on a big swing at Brunswick Park.

The ward, as in the rest of the borough, showed substantial split voting in the May 3 London mayoral and assembly elections with a majority for Tory mayor Boris Johnson but also a lead for Labour ex-MP Andrew Dismore in the Barnet and Camden constituency contest.

The squeeze on Liberal Democrats, already evident in the capital earlier in the month, tightened in the by-election.

Labour also surged to a close second place in Redhill and Northbourne at well-heeled Bournemouth Borough.

Lib Dems, who won two of the ward's seats last year, slumped into third place.

Analysis of eight comparable contests during the month - following the May 3 main polls - suggests a 6.2% projected nationwide Labour lead over Tories.

A calculation based on five wards fought both times by all three major parties gives a line-up of: Lab 40%, C 34%, Lib Dem 11%.

No by-elections have been reported so far for next week.

RESULTS

Barnet London Borough - Brunswick Park: Lab 1769, C 1598, Lib Dem 97. (May 2010 - Three seats C 3496, 3353, 3307, Lab 1994, 1937, 1758, Lib Dem 1289, 1217, 1066, Green 548, 431, 409). Lab gain from C. Swing 13.2% C to Lab.

Bournemouth Borough - Redhill and Northbourne: C 675, Lab 539, Lib Dem 424, Ind 398, Ukip 327, Green 54, Ind 51, BNP 42, Ind 15. (May 2011 - Three seats C 1363, Lib Dem 1278, 1189, C 1147, 1079, Ind 1027, Lab 539). C hold. Swing 5.5% C to Lab.

Cotswold District - Fosseridge: C 397, Lib Dem 168, Ind 98. (May 2011 - C 638, Lib Dem 173). C hold. Swing 11.4% C to Lib Dem.

Eastbourne Borough - Meads: C 1783, Lib Dem 465, Lab 323, Ukip 322, Ind100. (May 2011 - Three seats C 2239, 2232, 2126, Lib Dem 797, 766, 734, Green 414, Lab 411, Ukip 404, Lab 373, Green 361, Lab 349). C hold. Swing 4.7% Lib Dem to C.

North Lincolnshire Borough - Town: 1141, C 856, BNP 133. (May 2011 - Two seats Lab 1045, 930, C 790, 755, Green, 276). Lab hold. Swing 1.4% C to Lab.

PA