Labour gains in latest by-elections

Labour gained two marginal seats from Conservatives in the latest council by-elections.

Its candidate Jenny Millin won at Moredon in Swindon Borough giving a morale boost to the party in a town where it lost both its parliamentary seats in the General Election.

Labour's George Owers triumphed at Coleridge, Cambridge City, leaving Tories without any councillors on the authority.

His party had won another of the ward's seats in May's council polls.

However Tory John Holmes took a Liberal Democrat seat at Lyth Valley South Lakeland District where the 32 votes polled by Labour might have tipped the balance.

Plaid Cymru's Hazel Evans took an independent seat at Cenarth, Carmarthenshire County, polling 81.9% in a straight fight with Tories.

Analysis of five comparable results, with all three major parties standing both times, suggests a projected nationwide line-up of C 38.4%, Lab 38.2%, Lib Dem 13.5%.

Liberal Democrats' dismal score was still above the level of as low as 9% in some opinion polls.

RESULTS

Cambridge City - Coleridge: Lab 900, C 734, Lib Dem 223, Green 137, Ukip 53. (May 2010 - 1320, C 1160, Lib Dem 1040, Green 446, Ukip 118). Lab gain from C. Swing 2.1% C to Lab.

Carmarthenshire County - Cenarth: Plaid Cymru 638, C 141. (May 2008 - Ind 653, Plaid Cymru 190). Plaid Cymru gain from Ind.

Lewisham London Borough - Ladywell: Lab 1231, Green 1041, Lib Dem 314, People Not Profit 233, C 153. (May 2010 - Three seats Lab 2462, 2250, 1909, Green 1845, 1805, 1575, Lib Dem 1022, 923, 753, C 623, 578, 553, Community Need Before Private Greed 503). Lab hold. Swing 0.7% Lab to Green.

Manchester City - Hulme: Lab 1031, Green 451, Lib Dem 151, C 67. (May 2010 - Lab 2445, Lib Dem 1229, Green 1172, C 490). Lab hold. Swing 5.1% Green to Lab.

Northumberland County - Ponteland East: C 843, Lib Dem 403, Lab 100. (May 2008 - C 1063, Lib Dem 497, Ind 116, Lab 79). C hold. Swing 0.2% Lib Dem to C.

South Lakeland District - Lyth Valley: C 474, Lib Dem 451, Lab 32. (May 2008 - Lib Dem 585, C 467). C gain from Lib Dem. Swing 6.8% Lib Dem to C.

Swindon Borough - Moredon: Lab 887, C 755, Ukip 129, Lib Dem 98. (May 2010 - C 1679, Lab 1485, Lib Dem 792, BNP 310). Lab gain from C. Swing 5.8% C to Lab.