Tories tumble amid Labour by-election hat-trick

Labour scored a gains hat-trick in the latest council by-elections, taking three seats with losses for both the Tories and Liberal Democrats.

Candidate Jodie Hibbert triumphed at Westgate-on-Sea, Thanet District, Kent, on a net 8.2% switch from Conservatives since May last year.

In a second blow to the Tories, Stevan Slodzik won at Tollesbury, Maldon District, Essex, giving the party a foothold on the council.

Labour's third gain came when Rachael O'Byrne won from the Lib Dems at Allerton and Hunts Cross, Liverpool, leaving it with all three of the ward's seats.

There were some crumbs of comfort for Lib Dems when they cut Labour's majority at St Helens, Chesterfield Borough, Derbyshire, and held on at Kingston-upon-Thames Borough's Grove ward.

Although there was a swing to the Tories and Labour since the last main polls in 2010, a comparison with the votes cast there in this May's London Assembly elections shows a Lib Dem recovery.

The Green Party easily defended a Malvern West seat at Worcestershire's Malvern Hills District.

Analysis of six comparable by-election results this week suggest a projected 5.3% nationwide Labour lead over the Conservatives.

:: Analysis of 14 results in June suggested a projected 5.9% Labour lead last month. A calculation based on 10 wards fought both times by all three major parties gave a line-up of Lab 37.4%, C 31.2%, Lib Dem 16.3.

RESULTS

Chesterfield Borough - St Helens: Lab 579, Lib Dem 412, Ukip 205, Green 54, C 23. (May 2011 - Two seats Lab 852, 784, Lib Dem 541, 442). Lab hold. Swing 5.9% Lab to Lib Dem.

Fylde Borough - Heyhouses: C 401, Ind 313, Lib Dem 163, Green 150, Ukip 147, Integrity UK 25. (May 2011 - Three seats C 839, 723, 681, Lib Dem 557, 488). C hold. Swing 1.0% Lib Dem to C.

Kingston-upon-Thames London Borough - Grove: Lib Dem 710, C 687, Lab 440, Green 123, Ukip 56, BNP 23, Christian People's Alliance 20. (May 2010 - Three seats Lib Dem 2527, 2391, 2037, C 1505, 1475, 1390, Green 713, Lab 618, 584, 576, Ind 272). Lib Dem hold. Swing 7.5% Lib Dem to C.

Liverpool City - Allerton and Hunts Cross: Lab 1450, Lib Dem 564, C 240, Liberal Party 165, Green 77, Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts 31 . (May 2012 - Lab 2465, Lib Dem 711, C 379, Green 237, Liberal Party 201). Lab gain from Lib Dem. Swing 4.3% Lab to Lib Dem.

Liverpool City - Riverside: Lab 1424, Green 163, Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts 115, Lib Dem 81, C 70. (May 2012 - Lab 2666, Green 191, C 139, Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts 109, English Democrats 103, Liberal Party 66). Lab hold. Swing 3.8% Lab to Green.

Maldon District - Tollesbury: Lab 271, C 257, Ind 75. (May 2011 - C 358, Lab 268, Green 120). Lab gain from C. Swing 7.2% C to Lab.

Malvern Hills District - Malvern West: Green 490, C 329, Ind 130, Lab 91, Ukip 68. (May 2011 - Two seats Green 798, 710, C 667, 556, Ukip 171). Green hold. Swing 2.6% C to Green.

Thanet Borough - Westgate-on-Sea: Lab 482, C 377, Ind 316, Ukip 298, Lib Dem 64, Ind 22. (May 2011 - Three seats Ind 853, C 793, 751, 675, Lab 555, 528, 444, Ukip 283). Lab gain from C. Swing 8.2% C to Lab.

Tonbridge and Malling Borough - West Malling and Leybourne: C 769, Lib Dem 472, Ukip 127, Lab 123, English Democrats 57, Green 43. (May 2011 - Three seats C 1234, 1147, 1137, Lib Dem 489, 402, Lab 361, Lib Dem 350, Ukip 296). C hold. Swing 7.6% C to Lib Dem.

PA