Tories tumble to Labour and Lib Dems in Nottinghamshire by-election

The Tories tumbled in the latest council by-elections, losing two seats to Labour and one to the Liberal Democrats.

They are poised to lose their overall majority at Bassetlaw District, Nottinghamshire, after defeat at Worksop South.

The win by Labour's Sylvia May leaves the Conservatives on 24 out of 48 councillors with a by-election pending in a safe Labour ward.

Party colleague Kevin Greaves scored a landslide victory in the county council's Worksop West division.

There were fluctuating fortunes for the parties in London.

Liberal Democrat Linda Wade stormed Tories' Earls Court stronghold at Kensington and Chelsea Borough.

At nearby Cremorne, Labour missed a dramatic triumph by just 19 votes. For many years a previous ward covering the area had been a safe party enclave in Chelsea but it was swallowed up by boundary changes.

In stark contrast in north east London, the Conservatives easily defended a marginal at New River, Hackney Borough, where they had hung on to just one of the three ward seats by 39 votes in May.

Labour took 86% of the vote at Park Ward, Knowsley Borough, on Merseyside.

Analysis of eight comparable contests suggests a projected 4.6% Labour nationwide lead over the Tories.

A calculation based on six wards fought both times by all three major parties gives a line-up of: Lab 37.5%, C 30.5%, Lib Dem 22.0%.

Most of the wards up this week were last fought on May 6, the same day as the General Election.

RESULTS

Bassetlaw District - Worksop South: Lab 815, C 669, Lib Dem 84. (May 2010 - C 1823, Lab 1600). Lab gain from C. Swing 7.9% C to Lab.

Cambridgeshire County - East Chesterton: Lib Dem 832, Lab 663, C 334, Green 117, Cambridge Socialists 53, Ukip 37. (June 2009 - Lib Dem 807, C 559, Lab 339, Green 331, Ukip 220). Lib Dem hold. Swing 6.2% Lib Dem to Lab.

Carlisle City - Stanwix Urban: C 888, Lab 488, Green 96, English Democrats 85. (May 2010 - C 1935, Lab 1231, Green 452). C hold. Swing 3.1% Lab to C.

Hackney London Borough - New River: C 1567, Lab 1007, Green 77, Lib Dem 61, No description 26. (May 2010 - Three seats Lab 1659, 1574, C 1489, Lab 1450, C 1380, 1353, Lib Dem 693, Green 584, Lib Dem 456). C hold. Swing 12.0% Lab to C.

Kensington and Chelsea London Borough - Cremorne: C 602, Lab 583, Lib Dem 180, Green 51, Ukip 46. (May 2010 - Three seats C 1588, 1542, 1327, Lab 730, 728, Lib Dem 693. Lab 636, Lib Dem 620, 578, Ukip 155). C hold. Swing 12.6% C to Lab.

Kensington and Chelsea London Borough - Earls Court: Lib Dem 703, C 594, Lab 151, Ind 49, Ind 29, Green 26, Ukip 18. (May 2010 - Three seats C 1358, 1262, 1150, Lib Dem 621, 578, Lab 569, Lib Dem 560, Lab 487, Green 302, Lab 179, Ind 174). Lib Dem gain from C. Swing 15.8% C to Lib Dem.

Knowsley Borough - Park: Lab 650, Lib Dem 70, C 36. (May 2010 - Lab 2105, Lib Dem 529). Lab hold. Swing 8.4% Lib Dem to Lab.

Nottinghamshire County - Worksop West: Lab 1457, C 755, Lib Dem 88, Ind 56, Ind 13. (June 2009 - C 1403, Lab 909, Lib Dem 449). Lab gain from C. Swing 23.7% C to Lab.

Preston City - Cadley: Lib Dem 721, Lab 476, C 465. (May 2010 - Lib Dem 1270, C 901, Lab 549). Lib Dem hold. Swing 5.8% Lib Dem to Lab.