Somerset by-election swing to Lib Dems

Liberal Democrats gained from Tories in this week's only reported council by-election amid signs of revival in some areas following the hacking scandal.

Candidate Michael Maxwell won Somerset County Council's South Petherton division on a big swing.

It is covered by the Yeovil constituency of the party's former Cabinet minister David Laws.

The result comes after it defied Labour at Warrington last week by winning in a marginal ward where it had lost another seat in May's main contests.

This suggests that Lib Dems could be benefiting from their lack of high level links to the Murdoch empire.

RESULT

Somerset County - South Petherton: Lib Dem 1333, C 943, Green 108, Ukip 104. (June 2009 - C 1341, Lib Dem 1247, Ind 285, Green 222). Lib Dem gain from C. Swing 9.3% C to Lib Dem.

PA