Tories lose by-elections in nail-biting night

Six seats changed hands out of 11 at stake in the latest council by-elections with Tories losing four.

There were several nail-biting finishes with majorities of less than 100 votes in five contests.

In a rare boost for Liberal Democrats Mark Pountney snatched the Cockington-with-Chelston seat vacated by Conservative Gordon Oliver after his election as Torbay mayor in May.

Both Lib Dems and Tories lost at Deeping St James, South Kesteven District in a poll delayed from last month's main contests by a candidate's death.

Conservatives held just one of the ward's three seats with the other two being won by independent Judy Stevens and Fair Deal Phil Dilks, a former Labour Lincolnshire county councillor for whom there was no party description on the ballot paper in this week's election.

Labour's Marlene Fairhead gained at St Andrews, Great Yarmouth Borough, Norfolk but there was a slight shift back to Tories since last month when they had lost another ward seat.

Conservatives also lost to independent Ivor Warlow at Binstead and Fishbourne, Isle of Wight Council.

Plaid Cymru's John Charles won a former independent seat at Llanegwad, Carmarthenshire Council.

Counting is still underway today at Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee, Aberdeen City under what is effectively the alternative vote system.

RESULTS

Aberdeen City - Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee: Counting today. (May 2007 First count - Three seats C 1911, Lib Dem 1365, 1257, SNP 1207, Lab 894, Ind 332. Elected Lib Dem 2, C 1).

Carmarthenshire County - Llanegwad: Plaid Cymru 494, Ind 455. (May 2008 - Ind 649, No description 347, Plaid Cymru 239). Plaid Cymru gain from Ind.

Derbyshire Dales District - Stanton: C 246, Lab 173, Lib Dem 84. (May 2007 - C 346, Lib Dem 235). C hold. Swing 6.5% Lib Dem to C.

Great Yarmouth Borough - St Andrews: Lab 424, C 401. (May 2011 - Lab 621, C 567). Lab gain from C. Swing 0.9% Lab to C.

Isle of Wight Council - Binstead and Fishbourne: Ind 428, C 424, Lib Dem 139 Ukip 93, Lab 66. (June 2009 - C 519, Ind 515, Lib Dem 188). Ind gain from C. Swing 1.1% C to Lib Dem.

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough - Seabridge: C 557, Lab 497, Ukip 112, Lib Dem 52. (May 2010 - C 1370, Lab 912, Lib Dem 607, Ukip 266). C hold. Swing 4.8% C to Lab.

South Kesteven District - Deeping St James: Three seats No description 792, Ind 647, C 631, C 483, Green 350, C 318, Green 289, Lib Dem 242, 70, 67. (May 2007 - Three seats C 969, Lib Dem 947, C 778, Lab 652). No description gain one seat, Ind gain one, C hold one and lose one, Lib Dem lose one. Swing 8.9% Lib Dem to C.

Torbay Borough - Cockington with Chelston: Lib Dem 1048, C 614, Lab 357, Ind 129, Ind 61, Green 55. (May 2011 - Three seats C 1563, 1276, 1257, Lib Dem 1157, 1011, 1007, Lab 641, Green 524, Ind 460). Lib Dem gain from C. Swing 13.4% C to Lib Dem.

Wychavon District - Elmley Castle and Somerville: C 435, Lib Dem 197. (May 2007 - C 705, Lib Dem 269). C hold. Swing 3.6% C to Lib Dem.

From last week:

Wrexham County Borough - Marchwiel: Ind 302, C 172. (May 2008 - Ind 419, Ind 243, C 107, BNP 50). Ind hold.