Lancaster tops by-elections table
At the very end of February, the Conservatives made a gain from the Liberal Democrats, their first since November 2022.
elections
Civility and service
With council, mayoral and police and crime commissioner elections just over a month away, I wanted to say thank you to everyone in local government who helps ensure our local democracy works effectively.
Leading the way
The last month produced a small crop of by-elections but two-thirds of them saw a seat change hands amid some surprising results.
Changing face of local government
The face of local government in England is undergoing incremental yet quite radical change.
By-elections review 2023
Losing more than 1,000 councillors last May, and suffering regular by-election defeats, the Conservatives must be hoping fortunes improve as the next General Election looms.
One step forward…
Labour’s victory in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West parliamentary by-election ensures that the imminent contests in Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth will be examined for further evidence of a resurgence.
Changing hands
Almost half of the local by-election contests held over the summer resulted in a seat changing hands.
Voter ID ‘stopped some people voting’
The Electoral Commission has called for the Government to ensure future elections are as accessible as possible in a new report on voter ID arrangements.
Giving electors a voice
In the latest batch of by-elections, the Greens continued to make gains, one each from Labour and Conservative, but lost a seat of their own.
14,000 unable to vote due to ID changes
Around 14,000 people were unable to vote at the May local elections in England because they did not have correct photo identification, according to the Electoral Commission.