Only two seats changed hands at byelections on 9 October, and one of them was handed over without a fight. The Liberal Democrats gained St George West ward on Bristol city council from Labour. The Conservatives gained Middle Rasen ward on West Lindsey district council from the Liberal Democrats, after the party failed to nominate a candidate in a confusion over the deadline.
The Conservatives held Knutsford division on both Cheshire county council and Cheshire East shadow unitary council, and also held Holybourne and Froyle ward on East Hampshire district council, Herne Bay division on Kent county council, Mount Joy ward on Isle of Wight council,
The Liberal Democrats held Alexandra ward on Haringey borough council, and Rotherhithe ward of Southwark borough council.
There have been two recent defections to note. On Copeland borough council, Robin Pitt (member for Newtown ward in Millom) has joined the Labour Party 18 months after he was elected as a Conservative. For those with long memories, Cllr Pitt was for six months in 1982 the leader of a minority Conservative administration on Lambeth borough council, interrupting the rule of “Red Ted” Knight briefly after Labour lost its majority in the 1982 council elections. He now says that the Conservative Party is in need of “political viagra”.
On Broxtowe borough council, the councillor for Kimberley ward Mel Crow has resigned from the Liberal Democrat group and will sit as an Independent.
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