House elf defects

Posted by David Boothroyd
View David's blog
14 years ago / November 3, 2009

The Liberal Democrats held both seats in Brockhurst ward of Gosport borough council in a hard-fought byelection on 9 July. The new councillors are Rob Hylands and Siobhan Mitchell-Smith. There were two other byelections on 9 July, both of which stayed Conservative: Rob Strachan held Whittington ward on Lichfield district council, and Peter Austin was elected in Walberswick and Wenhaston ward of Suffolk Coastal district council.

There have been several party switches by councillors this week. Most prominently, former Mayor of Haringey borough council Alan Dobbie (Noel Park ward) has joined the Conservatives, giving them a presence on the council for the first time since 2002.

Moving from north to east London, John Denyer (Whalebone ward) on Barking and Dagenham borough council has left the Labour group to sit as an Independent. Alan Jack, elected as a Conservative to Perth and Kinross council from Almond and Earn ward, is also reported to be sitting as an Independent.

There are some changes on Monmouthshire county council to catch up on. Andrew Crump, elected as a Conservative for Raglan ward, is now an Independent (part of the joint Plaid Cymru and Independent group on the council). John Marshall, elected as Labour in Green Lane ward is also now an Independent.