The Labour Party made the only gain in byelections on 12 December, with Sheila Soar winning the Clipstone ward of Newark and Sherwood district council which had previously been held by an Independent councillor. Labour also held Ballochmyle ward on East Ayrshire council, where the successful candidate had an interesting history.
The Conservatives held on to Northwood ward on Hillingdon borough council where the incumbent councillor, former Watford Parliamentary candidate Ian Oakley, had been sitting as an Independent after his arrest for a harassment campaign against Liberal Democrats. They also held Parsons Drove and Wisbech St Mary ward on Fenland district council where the sitting councillor lasted only six months before a dispute about sex shop licensing caused him to resign.
The Scottish National Party held on easily to their seat at Kilbirnie and Beith ward on North Ayrshire council. Finally, on Friday 13 December the Aldgate ward of the Corporation of London elected Hugh Fenton Morris as its new councillor. Elections in the City are normally non-partisan occasions and both winner and opponent Ronel Lehmann stood as Independents.
On Glasgow city council, Colin Deans (elected as a Scottish National Party councillor in Newlands and Aulburn ward) has joined the Labour Party.
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