There were three principal Council by-elections this week in Oxford, Shepway and Surrey Heath.
In Carfax ward (Oxford City Council) Labour held on with 168 votes (44.2%; +15.6%). Tony Brett, the Liberal Democrat candidate who finished fourth in May’s local election, came a respectable second with 101 votes (26.6%) and increase of 9% since May. The Green Party slipped from first in May to third on Thursday with 16.6% (-14.2%). The Conservatives and UKIP both polled 24 votes (6.3%).
Turnout in the ward was a record low of just 8.6%. The Oxford Labour Party have been slammed for calling a by-election in the student-heavy ward at a time when most students are out of the city. This is also the second by-election in the City since May’s local election and a third is due on 18 September; each costing £4,000. Tony Brett has challenged the local Labour Party to justify their tactics.
In Shepway, UKIP took a seat in Folkestone Harvey Central ward from the Conservatives with 27.9% of the vote. The Tory candidate saw their party’s vote drop by 17.3% to come second with 21.7%. Tom McNeice, a former Folkestone Town mayor, stood for the Liberal Democrats and came third with 19.2%. Labour were just behind on 19%, the Greens came fifth with 9.3% and TUSC finished last with 2.8%.
There was no Liberal Democrat candidate in Surrey Heath. Labour held the seat with 44.1%. The Conservatives were second with 29.8% and UKIP came third with 26%.
For all the detailed results see the ALDC elections page.
* ALDC is the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors and Campaigners
