10/07/2008 Election candidates (10 elections this day)

[JohnLoony]

I took a surprisingly large amount of enjoyment out of the fact that the Tory Candidate is called John Cartwright.

According to the list above, he's Jonathan.  In my class at school there were 3 boys called Jonathan and I was always annoyed when people assumed that I was a Jonathan rather than a John.

[Iain Lindley]

Wigan MBC, Wigan West is a Labour hold with a decent swing to Conservative:

Labour 817 (38.3%)
Conservative 528 (24.78%)
Liberal Democrat 344 (16.14%)
BNP 200 (9.39%)
UKIP 124 (5.82%)
Community Action 118 (5.54%)

[Iain Lindley]

With percentage changes from 1 May:

Labour 817 (38.3%, -5.47)
Conservative 528 (24.78%, +5.83)
Liberal Democrat 344 (16.14%, -2.44)
BNP 200 (9.39%, -5.1)
UKIP 124 (5.82%)
Community Action 118 (5.54%)

[middle englander]

Wigan West.  Relative turnout a highish 86%.  Swing from Labour to Conservative since May 2008 around 5½%.

Combined BNP and UKIP share similar to BNP alone in May.  Lib Dems drop 2½% vote share.

[Iain Lindley]

That's a swing from Labour to Conservative of 5.65%.

The turnaround in Conservative fortunes in that part of Wigan is remarkable. The predecessor ward to Wigan West prior to the 2004 boundary changes is Beech Hill - in a 1997 local by-election the Conservative candidate managed a grand total of 39 votes.

[Andrea]

Bradwell South & Hopton- Great Yarmouth

Con 623
Lab 429
UKIP 196

http://www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/your_council/electoral_services/elections-byelection-20080710.htm

[middle englander]

Great Yarmouth.  Relative turnout 74%

Con         49.9%       +1.9%
Lab          34.4%     +15.2%
LibDem        -          -22.5%
UKIP        15.7%       +5.3%

The Lib Dems did not stand in the by-election, but their vote could have gone predominately to Labour.

[Peter Golds]

LB Redbridge, Cranbrook ward

Con     1,625
Lab        729
LD         318
BNP         37

30.5% poll

Very good result for new Cllr M Chaudhury

[middle englander]

LB Redbridge.  Relative turnout ~ 85%

Con         60.0%    +8.4%
Lab         26.9%     -5.1%
LibDem     11.7%    -4.7%
BNP           1.4%    +1.4%

Swing Labour to Conservative 6¾%.  Very poor BNP vote.  Lib Dems shed almost 5%

[krautrock]

Canterbury a Liberal Democrat hold - big congratulations to Cllr Michael Steed:

Steed - 993
Con - 701
Green - 121
Ind - 102

TO 33%

[middle englander]

Canterbury.  Relative turnout 78% based on average vote

Lib Dems       51.8%    +8.1%
Con              36.6%    +4.2%
Lab                 -        -9.3%
Green            6.3%     +6.3%
Others           5.3%     -9.2%

Nominal 2% from Conservative to Lib Dems, but no Labour candidate in byelection whilst there was an Independent in by-election but 3 others in the main 2007 elections.

[tonygreaves]

I agree the swing in Canterbury is not significant - what is significant is another result where the LDs have held their own against a Tory attack in the South East.

I am thrilled for my old friend Michael Steed (we were both Chairmen - no Chairs in those days - of the Union of Liberal Students in the early/mid 1960s and officers of the National League of Young Liberals a bit later).

Michael was ferretting around local election results back in the 1960s when few others were interested and built much of his career as a professional psephologist on them.

Apart from a victory in Todmorden Town Council (Central Ward) in 1971 this is the first time he has topped the poll in a real election.

If only he could drag himself into the internet era he would doubtless be here week by week. I hope his health holds up enough to enjoy his career as an elected Councillor (which is of course the highest office in the land!!)

Tony Greaves

[Al]

Very poor BNP vote.

Cranbrook is plurality Asian and has a large Jewish population.

[Harry Hayfield]

The polls closed in Aberystwyth, Rheidol 138 minutes ago. Ceredigion County Council has the following on their site:

Ceredigion County Council invites any individual entitled to vote in this election to contact the Electoral Service Office during office hours on either 01545 572033 or 01545 572035 should he or she: wish to check that his or her name is on the Register, wish to have their name added to the Register (deadline 25-06-2008), wish to apply for postal vote or a proxy vote (deadline 25-06-2008), have any other enquiry related to elections within Ceredigion.

And the Lib Dems have not texted me a result (suggesting a recount). The swing needed for a Plaid Cymru gain is at least 20%.

[cymrumark]

Harry...not had a text from Plaid so something must be up...not heard from Caerphilly either...