First past the post at Doncaster: Labour

Posted by David Boothroyd
View David's blog
15 years ago / November 20, 2009

Latest information about local council electoral matters is as follows:

East Midlands

East of England

London

North East

North West

  • Cheshire East council: Wilfred Davies won a substantial majority in Cholmondeley ward at a byelection on 19 November, keeping the seat in Conservative hands.
  • Fylde borough council: Byelection on 26 November in Clifton ward, after the death of Conservative councillor William Thompson. Term ends 2011.
  • Knowsley borough council: Byelection on 26 November in Halewood South ward, after the resignation of Susan Smith of the Liberal Democrats, due to work commitments. Term ends 2011.
  • Pendle borough council: Vacancy in Brierfield ward after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Naseem Shabnam who had been criticized for poor attendance. As her term was due to expire in May 2010, there can be no byelection.
  • Wirral borough council: Byelection on 26 November in Moreton West and Saughall Massie ward, after the sudden death of Conservative councillor Suzanne Moseley. Term ends 2011.

South East

  • Adur district council: Gavin Ayling, who was elected as a Conservative in Buckingham ward, has joined the Liberal Democrats, after coming to a decision that he was “at heart more liberal than conservative”.
  • Gosport borough council: Liberal Democrat group leader Peter Chegwyn has been disqualified for two years by the Adjudication Panel which would create a vacancy in his Leesland ward. He is reinstated for the moment and has won permission to appeal to the High Court against the finding. Term ends May 2010.
  • Hampshire county council: Peter Chegwyn has been disqualified for two years by the Adjudication Panel which would create a vacancy in his Hardway division. He is reinstated for the moment and has won permission to appeal to the High Court against the finding. Term ends 2013.
  • Hastings borough council: Byelection on 10 December in St Helens ward after the resignation of Conservative councillor Keith Bing due to ill health. Term ends May 2010.
  • Reigate and Banstead district council: Byelection on 17 December in Earlswood and Whitebushes ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Robert Webb. Term ends 2012.
  • Rushmoor district council: Byelection on 10 December in Heron Wood ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Paul Bowers. Term ends 2012.
  • Thanet district council: Byelection on 3 December in Dane Valley ward, after a valid resignation was received from Stephen Broadhurst. Broadhurst has been spending much of his time in Panama and was about to be disqualified for failing to attend any council meeting in six months; a previous resignation letter purporting to be from him was found to be invalid because someone else had signed the letter on his behalf. Broadhurst had originally been elected as a Conservative. Term ends 2011.
  • Worthing borough council: Impending vacancies in Marine ward and Salvington ward, due to the resignations (respectively) of outgoing council leader Keith Mercer and his wife Dr Heather Mercer (both Conservatives) who are emigrating to Cyprus where Heather Mercer is to take up a university post. Terms ends in May 2010 (Salvington) and 2011 (Marine). The Salvington vacancy cannot now be filled by a byelection as it is within six months of the end of the term.

South West

  • Cornwall council: Byelection on 26 November in St Austell Bay ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Richard Stewart due to ill health. Term ends 2013.
  • Forest of Dean district council: Former Independent councillor (2003-07) Mike Meredith-Edwards won back his seat in Coleford East ward at the byelection on 19 November. This marks a gain from the Conservatives although the previous councillor had been in an unofficial group at the time of his resignation.
  • West Devon district council: Byelection on 10 December in Tavistock South ward after the resignation of Conservative councillor Chris Jenkins. Term ends 2011.
  • Weymouth and Portland borough council: Byelection on 10 December in Wyke Regis ward after the resignation of veteran Conservative councillor Doug Hollings, who died a few days later. Term ends 2012.

West Midlands

Yorkshire and the Humber

Wales

  • Flintshire county council: Byelection on 26 November in Northop ward, after the death of Mel Higham who was an Independent councillor and executive member for regeneration and tourism. Term ends 2012.
  • Pembrokeshire county council: Byelection on 26 November in St Dogmaels ward, after the resignation of Independent councillor Ian Gollop due to ill health. Term ends 2012.

Scotland

  • East Dunbartonshire council: Byelection on 10 December in ward no. 3 (Bearsden South) after the resignation of Conservative councillor Simon Hutchison. There is an unusual Labour/Conservative coalition running the council, whose survival is potentially endangered if neither wins the seat. Term ends 2012.
  • Falkirk council: Ann Ritchie of the Scottish National Party easily held her party’s seat in Bo’ness and Blackness ward at the byelection on 19 November, winning an overall majority on first preferences.