Local By-Elections : May 5th 2011 (Part 1)

Among the myriad of elections across the UK, there was also a series of by-elections held (mostly in county wards, but we had a ward in Bradford that was voting as well as a ward in Southwark)

Idle and Thackley on Bradford: Lib Dem 1,858 (52% n/c on 2010), Lab 958 (27% +9% on 2010), Con 782 (22% -3% on 2010) Lib Dem HOLD with a majority of 900 (25%) on a swing from Lib Dem to Lab of 4.5%
The Lane on Southwark: Lab 2,670 (64% +17% on 2010), Green 472 (11% -4% on 2010),  Lib Dem 471 (11% -10% on 2010), Con 423 (10% -2% on 2010), Others 107 (3% +3% on 2010) Lab HOLD with a majority of 2,198 (53%) on a swing from Green to Labour of 10.5%

In the wards last contested at the general election the Labour humilation of the Liberal Democrats continued unchecked (and so far the wards contested since the election that were last contested in 2008 is looking very doubtful for the Lib Dems indeed: 12% swing from Lib Dem to Lab). There were also a large number of county wards (last elected in 2009) and I shall deal with those tomorrow.