AMENDED

Seven out of eight seats change hands

With a May 5th election just 47 days away the results from last night’s local by-elections show six of the eight seats changing hands.

The Lib Dems win four and lose two
Labour win one and lose three
The Tories win two and lose one

In two seats the turnout was above 40%; in three it was in the 30s; and in three seats it was in the 20s. These seem very high levels for localby-elections and point to a reasonably good turnout at the General Election.

Cherwell DC Yarnton, Gorsford and Water Eaton
Con 784 (59.8%;+12.6%), LD 423 (32.3%;-11.1%), Lab 103 (7.9%;-1.5%)
Majority 361. Turnout 31%. Con gain. Last fought 2004

Epsom and Ewell DC Woodcote
LD 558 (34.7%;+4.1%), Con 539 (33.5%;+1.8%), RA 436 (27.1%;-5.0%),
Lab 74 (4.6%;-1.0%)
Majority 19. Turnout 39.3%. LD gain RA

Hyndburn BC Rishton
Lab 759 (46.1%;+5.6%), Con 756 (46.0%;-13.5%), LD 129 (7.8%;+7.8%)
Majority 3. Turnout 32.2%. Lab gain Con.

Lewisham LBC Forest Hill
LD 1011 (43.5%;+21.6%), Lab 789 (34%;+0.6%), Con 522 (22.5%;0.0%)
[Green (0.0%;-22.1%)]
Majority 222. Turnout 24.2%. LD gain Lab.

Lewisham LBC Lee Green
LD 939 (37.0%;+18.9%), Con 642 (25.3%;+7.5%), Lab 448 (17.6%;-12.3%),
Ind 355 (14%;-0.9%), Green 113 (4.4%;-11.3%), UKIP 40 (1.6%;+1.6%),
[UK Ind (0%;-3.6%)]
Majority 297. Turnout 25.6%. LD gain Lab.

Midlothian SDC Dalkeith & Woodburn
LD 742 (52.6%;+30.4%), Lab 418 (29.6%;-18.6%), SNP 179 (12.7%;-4.9%),
SSP 48 (3.4%;-5.3%), Con 24 (1.7%;-1.6%)
Majority 324. Turnout 42.5%. LD gain Lab.

Tunbridge Wells St John’s
Con 500 (41.6%;+4.0%), LD 390 (32.5%;-9.4%), Lab 244 (20.3%;+11.7%),
Green 66 (5.5%;-1.9%)
Majority 110. Turnout 25.1%. Con gain LD.

West Dunbartonshire Dumbarton West
Lab 607 (50.1%;-11.2%), SNP 287 (23.7%;+3.1%), Ind 141 (11.6%;+11.6%),
SSP 130 (10.7%;-7.5%), Con 30 (2.5% + 2.5%)
Majority 320. Turnout 41.7%. Lab hold