Harper Green on Bolton (Lab Defence)
Result of last election (2012): Lab 41, Con 16, Lib Dem 3 (Labour overall majority of 22)
Result in ward over last electoral cycle:
2010: Lab 2,302 (45%), Lib Dem 1,203 (23%), Con 903 (18%), Ind 625 (12%), Green 114 (2%)
2011: Lab 1,918 (67%), Con 616 (22%), Lib Dem 326 (11%)
2012: Lab 1,656 (73%), Con 389 (17%), Lib Dem 222 (10%)
Candidates duly nominated: Asha Ali Ismail (Lab), Wendy Connor (Lib Dem), Peter McGeehan (UKIP), Kathy Sykes (Green), Robert Tyler (Con)

Elm and Christchurch on Fenland (Con Defence)
Result of last election (2011): Con 34, Ind 4, Lib Dem 2 (Conservative overall majority of 28)
Result of ward at last election (2011): Emboldened denotes elected
Conservatives 711, 489
Independents 268, 198
Labour 221
Liberal Democrats 118
Candidates duly nominated: Trevor Brookman (Lib Dem), Alan Burbridge (UKIP), Dean Reeves (Lab), Michelle Tanfield (Con), Phil Webb (Ind)

Market on Forest Heath (Con Defence)
Result of last election (2011): Con 23, Lib Dem 2, Lab 1, Ind 1 (Conservative overall majority of 19)
Result of ward at last election (2011): Emboldened denotes elected
Conservatives 615, 570
Labour 261, 237
Candidates duly nominated: John Bloodworth (Con), David Chandler (UKIP)

Haywards Heath, Franklands on Mid Sussex (Con Defence)
Result of last election (2011): Con 45, Lib Dem 8, Lab 1 (Conservative overall majority of 36)
Result of ward at last election (2011): Emboldened denotes elected
Conservatives 950, 897
Liberal Democrats 400, 389
Labour 214, 209
Candidates duly nominated: Howard Burrell (UKIP), Roderick Clarke (Con), Miranda Diboll (Green), Anne-Marie Lucraft (Lib Dem), Gregory Mountain (Lab)

Scotter on West Lindsey (Con Defence)
Result of last election (2011): Con 21, Lib Dem 11, Ind 3, Lab 2 (Conservative overall majority of 5)
Result of ward at last election (2011): Emboldened denotes elected
Conservatives 1,164, 934
Independent 623
Liberal Democrats 332
Candidates duly nominated: Barry Coward (Lib Dem), John Cox (Con), Chris Day (Non Party Independent), Howard Thompson (UKIP)

Scotter Rural on Lincolnshire (Con Defence)
Result of last election (2013): Con 36, UKIP 16, Lab 12, Ind 10, Lib Dem 3 (No Overall Control, Conservative short by 3
Result of ward at last election (2013): Con 717 (42%), UKIP 428 (25%), Lib Dem 392 (23%), Lab 172 (10%)
Candidates duly nominated: Richard Butroid (Con), Chris Darcel (Lincolnshire Independents), Lesley Rollings (Lib Dem), Nick Smith (UKIP)

Haywards Heath East on West Sussex (Con Defence)
Result of last election (2013): Con 46, UKIP 10, Lib Dem 8, Lab 6, Ind 1 (Conservative overall majority of 21)
Result of ward at last election (2013): Con 789 (33%), UKIP 647 (27%), Lab 505 (21%), Lib Dem 424 (18%)
Candidates duly nominated: Paul Brown (Green), Charles Burrell (UKIP), Richard Goddard (Lab), Anne Hall (Lib Dem), Stephen Hillier (Con)

Croesyceiliog North on Torfaen (Lab Defence)
Result of last election (2012): Lab 29, Ind 8, Con 4, Plaid 2 (Labour overall majority of 15)
Result of ward at last election (2012): Emboldened denotes elected
Labour 627, 479 (60%)
Independent 256, 224 (26%)
Conservative 175 (9%)
Non Party Independent 92 (5%)
Candidates duly nominated: Nigel Davies (Lab), Darren Hackley-Green (Plaid), Terry Irons (Ind), Nick Jones (Con), Aneurin Preece (UKIP)

Black Isle on Highland (Ind Defence)
Result of last election (2012): Ind 33, SNP 22, Lib Dem 15, Non Party Independent 2 (No Overall Control, Independents short by 7)
Result of last election in ward (2012): Emboldened denotes elected
Independents 1,130, 677, 212 (48%)
Scottish National Party 610 (15%)
Liberal Democrats 646 (15%)
Green 292 (7%)
Non Party Independent 240 (6%)
Labour 216 (5%)
Conservatives 141 (3%)
Scottish Christian Party 57 (1%)
Candidates duly nominated: Jennifer Barclay (Ind), Myra Carus (Green), Shaun Finlayson (Lab), Bill Fraser (Ind), Jackie Hendry (SNP), Douglas McLean (Con), George Normington (Lib Dem), Gwyn Phillips (Ind)

For more information about the Black Isle visit http://www.scottishelections.org.uk/

I would like to apologise for the lack of electoral history in this week’s by-elections, but hope that readers will understand that with several shopping trips, relative visits and community theatre rehearsals it has been a little on the tricky side. I will be doing a summary of 2013’s local by-elections next week (noting the gains and losses through the year) on Boxing Day and would therefore like to wish all the readers of Political Betting a Merry Christmas

Harry Hayfield