Liberal Democrats wrest seats from Tories and Labour, while Labour win back seat in Hartlepool borough

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Nigel Farage’s Brexit party has failed to win council seats in its first attempt at fielding candidates in local byelections but may have played a part in seeing a Conservative seat and a Labour one fall to Liberal Democrats.

The Lib Dem victories came in two wards of Gloucester borough council in the latest local polls. They defeated Tories in a byelection in Barnwood ward following the death of a Conservative councillor. Voting was: LD 676, C 496, Brexit 152, Labour 64, Green 59, Ukip 6. The turnout was 29.1%.

Lib Dems narrowly took a seat from Labour in a contest in Podsmead ward caused by the resignation of a Labour councillor.

The Lib Dems were just three votes ahead of Conservatives while Labour was pushed into third place. Voting was: LD 203, C 200, Labour 122, Brexit 111, Green 29, Ukip 11. Turnout 32.8%.

Elsewhere, Labour narrowly won a seat at Hartlepool borough council in a byelection in Hart ward following the resignation of an independent councillor previously elected for Labour. Voting was: Labour 366, Ind Union 358, Green 196, For Britain 166, Ukip 114.

The Brexit party topped the vote in the European parliament elections in the UK on 23 May. It did not field candidates in local elections in England on 2 May following its establishment in January. They will, though, be contesting the Brecon and Radnorshire byelection next week.

Quick guide Brecon and Radnorshire byelection Show Hide Why was there a byelection? A petition to recall the Conservative MP Chris Davies secured the signatures of more than 10% of registered voters in the constituency. Davies was convicted for submitting fake expenses documents invoices for nine framed landscape photographs, costing £700, to decorate his office in Builth Wells. He was fined £1,500 and ordered to complete 50 hours of community service. He stood again for re-election. How did the parties do at the last election? In 2017 the results were as follows: Christopher Davies (Cons) 20,081 (Maj 8,038)

James Gibson-Watt (Lib Dem) 12,043

Dan Lodge (Lab) 7,335

Kate Heneghan (Plaid) 1,299

Peter Gilbert (Ukip) 576 What were the 2019 results? The Liberal Democrats took the seat from the Conservatives: Jane Dodds (Lib Dem) 13,826 (Maj 1,425)

Christopher Davies (Cons) 12,401

Des Parkinson (Brexit) 3,331

Tom Davies (Lab) 1,680

Lady Lily the Pink (Monster Raving Loony) 334

Liz Phillips (Ukip) 242

The party failed to take a Commons seat in the Peterborough byelection won by Labour on 6 June but came second with 28.9% of the vote.

More than a dozen Ukip councillors are reported to have defected to the Brexit party recently but the Gloucester contests saw the party’s first attempt to win council representation through the ballot box.