Two gains from the Conservatives in town council by-elections (majorities of 16 and 19 – a healthy reminder of the importance of working for every vote) in Winsford and Chatteris. Congratulations to Diane Bladry and Alfred Theron. Thanks also to Chris Howes, who stood in the one district by-election, coming second in a Tory held

The Liberal Democrats gained two seats in by-elections held on 25 February. In Eastwood South (Broxtowe District Council) the Lib Dems surged ahead of Labour: LD Keith Longdon 985 (53.1; +34.0) Lab 484 (26.1; -12.1) Con 387 (20.9; -0.4) In Fenstanton ward, Huntingdonshire District Council, the Lib Dems gained a seat from the Tories: LD Colin Saunderson 391 (51.1; +4.2) Con 337

votewise.co.uk is an independent website which lists forthcoming by-elections and candidates. It geto a decent audience, making it well worth using – but not all by-election campaigns make use of it. The site displays page view figures on the biography pages for each by-election candidate and the numbers (even allowing for being page views rather than

LABOUR easily defended control of Wakefield City Council in West Yorkshire in the latest by-elections.

Just two by-elections last night: West Hallam and Dale Abbey Ward, Erewash BC. Con hold. Con 692 (51.4%, -22.6), LD 506 (37.6%, +37.6), Lab 149 (11.1%, -14.9). Swing of 30.1% from Con to LD since 2007. This is in the notionally Tory new parliamentary constituency of Derbyshire Mid. Airedale and Ferry Fryston Ward, Wakefield MBC. Lab hold. Lab 1330 (49.9%, +3.4), LD 603 (22.6%, +8.3), BNP 353 (13.3...

Today’s Times publishes a study by Professor Colin Rallings and Professor Michael Thrasher of Plymouth University based on actual votes cast in the dozens of by-elections that take place for council seats each month. Here are the headline findings: It shows that although David Cameron’s Conservatives have a 10-point lead over Labour as the year draws

There’s been a fair degree of criticism of the Lib Dems’ parliamentary by-election performances in the last couple of years: the 2006 ‘glory days’ of beating Labour in Dunfermline, and coming oh-so-close against the Tories in Bromley have seemed an increasingly distant memory. So, let’s celebrate an arena where the party is doing well: local

The last opinion poll before Christmas continues to indicate increasing Labour support, though still showing a gap of 9 points between Labour and the Tories. But the picture looks much better where real votes were cast last month, in local by-elections. Analysis of twelve by-elections in November shows Labour neck and neck with the Tories,

This really does fall under the category of "got to be seen to be believed". Under the rules of the Northern Ireland Assembly, there are never any by-elections: if someone dies or resigns, their party is simply able to appoint...

Labour won three by-elections yesterday in Nuneaton, Dorset and Hampshire, with big swings from the Tories to Labour in both Westminster and Hastings. Labour’s Ian Lloyd gained from the BNP in Camp Hill Ward for the Nuneaton and Bedworth Council, increasing the Labour vote by 17%. Another gain for Labour was made by Kate Wheller