A blog by Luke Akehurst about politics, elections, and the Labour Party - With subtitles for the Hard of Left. Just for the record: all the views expressed here are entirely personal and do not necessarily represent the positions of any organisations I am a member of.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Labourlist column

My Labourlist column this week is about Labour's 636 unsung heroes: http://labourlist.org/2011/10/the-636-unsung-heroes-of-the-labour-party/

Friday, October 28, 2011

Council by-elections

Six tonight, some good Labour performances:

Bude North & Stratton Division, Cornwall UA. LD hold. LD 958 (61.2%, -11.2), Con 395 (25.2%, -2.4), Lab 120 (7.7%, +7.7), Ind 93 (5.9%, +5.9). Swing of 4.4% from LD to Con since 2009.

Wyreside Division, Lancashire County Council. Con hold. Con 2178 (58%, -7.9), Lab 877 (23.4%, +10.3), UKIP 361 (9.6%, +9.6), Grn 339 (9%, -12.1). Swing 9.1% from Con to Lab since 2009.

Newchapel Ward, Newcastle-under-Lyme BC. Lab gain from Con. Lab 248 (45.6%, +12.9), Con 160 (29.5%, +2.2), UKIP 118 (21.7%, +6.3), LD 17 (3.1%, -3.4). Swing of 5.4% from Con to Lab since May this year.

Coatbridge North Ward, North Lanarkshire UA. Lab hold. Lab 1529 (52.4%, +3.6), SNP 1139 (39.0%, +9.6), Con 174 (6.0%, -4.6), LD 78 (2.7%, +2.7). Swing of 3% from Lab to SNP since 2007.

Thorndales Dales and the Wolds Division, North Yorkshire CC. Con hold. Con 1122 (66.2%, +4.7), LD 574 (33.8%, +4.1). Swing of 0.3% from LD to Con since 2009.

Bloxwich East Ward, Walsall MBC. Lab gain from Con. Lab 922 (48%, +5.2), Con 834 (43.5%, +1.3), UKIP 98 (5.1%, -3), ED 49 (2.6%, +2.6), Green 16 (0.8%, +0.8). Swing of 2% from Con to Lab since May this year,

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Progress column

Why I'm lamenting Tribune's demise: http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/10/26/tribune-reborn/

Monday, October 24, 2011

Labourlist post

The Tory Europhobes' speeches tonight have left me a lot more pro-EU than I was before hearing them:
http://labourlist.org/2011/10/we-need-to-recapture-the-passionate-european-voice/

 

Friday, October 21, 2011

Council By-elections

There was one by-election on Tuesday this week, which nearly resulted in a Labour gain on a Sussex authority where we have no seats:

Cokeham Ward, Adur DC. Con hold. Con 288 (39.6%, -2.6), Lab 282 (38.8%, +18.4), UKIP 91 ( 12.5%, +2.2), Green 35 (4.8%, +4.8), LD 31 (4.3%, -22.7). Swing of 10.5% from Con to Lab since 2010.

There were a further eight on Thursday:

Shortlands Ward, LB Bromley. Con hold. Con 1480 (59.5%, +1.6), LD 490 (19.7%, +6.4), Lab 256 (10.3%, -3.9), UKIP 153 (6.1%, +6.1), Green 75 (3%, -11.5), BNP 35 (1.4%, +1.4). Swing of 2.4% from Con to LD since 2010.

Ellesmere Port Ward, Cheshire West & Chester Council. Lab hold. Lab 686 (71.6%, -8.1), Con 102 (10.6%, -2.9), Soc Lab 65 (6.8%, +6.8), UKIP 64 (6.7%, +6.7), LD 41 (4.3%, -2.5). Swing of 2.6% from Lab to Con since May this year.

Bradwell South & Hopton Ward, Great Yarmouth BC. Con hold. Con 557 (49.6%, +3.4), Lab 407 (36.2%, +0.3), UKIP 159 (14.2%, +1.5). Swing of 1.6% from Lab to Con since May this year.

Park Hall Ward, Mansfield BC. Lab hold. Lab 416 (53.2%, -4.6), Ind 164 (21%, -14.3), LD 157 (20.1%, +13.1), UKIP 25 (3.2%, +3.2), Con 20 (2.6%, +2.6). Swing of 4.8% from Ind to Lab since May this year.

Bookham South Ward, Mole Valley DC. LD hold. LD 1043 (47.2%, +2.6), Con 940 (42.5%, -4.4), UKIP 228 (10.3%, +1.8). Swing of 3.5% from Con to LD since May this year.

Bridge Ward, Nottingham CC. Lab hold. Lab 1152 (50.2%, -1.8), LD 892 (38.9%, +2.7), Con 172 (7.5%, -4.3), UKIP 50 (2.2%, +2.2), Bus Pass Elvis 27 (1.2%, +1.2). Swing of 2.3% from Lab to LD since May this year.

Eccles Ward, Salford MBC. Lab hold. Lab 1227 (54.5%, -0.6), Con 701 (31.1%, +3.2), BNP 147 (6.5%, +6.5), LD 125 (5.5%, -0.8), Ind 53 (2.4%, +2.4). Swing of 1.9% from Lab to Con since May this year.

Walton Ward, Stafford BC. Ind gain from Con. Ind 569 (45.6%, +19.9), Con 372 (29.8%, -5.3), Lab 306 (24.5%, +1.5). Swing of 12.6% from Con to Ind since May this year.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Progress Column

My Progress column this week is about Free Schools: http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/10/19/divisive-and-anarchic/

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Labourlist Column

My Labourlist column this week explains why the French PS' experience of primary elections doesn't translate to the UK: http://www.labourlist.org/vive-la-difference--primaries-non-merci

Friday, October 14, 2011

Council by-elections

There were 4 by-elections yesterday:

St Helen's Ward, Barnsley MBC. Lab hold. Lab 1257 (75.8%, -3.5), BNP 174 (10.5%, -1.6), ED 146 (8.8%, +8.8), Con 61 (3.7%, -4.9), Ind 21 (1.3%, +1.3). Swing of 1% from Lab to BNP since May this year.

Meopham North Ward, Gravesham BC. Con hold. Con 648 (47.3%, -23.8), UKIP 462 (33.7%, +33.7), LD 148 (10.8%, +10.8), Lab 112 (8.2%, -20.7). Swing of 28.9% from Con to UKIP since May this year.

Sleaford West & Leasingham Division, Lincolnshire CC. Con 614 (43.0%, -14.0), Lincs Ind 454 (31.8%, +13.5), Lab 315 (22.1%, +11.8), LD 45 (3.2%, -10.7). Swing of 13.8% from Con to Lincs Ind since 2009.

Bamber Bridge East Ward, South Ribble BC. Lab hold. Lab 481 (55%, -2.4), Con 393 (45%, +2.4). Swing of 2.4% from Lab to Con since May this year.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Progress Column

My Progress column this week continues the argument I had earlier in the week with Michael Meacher:
http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/10/12/reason-to-be-cheerful/

Monday, October 10, 2011

Labourlist column

My Labourlist column this week is about the Shadow Cabinet reshuffle:

http://www.labourlist.org/sectarianism-is-alive-and-well-on-the-labour-hard-left

Friday, October 07, 2011

Council by-elections

There were three yesterday, all solid performances for Labour:

Lower Stoke Ward, Coventry MBC. Lab hold. Lab 1366 (54.1%, -3.5), Con 563 (22.3%, -0.2), Soc 254 (10.1%, +3.7), BNP 149 (5.9%, +0.1), Green 114 (4.5%, -3.3), LD 79 (3.1%, +3.1). Swing of 1.9% from Lab to Con since May this year.

Norland Ward, RB Kensington & Chelsea. Con hold. Con 675 (43.8%, -11.6), Lab 438 (28.4%, +5), LD 358 (23.2%, +2), UKIP 69 (4.5%, +4.5). Swing of 8.3% from Con to Lab since 2010.

Vicarage Ward, Watford BC. Lab hold. Lab 917 (52.9%, +2.8), LD 403 (23.2%, -4.3), Ind 190 (11%, +11), Ind 129 (7.4%, +7.4), Con 95 (5.5%, -3.7). Swing of 3.6% from LD to Lab since May this year.

Wednesday, October 05, 2011

Progress Column

My Progress column this week is about the need for lots of work on implementation of the Refounding Labour changes: http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/10/05/refounding-labour-%E2%80%93-it%E2%80%99s-all-about-the-implementation/

Monday, October 03, 2011

NEC Report

My NEC report on conference is now online at Labourlist:
http://www.labourlist.org/annual-conference---nec-report

 
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