Labour candidates were thwarted in three seperate by-elections across Britain this week, as constituents had the opportunity to elect a new ward councillor in Leicester, Caerphilly, and Redcar and Cleveland respectively.All three wards are Labour led, but it seems the party may have lost its grip across the nation – likely attributed to the Prime Minister’s fight for survival in No10 and the rise of smaller parties such as Reform UK and the Greens.With three seats lost on local councils for Labour as voters had their say yesterday, equally that means three seats gained for other parties.Over in the Van ward of Caerphilly, Wales, Plaid Cymru’s candidate won voters over, while in the Stoneygate ward of Leicester, the Green Party candidate came out on top.In the Zetland ward of Redcar and Cleveland, the Lib Dems won with a huge slice of the electorate pie, stealing the seat in the home ward of Anna Turley, Chair of the Labour Party.
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Van (Caerphilly)Voters chose Plaid Cymru candidate Jeff Grenfell to be the new representative of the Van ward of Caerphilly County Borough Council, ahead of Reform UK who came in second.Councillor Grenfell said he was “very proud to be elected by the residents of Van ward” after running “a positive campaign focusing on what we can do and who we are as people in our communities”.He said: “Many people are unhappy with the performance of our council services and how our council tax is spent.“I hope to represent all residents of the Van ward as best I can and will welcome discussions and ideas from as many community groups as possible”.The newly-elected Plaid Cymru councillor scooped 43 per cent of the votes – a majority of 128 votes – with Labour and Reform candidates walking away with 27 per cent and 29 per cent respectively.The party has a strong grip in Welsh constituencies and has been fierce competition for Labour.On a parliamentary level, the ward sits within the Caerphilly constituency, re-established as part of the 2024 boundary changes and currently represented by Labour MP Chris Evans.The by-election was called after the death of Labour councillor Christine Forehead, aged 81, who sat on the council since its inception in 1995.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSRupert Lowe asks High Court to block watchdog probe over fears it could ‘end his career’Labour’s tax and wage policies blamed for youth unemployment crisis: ‘It’s self-inflicted!’Chagossians cannot be evicted from homeland after judge makes vital last-minute interventionStoneygate (Leicester)The Green Party won a seat from Labour in a Leicester City Council by-election for Stoneygate ward – now with four seats on the Labour dominated council.Aasiya Bora was elected to represent the Stoneygate ward on Thursday, securing 1,195 votes and finishing ahead of Labour candidate Adam Sabat, who got 1,089 votes.Bora said the election campaign had been “positive, unifying and joyful”.She said: “For the community to put the trust in me, and give the Greens a 22 per cent swing, is truly breathtaking.”We took nothing for granted and had hundreds of conversations on the doorstep. “I look forward to sitting with our Green group in council and working with any and all allies in the interests of the people of Leicester”.With a mere 30 per cent of votes and a majority of 106 votes – the Green candidate was fortunate with how the other votes were split, with Labour close behind at 28 per cent and other candidates equally claiming minimal support from voters.The Green party is ahead in the polls across Leicester, with many constituencies finding solace in what were once “fringe” parties, as Labour and the Tories lose support.On a parliamentary level, the ward sits within the Leicester South constituency, whose MP is currently Shockat Adam Patel (Independent).This by-election was called following the death of Labour councillor Manjula Sood, aged 80, who formerly served as lord mayor of Leicester.Zetland (Redcar and Cleveland)Over in Teesside’s Zetland ward within Redcar and Clevelend Council, the Liberal Democrats won out with a soaring majority over rival candidates.Alison Barnes won voters over, having previously served the council before her recent re-election, saying she was “really, really pleased” with the result.She previously represented the ward from 2019 to 2023, before losing her seat in the last round of local elections.She said the Labour Party’s “star has somewhat waned” since then, when two Labour councillors were elected.”I, despite not being a councillor, have continued to do lots of work within the area and I think that stood me in very good stead,” Ms Barnes said.The Lib Dem representative won with 51 per cent of votes – a majority of 255 votes – with the closest runner up being Labour candidate Mitchell Rynn with 22 per cent of votes.On a parliamentary level, the ward sits within the Redcar constituency, under Labour MP Anna Turley, who won her seat back in 2024, having previously served from 2015 to 2019.This by-election was called following the resignation of Independent councillor Jonny Neal, who was appointed to the council under Labour in 2023, before ditching the group last year.
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