Election Watch

Welcome back to Election Watch! Its been a quiet couple of weeks – out of 15 council by elections that took place on the 19th and 26th of November, UKIP didn’t contest a single one. But last week, there was at last a contest in which we had a candidate!

Martin Bulmer stood for us in the Ormesby ward of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council. Another ward we had not previously contested, Martin managed to secure third place, beating the CONservatives and taking 7% of the vote.

Full result

Ann Wilson (Liberal Democrat) 1,084 73.5% (+12.4%)
Steve Goldswain (Labour) 210 14.2% (-5.1%)
Martin Bulmer (UK Independence Party) 103 7.0%
Colin Jones (Conservative) 77 5.2% (-14.4%)

Turnout 29.55% Lib Dem Hold

This week, we are contesting 2 principal authority by elections out of a possible 10. That’s 8 opportunities to build up local awareness ahead of next year’s general election poll missed!

Frances Fox is flying the UKIP flag in Peterborough Council’s West Ward. This is another ward we have not previously contested. He is up against a large field of candidates; on top of the big three, the Greens and the English Democrats are also standing. It does seem there number of candidates is up of late (its a pity I can’t say the same about us really isn’t it?). The seat is currently held by the Conservatives.

2008 result Con 1683 Ind 758 Lab 466 Green 99 LibDem 93

Our other candidate in this week’s principal authority contests is Tony Baker, standing in Wyre Forest’s Areley Kings Ward, where we have not previously stood a candidate. Also standing are the Cons, Labour and Independent Kidderminster Health Concern, who hold the seat in Parliament. The results of the last election indicate it is a three way marginal between those three groups.

2008 result Con 666 Lab 621 IKHC 552 Liberal 54

Tony Baker is also standing in a simultaneous town council by election, caused by the death of Conservative Mike Partridge who occupied both seats. This is for the Areley Kings West Ward of Stourport-on-Severn Town Council. Again, Tony’s opponents are the Cons, Labour and Health Concern. Good luck to him with both his contests.

2007 result Con 506/463/352 Health Concern 465/455 Labour 263

Lastly, James Norie is fighting a three way race in the North Ward of Goole Town Council, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, against Labour and the Lib Dems following the resignation of the incumbent Labour councillor.