My analysis of British local by-elections from 15/03/18 and on the Spring Statement

Readers, the results of the three British local by-elections from 15 March 2018 were as follows:

Redcar & Cleveland UA, Longbeck: Conservative 494 (32.7%, +7.1%), Liberal Democrats 397 (26.3%, +12.3%), Labour 337 (22.3%, +4.0%), Independent (Jeffries) 282 (18.7%, -3.6%). Conservative gain from Independent.

South Kesteven DC, Stamford St George's: Conservative 309 (45.6%), Independent (Johnson) 174 (25.7%), Labour 114 (16.8%), Liberal Democrats 68 (10.0%), Green 13 (1.9%).

South Kesteven DC, Stamford St John's: Conservative 327 (39.4%), Independent (Carroll) 267 (32.1%), Liberal Democrats 156 (18.8%), Labour 66 (7.9%), Green 15 (1.8%).

A clear reversal of fortunes for the Conservatives this week, who held on to both Stamford seats despite strong challenges from Independents, and who managed to gain Longbeck in Redcar & Cleveland; ex-Labour councillor Vic Jeffries made a strong challenge but in the end finished fourth and last.

The Spring Statement was released on Wednesday, although since I had to attend my grandmother's funeral in Woking and write a tribute to Stephen Hawking I did not have time to comment on it then.

The most useful part of what should have been in the statement, the plan to scrap 1p and 2p coins and the £50 note (no longer useful in any normal transaction), was scrapped just two days after the initial announcement by the Treasury. It is transport in rural areas that needs more investment, not transport in English cities which is already of very good quality by comparison. There are also no plans to deal with empty homes that could be used to solve the housing shortage; the empty homes should be used before new ones should be built. Nor are there any plans to reverse the cuts made to services helping people with disabilities, or essential benefits that people with disabilities will receive, as pointed out here:
https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/spring-statement-shows-disabled-people-will-continue-to-bear-brunt-of-austerity/

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