Alan's Green Thoughts

Readers, the results of British local by-elections from yesterday (and there were 12 yesterday!) were as follows: Allerdale DC, Maryport South: Labour 273 (52.9%, +11.8%), Independent (Galletly) 149 (28.9%), Conservative 94 (18.2%, +11.5%). Labour gain from Independent. [Other Independent and For Britain did not stand] Basildon BC, Lee Chapel North: Labour 451 (39.8%, +0.8%), Conservative 395 (34.8%, -2.4%), Residents 135 (11.9%, -2.4%), Reform UK 98 (8.6%, +3.7%), Liberal Democrats 55 (4.8%, +0.3%). All changes are since May 2021. Halton UA, Halton North: Labour 373 (60.3%, +9.7%), Green 117 (18.9%), Independent (Whyte) 69 (11.1%, -7.9%), Conservative 45 (7.3%, -11.4%), Liberal Democrats 15 (2.4%, -9.3%). All changes are since May 2021. Hambleton DC, Raskelf & White Horse: Conservative 288 (55.7%, -2.9%), Liberal Democrats 127 (24.6%), Green 102 (19.7%, -21.7%). Lancaster DC, Carnforth & Millhead: Labour 538 (57.7%, +25.5%), Conservative 315 (33.8%, -0.6%), Green 54 (5.8%, -4....

  Readers, the results of British local by-elections from yesterday were as follows: Canterbury DC, Gorrell: Green 1,149 (43.9%, +15.7%), Labour 803 (30.7%, -10.6%), Conservative 608 (23.2%, +0.5%), Workers' Party of Great Britain 58 (2.2%). Green gain from Labour. [Liberal Democrats did not stand] Liverpool MBC, Anfield: Labour 604 (55.9%, -11.5%), Liberal 281 (26.0%, +15.0%), Liberal Democrats 73 (6.8%, +2.1%), Green 72 (6.7%, -0.9%), Conservative 42 (3.9%, -1.4%), Adam Hetherington 9 (0.8%). All changes are since May. [Other Independent candidate did not stand; No Description candidates count as Independents and are listed by name only if not officially an Independent on the ballot paper] Liverpool MBC, Clubmoor: Labour 787 (54.5%, -7.6%), Liberal 324 (22.4%, +3.2%), Independent (Wharton) 167 (11.6%), TUSC 54 (3.7%), Green 45 (3.1%, -4.7%), Liberal Democrats 34 (2.4%, -3.2%), Conservative 33 (2.3%, -3.0%). All changes are since May. Liverpool MBC, Kirkdale: Labour 852 (61.7%, +2...

  Yesterday a third legislative election in Bulgaria in 2021 took place, marking 3 legislative elections in 7 months in fact in Bulgaria.  The most significant change in that election was marked by the entrance of a new anti-corruption coalition, We Continue the Change, which out of nowhere came top of the poll with 25.31%, winning 67 seats, particularly significant when it is also strongly pro-European (Eastern and Southeastern European nations have generally been more Eurosceptic than Western European nations). Also crucially for them and other parties running specifically on anti-corruption platforms, both Bulgaria's "establishment" alliances, GERB-SDS and BSP for Bulgaria, lost seats; GERB-SDS lost 4 and BSP for Bulgaria lost 9 compared to July's Bulgarian election, bringing them down to 59 and 27 seats respectively, and both results represent a record low for both parties even counting the alliances they have led.  The upstart We Continue the Change party, led by...

  Readers, the results of British local by-elections from 11 November 2021 (aka the 103rd Armistice Day) were as follows: Cardiff UA, Heath: Labour 1,729 (47.1%, +14.7%), Conservative 1,120 (30.8%, +1.2%), Liberal Democrats 561 (15.3%, +12.1%), Plaid Cymru 250 (6.8%, -0.6%). Labour gain from Heath Independents, who did not defend the seat. [Greens did not stand] Denbighshire UA, Llandrillo: Plaid Cymru 179 (44.0%), Independent (Robson) 140 (34.4%), Conservative 88 (21.6%). Lancaster BC, University & Scotforth Rural: Labour 216 (46.1%, +3.2%), Green 193 (41.2%, +13.9%), Conservative 44 (9.4%, -8.2%), Liberal Democrats 16 (3.4%, -9.0%).  Melton DC, Melton Dorian: Conservative 362 (56.0%, +6.5%), Labour 284 (44.0%). [Greens did not stand] North Kesteven DC, Metheringham (double by-election): Conservative 424/404 (45.7%, +6.7%), Lincolnshire Independents 404/369 (42.6%, -18.4%), Labour 85/69 (8.5%), Liberal Democrats 29 (3.2%). Conservative gain from Lincolnshire Independent/L...

  Readers, the results of British local by-elections from 4 November 2021 were as follows: Gloucester BC, Longlevens: Liberal Democrats 1,520 (60.3%, +14.8%), Conservative 781 (31.0%, -16.4%), Labour 135 (5.4%), Green 86 (3.4%). Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative. [Libertarian Party did not stand] Huntingdonshire DC, Huntingdon East: Liberal Democrats 813 (55.3%, +8.8%), Conservative 656 (44.7%, +5.9%). [Labour did not stand] Rutland UA, Oakham North West: Labour 293 (62.6%), Conservative 175 (37.4%). Labour gain from Independent [No Independent candidates this time]. Salford MBC, Blackfriars & Trinity: Labour 408 (51.3%, -7.1%), Green 160 (20.3%, -1.2%), Liberal Democrats 152 (19.3%, +14.1%), Conservative 68 (8.6%, +0.4%). [No Independent candidates this time[. West Lancashire DC, North Meols: Conservative 634 (64.9%, +15.6%), Labour 343 (35.1%, -3.0%). All changes are since May 2019. West Sussex CC, Bourne: Liberal Democrats 1,180 (51.8%, +22.8%), Conservative 893 (39.2%...