St Helen's Ward by-election

[Slacker]

To be held on July 5th

Candidates so far:
Tom Murphy (Labour)
Tony Rogers (LibDem)
Keith Lomas (UKIP)

[therealjr]

Keith Lomas standing for UKIP????
Seems a long way to jump from pro europe Lib dems.
Wonder what happened first, his deselection by the lib dems or his joining UKIP. I'd have thought he'd be better off standing as an Independant, he always had a reasonably good personal vote in the ward.
That said the councillor who had the biggest personal vote of all still lost when he switched parties (having been, it must be said Unceremoniously dumped by his own).

[Slacker]

If you refer to the former Rother councillors they jumped rather than being pushed having acted as independents as fas as accountability went for the 3 years before alternative candidates were selected

[Slacker]

JR may know the details of this but I was told that last time a serving LibDem councillor died Labour did not contest the by election

[therealjr]

I'm racking my brains trying to remember who was the last sitting councillor who died.
I want to say Roland Beckingham but I stand to be corrected.

I don't remember Labour refusing to stand in a by election under those circumstances. I do recall that they said they wouldn't stand against the in-coming Mayor so that they didn't miss out on the honour. The fact that Labour stood a snowball in hells chance of winning in that ward anyway had absolutely nothing to do with it of course!!

[Slacker]

Maybe a few more minority candidates to come Greens, BNP, Monster Raving Loony, English Democrats, Tories....

[therealjr]

English democrats tend only to appear at general elections. Can't see the BNP or any of the other facist parties standing in St Helens ward with its large (in relative terms) Muslim community.
Greens maybe if they think the recycling is a big enough issue.
Not enough publicity in it for a MRL.

Be interesting to see if the Lib Dem by election 'machine' still works, they were very succesful at winning by elections last time they were in opposition.
If Labour can make association with Clegg stick then they should be home and hosed.
I'd go Murphy 450 Lomas 300 Rodgers 220

[Pete]

Is this some sort of secret code?

It's very impressive

[Slacker]

Not really sure of the relevance of UKIP in a council election. BNP have stood at Newbold a couple of times in County elections; not sure if there's any significance or if that's where the candidate lives.

[therealjr]

Not really sure of the relevance of UKIP in a council election.

About the same relevance as any other national or county council issue that is raised. But as has been proven times many in local elections your average voter can't distinguish between who is responsible for what.

BNP have stood at Newbold a couple of times in County elections; not sure if there's any significance or if that's where the candidate lives.

Graham Tasker is the usual candidate. He stood in St Marys ward in 2009 which is Ashgate Heights, Dunston, Green Farm estate, Holme Hall (north of Linacre Road), Linacre Woods and Upper Newbold.

[poppy]

The Lib dems have undertaken a pretty hefty leaflet/flyer campaign in the area.

[Slacker]

Labour has retained a respectable silence as it's only 2 weeks since Councillor Reynolds' funeral. Leaflets will be on their way soon.

[therealjr]

The voters turned out more than I expected and fewer people went with Keith Lomas from the lib dems. But a Labour majority of 150 predicted as opposed to a real one of 167 aint bad.

Labour 579 Lib 412 UKIP 205 Grn 54 Tory 23

[Slacker]

Your forecast was pretty good. Tories & Greens didn't put a leaflet out, presume just testing the water. The 2 Independents on CBC were canvassing for the UKIP candidate but out of friendship rather than politics.

[therealjr]

I've read somewhere (maybe even on your facebook feed) that the UKIP supporters in Chesterfield are all disaffected lib dems.
Seems a strange switch from pro to anti europe but I guess they figure they can't go to Labour and little point going Tory so where lese do they go?