By-elections boost for Lib Dems ahead of 2 May county council elections
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Your support makes all the difference.No seats changed hands in the latest council by-elections but the Liberal Democrats had the strongest voting boost.
They comfortably defended a Wigmore seat at Luton Borough and came from nowhere to take second place at Lascelles, Darlington.
After a string of by-election gains since last November, the Lib Dems can face the 2 May 2 and unitary authority polls with greater confidence than in any main contests since they went into the Coalition.
However they still face some losses as the seats up next month were last fought in 2009 near the nadir of the last Labour government, unlike in recent by-elections where the previous polls were on the same day as or after the General Election.
The Tories finished third in both this week's fully political contests.
RESULTS:
Darlington Borough - Lascelles: Lab 426, Lib Dem 129, C 117. (May 2011 - Two seats Lab 599, 544, C 277). Lab hold. Swing 5.6% C to Lab.
Luton Borough - Wigmore: Lib Dem 982, Lab 517, C 281, Ukip 230, Ind 62, Green 27. (May 2011 - Three seats Lib Dem 1403, 1239, 1113, C 807, 787, Lab 786, 781, 734, C 559, Ukip 324). Lib Dem hold. Swing 3.1% Lab to Lib Dem.
Pembrokeshire County - Barton: Ind 291, C 166, Lab 162, Ind 129. (May 2012 - Ind unopposed). Ind hold.
PA
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