There are 2,744 seats being contested in 124 authorities on Thursday, including a few returned unopposed and one deferred until 2nd June following the death of a candidate. In addition there are 79 vacancies being filled through by-elections including 27 within the 124 authorities with annual elections, all but one being "double" elections.
There are "all out" elections for 887 seats in 18 authorities:
- 507 seats in 12 District Councils compared to 544 previously, a reduction of 37 or some 7%
- 188 seats in 3 Unitary Authorities, an increase of 4 and
- 192 seats in 3 Metropolitan Councils, a reduction of 18 (all in Knowsley).
Of the remaining 1,857 seats mainly elected in 2012 (but including a few Councils with "all out" elections in 2014 and 2015 now electing by thirds) :
- 736 (40%) seats are in 51 District Councils electing by thirds where there were elections last year,
- 124 seats (7%) in 7 District Councils electing by "halves" where the previous elections were in 2014
- 271 seats (15%) in 16 Unitary Authorities electing by thirds with elections last May and
- 726 seats (39%) in 32 Metropolitan Councils with elections last May.
Conservatives are defending some 557 of these seats (30% of 1,857), Labour approximately 959 (52%), Liberal Democrats circa 224 (12%), Green 21, UKIP 9, Independent 50, Residents 27 and Others 10 - subject to changes in allegiance.
Most authorities polling by thirds will have the same wards as last year, although a few do have a largely different set, eg Harrogate and South Lakeland. As a benchmark (not a prediction) if the Conservatives polled the same as last year (ignoring a different mix along with candidate personal votes) they could gain around 230 seats excluding those authorities with "all out" elections and the 7 that elect by "halves". Inclusion of these latter two groups would take the gains on a very similar performance to last May to around 275 gains.
By MiddleEnglander
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Breakdown of the 2012 council election vote share who are holding elections May 2016
35 Metropolitan Councils
2012 vote share
Labour 51.09%
Conservatives 21.09%
Lib Dems 12.29%
Greens 4.39%
UKIP 4.02%
Indy 3.3%
Respect 0.77%
Others 3.06%
19 Unitary Authorities
2012 vote share
Labour 40.60%
Conservatives 27.81%
Lib Dems 16.41%
UKIP 6.66%
Indy 3.16%
Greens 2.64%
Others 2.72%
70 District Councils
2012 vote share
Conservatives 36.72%
Labour 32.31%
Lib Dems 16.20%
UKIP 4.83%
Greens 4.51%
Indy 3.05%
Others 2.37%
Total of all councils
2012 vote share
Labour 44.44%
Conservatives 26.34%
Lib Dems 13.92%
UKIP 4.58%
Greens 4.20%
Indy 3.21%
Others 3.31%
Source for information below.
@AndyJSajs Is a great account to follow I am surprised he has less than a 1,000 followers. Andy has been busy again with another google doc.
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A great google doc for this Mays council elections.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13C07pTr6ccd62S2dkElV5DzC6uN5YKbF-z2ux4CA6vY/edit#gid=0
