The Press Association reports:
Darlington Borough – Harrowgate Hill:
C 694, Lab 607, Lib Dem 142, Ukip 95, England First 47. (May 2011 – Three seats Lab 1261, 959, 910, C 863, 590, 554).
C gain from Lab. Swing 13.6% Lab to C.
Darlington Borough – Hurworth:
Lib Dem 474, C 436, Lab 144, Ukip 31. (May 2011 – Two seats Lib Dem 886, 568, C 505, 386, Lab 175, 175).
Lib Dem hold. Swing 8.6% Lib Dem to C.
Newark and Sherwood District – Lowdham:
C 787, Lib Dem 534, Lab 117, Ind 91. (May 2011 – Two seats C unopposed).
C hold.
From Wednesday:
Barnet London Borough – East Finchley:
Lab 2117, C 543, Lib Dem 461. (May 2010 – Three seats Lab 3315, 2931, 2868, C 1994, 1855, Lib Dem 1735, C 1723, Lib Dem 1397, 1237, Green 652, 588, 477).
Lab hold. Swing 16.6% C to Lab.
Labour-run Darlington is, of course, one of the democracy dodgers. It is putting up Council tax by 3.5% – the maximum possible without holding a referendum.
The result in Barnet represents a big swing to Labour on the General Election day when this Council seat was last contested. In that same General Election in Greater London the Labour Party were already 2% ahead of the Conservatives. A salutary reminder of the extent of the challenge that Boris faces on May 3rd.