Lib Dems go from 30% in 2010 across Wiltshire to 4th behind Labour and an Independent. Very good result for Labour, coming second across Wiltshire for the first time in my recollection. This is a very promising result for Labour in the 2014 Euro elections, where Labour currently have no MEPs for the South West Euro-constituency.
The police commissioner result is interesting, because Wiltshire is typical of those parts of the West Country where Labour has never historically managed to displace the Liberals to become the second party. This carried with it the mixed blessing that Chippenham will almost certainly swing from the Liberals to Tory at the next election.
Angus MacPherson Tory 35,319 including 6,761 second preferences from bottom four candidates – 62.5%
Clare Moody 21,157 including 4.959 second preferences – 37.5%
Rejected second preferences 5,308 mainly due to no 2nd preference shown for 2 remaining candidates.
Swindon turnout 14.68%Wiltshire turnout 16.35%
Overall turnout 15.83%
First preferences across whole county
MacPherson Tory 28,558
Moody 16,198
Skelton Ind. 11,446
Batchelor Lib Dem 10,130
Short UKIP 7,250
Silcock Ind, 5,212
Spoilt 2,683
Zaid on said:
A promising result for the proletariat too – 2683 votes is something to build on
jim mclean on said:
Electing a Police Commissioner, bit like choosing your preferred prison Governor. Definitely a “none of the above” option. Notice not a lot has been said about the SNP doing away with all the local police forces and creating a single national body under the political control of whoever runs Holyrood.
brainwash on said:
I did’nt vote in these elections like most people , however i did’nt consider spoiling my ballot paper. Maybe there should have been such a campaign – it wasn’t a free and fair election as candidates had to be vetted before being allowed to stand , hence the retired politicians and police personnel standing.
Vanya on said:
#3 Unite sent an email message from Len McCluskey to members calling on them to vote for Labour candidates in these elections. It would be interesting to know how many followed this call.
The basis for it was opposing cuts to police services and defending jobs.
I also got a letter from Unite shortly after, and was expecting it to be the same, but it was something promoting legal services, particularly for personal injury claims.
I thought to myself, ‘is this a service or am I supposed to organise around it?’
Rob the cripple on said:
In Wales labour were worried about everyone, one phone call stated we must ensure the Liberals do not get in, that was from my Union, the next phone call was vote labour to stop Plaid from getting in, they did not give the Tories a hope yet they won in what has been a labour safe area for years in fact 1909.
The Tories won it and what we heard was that was unexpected, sadly the Turn out was shocking 12.8%.
I had little interest in any of them, being a scrounger work shy disabled person.