Victories for Tory party

By-Election Boost for Conservatives

Conservatives made their first gain in London for more than two years, when Geoffrey Samuel triumphed against Liberal Democrats at Hampton Hill, Richmond-upon-Thames Borough.

There was a minimal swing but the result is important to party morale as the ward is in the Twickenham constituency, one of its many former strongholds to fall in the capital on May 1.

Labour's vote slightly increased in third place at Hampton Hill, but the overall outcome suggests there would be little change between the three parties in next May's London council elections compared with sweeping Tory losses foreshadowed by the General Election.

It also gives Conservatives some small comfort ahead of the coming parliamentary by-election in nearby marginal Uxbridge.

The Tories' two other gains came from independents at Hart, Hampshire and South Northamptonshire.

But Labour appeared to make the main advance in votes although most of the latest contests were in areas where the party is not strong.Its vote was up in all three of the seats where it had stood previously, even though it was fighting to match peak performances in the past three years.

Labour narrowly missed gains by just 11 votes at South Northamptonshire and 22 at Rhondda Cynon Taff, south Wales. At South Gosforth, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, where the party is normally badly squeezed by Liberal Democrats, its vote soared 13.6% since last May.

The Tories, who have lost large numbers of activists in recent years, still appear to have problems finding candidates in some areas. Thus at Newton Longville, Aylesbury Vale it was an independent who won from Liberal Democrats in a seat where Conservatives might have had a chance.

Results
Aylesbury Vale District - Newton Longville: Ind 388, Lib Dem 236, Lab 92.
(May 1995 - Lib Dem 361, C 278). Ind gain from Lib Dem.

Hart District - Fleet Pondtail: C 773, Ind 691, Lib Dem 144.
(May 1996 - Ind 1494, C 336, Lib Dem 239, Lab 106). C gain from Ind.

Newcastle Upon Tyne City - South Gosforth: Lib Dem 1474, C 1096, Lab 800.
(May 1996 - Lib Dem 2525, C 1342, Lab 433). Lib Dem hold. Swing 8.1% Lib Dem to C.

Rhondda, Cynon, Taff Council - Aberaman South: Plaid Cymru 784, Lab 762, Lib Dem 48.
(May 1995 - Two seats Plaid Cymru 958, 936, Lab 731, 725, Ind Plaid Cymru 550). Plaid Cymru hold. Swing 4.2% Plaid Cymru to Lab.

Richmond-upon-Thames London Borough - Hampton Hill: C 1138, Lib Dem 1096, Lab 591.
(May 1994 - Three seats Lib Dem 1567, C 1517, Lib Dem 1469, 1463, C 1392, 1366, Lab 667, 618, 607). C gain from Lib Dem. Swing 1.8% Lib Dem to C.

South Northamptonshire - Kingthorne: C 232, Lab 221.
(May 1995 - Ind 400, C 134). C gain from Ind.