DERBY NORTH

The boundary commission have had quiet a game of musical chairs with the wards for this area. Derby North has given three wards to Derby Mid but gained five wards from Derby South, whilst giving one ward back to Derby South.

What does all this mean? Well if you look at the notional result based on how the seat is made up now, it is a 5% loss for Labour, 10% loss for the tories but a 15% gain for the libs. It is as though Labour know they will lose the seat so are trying to make it as good as possible for the Libs.

2005 NOTIONAL RESULT
Labour: 15845 (39.5%)
Liberal Democrat: 12293 (30.6%)
Conservative: 10395 (25.9%)
Other: 1583 (3.9%)
Majority: 3552 (8.9%)

actual result...General Election 2005:
Labour Robert Laxton 19,272 44.0 −6.9
Conservative Richard Aitken-Davies 15,515 35.4 +0.4
Liberal Democrat Jeremy Beckett 7,209 16.5 +2.4
Veritas Martin Bardoe 958 2.2 N/A
UKIP Michelle Medgyesy 864 2.0 N/A
Majority 3,757 8.6 −7.3
Turnout 43,818 64.3 +6.5

General Election 1997:
Labour Robert Laxton 29,844 53.2 +12.3
Conservative Gregory Knight 19,229 34.3 −14.1
Liberal Democrat Robert Charlesworth 5,059 9.0 −0.6
Referendum Party P. Reynolds 1,816 3.2 N/A
ProLife Alliance J. Waters 195 0.3 N/A
Majority 10,615 18.9 +11.3
Turnout 56,143 73.8 −6.9


As you will see Labour has dropped from their highs of 53% in 1997 so explains why Laxton is jumping ship. The Tories are also no where near their own highs of 1992 when they had 48% of the vote, so the local electorate are open to change.

CANDIDATES SO FAR
Peter Cheeseman BNP
Stephen Mold (Conservative)
Lucy Care (Lib Dems)

You will notice no Labour candidate falling over themselves to go for a seat they are more than likely to lose.

Peter Cheesman is used to beating Labour as he did in council elections in Leicestershire County Council elections in June 2009

BIRSTALL

Roger Wilson (Lib Dem) 1,489
Stuart Jones (Conservative) 1,442
Peter Cheeseman (BNP) 644
Claire Poole (Labour) 464

The Derby council site, like many other council sites, seems to wipe old election results. But this is what i have found, be happy if someone could provide info on 2009 council elections.

But in May 2008 over 1,100 voes were gained from the 2 BNP candidates which stood in this area.