With just three months to go before May's mid-term elections, Labour has lost a Nottinghamshire stronghold in a by-election. The Tories won with a 10.2% net swing since 5 May 2005 – the same date as the general election. The huge division covers about 30% of Sherwood constituency, where victory for Conservatives next time would give them an overall Commons majority. In other by-elections last month, the Tories held off a Labour challenge in finely-balanced Barrow-in-Furness BC.Labour collapsed into a poor third place as the Conservatives defended a West Oxfordshire DC seat in party leader David Cameron's constituency. The Tories kept their overall majority at New Forest DC, despite a 9% net swing since 2003 to Liberal Democrats at Barton, and Plaid Cymru lost to independent at Llanfihangel Esceifiog. Isle of Anglesey CC. Earlier, Tories took outright control at Basingstoke and Deane BC and Epping Forest DC in the last by-elections of 2006. Last month: Tories kept overall control at New Forest DC. Tories gained from Labour at Nottinghamshire CC. They held seats at Barrow-in-Furness BC, Cumbria CC, New Forest CC and West Oxfordshire CC. Independent gained from Plaid Cymru at Isle of Anglesey CC.
