As the recession tightened in January, the fortunes of the political parties also plummeted. Labour lost to Liberal Democrats in two by-elections and – perhaps of greater concern for mainstream parties – the BNP had two near misses. Lib Dems came from fourth place at Valentines, Redbridge LBC, and also picked up a Fenham seat at Newcastle-upon-Tyne City, despite slumping badly from last May when they had won another seat in the ward. In this contest, the BNP soared 18%, leaving it 213 votes short of the winner. It came even closer at East Wickham, Bexley LBC, where it failed by just eight votes to defeat Tories. Labour did manage to see off a Conservative challenge in its traditional Seven Sisters stronghold by a margin of only 64 in the first voting test at Haringey LBC after the breaking of the Baby P tragedy. Liberal Democrats recovered a Kingston-upon-Hull Drypool seat where the councillor had joined Tories. Last month: Tories defended seats at Bexley LBC, Enfield LBC, Forest of Dean DC and Northampton BC. Labour held seats at Hackney LBC and Haringey LBC. Liberal Democrats gained from Tories at Kingston-upon-Hull City and from Labour at Newcastle-upon-Tyne City and Redbridge LBC and defended seats at Manchester City and Mid Sussex DC.
