Labour dragged its morale off rock bottom, gaining one seat and defending a marginal in the clutch of just six by-elections in August. Only weeks ahead of a crucial conference season, its candidate, Barrie Morgan, triumphed at Cilfynydd, Rhondda Cynon Taff CBC after May's Liberal Democrat winner was ruled to have a politically-restricted post with the fire service. Net swing was 12.4%. Labour also narrowly held on at Wickersley, Rotherham MBC, where Tories had taken another seat in the ward in May. Conservatives also saw their majority slashed to just 10 votes at Pimhill, Shrewsbury and Atcham BC in a ward where they had polled more than 80% last year. The winner will serve only until April, when the council is merged into a Shropshire unitary authority. In August, Tories defended seats at Maldon DC, Nottingham City, Richmondshire DC and Shrewsbury and Atcham BC. Labour gained from Liberal Democrats at Rhondda Cynon Taff CBC and held a Rotherham MBC seat.