UKIP and the Green Party gained in July's council by-elections, which saw big losses for the Tories – despite their triumph in the Norwich North Commons poll. Liberal Democrats were the only one of the ‘big three' to advance during the month. UKIP's eastern region organiser, Pete Reeve, in a double victory, took Cambridgeshire CC's Romsey division from the Tories, and won from Lib Dems in the Huntingdonshire DC ward of the same name, as well as helping to run his party's Norwich North campaign. The Green Party made what could be a significant gain from Conservatives at Goldsmid, Brighton and Hove City Council, which gives it parity with Labour as second-largest group on the authority. The ward is in Hove constituency, next door to Brighton Pavilion which – on paper – is the best Green general election prospect. Lib Dems won from Labour in one of its shrinking enclaves in west inner London at Colville, Kensington and Chelsea LBC.
