Labour defied the opinion pollsters in the latest by-elections, making two gains in October and defending two marginals.

The party took a seat from the Tories at Ellesmere Port and Neston BC and won at Easington DC from independent. It held on at Blyth Valley BC with Liberal Democrats pushing Tories into third place. Last month: l Tories gained from the Lib Dems at Chester City and South Cambridgeshire DC and from independent at North Shropshire DC. The party defended seats at Cambridgeshire CC, Chiltern DC and Huntingdonshire DC. l Labour gained from the Tory at Ellesmere Port and Neston BC and from independent at Easington DC. It held seats at Blyth Valley BC, Charnwood DC, Durham CC and Rotherham MBC. l Liberal Democrats gained from independent at Alnwick DC and defended seats at Eden DC, Manchester City and Monmouthshire CC. l Independent gained from Tories at Shrewsbury and Atcham BC. So far this year Tories have made 14 net gains in council by-elections, Liberal Democrats six, SNP three and Green one. Labour has lost one overall, Plaid Cymru one, BNP one and independents and others 21.