See below for Owl’s analysis

East Devon District Council – By-election 2 May 2024

Declaration of results for East Devon District Council Exmouth Brixington Ward 2 May 2024

Exmouth Brixington

Name of Candidate	Description (if any)	Number of votes	Elected?
BAILEY Aurora E	Conservative Party Candidate	586	elected
BENNETT, Julie	The Labour Party	339
CONDUIT, Dianne	Liberal Democrats	513
ROSSER, Michael J	The Green Party	136

Electorate: 6110
Ballot Papers Issued: 1593
Rejected Ballot Papers: 19
Turnout: 26%

Here is an analysis of Thurday’s result, compared to the full council elections held last year (see below).

Analysis: Similar turnout, but Thursday’s winner Aurora Bailey, in 2023, stood as an “Independent”. On Thursday she won with only  38% of the vote.

The 2023 election was for three councillors, electors had three votes. This Thursday’s election was for only one councillor and electors had one vote. The significant difference is the fall in the votes cast for the Green and Labour candidates. 

The conclusion Owl reaches is that if the “anything but Tory” majority really wants to do business in a straight fight under the first past the post system. Only the Lib Dems offer a viable alternative.

Council Exmouth Brixington Ward 4 May 2023

Name of Candidate	Description (if any)	Number of votes	Elected?
BAILEY Aurora E	Independent	518
CAYGILL Fred	Conservative Party Candidate	673	Yes
CHAPMAN Maddy	Conservative Party Candidate	734	Yes
COLMAN Andrew	Liberal Democrats	579
KIRVAN Ian D	Independent	471
MARRETT G Malcolm	Green Party Candidate	434
NICHOLAS Cherry	Conservative Party Candidate	662	Yes
WICKENDEN Jamie	Labour Party	559

Electorate: 6143
Ballot Papers Issued: 1743
Rejected Ballot Papers: 3
Turnout: 28.4%