Labour has held on to Keswick in a Cumberland Council by-election despite a surge in the Conservative vote share.

The Conservatives also held onto Wetheral with Labour pushed into third place by the Liberal Democrats.

By-elections were called in Keswick and Wetheral following Marcus Campbell-Savours' parliamentary election win for Labour in Penrith and the Solway and Wetheral’s Conservative councillor, Geoff Mitchell deciding to step down.

Labour’s candidate in Keswick, Sally Lansbury won with 50.7 per cent of the vote – down more than 17 points since 2022 when the party won in Keswick during the first Cumberland Council election.

The Conservative candidate, Graham King, received 38 per cent of the vote which represented an increase of 22 per cent on their 2022 result in Keswick.  

Labour’s defence in Keswick was seen as an electoral test for the party despite winning a large majority in the House of Commons in July.

The party have lost a number of seats in council by-elections over the past month as the electorate react to the party’s decision to stop the winter fuel payment for pensioners.

Overnight in council by-elections across the country, Labour lost four council seats with three going to the Tories and the Greens gaining one.

In Wetheral, former Carlisle city councillor, Gareth Ellis was elected with more than 50 per cent of the vote.

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Labour, who had former Carlisle parliamentary candidate Ruth Alcroft standing for the party, slipped down into third place with their vote share down by over 15 per cent since 2022.

The Liberal Democrats, who were represented by Sarah Wills, finished second with 35.9 per cent of the vote – a 16.9 per cent increase in their vote share in a good night for the party.

The turnout for both Cumberland by-elections was low with 24 per cent in Keswick and 22 per cent in Wetheral.