Originally Posted by Tom Wilde

On May 1st there will be a council by-election in Bournemouth in Queen's Park ward. The candidates are:

Brandwood, Bill (Liberal Party)
Carlile, Mike (Liberal Democrats)
Goff, Mike (Labour and Co-Operative Party)
Hughes, David Norman (UK Independence Party)
Johnson, Cheryl Anne (Conservative Party)
Mayne, Chris (Independent)

I think this is the first local by-election of 2008 to be contested by the Liberal Party. It is a pity that the eurosceptic vote will be split between the Liberals and UKIP, but on the other hand the two parties are increasingly appealing to different kinds of eurosceptic voter anyway. Should be an interesting contest.

If its excellent website is any guide, the Bournemouth branch of UKIP is one of the best organised anywhere in southern England. The Dorset branch of the Liberals is only just getting itself sorted out and is still quite small. On the other hand, Bill Brandwood has name recognition locally, having previously been a LibDem councillor for this ward, and deputy leader of the LibDem group on the council.