Tories snatch Labour seats

摘要

PM Gordon Brown's misery at the polls has continued, with a series of local losses. The Conservatives have won seven council seats in by-elections during July - with five of the gains from Labour in marginal or semi-marginal parliamentary constituencies. Two Tory gains - at Batchley, Redditch BC and Arrow Valley East, Worcestershire CC - were in the powerbase of home secretary, Jacqui Smith. The Tories also made another West Midlands gain at Common ward, Stafford BC, and snatched seats at Chadwell Heath, Barking and Dagenham LBC, and Church Street, Westminster City.