The third byelection result - #somertonandfrome - fits the pattern of a misconduct byelection leading to the loss of the seat. It forms part of a pattern of predominantly rural #conservative seats falling to the #libdems under such circumstances - first #northshropshire , then #tivertonandhoniton and now #somertonandfrome !

The seven misconduct byelections were in two #labour seats and in five #conservative ones. #labour lost one misconduct byelection #hartlepool to the #conservatives - their sole gain! - but retained the other #cityofchester very comfortably. The #conservatives lost four out of five - #northshropshire , #somertonandfrome , #tivertonandhoniton and #wakefield - but just retained #uxbridgeandsouthruislip . #wakefield was taken by #labour while the other three went to the #libdems !