Hampstead Town by-election July 7

The by-election for the Hampstead Town ward on Camden council is almost the perfect betting contest. A genuine three-way race in one of the most media-friendly parts of the capital.

There is also an interesting backstory as to why this is even happening, just two months after the ward was fought in the 2022 local elections. Labour's Adrian Cohen unexpectedly won one of the two seats in the ward having been more or less a paper candidate; it seems as if he was completely unprepared to take up the seat and resigned due to "personal circumstances" within three weeks of being elected. Here's the result from back in May:

1. Cons 1089
2. Lab 1030 (Adrian Cohen - resigned)
3. Lab 971 (Alex Sufit - standing again)
4. Cons 887
5. LD 669
6. LD 435

Combined average % vote:  Lab 39.9% - Cons 39.4% - LD 20.8%

A quick search of social media reveals that each of the three main parties are running a fairly energetic campaign with MPs and others turning up in Hampstead to support their teams. Unsurprisingly, the Lib Dems and Tories are making the most of the fact that this by-election is only happening because the elected Labour councillor decided to quit.