THE Conservatives suffered a major electoral setback yesterday when they lost three seats to the Liberal Democrats in council by-elections.However, the Lib Dems did not have it all their own way as Labour gained one seat from them.

Graham Dines

THE Conservatives suffered a major electoral setback yesterday when they lost three seats to the Liberal Democrats in council by-elections.

However, the Lib Dems did not have it all their own way as Labour gained one seat from them.

Despite the losses, the Press Association calculates that on the basis of November council by-elections, the Conservatives have a 9.4% lead over the Liberal Democrats �- 36.4% to 27.5% - with Labour in third place on 26.1%.

The Lib Dem gains from the Tories were at Blackbrook in High Peak district, Derbyshire; St Austell Bay in Cornwall unitary authority; and Alveston, Stratford-on-Avon district, Warwickshire.

Labour won Halewood South in Knowsley metropolitan borough, Merseyside.