The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.
Results
- Arun: The byelection in Aldwick West ward on 2 November was won by Martin Smith. Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative.
- Buckinghamshire: The byelection in Beaconsfield division on 2 November was won by Anita Cranmer. Conservative hold.
- Copeland: The byelection in Egremont South ward on 2 November was won by Tom Higgins. Labour hold.
- North Devon: The byelection in Braunton East ward on 2 November was won by Derrick Spear. Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative.
- Sefton: The byelection in Duke’s ward on 2 November was won by John Pugh, the former MP for Southport. Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative.
- South Bucks: The byelection in Beaconsfield North ward on 2 November was won by Damian Saunders. Conservative hold.
Changes of allegiance
- Darlington: Richard Grundy, who was elected for the Conservatives in Brinkburn and Faverdale ward, has been removed from the Conservative group amid accusations of inactivity.
- Great Yarmouth: A mass defection from the UK Independence Party has given the Conservatives an overall majority. The council was previously a Conservative/UKIP coalition. The defectors are Kay Grey (Gorleston ward) who had been leader of the UKIP group, her husband Alan Grey (Bradwell North ward), Carl Annison and Sue Hacon (both Bradwell South and Hopton ward), Malcolm Bird (Central and Northgate ward), Paul Hammond (Yarmouth North ward), and Katy Stenhouse (Nelson ward).
- Torbay: A division over whether to establish town councils in Torquay and Paignton has led four executive councillors to leave the Conservative group and form the ‘Mayor’s Executive Group’. They are deputy Mayor Derek Mills (Churston with Galmpton ward), Mark King and Nicole Amil (both Cockington with Chelston ward), and Robert Excell (Tormohun ward). The UK Independence Party councillor Julien Parrott (Ellacombe ward) also sits in the Mayor’s Executive Group. The Conservative group expelled the directly-elected Mayor, Gordon Oliver, in July; he is now considered non-party.
- Wyre: Peter Gibson, the former council leader who was elected for the Conservative Party in Breck ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
New vacancies
- Cornwall: Falmouth Smithick division, after the death of Labour councillor and former MP Candy Atherton. Term ends 2021.
- Crawley: Ifield ward, after the death of Labour councillor John Stanley. Term ends May next year.
- Exeter: Newtown and St Leonards ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Roger Spackman. Term ends May next year.
- Torbay: Watcombe ward, after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Roger Stringer. Term ends 2019.
- Torridge: Westward Ho! ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Peter Le Maistre. Term ends 2019.
- Welwyn Hatfield: Handside ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Rachel Basch. Term ends May next year.
Dates for byelections
- North Devon: The byelection due in Newport ward will be held on 7 December.
- Salford: The byelection due in Langworthy ward will be held on 14 December.
Other updates
- Slough: The council leader, Sohail Munawar, has been suspended from holding office in the Labour Party. The move does not in itself affect his position and he retains the Labour whip.
- Teignbridge: Although he remains formally in post, it must be recorded that Conservative councillor Doug Hellier-Laing (Chudleigh ward) has been charged with attempted murder and remanded in custody.
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