New Rider in blue at Redcar

Posted by David Boothroyd
View David's blog
6 years ago / March 16, 2018

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

Changes of allegiance

  • Barnet: Sury Khatri, who was elected for the Conservatives in Mill Hill ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor. He had not been reselected for the 2018 election. His move means that the Conservatives have lost their overall majority on Barnet, although no immediate change is likely as the full council elections are imminent.
  • Bexley: Endy Ezenwata, who was elected for the Labour Party in Thamesmead East ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
  • Conwy: Dave Cowans, who was elected as an Independent in Eirias division and was a member of the Conwy First Independent Group, has now joined Plaid Cymru.
  • North East Lincolnshire: Christina McGilligan-Fell, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Park ward but left the party in 2016, has now returned to taking the Liberal Democrat whip.
  • North Kesteven: Steve Fields, who was elected as an Independent in Sleaford Westholme ward, has joined the Conservative Party.
  • Shepway: Mary Lawes, who was elected for the UK Independence Party in Folkestone Harbour ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor following the vote of no confidence in the national leadership of Henry Bolton.
  • York: The two former Conservative councillors who left the party in February 2018, David Carr (Copmanthorpe ward) and Suzie Mercer (Wheldrake ward), have formed the York Independent group.

New vacancies

  • Eastleigh: Netley Abbey ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Lizette Van Niekerk. Term ends 2019.
  • Hertfordshire: St Albans North division, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat county councillor Charlotte Hogg. Term ends 2021.
  • Hillingdon: Botwell ward, after the death of Labour councillor Mo Khursheed. His term was due to end in May so there will be no byelection.
  • North East Lincolnshire: Immingham ward, after the death of Labour councillor Mike Burton. Term ends 2019.
  • South Northamptonshire: Middleton Cheney ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Judith Baxter. Tem ends 2019.
  • Torridge: Bideford East ward, after the death of UK Independence Party councillor Sam Robinson. Term ends 2019.
  • Trafford: Altrincham ward, after the disqualification of Independent councillor Matthew Sephton who has been sentenced to two years and nine months’ imprisonment. As his term was due to end in May, he will not be replaced in a byelection.
  • West Berkshire: Thatcham West ward, after the disqualification of Conservative councillor Nick Goodes, who has not attended any council meetings in six months. Term ends 2019.
  • Worcester: Warndon ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Elaine Williams. Term ends 2020.

Dates for byelections

  • New Forest: The byelection due in Milford ward will be held on 5 April.
  • South Northamptonshire: The byelection due in Middleton Cheney ward will be held on 12 April.
  • Torridge: The byelection due in Bideford East ward will be held on 12 April.
  • West Berkshire: The byelection due in Thatcham West ward will be held on 19 April.

Other updates

  • Northamptonshire: Following the county council’s financial difficulties, a best value investigation has reported and recommended that local government in Northamptonshire should be reorganised into two unitary councils. In the meantime, it suggests that commissioners should take over running most services of the county council.