Conservative unity goes south in South Ribble

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

Hackney: The byelection in Victoria ward held on 18 October was won by Penny Wrout. Labour hold.
Oxfordshire: The byelection in Iffley Fields and St Mary’s division on 18 October was won by Damian Haywood. Labour hold.

Babergh: Two councillors who defected from the Conservatives to the Independent Conservative group have now returned to the party. They are Alan Ferguson (South Cosford ward) and Siân Dawson (Hadleigh North ward).
Cotswold: Jenny Hincks, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Watermoor ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
Forest of Dean: Maria Edwards, who was elected for the Conservatives in Tidenham, has joined the Forest First group. The group was originally formed by former Labour councillors out of sympathy with the party’s national leadership.
North Norfolk: Georgie Perry-Warnes, who was elected for the Conservatives in Corpusty ward but left the party in June last year, has now joined the Liberal Democrats.

Derbyshire Dales: Ashbourne North ward, after the death of veteran Conservative councillor Tony Millward. Term ends May next year.
Dumfries and Galloway: Dee and Glenkens ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Patsy Gilroy. Term ends 2022.
South Ribble: Middleforth ward, after the death of Labour councillor David Wooldridge. Term ends May next year.
Warwickshire: Stratford North division, after the death of Stratford First county councillor Keith Lloyd. Term ends 2021.
Weymouth and Portland: Radipole ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Ian Roebuck. Term ends April next year when the authority is being abolished.
Wirral: Upton ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Matthew Patrick. Term ends 2020.

Enfield: The byelection due in Bush Hill Park ward will be held on 22 November.
Oxfordshire: The byelection due in Wheatley division will be held on 29 November.
Warwickshire: The byelection due in Stratford North division will be held on 29 November.
Westminster: The byelection due in Lancaster Gate ward will be held on 22 November.
Windsor and Maidenhead: The byelection due in Datchet ward will be held on 22 November.
Wirral: The byelection due in Upton ward will be held on 22 November.

South Ribble: Last weekend Conservative group leader Mary Green was deposed by her group. When she unexpectedly resigned the council leadership at a meeting on Monday, absent councillors meant the Conservatives were prevented from deferring the election of a new leader, and the Liberal Democrats voted in a Labour council leader who has now formed a minority administration. It remains to be seen whether this administration will last given the council has a Conservative majority.
Thanet: There is a dispute over the status of Ian Venables, who was elected as Labour councillor in Margate Central ward. He is employed by Thanet RISE, a homelessness team in which the council is part, and officers determined this employment disqualified him as a councillor. A council meeting has refused to declare his seat vacant with a cross-party group disputing the legal basis.

A service provided by

Political and community consultation experts