Greens afloat in Cinque Port

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

• Kent: The byelection in Hythe West division held on 2 March was won by Jenni Hawkins. Green Party gain from an Independent elected as a Conservative.
• Newcastle upon Tyne: The byelection in Byker ward held on 2 March was won by Hayder Qureshi. Labour hold.
• Oxford: The byelection in Littlemore ward held on 2 March was won by Sandy Douglas. Labour hold.
• Oxfordshire: The byelection in Rose Hill and Littlemore division held on 2 March was won by Trish Elphinstone. Labour hold.
• Staffordshire: The byelection in Watling South division held on 2 March was won by Alex Farrell. Conservative hold.
• Tamworth: The byelection in Belgrave ward held on 2 March was won by Paul Thompson. Conservative hold.

Changes of allegiance

• Barrow-in-Furness: Iain Mooney, who was elected for the Labour Party in Parkside ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Bradford: Zafar Ali, who was elected for the Conservatives in Keighley Central ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Brentwood: Andy Wiles, who was elected for the Conservatives in Brentwood South ward, has been suspended from the group and is sitting as an Independent councillor.
• Cumberland: Chris Wills, who was elected for the Labour Party in Upperby ward but left the party last month, has now joined the Liberal Democrats. The council remains a shadow authority until 1 April.
• Devon: Paul Henderson, who was elected for the Conservatives in Chulmleigh and Landkey division, has left the party to sit as an Independent county councillor.
• Essex: Andrew Wiles, who was elected for the Conservatives in Brentwood South ward, has been suspended from the group and is sitting as an Independent councillor.
• Hinckley and Bosworth: Russell Roberts, who was elected for the Conservatives in Barwell ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Leicester: Gary O’Donnell, who was elected for the Labour Party in Western ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor. Meanwhile Jacky Nangreave (Westcotes ward) has had the Labour whip suspended after supporting a motion to end the directly-elected Mayoral system.
• Lichfield: Elizabeth Little, who was elected for the Conservatives in Little Aston and Stonnall ward, has been suspended from the party following her deselection. She remains cabinet member for waste and recycling.
• Liverpool: Maria Toolan, who was elected for the Labour Party in Central ward, resigned from the party during the budget meeting and is now sitting as an Independent councillor.
• Mid Devon: A reorganisation of the non-party political groups has taken place, with the Non-Aligned Group picking up two councillors previously sitting as Independent, and two councillors who had been in an Independent group.
• North West Leicestershire: Russell Johnson, who was elected for the Labour Party in Hugglescote St John’s ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Northumberland: Holly Waddell, who was elected for the Labour Party in Bywell division but was expelled from the party in February 2022, has now joined the Independent group.
• Swindon: David Martyn, who was elected for the Conservatives in Wroughton and Wichelstowe ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Thanet: David Hart, who was elected for the Conservatives in Thanet Villages ward, has joined the Thanet Independents. David Wallin, who was elected for the Conservatives in Dane Valley ward but left the party in January, has also joined the group.
• Thurrock: Colin Churchman, who was elected for the Conservatives in Aveley and Uplands ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.

New vacancies

• Bedford: Kingsbrook ward, after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Patrick Solomon. His term was due to end in May so no byelection will be held.
• Brentwood: South Weald ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Tom McLaren, following a disagreement over a planning decision. Term ends 2026.
• Canterbury: Blean Forest ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Barbara Flack. Her term would have ended in May so she will not be replaced. As a result of her death the Conservatives have lost their overall majority.
• Durham: Chester-le-Street East division, after the death of Conservative councillor Beaty Bainbridge who was chair of the council. Term ends 2025.
• Epping Forest: Lambourne ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Brian Rolfe. His term was due to end in May so there will not be a byelection.
• Liverpool: Picton ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Abdul Qadir. As a full council election is due in May there will be no byelection.
• Torbay: Goodrington with Roselands ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Jane Barnby. Her term was due to end in May so there will be no byelection.
• West Oxfordshire: Ducklington ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Ben Woodruff in protest at a planning appeal decision. Term ends 2026.

Dates for byelections

• None this week.

Other updates

• Dumfries and Galloway: Following the defeat of the Scottish National Party/Liberal Democrat/Independent budget, the council leadership has resigned. An emergency meeting will take place next Tuesday to elect a new leadership.
• Mid Devon: Following the resignation of Bob Deed, the non-aligned group has formed an administration. The council has also voted to adopt a committee system of government following the full council elections in May.

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