Lots of fun in Spalding

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

• Hackney: The byelection for the Mayor of Hackney held on 9 November was won by Caroline Woodley. Labour hold.
• Lewisham: The byelection in Deptford ward held on 9 November was won by Dawn Atkinson. Labour hold.
• Lincolnshire: The byelection in Grantham North division held on 9 November was won by Paul Martin. Conservative hold.
• Powys: The byelection for two seats in Crickhowell with Cwmdu and Tretower ward held on 9 November was won by Claire Hall and Chloe Masefield. The Liberal Democrats regain two seats lost when the previous councillors left the party to sit as Independents.
• South Holland: The byelection in Spalding St Paul’s ward held on 9 November was won by Glynis Scalese, who was elected on the drawing of lots after tying with Vanessa Browning (South Holland Independent). Conservative gain from South Holland Independents.
• South Kesteven: The byelection in Grantham St Wulfram’s ward held on 9 November was won by Matt Bailey. Conservative hold.

Changes of allegiance

• Bedford: Mohammed Mahboob Din, who was elected for the Labour Party in Queen’s Park ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor, over its stance on the Middle East conflict.
• Burnley: A group of ten counciillors left the Labour Party last Sunday to sit as Independent councillors, over the party’s stance on the Middle East conflict. They are headed by counci leader Afrasiab Anwar (Bank Hall ward) and his two ward colleagues Lubna Khan and Sehrish Lone. Two other wards have seen all three councillors defect: Daneshouse with Stoneyholme (Saeed Chaudhary, Shah Hussain and Nussrat Kazmi) and Queensgate (Mohammed Ishtiaq, Syeda Kazmi and Arif Khan), plus Asif Raja (Lanehead ward). Then Christine Sollis (Brunshaw ward) followed them. As a result Labour no longer has a majority, but an executive containing Independent and Labour members is continuing for the moment.
• Gedling: Des Gibbons, who was elected for the Labour Party in Bestwood St Albans ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor, over its stance on the Middle East crisis.
• Haringey: The three former Labour councillors who have left the party in recent weeks have now formed the Independent Socialist Group.
• Lancashire: Usman Arif, who was elected the Labour Party in Burnley North East division, has left the party to sit as an Independent county councillor, as part of the Burnley mass defection over its stance on the Middle East conflict.
• Walsall: Hajran Bashir, who was elected for the Labour Party in Palfrey ward, has left the party to sit as a non-aligned councillor.

New vacancies

• Barnsley: Darton East ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Mat Crisp. As he was due to face re-election next May, he will not be replaced at a byelection.
• Blaby: Glen Parva ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Geoff Welsh. Term ends 2027.
• Cotswold: Lechlade, Kempsford and Fairford South ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Clare Muir. Term ends 2027.
• Dorset: Littlemoor and Preston ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Tony Ferrari. As his term was due to end in May next year, there will be no byelection.
• Hackney: Cazenove ward, after the disqualification of Labour councillor Caroline Woodley, now Mayor of Hackney. Term ends 2026.
• Leicestershire: Blaby and Glen Parva division, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Geoff Welsh. Term ends 2025.
• Richmond-upon-Thames: Hampton North ward, after the death of veteran Conservative councillor Geoffrey Samuel. He was the only remaining London Borough councillor who served before the reorganisation of the 1960s and had been elected in the first London Borough elections of 1964. Term ends 2026.
• Richmond-upon-Thames: Teddington ward, after the death of veteran Liberal Democrat councillor Martin Elengorn, who had served continuously since 1982 and was the longest serving Liberal Democrat in London. Term ends 2026.
• Rugby: Dunsmore ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Deepah Roberts. Term ends 2026.
• Rugby: Dunsmore ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Howard Roberts. Term ends May next year.
• Sheffield: Stannington ward, after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor and former Lord Mayor Vickie Priestley. Term ends 2026.
• Tendring: Bluehouse ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Ian Lennard. Term ends 2027.
• Warwickshire: Dunsmore and Leam Valley division, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Howard Roberts. Term ends 2025.

Dates for byelections

• Blaby: The byelection due in Glen Parva ward will be held on 21 December.
• Cotswold: The byelection due in Lechlade, Kempsford and Fairford South ward will be held on 14 December.
• Leicestershire: The byelection due in Blaby and Glen Parva division will be held on 21 December.
• Rugby: The byelection for two seats due in Dunsmore ward will be held on 14 December.
• Swale: The byelection due in Abbey ward will be held on 14 December.
• Three Rivers: The byelection due in Chorleywood South and Maple Cross ward will be held on 14 December.

Other updates

• As of Monday, any councillor whose seat is up for re-election in the 2024 annual council elections is within six months of the end of their term. Accordingly if their seat becomes vacant, no byelection can be held to fill it.

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