Butcher chosen for Bakewell delicacy

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

• Buckinghamshire: The byelection in Farnham Common and Burnham Beeches ward held on 22 February was won by David Moore. Conservative hold.
• Buckinghamshire: The byelection in Hazlemere ward held on 22 February was won by Steve Roy. Conservative hold.
• Derbyshire Dales: The byelection in Bakewell ward held on 22 February was won by Bob Butcher. Labour gain from Conservative.
• Derbyshire Dales: The byelection in Norbury ward held on 22 February was won by Sue Bull. Conservative hold.
• Folkestone and Hythe: The byelection in Romney Marsh ward held on 22 February was won by Tony Hills. Conservative hold.
• Milton Keynes: The byelection in Loughton and Shenley ward held on 22 February was won by Leo Montague. Labour hold.
• Scottish Borders: The byelection in Jedburgh and District ward held on 22 February was won by John Bathgate. Conservative gain from Scottish National Party.
• Wiltshire: The byelection in Calne Chilvester and Abberd division held on 22 February was won by Robert Macnaughton. Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative.

Changes of allegiance

• Aberdeenshire: Ann Ross, who was elected for the Conservatives in Banchory and Mid-Deeside ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor. It is also noted that Robbie Withey (Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford ward), who had been suspended from the Conservative group in 2022, has now returned.
• Cambridgeshire: Keith Prentice, who was elected for the Conservatives in St Neots Priory Park and Little Paxton division, has left the party to sit as an Independent county councillor.
• East Devon: Alasdair Bruce, who was elected for the Conservatives in Feniton ward, has joined the Independent group on the council.
• Gloucester: Collette Finnegan, who was elected for the Conservatives in Abbeydale ward, has joined the Liberal Democrats.
• Kingston-upon-Hull: Steve Wilson, who was elected for the Labour Party in University ward and left the party in January, has apologised and returned.
• North Yorkshire: Pat Marsh, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone ward, has had the whip removed over social media posts, and is sitting as an Independent unaffiliated councillor. In addition Michelle Donohue-Moncrieff, an Independent councillor for Hunmanby and Sherburn division who had been in the NY Independent group, has left it and is also an Independent unaffiliated councillor.
• Pembrokeshire: Terry Davies (Milford Central division), who had not previously been a member of any group, has joined the Independent group.
• Wakefield: Graham Isherwood, who was elected for the Labour Party in Featherstone ward, has has the whip suspended until 25 April, over a dissenting vote.

New vacancies

• East Devon: Exmouth Brixington ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Fred Caygill. Term ends 2027.
• Rochdale: North Heywood ward, after the death of Labour ocuncillor Peter Rush. As his term would have ended in May, no byelection follows.
• Torridge: Bideford North ward, after the death of Green Party councillor Peter Christie. Term ends 2027.

Dates for byelections

• Highland: The byelection due in Inverness South ward will be held on 11 April.
• Corporation of London: An election for Alderman of Tower ward will be held on 20 March (Wardmote) and, if needed, 21 March for the poll.
• Neath Port Talbot: The byelection due in Neath East ward will be held on 28 March.
• Somerset: The byelection due in Somerton division will be held on 28 March.

Other updates

• Nottingham: Despite the council’s objections, the Local Government Minister has confirmed the decision to appoint Commissioners to take charge of governance.
• Tower Hamlets: The Secretary of State has appointed inspectors to look into concerns about the council’s administration.

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