Tory trifecta in Aberdeenshire

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

• Aberdeenshire: The byelection in Central Buchan ward held on 7 November was won by Peter Chapman. Conservative gain fron Scottish National Party.
• Aberdeenshire: The byelection in Fraserburgh and District ward held on 7 November was won by Iain Sutherland. Conservative gain fron Scottish National Party.
• Aberdeenshire: The byelection in Mearns ward held on 7 November was won by Tracey Smith. Conservative gain fron Scottish National Party.
• Blackpool: The byelection in Bispham ward held on 7 November was won by Joel McKevitt. Labour gain from Conservative.
• Bracknell Forest: The byelection in Great Hollands ward held on 7 November was won by Donna Pressland. Labour hold.
• Herefordshire: The byelection in Bishops Frome and Cradley ward held on 7 November was won by Rebecca Tully. Green Party hold.
• Inverclyde: The byelection in Inverclyde West ward held on 7 November was won by Ian Hellyer. Labour hold.
• Moray: The byelection in Elgin City South ward held on 7 November was won by Elaine Kirkby. Conservative gain from Scottish National Party.
• Wyre: The byelection in Marsh Mill ward held on 7 November was won by James Crawford. Reform UK gain from Conservative.

Defections

• Aberdeenshire: Alastair Forsyth, who was elected for the Scottish National Party in Turriff and District ward but left the group in September, has now returned to it.
• Buckinghamshire: Diana Blamires, who was elected for the Conservatives in Wing ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Devon: Janet Bradford, an Independent councillor for Newton Abbot South division, has left the now wound up South Devon Alliance group. She remains within the Independent and Green group on the county council.
• Newcastle upon Tyne: Six Labour councillors have left the group to sit as Independents; as a result the Labour Party no longer has a majority. The defectors are led by former council leader Nick Kemp (Byker ward); the others are Marion Williams (Blakelaw ward), Stevie Wood (Walkergate ward), and all three councillors for Walker ward: John Stokel-Walker, Dave Wood and Margaret Wood.
• Northumberland: Elizabeth Simpson, who was elected for the Labour Party in Newbiggin Central and East ward, has left the party to sit as a non-aligned councillor.
• Teignbridge: The South Devon Alliance group has decided to disband. Of its nine councillors, four are currently members of the Independent group and the remaining five are unaligned Independents.
• Tower Hamlets: Sabina Akhtar, who was elected for the Labour Party in Stepney Green ward but left the party in June, has now joined the Aspire Party. Meanwhile Jahed Choudhury, who was elected for Aspire in Lansbury ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Worcestershire: Tony Muir, who was elected for the Conservatives in St Georges and St Oswald division, has left the party to sit as an Independent county councillor.

New vacancies

• Barnsley: Dodworth ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Sam Christmas. Term ends 2027.
• Dudley: Brockmoor and Pensnett ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Judy Foster over a threat to her personal safety. Term ends 2028.
• Greenwich: West Thamesmead ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Lloyd (who was elected as Labour). Term ends 2026.
• West Northamptonshire: Nene Valley ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Lizzy Bowen due to work commitments abroad. No byelection will be held as her term was due to end in May next year.

Dates for byelections

• Chelmsford: The byelection due in South Hanningfield, Stock and Margaretting ward will be held on 12 December.
• Essex: The byelection due in Stock division will be held on 12 December.
• Runnymede: The byelection due in Ottershaw ward will be held on 12 December.
• St Helens: The byelection due in Blackbrook ward will be held on 12 December.
• Wakefield: The byelection due in Featherstone ward will be held on 12 December.

Other updates

• Cornwall: At the emergency meeting on Thursday 7 November, a motion to remove the Conservative council leader was rejected by 43-32 with five abstentions.

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