Saltford in the wound

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

• Bath and North East Somerset: The byelection in Saltford ward held on 16 January was won by Independent candidate Chris Warren, who gained the seat from the Liberal Democrats by four votes.
• Cotswold: The byelection in Chesterton ward held on 16 January was won by Andrea Pellegram. Liberal Democrat hold.

Defections

• Aberdeenshire: John Cox, who was elected as an Independent candidate in Banff and District ward, has joined Reform UK, although he will remain an Independent on the council.
• Bolton: A Communities First group has been established by the four Independent councillors and the sole Green Party councillor Hanif Alli (Halliwell ward).
• Breckland: Robin Hunter-Clarke, who was elected for the Conservatives in Hermitage ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Derbyshire: The two Reform UK members of the council, both of whom were originally elected for the Conservatives, have repudiated Nigel Farage and left the party to form the Amber Valley Independent group. They are Philip Rose (Alfreton and Somercotes division) and Alexander Stevenson (Greater Heanor division).
• Dover: Charles Woodgate, who was elected for the Labour Party in Aylesham, Eythorne and Shepherdswell ward, has joined the Conservatives, while his ward colleague Shehrazade Mamjan has moved to sit as a non-aligned councillor. As a result the Labour Party has lost its majority on the district council.
• Durham: Joanne Howey, who was elected for the Conservatives in Woodhouse Close division, has left the party to sit as a non-aligned Independent councillor.
• Elmbridge: Harrison Allman-Varty, who was elected for the Conservatives in Oatlands and Burwood Park ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Glasgow: Thomas Kerr, who was elected for the Conservatives in Shettleston ward and was the group leader, has joined Reform UK.
• Hampshire: Neville Penman, who was elected for the Conservatives in Totton North and Netley Marsh division, has left the party to sit as an unaffiliated county councillor.
• Isle of Wight: Karl Love, the Chairman of the council and an Independent councillor for East Cowes ward, has left the Alliance Group.
• North Northamptonshire: Matt Binley, who was elected for the Conservatives in Brickhill and Queensway ward, has been suspended from the party.
• Peterborough: John Howard, who was elected for the Conservatives in Hargate and Hempsted ward but joined Peterborough First in June 2023, has now returned to the Conservatives.
• South Gloucestershire: Ian Scott, who was elected for the Labour Party in Woodstock ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Waltham Forest: Tom Connor, who was elected for the Labour Party in High Street ward, has had the whip suspended after he abstained on a budget vote, and is now sitting as an Independent councillor.
• Windsor and Maidenhead: Two further councillors have left ‘the Borough First Independents’ while remaining in the Local Independents group to which it is affiliated. They are Suzanne Cross (Bray ward) and Jodie Grove (Datchet, Horton and Wraysbury ward). Meanwhile David Buckley remains in the Borough First Independents, but has left the Local Independents group.
• Worcestershire: Alan Amos, who was elected for the Conservatives in Bedwardine division, has left the party to sit as an Independent county councillor. He is opposed to the application to delay the council election.

New vacancies

• Barnet: Finchley Church End ward, after the death of veteran Conservative councillor Eva Greenspan. Term ends 2026.
• Breckland: Bedingfield ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Ian Sherwood. Term ends 2027.
• East Suffolk: Rushmere St Andrews ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Deborah Dean. Term ends 2027.
• West Lothian: Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh ward, after the resignation of Scottish National Party councillor Diane Calder. Term ends 2027.

Dates for byelections

• Barking and Dagenham: The byelection due in Whalebone ward will be held on 20 February.
• Brent: The byelection due in Alperton ward will be held on Tuesday 18 February.
• Hammersmith and Fulham: The byelection due in Hammersmith Broadway ward will be held on 20 February.
• Hammersmith and Fulham: The byelection due in Lillie ward will be held on 20 February.
• West Lothian: The byelection due in Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh ward will be held on 13 March.
• Westminster: The byelection due in Vincent Square ward will be held on 27 February.

Other updates

• The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has confirmed the list of authorities who have requested that elections due in May 2025 be delayed in order to move to new unitary councils. 16 county councils and two existing unitary councils have made a request. The government has said it “will only postpone elections where there is a clear commitment to delivering both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe”.

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