Reform in Wales are as high as a Keyte

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

• Barnet: The byelection in Burnt Oak ward held on 13 February was won by Charlotte Daus. Labour hold.
• East Dunbartonshire: The byelection in Kirkintilloch East and North and Twechar ward held on 13 February was won by Aidan Marshall. Labour gain from Liberal Democrat.
• New Forest: The byelection in Bransgore, Burley, Sopley and Ringwood East ward held on 13 February was won by Richard Frampton. Conservative gain from Green Party.
• Pembrokeshire: The byelection in Haverfordwest Prendergast ward held on 11 February was won by Alun Willis, who was an Independent candidate and has joined the Independent Group. He replaces a councillor elected as a Conservative but who was non-aligned before resigning.
• Stevenage: The byelection in Manor ward held on 13 February was won by Peter Wilkins. Liberal Democrat hold.
• Torfaen: The byelection in Trevethin and Penygarn ward held on 13 February was won by Stuart Keyte. Reform UK gain from Labour.
• Warwick: The byelection in All Saints and Woodloes ward held on 13 February was won by Sam Jones. Green Party gain from an Independent elected for Labour.

Defections

• Ashford: Bill Barrett, who was elected for the Conservatives in Singleton East ward but joined the Ashford Independents shortly after the election, has now left the group to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Central Bedfordshire: The Independent Network group has renamed itself the Central Bedfordshire Community Network, and now includes the Green Party councillor. Meanwhile Russell Goodchild, who was elected as a Liberal Democrat in Leighton Linslade West ward but left to sit as a non-aligned Independent councillor in November last year, has now joined the Independent Alliance group.
• Devon: Paul Henderson, who was elected for the Conservatives in Chulmleigh and Landkey division but left the party in March 2023, has returned.
• Dudley: Steve Edwards, who was elected for the Labour Party in Brockmoor and Pensnett ward, has been expelled from the party and is now sitting as an Independent councillor.
• Epsom and Ewell: Alex Coley, who was elected for the Residents’ Associations of Epsom and Ewell in Ruxley ward, has left the Residents’ Association group to sit as an Independent councillor.
• King’s Lynn and West Norfolk: Two councillors have left the Conservative group to sit as Independent councillors. They are Peter Hodson (Denver ward) and Julian Kirk (Walsoken, West Walton and Walpole ward).
• Somerset: Steve Ashton, who was elected for the Conservatives in Crewkerne division but left the party in March 2024 (and had been associated with Reform UK), has joined the Liberal Democrats.
• Spelthorne: Denise Saliagopoulos, who was elected for the Conservatives in Riverside and Laleham ward, has reverted to being an Independent councillor who sits in the Conservative group.
• Stockport: The Labour Party has suspended members of a WhatsApp group, including two Stockport councillors who are now sitting as Independents: Holly McCormack (Reddish North ward) and David Sedgwick (Heatons North ward).
• Tameside: The Labour Party has suspended members of a WhatsApp group, including nine Tameside councillors: Allison Gwynne, Vincent Ricci and Denise Ward (Denton North East ward); Jack Naylor, George Newton and Claire Reid (Denton South ward), George Jones and Brenda Warrington (both Denton West ward) and Charlotte Martin (Audenshaw ward).

New vacancies

• Durham: Willington and Hunwick division, after the resignation of Labour councillor Fraser Tinsley. His term would have ended in May so no byelection will follow.
• Horsham: Colgate and Rusper ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Liz Kitchen. Term ends 2027.
• Mole Valley: Holmwoods and Beare Green ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Clayton Wellman. Term ends 2027.
• Ribble Valley: St Mary’s ward, after the death of Labour councillor Bill Holden. Term ends 2027.
• Tonbridge and Malling: Snodland East and Ham Hill ward, after the death of Labour councillor Wayne Mallard. Term ends 2027.
• Welwyn Hatfield: Peartree ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Simon Goldwater. Term ends 2027.

Dates for byelections

• Lincoln: The byelection due in Park ward will be held on 3 April.
• Mole Valley: The byelection due in Holmwoods and Beare Green ward will be held on 20 March.
• North Kesteven: The byelection due in Bracebridge Heath ward will be held on 20 March.
• Swansea: The byelection due in Penllergaer ward will be held on 27 March.

Other updates

• The Local Authorities (Changes to Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2025 has now been made and laid before Parliament; it will come into force on 4 March unless Parliament votes it down. The Order moves elections due in May 2025 in nine councils (East Sussex, Essex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey, Thurrock, and West Sussex) to May 2026. It also provides that byelections for current vacancies in any of these councils arising before 4 March must be held from 4 March to 1 May. There are three such vacancies: Isle of Wight, Central Rural division; Suffolk, St John’s division; Thurrock, Ockendon ward.

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