Longdendale lights up for Reform

Posted by David Boothroyd
View David's blog
5 days ago / April 11, 2025

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

  • Gwynedd: The byelection in Teigl ward held on 10 April was won by Geraint Parry. Plaid Cymru hold.
  • Haringey: The byelection in St Ann’s ward held on 10 April was won by Ruairidh Paton. Green Party gain from Labour.
  • Sutton: The byelection in Sutton Central ward held on 10 April was won by Richard Choi. Liberal Democrat hold.
  • Tameside: The byelection in Longdendale ward held on 3 April was won by Allan Hopwood. Reform UK gain from Labour.

Defections

  • Basingstoke and Deane: Stacy Hart, who was elected in Hatch Warren and Beggarwood for the Women’s Equality Party, has formed the All In Party following the dissolution of the WEP. She remains in the Independent Forum group.
  • Bath and North East Somerset: A new ‘Independents for B&NES’ group has been formed by Karen Walker and Gavin Heathcote (both Peasedown ward) and Chris Warren (Saltford ward), all of whom were previously Independent councillors.
  • Birmingham: Sam Forsyth, who was elected for the Labour Party in Quinton ward, has left the group to sit as an Independent councillor.
  • Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: Karen Rampton, who was elected for the Conservatives in Talbot and Branksome Woods ward, has left the party and is sitting as an ungrouped councillor.
  • Cambridgeshire: Mark Howell, who was elected for the Conservatives in Cambourne division, has left the party to stand for re-election as an Independent candidate.
  • East Devon: Bethany Collins, who was elected for the Labour Party in Ottery St Mary ward but left the party last May, has now joined the Liberal Democrats. We also note that the Cranbrook Voice group has been formed by the three ward councillors, two of whom were previously in the Independent group and one was an ungrouped Independent.
  • King’s Lynn and West Norfolk: A Reform UK group has been formed by Peter Hodson (Denver ward) and Julian Kirk (Walsoken, West Walton and Walpole ward), who both left the Conservatives in February.
  • Newport: David Mayer, who was elected for the Labour Party in Malpas ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
  • Rushcliffe: Alan Phillips, who was elected for the Conservatives in Compton Acres ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor. He is an Independent candidate for Nottinghamshire County Council.
  • South Cambridgeshire: Mark Howell, who was elected for the Conservatives in Caxton and Papworth ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor. He is an Independent candidate for Cambridgeshire county council.
  • Wakefield: Jakob Williamson, who was elected for the Labour Party in Hemsworth ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.

New vacancies

  • Basildon: Wickford Park ward, after the death of Wickford Independents councillor David Harrison. Term ends 2026.
  • Castle Point: Canvey Island Winter Gardens ward, after the death of Canvey Island Independent Party councillor Peter Greig. Term ends 2027.
  • Devon: Crediton division, after the death of Liberal Democrat county councillor Frank Letch. His term was due to end in May so no byelection follows.
  • Gedling: Calverton ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Lorraine Brown. Term ends 2027.
  • Leeds: Morley South ward, after the resignation of Local Independent Party councillor Wyn Kidger, who was elected for Morley Borough Independents. Term ends 2027.
  • Mid Devon: Crediton Lawrence ward, after the death of Liberal Democrat county councillor Frank Letch. Term ends 2027.
  • Stoke-on-Trent: Birches Head and Northwood ward, after the disqualification of Labour councillor Steve Blackmore whose employer was acquired by the council. Term ends 2027.
  • Stroud: Severn ward, after the death of Labour councillor Richard Maisey. Term ends 2028.
  • West Sussex: Horsham Riverside division, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat county councillor John Milne, now Member of Parliament for Horsham. Term ends 2026.

Dates for byelections

  • Broadland: The byelection due in Acle ward will be held on 15 May.
  • Stoke-on-Trent: The byelection due in Birches Head and Northwood ward will be held on 15 May.
  • West Sussex: The byelection due in Horsham Riverside division will be held on 22 May.

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