Robert (the Buchanan) wins Battle of Bannockburn

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

• Edinburgh: The byelection for two seats in Colinton/Fairmilehead ward held on 23 January was won by Neil Cuthbert (Conservative) and Conor Savage (Labour). Conservative and Labour gain seats from the Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party.
• Liverpool: The byelection in Much Woolton and Hunts Cross ward held on 23 January was won by Josie Mullen, who returns to the council. Liberal Democrat hold.
• Newcastle-under-Lyme: The byelection in Town ward held on 23 January was won by Sheelagh Casey-Hulme. Labour hold.
• Shetland Islands: The byelection in Shetland North ward held on 23 January was won by Andrew Hall who stood as an Independent candidate. He notionally gains the seat from Labour, who did not contest the byelection.
• Stirling: The byelection in Bannockburn ward held on 23 January was won by Bob Buchanan. Scottish National Party gain from Labour.

Defections

• Broxtowe: It has now been confirmed that 18 councillors broke away from the Labour group to form the ‘Broxtowe Independents’ at the start of the month, while eight remain in the Labour group. The council has not yet accepted their group name, as it is likely to cause confusion with the Broxtowe Independent Group which was formed a few days earlier.
• Buckinghamshire: Mark Turner, who was elected for the Conservatives in Chiltern Villages ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Cornwall: Mike McLening, who was elected for the Conservatives in St Stephen-in-Brannel division, has left the party to join the Independent group. As a result the Conservatives and their allied Independents no longer have a majority.
• Durham: Cathy Hunt, who was elected for the Conservatives in Woodhouse Close division, has followed her ward colleague Joanne Howey in leaving the party to sit as an unaligned Independent.
• Newark and Sherwood: Johno Lee, who was elected for the Conservatives in Balderton North and Coddington ward, has decided to sit as an unaligned councillor, but intends to remain a member of the party nationally. He also remains a Conservative councillor on Nottinghamshire county council.
• North Somerset: Ashley Cartman, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Long Ashton ward, has left the group to sit as an ungrouped Independent councillor.
• South Tyneside: Two councillors representing West Park ward have left the Green Party to join the South Tyneside Alliance Group. They are Andrew Guy and Jim Yare.
• Warrington: Neil Johnson, who was elected for the Labour Party in Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Westmorland and Furness: Ali Jama, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Upper Kent ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Worcester: Alan Amos, who was elected for the Conservatives in Lower Wick and Pitmaston ward, but left the party on Worcestershire county council last week, has now become an Independent on the city council as well.

New vacancies

• Carmarthenshire: Llanddarog division, after the resignation of Plaid Cymru councillor Ann Davies, now Member of Parliament for Caerfyrddin. Term ends 2027.
• East Devon: Exe Valley ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Jamie Kemp. Term ends 2027.
• Harborough: Glen ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor James Hallam. Term ends 2027.
• Hounslow: Brentford East ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Rhys Williams. Term ends 2026.
• Hounslow: Syon and Brentford Lock ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Balraj Sarai. Term ends 2026.
• Lancashire: Fleetwood East division, after the resignation of Labour councillor Lorraine Beavers, now Member of Parliament for Blackpool North and Fleetwood. Her term would have ended in May so no byelection follows.

Dates for byelections

• Barnet: The byelection due in Finchley Church End ward will be held on 6 March.
• Breckland: The byelection due in Bedingfield ward will be held on 27 February.
• East Suffolk: The byelection due in Rushmere St Andrews ward will be held on 27 February.
• East Suffolk: The byelection due in Woodbridge ward will be held on 27 February.
• Hounslow: The byelection due in Brentford East ward will be held on 6 March.
• Hounslow: The byelection due in Syon and Brentford Lock ward will be held on 6 March.
• Westmorland and Furness: The byelection due in Eamont and Shap ward will be held on 27 February.

Other updates

• Tower Hamlets: Following a ‘Best Value inspection’, the Secretary of State has decided to direct the council to co-operate with a Ministerial Envoy (with two Assistants) in carrying out some actions to improve its performance.

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