Take your coalition partners, please

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Result

• Merton: The byelection in St Helier ward on 19 May was won by Jerome Neil. Labour hold.

Changes of allegiance

• Elmbridge: Tony Popham, elected for the Molesey Residents’ Association in Molesey East ward, has left the Residents’ Association group on the council and will sit as an ungrouped member.
• Peterborough: Last week’s announcement that he was to leave the Conservative Party was swiftly corrected by Gul Nawaz (Ravensthorpe ward), with the council leader explaining that it was a misunderstanding. The Conservatives therefore do have an overall majority on the council.
• Trafford: John Smith, who was elected for the Labour Party in Bucklow St Martins ward, has joined the Conservative Party, moving after he was told he faced disciplinary action within the Labour group.

New vacancies

• Bradford: Wibsey ward, after the death of Labour councillor Lynne Smith. Term ends 2018.
• Conwy: Mostyn division, after the resignation of Labour councillor Jobi Hold, Term ends 2017.
• Derby: Allestree ward, after the sudden resignation of Conservative councillor Richard Smalley. Term ends 2020.
• East Devon: Exmouth Littleham ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Alison Greenhalgh. Term ends 2019.
• East Devon: Honiton St Michael’s ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor David Foster. Term ends 2019.
• Gwynedd: Marchog division, after the resignation of Independent councillor Chris O’Neal following his conviction of assault. Term ends 2017.
• Lewes: Lewes Bridge ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Daisy Cooper. Term ends 2019.
• Maidstone: Shepway South ward, after the death of UK Independence Party group leader Dave Sargeant. Term ends 2018.
• Thanet: Newington ward, after the resignation of UK Independence Party councillor Mo Leys, who has also left the party. Term ends 2019.
• Windsor and Maidenhead: Sunninghill and South Ascot ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor George Bathurst. Term ends 2019.

Date for byelection

• Bexley: The byelection due in St Michaels ward will be held on 30 June.
• Lewes: The byelection due in Lewes Bridge ward will be held on 2 June.
• Luton: The byelection due in High Town ward will be held on 30 June.
• Mole Valley: The byelection due in Leatherhead North ward will be held on 30 June.

Other news

• Calderdale: The council will continue to be run by a Labour minority administration.
• Colchester: There is agreement on a coalition of the Liberal Democrats, Labour and Highwoods Independents. A provisional cabinet has been announced.
• Dudley: As the UK Independence Party group decided to abstain from the vote, Labour will form a minority administration.
• Elmbridge: The Residents’ Association group and the Liberal Democrats have formed a coalition to control the council.
• Great Yarmouth: There is to be a Conservative leader of the council. The council has returned to the committee system; despite a pre-election understanding that the chairs would be shared proportionately, the Conservatives and UK Independence Party agreed to share them between each other.
• Hart: The council will continue to be run by a Conservative minority cabinet.
• Newcastle-under-Lyme: There will be a Labour minority administration.
• Pendle: The Labour/Liberal Democrat coalition administration formed last year will continue to control the council.
• Plymouth: The Conservatives and UK Independence Party have agreed a coalition deal to run the council.
• Portsmouth: Conservative leader Donna Jones was re-elected and has formed a minority administration.
• Rugby: With precisely half of the councillors, the Conservatives will continue to control the council.
• Southend: With the support of the UK Independence Party group, the Conservatives have now taken minority control of the council.
• Stroud: A new ‘rainbow coalition’ deal between Labour, Green Party and Liberal Democrats has been agreed. The council will have a leader from the Labour group.
• Three Rivers: A Liberal Democrat minority council leadership will continue.
• Walsall: The Labour and Liberal Democrat groups have agreed a coalition to take control of the council.
• Weymouth and Portland: The council will remain as an all-party administration. There will be a Conservative chair of the management committee (in effect the council leader).
• Worcester: Following the failure of talks for an all party administration, the Green group agreed to support a Labour minority administration on a ‘confidence and supply’ basis.

---

---