Fine Penmanship in Selkirkshire

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

• Arun: The byelection in Marine ward on 22 February was won by Matt Stanley. Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative.
• Boston: The byelection in Old Leake and Wrangle ward on 22 February was won by Tom Ashton. Conservative hold.
• Chichester: The byelection in Fishbourne ward on 22 February was won by Adrian Moss. Liberal Democrat hold.
• Dorset: The byelection in Bridport division on 22 February was won by Mark Roberts. Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat.
• Hertfordshire: The byelection in Goffs Oak and Bury Green division on 22 February was won by Lesley Greensmyth. Conservative hold.
• Lichfield: The byelection in Stowe ward on 22 February was won by Joanne Grange. Conservative hold.
• North Kesteven: The byelection in Eagle, Swinderby and Witham St Hughs ward on 22 February was won by Peter Rothwell. The Conservatives gain a seat previously held by an Independent.
• Scottish Borders: The byelection in Selkirkshire ward on 22 February was won by Caroline Penman. Independent gain from Conservative.
• Torfaen: The byelection in Trevethin division on 22 February was won by Emma Rapier. Labour hold.
• West Dorset: The byelection in Bridport North ward on 22 February was won by Derek Bussell. Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat.
• West Somerset: The byelection in Minehead South ward was won by Benet Allen. Liberal Democrat gain; the previous councillor was a member of the UK Independence Party but had been elected as an Independent.

Changes of allegiance

• Boston: Anton Dani, who was elected for the UK Independence Party in Fenside ward, has left the party to join the Bostonian Independents group.
• Bromley: Three councillors elected for the Conservatives have left the party to sit as Independent councillors. Melanie Stevens was not reselected in Biggin Hill ward, and her ward colleague Julian Benington and husband Tim Stevens (Farnborough and Crofton ward) have also resigned to support her.
• Dover: Ben Glayzer, who was elected for the UK Independence Party in Tower Hamlets ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor over the decision to remove Henry Bolton as party leader.
• Edinburgh: Lewis Ritchie, who was elected for the Scottish National Party in Leith Walk ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor following complaints about his behaviour.
• Epping Forest: David Dorrell, who was elected for the UK Independence Party in Waltham Abbey Paternoster ward but had left the party to sit as an Independent, has now joined the Conservative Party.
• Liverpool: Frank Prendergast, a former council leader who was elected for the Labour Party in Everton ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• South Norfolk: Des Fulcher, who was elected for the Conservatives in Stratton ward, has joined the Liberal Democrats.
• South Ribble: David Bird, who was elected for the Conservatives in Howick and Priory ward, has left the party to sit as a Penwortham Independent councillor. He is opposed to the imposition of charges for collection of garden waste.
• Swansea: Richard Lewis, who was elected in Gower division as an Independent candidate, has now joined the Conservative group.
• York: Leader of the council David Carr, who was elected as a Conservative in Copmanthorpe ward, announced at a council meeting that he was resigning the leadership and leaving the party to sit as an Independent councillor. He is joined in the move by Suzie Mercer of Wheldrake ward. His move leaves the council leaderless and there are talks about the future of the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition – the Liberal Democrats have voted against electing the new Conservative leader as council leader.

New vacancies

• Aylesbury Vale: Quainton ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Kevin Hewson. Term ends 2019.
• Bassetlaw: Worksop South East ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Deirdre Foley. Term ends 2019.
• Braintree: Hatfield Peverel and Terling ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Daryn Hufton-Rees. Term ends 2019.
• Chichester: Rogate ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Gillian Keegan, now Member of Parliament for Chichester. Term ends 2019.
• Dudley: Halesowen South ward, after the disqualification of Conservative councillor Nick Gregory, who failed to attend any meetings of the council for six months. His term was due to end in May so he will not be replaced.
• Enfield: Ponders End ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Donald McGowan. His term was due to end in May so he will not be replaced in a byelection.
• Manchester: Chorlton ward, after the death of Labour councillor and Lady Mayoress Sheila Newman. As her term would have ended in May, there will be no byelection.
• Wolverhampton: Graiseley ward, after the death of the Mayor of Wolverhampton Elias Mattu (who was a Labour councillor). Term ends 2019.

Dates for byelections

• Bassetlaw: The byelection due in Worksop South East ward will be held on 22 March.
• Fylde: The byelection due in Heyhouses ward will be held on 5 April.
• Perth and Kinross: The byelection due in Highland ward will be held on 19 April.
• Taunton Deane: The byelection due in Wiveliscombe and West Deane ward will be held on 5 April.

Other updates

• Thanet: Following last week’s split in the ruling UK Independence Party group, Chris Wells has resigned as council leader. The Conservatives attempted to form a coalition with the Thanet Independent UKIP group this week but could not come to agreement, and are now likely to seek a minority administration.
• Wigan: There was due to be a byelection this week in Bryn ward, but it was called off on the eve of poll as a result of a judicial review action. The election had been called when Independent councillor Steve Jones emailed a post-dated resignation letter, which he attempted to take back. The High court found that Jones had not resigned and the election was not lawful.

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