The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.
Election regulations issued
- Regulations under the Coronavirus Act have now been made which confirm that no byelections will be held until 6 May 2021, which will be the ordinary day for local elections next year. The regulations also provide that no byelection will be held where the term would ordinarily have ended in 2021, or where it would have ended in 2020 before being extended to 2021.
Changes of allegiance
- Amber Valley: Sheila Oakes, who was elected for the Labour Party in Heanor East ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor. The whip was withdrawn over comments on Facebook.
- Highland: Ron MacWilliam, who was elected for the Scottish National Party in Inverness Ness-side ward, has been suspended from the party group over criticisms of the response to Coronavirus.
- Test Valley: David Coole (Anna ward) has left the Andover Alliance to join the Andover Independents; Victoria Harber (Andover St Mary’s ward) has also left to sit as an unaligned Independent councillor.
New vacancies
- Ashfield: Skegby ward, after the death of the chairman of the council, Ashfield Independents councillor Anthony Brewer. Term ends 2023.
- Barnsley: Central ward, after the death of Labour councillor Doug Birkinshaw. His term was extended to May 2021 so no byelection may be held.
- Highland: Aird and Loch Ness ward, after the death of Conservative councillor George Cruickshank. Term ends 2022.
- Manchester: Brooklands ward, after the death of the deputy leader of the council Sue Murphy, who was a Labour councillor. Term ends 2023.
- North Hertfordshire: Letchworth Wilbury ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Deepak Sangha. His term was due to end in 2021 so he will not be replaced in a byelection.
- North Hertfordshire: Royston Palace ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Ben Lewis. Term ends 2022.
- North Lanarkshire: Fortissat ward, after the resignation of Independent councillor Tommy Cochrane who was elected for the Scottish National Party. Term ends 2022.
- Redcar and Cleveland: Longbeck ward, after the death of veteran Conservative councillor Norah Cooney. Term ends 2023.
- Sandwell: Friar Park ward, after the death of veteran Labour councillor Geoff Lewis. As his term was extended only to 2021, there will be no byelection.
- Slough: Wexham Lea ward, after the death of Labour councillor Shabnum Sadiq. Her term was extended to 2021 so no byelection will be held.
- Test Valley: Andover St Mary’s ward, after the resignation of Andover Alliance councillor Kevin Farrer. Term ends 2023. This resignationa was intimated in September last year but did not take place until last month.
Dates for byelections
- All current vacancies which do not fill a term ending in 2021 will be hel on 6 May 2021, the ordinary day for local elections.
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