The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.
Changes of allegiance
- Copeland: Mike Starkie, who is the directly-elected Mayor of Copeland and was elected as an Independent candidate, has joined the Conservative Party.
- Derby: All five councillors sitting in the Brexit Party group, all of whom were originally elected for the UK Independence Party, have now established the Reform Derby Party. They are John Evans, Alan W. Graves and Kirk Kus (Alvaston ward), and Paul Bettany and Alan J. Graves (Boulton ward).
- Hartlepool: John Tennant, who was elected for the UK Independence Party in Jesmond ward before moving to the Hartlepool Independent Group and then the Brexit Party, has now joined the Independent Union.
- Highland: Two councillors recently suspended by the Scottish National Party group, Ron MacWilliam (Inverness Ness-Side ward) and Kirsteen Currie (North, West and Central Sutherland ward), have been readmitted to the party.
- Norwich: Nigel Utton, who was elected for the Green Party in Thorpe Hamlet ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor after controversial remarks about Covid-19.
- West Devon: Robin Musgrave, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Bere Ferrers ward but left the party in August 2019, has now returned to party membership.
New vacancies
- Bristol: Brislington West ward, after the impending resignation of Labour councillor Harriet Bradley, with effect from 1 July. Her term was extended to 2021 so no byelection will be held.
- Gloucester: Longlevens ward, after the impending resignation of Conservative councillor Paul James, until recently council leader. His term was extended to May 2021 so he will not be replaced in a byelection. When his resignation takes effect on 30 June the Conservatives will lose their overall majority.
Dates for byelections
- In England, all current vacancies which do not fill a term ending in 2021 will be held on 6 May 2021, the ordinary day for local elections. In Wales, all byelections will be held in a period between 1 February and 16 April 2021.
Other updates
- Spelthorne: Ian Harvey, who led the council since 2016 but recently left the Conservative Party, has resigned as council leader. At an extraordinary council meeting on 25 June, new Conservative group leader John Boughtflower was elected as council leader; it is unclear what shape his Cabinet will take now that the council has no overall majority.
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