The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.
Changes of allegiance
- Argyll and Bute: Roddy McCuish, who was elected as an Independent in Oban South and the Isles ward, has joined the Independence for Scotland Party. He remains a member of the ruling Argyll, Lomond and the Islands Group which includes Conservatives, Independents, and Liberal Democrats.
- Bolton: There have been several recent moves. Anna-Marie Watters, elected for Labour in Westhoughton South ward but who left the party in February, has joined the Conservatives. Two Conservative councillors have left the group to sit as Independent councillors: Beverley Fletcher (Breightmet ward) and Diane Parkinson (Hulton ward).
- Bromsgrove: Dr Michael Thompson, who was elected for Labour in Charford ward but left the party in October 2019 and subsequently founded Charford Residents Association, has now joined the Conservative group.
- Gwynedd: Gruffydd Williams, who was elected for Plaid Cymru in Nefyn division, has been suspended from party membership pending an investigation into comments about Coronavirus vaccinations.
- Hyndburn: Patrick McGinley, who was elected for the Conservatives in Overton ward but was suspended from the party in November, has announced he has resigned party membership and will sit as an Independent Conservative councillor.
- Northumberland: Tom Wilson, who was elected for Labour in Ashington Central division, has left the party and is sitting as a non-aligned councillor.
- Pembrokeshire: Paul Dowson, who was elected as an Independent in Pembroke Dock Central division, has joined the UK Independence Party.
New vacancies
- Bradford: Bingley Rural ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Mike Ellis. Term ends 2022.
- Crawley: Southgate ward, after the death of Labour councillor and former Mayor Raj Sharma. His term was extended to May so he will not be replaced in a byelection.
- Elmbridge: Weybridge Riverside ward, after the death of Independent councillor Andrew Davis, who was elected as a Liberal Democrat. As his term was extended to May, no byelection will be held.
- Flintshire: Gwernymynydd division, after the death of Independent county councillor Kevin Hughes. Term ends 2022.
- Islington: Holloway ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Paul Smith. Term ends 2022.
- Kettering: Desborough Loatlands ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor June Derbyshire due to ill health. The council is to be abolished at the end of March so no byelection will be held.
- Kettering: Rothwell ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Karl Sumpter. The council is to be abolished at the end of March.
- North Tyneside: St Mary’s ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Les Miller. Term ends 2023.
- Glasgow: Partick East/Kelvindale ward, after the disqualification of Conservative councillor Tony Curtis who failed to attend any meetings in six months.
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. The Cabinet Office has confirmed that local elections teams should not plan on this date being brought forward. Regulations in Wales will require outstanding byelections to be held in a period between 1 March and 16 April 2021.
Other updates
- Bolton: The minority Conservative administration has lost the formal support of the Liberal Democrat group which has ended its ‘working arrangement’. The Labour group has decided, in the interests of stability at the time of national crisis, not to seek to remove the administration.
- Croydon: The council leader has announced that the council will trigger a referendum to be held this autumn on whether to adopt a directly-elected Mayor. There has been a campaign and petition for such a referendum (which was annulled by Coronavirus regulations) but the council is able to call a referendum on its own initiative.
- South Derbyshire: Following the split in the Conservative group, the leader of the Labour group has been elected as the council leader.
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