Labour gain in Melton – not a porkie pie

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

• Argyll and Bute: The byelection in South Kintyre ward held on 2 November was won by Jennifer Kelly. She was an Independent candidate and succeeds her father Donald Kelly, who was also an Independent.
• Buckinghamshire: The byelection in Buckingham East division held on 2 November was won by Anja Schaefer. Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative.
• Elmbridge: The byelection in Molesey East ward held on 2 November was won by Kevin Whincup. Liberal Democrat gain from Molesey Residents’ Association.
• Corporation of London: The byelection for a Common Councilman in Cripplegate ward held on 2 November was won by Jacqui Webster. Labour win a seat previously held by a non-partisan member.
• Corporation of London: The election for Alderman of Langbourn ward held on 2 November was won by Simon Pryke, who was a non-partisan candidate.
• Melton: The byelection in Asfordby ward held on 2 November was won by Margaret Clay. Labour gain from Green Party.
• Rotherham: The byelection in Kilnhurst and Swinton East ward held on 2 November was won by Nigel Harper. Labour hold.
• Trafford: The byelection in Bucklow St Martins ward held on 2 November was won by Frances Cosby. Labour hold.

Changes of allegiance

• Blackburn with Darwen: Seven councillors elected for the Labour Party have left it to become Independent, over the Middle East crisis. They are Salma Patel and Suleman Khonat (both Shear Brow and Corporation Park ward), Abdul Patel and Mustafa Desai (both Little Harwood and Whitebirk ward), plus Saj Ali (Roe Lee ward), Samim Desai (Blackburn Central ward) and Salim Sidat (Audley and Queens Park ward).
• Dudley: Adrian Hughes, who was elected for the Labour Party in Upper Gornal and Woodsetton ward, has been suspended from the party and is now sitting as an Independent councillor.
• Haringey: Mary Mason, who was elected for the Labour Party in Bounds Green ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Highland: A Highland Alliance group has been formed by five councillors, who were previously outside any group. Andrew Jarvie (Wick and East Caithness ward) was non-aligned, Duncan Macpherson (Inverness South ward) was ‘Inverness Independent’, Jim McGillivray (East Sutherland and Edderton ward) was ‘Sutherland Independent’, Matthew Reiss (Thurso and Northwest Caithness ward) was ‘Caithness Independent’, and Maxine Smith (Cromarty Firth ward) was an Independent. Meanwhile Patrick Logue, who was elected for the Conservatives in Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh ward, has left the group to sit as a non-aligned councillor.
• Lancashire: Sobia Malik, who was elected for the Labour Party in Burnley Central East division, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor, over the party’s attitude to the Middle East crisis.
• North Northamptonshire: King Lawal, who was elected for the Conservatives in Brickhill and Queensway ward but was suspended from the party in July, has now been readmitted.
• Oxford: Six out of the seven councillors who recently left the Labour Party over the Middle East crisis have formed the Oxford Socialist Independents group. The exception is Barbara Coyne (Headington Hill and Northway ward) who remains an ungrouped Independent.
• South Ayrshire: Chris Cullen, who was elected for the Scottish National Party in Ayr East ward, has joined the Alba Party.

New vacancies

• Cheshire East: Crewe Central ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Anthony Critchley. Term ends 2027.
• Neath Port Talbot: Rhos ward, after the death of Plaid Cymru councillor Marcia Spooner. Term ends 2027.
• Three Rivers: Chorleywood South and Maple Cross ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Phil Williams, the Chair of the council. Term ends May next year.

Dates for byelections

• Bromley: The byelection due in Hayes and Coney Hall ward will be held on 7 December.
• Denbighshire: The byelection due in Rhyl South West ward will be held on 7 December.
• Hertfordshire: The byelection due in Harpenden Rural division will be held on 7 December.
• Corporation of London: The byelection for a Common Councilman due in Farringdon Without ward will be held on 30 November.
• Corporation of London: An election for Alderman of Portsoken ward will be held on 30 November.
• North Kesteven: The byelection due in Billinghay Rural ward will be held on 14 December.
• St Albans: The byelection due in Sandridge and Wheathampstead ward will be held on 7 December.

Other updates

• Peterborough: On Wednesday a motion to remove the Conservative leadership was carried, and the nominee of Peterborough First was elected to replace him. An all Peterborough First administration has been formed, with support from Liberal Democrats, Labour, Green Party and the Independent councillor.

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