Kirklees leader defection

Posted by David Boothroyd
View David's blog
5 months ago / May 24, 2024

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Result

  • Melton: The byelection in Wymondham ward held on 23 May was won by David Chubb. Conservative hold.

Change of allegiance

  • Basingstoke and Deane: Samir Kotecha, who was elected for the Conservatives in Hatch Warren and Beggarwood ward, has joined the Basingstoke and Deane Independent Group.
  • Bexley: Nigel Betts, who was elected for the Conservatives in Falconwood and Welling ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
  • Breckland: Tina Kiddell, who was elected for the Conservatives in Watton ward, has joined the Independent and Green Group.
  • Durham: Mike McGaun, who was elected for the Conservatives in Lanchester division, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
  • East Riding of Yorkshire: Caroline Fox, who was elected for the Conservatives in Snaith, Airmyn and Rawcliffe and Marshland ward, has left the party to sit as an unaffiliated Independent councillor.
  • Greenwich: Chris Lloyd, who was elected for the Labour Party in West Thamesmead ward, but left the party in December, has joined the Liberal Democrats.
  • Huntingdonshire: Martin Hassall, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Buckden ward, has left the party to set up the Cambs Independent Group. He has been joined by six other Independent councillors.
  • Inverclyde: Innes Nelson, who was elected for the Scottish National Party in Inverclyde South West ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
  • Kirklees: The council leader Cathy Scott (Dewsbury East ward) and four other councillors, who were elected as Labour, have left the party to sit as Independent councillors. The move follows her replacement as Labour group leader and she is now seeking to form a cross-party cabinet. The other four are her ward colleague Paul Moore, Yusra Hussain (Batley West ward), plus Adam Zaman and Habiban Zaman (both Batley East ward).
  • Moray: John Stuart, who was elected for the Scottish National Party in Buckie ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
  • Oxford: The various Independent groups on the council have reorganised. The Oxford Socialist Independents group are now the Oxford Community Independents and have added Barbara Coyne (Headington Hill and Northway ward); what was the Independent Group is now the Oxford Independent Group. The two non-affiliated councillors have formed the Real Independents group.
  • Oxfordshire: Jane Murphy, who was elected for the Conservatives in Didcot East and Hagbourne division, has left the party to sit as a non-grouped Independent councillor.
  • Rushmoor: Dhan Sarki, who was elected for the Labour Party in Wellington ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
  • Somerset: Marcus Barr, who was elected for the Conservatives in Wellington division, has left the party to sit as an ungrouped councillor.
  • Stafford: Louise Nixon, who was elected for the Labour Party in Coton ward, has joined the Conservatives.
  • Staffordshire Moorlands: Connor Brady, who was elected for the Labour Party in Biddulph East ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
  • Torridge: Two members of the Independent group have left to sit as non-aligned councillors. They are Len Ford (Appledore ward) and Carl Hawkins (Bideford West ward).
  • Vale of White Horse: Debra Dewhurst, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Blewbury and Harwell ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
  • Walsall: Following his suspension from the Conservative Party, council leader Mike Bird (Pheasey Park Farm ward) has been deprived of the whip and is sitting as an Independent councillor. Nick Gandham, who was elected for the Conservatives in Paddock ward, has also left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.

New vacancies

  • Bassetlaw: Rampton ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Ant Coultate. Term ends 2027.
  • Brighton and Hove: Brunswick and Adelaide ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Jilly Stevens due to ill health. Term ends 2027.
  • Bristol: Horfield ward, after the disqualification of Labour councillor Deborah Vittori who is employed by the council. Term ends 2028.
  • Chesterfield: Staveley North ward, after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor June Bingham. Term ends 2027.
  • East Suffolk: Carlton Colville ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Craig Rivett. Term ends 2027.
  • Haringey: Hornsey ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Adam Jogee in order to contest Newcastle-under-Lyme in the general election.
  • Kingston-upon-Thames: Hook and Chessington North ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Steph Archer. Term ends 2026.
  • Lancaster: University ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Erin Hall who is moving out of the City. Term ends 2027.
  • Lewisham: Blackheath ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Juliet Campbell, who is candidate for Broxtowe in the general election. Term ends 2026.
  • Middlesbrough: Acklam ward, after the resignation of an unidentified councillor. Term ends 2027.
  • Middlesbrough: Central ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Matt Storey, now Police and Crime Commissioner for Tees Valley. Term ends 2027.
  • Newham: Forest Gate North ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Sasha Das Gupta. Term ends 2026.
  • Newham: Maryland ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Ken Penton. Term ends 2026.
  • Preston: Lea and Larches ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor David Borrow. Term ends 2026.
  • South Derbyshire: Hatton ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Julie Jackson. Term ends 2027.
  • South Gloucestershire: Kingswood ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Leigh Ingham who is contesting Stafford in the general election. Term ends 2027.
  • South Tyneside: Primrose ward, after the resignation of Independent councillor Paul Milburn. Term ends 2027.
  • Spelthorne: Ashford East ward, after the resignation of Independent Spelthorne Group councillor Elizabeth Baldock. Term ends 2027.
  • Stirling: Dunblane and Bridge of Allan ward, after the resignation of Independent councillor Ewan Dillon who was elected for the Labour Party. Term ends 2027.
  • Suffolk: Pakefield division, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Craig Rivett. Term ends 2025.

Dates for byelections

  • Bristol: The byelection due in Horfield ward will be held on 4 July.
  • Cumberland: The byelection due in Harraby North ward will be held on 27 June.
  • Haringey: The byelection due in Hornsey ward will be held on 4 July.
  • Sefton: The byelection due in St Oswald ward will be held on 20 June.

Other updates