Reform gets Broads support

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

• Barnet: The byelection in Whetstone ward held on 15 May was won by Ezra Cohen. Labour hold.
• Broadland: The byelection in Acle ward held on 15 May was won by Jimmi Lee. Reform UK gain from Conservative.
• Stoke-on-Trent: The byelection in Birches Head and Northwood ward was won by Luke Shenton. Reform UK gain from Labour.
• West Dunbartonshire: The byelection in Clydebank Waterfront ward held on 15 May was won by Kevin Crawford. Scottish National Party hold.

Defections

• Aberdeenshire: Dominic Lonchay, who was elected for the Conservatives in East Garioch ward, has lef the party to sit as an opposition Independent councillor.
• Cherwell: Donna Ford, who was elected for the Conservatives in Bicester East ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor. She will continue to sit in the same group which has been renamed ‘Cherwell Conservative and Independent Alliance’.
• Dudley: Staurt Turner, who was elected for the Labour Party in Gornal ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Durham: Paul Sexton, who was elected as an Independent in Chester-le-Street South division, has joined Reform UK.
• East Devon: Violet Bonetta, who was elected for the Labour Party in Honiton St Michael’s ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• East Sussex: Sam Adeniji, who was elected for the Conservatives in Seaford North division, has again left the group to sit as an Independent county councillor.
• Harborough: Martin Sarfas, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Lutterworth East ward but left the party in December, has now joined Reform UK. Meanwhile Mark Graves, elected as a Liberal Democrat in Broughton Astley South and Leire ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• High Peak: Kev Kirkham, who was elected for the Conservatives in Cote Heath ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Kirklees: Imran Safdar, who was elected for the Labour Party in Crosland Moor and Netherton ward but moved to the Kirklees Community Independents in February last year, has joined the Green Party but will be remaining in his current group.
• Leeds: Trish Smith, who was elected for the Conservatives in Pudsey ward but left the party last May, has now joined Reform UK.
• Newark and Sherwood: Linda Dales, who was elected for the Conservatives in Collingham ward but left the group last November, has now returned.
• North Hertfordshire: Emma Rowe, who was elected for the Labour Party in Baldock West ward, has left the group to sit as an Independent councillor.
• North Norfolk: Luke Paterson, who was elected for the Conservatives in Happisburgh ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Oadby and Wigston: Two councillors have left the Liberal Democrat group to sit as Independents. They are Frank Broadley and Linda Broadley, both of whom represent Wigston St Wolstan’s ward.
• Plymouth: Zoe Reilly, who was elected for the Labour Party in Honicknowle ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent member. Meanwhile Dylan Tippetts, who left Labour last week, has joined the Liberal Democrats.
• Redditch: Wanda King, who was elected for the Labour Party in Batchley and Brockhill ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Salford: Bill Hinds, who was elected for the Labour Party in Swinton and Wardley ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent Democratic Socialist councillor.
• Sevenoaks: Eight councillors elected as Conservatives have left the party to form the West Kent Independents group; as a result the Conservative administration has lost its majority and is in danger of being ousted. The eight are Chris Haslam and Simon Reay (both Kemsing ward), Alan Layland and Margot McArthur (both Edenbridge South and West ward), Angela Baker (Edenbridge North and East ward), Diana Esler (Westerham and Crockham Hill ward), Julia Thornton (Seal and Weald ward) and John Grint (Halstead, Knockholt and Badgers Mount ward).
• Solihull: The Solihull Independents group has been formed by three councillors elected as Conservatives. They are Michael Gough (Silhill ward), Samantha Gethen (St Alphege ward) and Alison Rolf (Bickenhill ward).
• Stroud: Paul Turner, who was elected for the Conservatives in Berkeley Vale ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• West Lancashire: Nikki Hennessy, who was elected for the Labour Party in Ormskirk East ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Wolverhampton: Wendy Thompson, who was elected for the Conservatives in Tettenhall Wightwick ward but was suspended from the party last year, has now returned.

New vacancies

• Chorley: Buckshaw and Whittle ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Samantha Martin. Term ends 2027.
• Dorset: Swanage ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Bill Trite. Term ends 2029.
• Durham: Benfieldside division, after the resignation of Reform UK councillor Andrew Kilburn, who appears to have been disqualified due to his employment by the council. Term ends 2029.
• Greenwich: Shooters Hill ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Ivis Williams. Term ends 2026.
• Hammersmith and Fulham: Fulham Town ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor Andrew Dinsmore. Term ends 2026.
• Sefton: Blundellsands ward, after the resignation of Independent councillor Natasha Carlin who had been elected for the Labour Party. Term ends 2026.
• Staffordshire: Eccleshall and Gnosall division, after the resignation of Reform UK county councillor Wayne Titley. Term ends 2029.
• Wealden: Horam and Punnetts Town ward, after the resignation of Green Party councillor Cornelie Usborne. Term ends 2027.

Dates for byelections

• Adur: The byelection due in Buckingham ward will be held on 19 June.
• Sefton: The byelection due in Blundellsands ward will be held on 19 June.
• South Staffordshire: The byelection due in Great Wyrley Landywood ward will be held on 26 June.
• Spelthorne: The byelection due in Ashford Town ward will be held on 19 June.

Other updates

• Leicestershire: A minority Reform UK administration has taken control of the council.
• Vale of White Horse: Last week’s reported vacancy in Stanford ward was erroneous.
• Warwickshire: The Reform UK group leader has been elected as council leader. It is not clear whether he will lead a minority or coalition administration.

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