Booker prize win in Sheffield

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

• Basildon: The byelection in Wickford Park ward held on 26 June was won by Sarah-Jane Shields. Reform UK gain from Wickford Independents.
• Chorley: The byelection in Buckshaw and Whittle ward held on 26 June was won by Aidy Riggott. Conservative gain from Labour.
• Edinburgh: The byelection in Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart ward held on 26 June was won by Kevin McKay. Liberal Democrat gain from Labour.
• Greenwich: The byelection in Shooters Hill ward held on 26 June was won by Tamasin Rhymes. Green Party gain from Labour.
• Mid Devon: The byelection in Crediton Lawrence ward held on 26 June, was won by Tim Stanford. Liberal Democrat hold.
• Rossendale: The byelection in Whitworth ward held on 26 June was won by Mackenzie Ritson. Reform UK gain from Community First.
• Rother: The byelection in Catsfield and Crowhurst ward held on 26 June was won by Nicola McLaren. Liberal Democrat hold.
• Sheffield: The byelection in Stocksbridge and Upper Don ward held on 26 June was won by John Booker. Reform UK gain a seat previously held by a Sheffield Community Councillor who was elected for Labour.
• South Staffordshire: The byelection in Great Wyrley Landywood ward held on 26 June was won by Joe Hill. Conservative hold.
• Stevenage: The byelection in Bedwell ward held on 26 June was won by Dermot Kehoe. Labour regain a seat lost when the previous councillor left the group.

Defections

• Aberdeenshire: Gillian Owen, the council leader who was elected for the Conservatives in Ellon and District ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Bassetlaw: Fraser McFarland, who was elected for the Conservatives in Clayworth ward but left the party in June last year, has joined Reform UK.
• Bedford: Caroline White, who was elected for the Labour Party in Kempston Central and East ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Brent: Kathleen Fraser, who was elected for the Labour Party in Barnhill ward, has had the whip suspended and is sitting as an Independent councillor.
• Broxbourne: Alexander Curtis, who was elected for the Conservatives in Hoddesdon Town and Rye Park ward, has left the party to sit as an unaligned councillor.
• Broxtowe: Tyler Marsh, who was elected for the Labour Party in Attenborough and Chilwell East ward, has joined the Broxtowe Alliance.
• Burnley: Alan Hosker, who was elected for the Conservatives in Hapton with Park ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Dudley: Shaun Keasey, who was re-elected as an Independent in Sedgley ward after leaving the Conservative Party in October 2023, has joined Reform UK.
• Enfield: Mohammad Islam, who was elected for the Labour Party in Ponders End ward, has been suspended from the party whip and is sitting as an Independent councillor.
• Haringey: Mark Blake, who was elected for the Labour Party in Fortis Green ward but joined the Independent Socialists group in 2023, has now joined the Green Party.
• Hillingdon: Two Labour councillors who were denied reselection have left the party to sit as Hayes Independent Party Group councillors. They are Peter Curling and Janet Gardner (both representing Hayes Town ward). They have been joined by Labina Basit (Belmore ward) who left the Labour Party previously.
• Lewisham: Liam Shrivastava, who was elected for the Labour Party in New Cross Gate ward, has joined the Green Party.
• Perth and Kinross: Andy Chan, who was elected for the Conservatives in Perth City South ward, has left the party to sit as an ungrouped Independent councillor.
• South Tyneside: Shane Smith, who was elected for the Labour Party in Hebburn South ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor. As a result Labour now no longer has an overall majority on the council.
• Westminster: Laila Cunningham, who was elected for the Conservatives in Lancaster Gate ward, has joined Reform UK.

New vacancies

• Cardiff: Grangetown division, after the resignation of Labour councillor Sara Robinson. Term ends 2027.
• Hounslow: Cranford ward, after the death of Labour councillor Sukhbir Singh Dhaliwal. Term ends 2026.

Dates for byelections

• Barking and Dagenham: The byelection due in Thames View ward will be held on 31 July.
• East Renfrewshire: The byelection due in Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor ward will be held on 21 August.
• North Devon: The byelection due in Barnstaple with Westacott ward wil be held on 31 July.
• Warrington: The byelection due in Bewsey and Whitecross ward will be held on 31 July.

Other updates

• Plymouth: There will be a referendum on 17 July to decide on establishing a directly-elected Mayor of Plymouth. It is likely to be the last one ever held as the Government has announced it intends to remove these provisions as it considers directly elected council Mayors can be confused with combined authority Mayors; where there is currently a directly-elected Mayor, the system can continue. The government will also compel councils still using the committee system to adopt a ‘Leader and Cabinet’ model.

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