Frinton for the incontrovertible

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

• Amber Valley: The byelection in Somercotes ward held on 5 June was won by James Kerry. Reform UK gain from Labour.
• King’s Lynn and West Norfolk: The byelection in Fairstead ward held on 5 June was won by Jacqueline Fry. Reform UK gain from Labour.
• King’s Lynn and West Norfolk: The byelection in North Lynn ward held on 5 June was won by Austin Moore. Reform UK gain from Labour.
• Tendring: The byelection in Frinton ward held on 5 June was won by Anne Davis. Reform UK gain from an Independent elected for the Conservatives.
• West Sussex: The byelection in Burgess Hill North division held on 5 June was won by Jane Davey. Liberal Democrat hold.
• West Sussex: The byelection in Hassocks and Burgess Hill South division held on 5 June was won by Erika Woodhurst-Trueman. Liberal Democrat hold.
• West Sussex: The byelection in St Leonard’s Forest division held on 5 June was won by Sam Raby. Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative.
• Wokingham: The byelection in Maiden Erlegh and Whitegates ward held on 5 June was won by Mike Smith. Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative; as a result the Liberal Democrats now have an overall majority on the council.

Defections

• Aberdeen: Duncan Massey, who was elected for the Conservatives in Lower Deeside ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Birmingham: A new ‘Harborne and Quinton Independents’ group has been formed by Martin Brooks (Harborne ward) and Sam Forsyth (Quinton ward), who both recently left the Labour Party.
• Conwy: Dave Jones, who was elected for the Labour Party in Glyn y Marl division, has joined the Citizens First Alliance group.
• Coventry: Jackie Gardiner (Sherbourne ward) and Marcus Lapsa (Westwood ward), both of whom were elected as Conservatives, have joined Reform UK.
• Dudley: Six recent Labour to Dudley Independent Group defectors have now decided to establish the Black Country Party. They are Matthew Cook (Brierley Hill and Wordsley South ward), Karl Denning (Castle and Priory ward), Peter Drake (Coseley ward), Steve Edwards (Brockmoor and Pensnett ward), Pete Lowe (Lye and Stourbridge North ward), and Karen Westwood (Brockmoor and Pensnett ward).
• Dumfries and Galloway: Following Andrew Woodlast week, two more have left the Conservatives to join him in the new ‘Dumfries and Galloway Independent Group’: Ian Carruthers (Annandale South ward) and Karen Carruthers (Annandale East and Eskdale ward). Meanwhile four Conservative councillors have left to form the ‘Novantae’ group. They are Andrew Giusti and Chrissie Hill (both Stranraer and the Rhins ward), with David Inglis and Richard Marsh (both Mid Galloway and Wigtown West ward).
• Folkestone and Hythe: Bridget Chapman, who was elected for the Labour Party in Folkestone Harbour ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Renfrewshire: Jamie McGuire, who was elected for the Labour Party in Renfrew North and Braehead ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Torbay: Jason Hutchings, who was elected for the Conservatives in Furzeham with Summercombe ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor. This move puts the Conservative administration into a minority.
• Wakefield: Michael Graham, who was elected for the Labour Party in Wakefield West ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• West Northamptonshire: Adam Smith, who was elected for Reform UK in Hackleton and Roade ward, has left the group to sit as an Independent councillor.
• West Suffolk: Ian Houlder, who was elected for the Conservatives in Barrow ward, has left the party to sit as a non-aligned councillor.
• Wychavon: Emma Sims, who was elected for the Conservatives in Broadway, Sedgebarrow and Childswickham ward, has joined the Liberal Democrats.

New vacancies

• East Renfrewshire: Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor ward, after the death of veteran Labour councillor Betty Cunningham. Term ends 2027.
• Gwynedd: Abermaw ward, after the death of Independent councillor Rob Triggs. Term ends 2027.
• Isle of Wight: Wroxall, Lowtherville and Bonchurch division, after the resignation of Independent councillor Rodney Downer. Term ends 2026.
• Liverpool: Sefton Park ward, after the resignation of Green Party councillor John D. Howard. Term ends 2027.
• Rhondda Cynon Taf: Pontypridd Town ward, after the resignation of Plaid Cymru councillor Dawn Wood. Term ends 2027.
• Rutland: Barleythorpe ward, after the resignation of Green Party councillor Hans Zollinger-Ball. Term ends 2027.

Dates for byelections

• Hartlepool: The byelection due in Throston ward will be held on 10 July.
• Isle of Wight: The byelection due in Wroxall, Lowtherville and Bonchurch division will be held on 10 July.
• Staffordshire: The byelection due in Eccleshall and Gnosall division will be held on 17 July.
• Vale of White Horse: The byelection due in Botley and Sunningwell ward will be held on 10 July.
• Wealden: The byelection due in Horam and Punnetts Town ward will be held on 10 July.

Other updates

• Cumberland: We are happy to confirm that when Bob Kelly (Millom ward) was shown as an Independent councillor, this was merely a mistake on the council website and he remained in the Labour Party.

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