Manda Grilian Baseivi Strom

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

• Birmingham: The byelection in Moseley ward held on 23 October was won by Philip Mills. Liberal Democrat gain from Labour.
• Colchester: The byelection in New Town and Christ Church ward held on 23 October was won by Richard Bourne. Labour hold.
• Fenland: The byelection in Whittlesey North West ward held on 23 October was won by Alec Branton. Conservative hold.
• Portsmouth: The byelection in Paulsgrove ward held on 23 October was won by Joe Standen. Reform UK gain from Portsmouth Independent Party (who did not defend the seat).
• Somerset: The byelection in Dunster ward held on 23 October was won by Cara Strom. Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative.
• Somerset: The byelection in Glastonbury ward held on 23 October was won by Ewan Cameron. Liberal Democrat hold.
• Torridge: The byelection in Broadheath ward held on 16 October was won by Nigel Kenneally. Liberal Democrat gain from an Independent.

Defections

• Birmingham: Ayoub Khan, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Aston ward but left the party in April 2024, had remained within the Liberal Democrat group. He has been an Independent MP for Birmingham Perry Barr since the July 2024 general election, and has now formally become an Independent councillor.
• Chelmsford: Jude Deakin, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Marconi ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Essex: Jude Deakin, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Chelmsford West division, has left the party to sit as a non-party councillor.
• Glasgow: Three councillors elected for the Scottish Green Party have left to join Your Party. They are Seonad Hoy (Hillhead ward), Dan Hutchison (Govan ward) and Leòdhas Massie (Newlands/Auldburn ward).
• Hillingdon: Jas Dhot, who was elected for the Labour Party in Yeading ward, has joined the Conservatives.
• Kent: Following the leak of an internal online meeting, four councillors have been suspended from the Reform UK whip and are sitting as Independents. They are Bill Barrett (Ashford Rural South division), Oliver Bradshaw (Maidstone Central division), Maxine Fothergill (Sevenoaks Rural North East division) and Paul Thomas (Maidstone South division).
• New Forest: Neville Penman, who had been elected for the Conservatives in Totton North ward but left the party in January, has returned to the whip. Meanwhile Michael Thierry, who was elected for the Conservatives in Ringwood North and Ellingham ward, has left the party to sit as a non-aligned councillor.
• Northumberland: Two of the councillors who left the Reform UK group in September have now joined the Independent group. They are Nicole Brooke (Berwick North division) and Patrick Lambert (Norham and Islandshires division).
• Norwich: The Green Party has ended the suspension of Liam Calvert (Wensum ward) and allowed him to regain the party whip.
• Preston: Elizabeth Atkins, who was elected for the Labour Party in Ashton ward, has left the party to sit as an Ashton Independent.
• Sandwell: William Gill, who was elected for the Conservatives in Great Bridge ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• South Ayrshire: Gavin Scott, who was elected for the Conservatives in Girvan and South Carrick ward, but left the party in May, is now to join Reform UK. Meanwhile Ian Davis, who was elected for the Conservatives in Ayr North ward, has left the party, while Martin Dowey (Ayr West ward) who left the party in May, has now returned.
• Spelthorne: Med Buck, who was elected for the Labour Party in Ashford North and Stanwell South ward, has left the party to sit as a non-aligned councillor.
• Swale: Rich Lehmann, who was elected for the Green Party in Boughton and Courtenay ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Swindon: Three councillors have joined the Green Party. Ian Edwards (Priory Vale ward) and Tom Butcher (St Margaret and South Marston) moved directly from the Labour Party, while Repi Begum (Lydiard and Freshbrook ward) was elected as Labour but had left the party last week.

New vacancies

• Darlington: Red Hall and Lingfield ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Amanda Riley. Term ends 2027.
• Fife: Glenrothes West and Kinglassie ward, after the resignation of Scottish National Party councillor Julie Ford on 26 October. Term ends 2027.
• King’s Lynn and West Norfolk: Hunstanton ward, after the resignation of Independent Partnership councillor Paul Beal. Term ends 2027.
• Pendle: Barnoldswick ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Mick Strickland. Term ends 2027.
• South Kesteven: Belmont ward, after the resignation of Grantham Independent councillor Phil Gadd. Term ends 2027.
• South Ribble: Broad Oak ward, after the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Harry Hancock. Term ends 2027.
• Suffolk: Pakefield division, after the death of Conservative councillor Melanie Vigo di Gallidoro. Term ends May next year.
• Watford: Tudor ward, after the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Charlott Saunders. Term ends 2027.

Dates for byelections

• Broxtowe: The byelection due in Stapleford South East ward will be held on 4 December.
• Darlington: The byelection due in Red Hall and Lingfield ward will be held on 11 December.
• Highland: The byelection due in Fort Willian and Ardnamurchan ward will be held on 11 December.
• King’s Lynn and West Norfolk: The byelection due in Hunstanton ward will be held on 27 November.
• Pendle: The byelection due in Barnoldswick ward will be held on 27 November.
• West Lothian: The byelection due in Whitburn and Blackburn ward will be held on 11 December.

Other updates

• Worcestershire: The Election Court has dismissed an election petition in the Littletons division. The election in May had ended in a tie and the drawing of lots, which fell upon Hannah Robson (Green Party). The loser in the drawing of lots, Elizabeth Williams (Reform UK), lodged an election petition but it has been dismissed as she failed to submit the challenge within the deadline.

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