Shalom aleichem, Natalie

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

• Cheshire East: The byelection in Macclesfield Central ward held on 20 November was won by John Knight. Green Party gain from an Independent elected for Labour.
• Dumfries and Galloway: The byelection in Stranraer and the Rhins held on 20 November was won by Julie Currie. Conservative gain from a Democratic Alliance group member.
• East Sussex: The byelection in Ashdown and Conquest division held on 20 November was won by Aidan Fisher. Reform UK gain from Conservative.
• Redcar and Cleveland: The byelection in South Bank ward held on 20 November was won by Sue Jeffrey, who regains a seat she held in 2011-23. Labour hold.
• Stratford-on-Avon: The byelection in Quinton ward held on 20 November was won by Paul Harrison. Liberal Democrat hold.
• Stratford-on-Avon: The byelection in Salford Priors and Alcester Rural ward held on 20 November was won by Ashley Jones. Reform UK gain from Conservative.
• Trafford: The byelection in Hale ward held on 20 November was won by Natalie Shalom. Conservative gain from Green Party.

Defections

• Breckland: Sarah Taylor, who was elected for the Labour Party in Dereham Toftwood ward, has left the party group to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Bristol: Paula O’Rourke, who was elected for the Green Party in Clifton ward, has left the party group to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Bromley: Sophie Dunbar, who was elected for the Biggin Hill Independents in Biggin Hill ward, has joined the Conservatives.
• Durham: Paul Bean, who was elected for Reform UK in Crook division, has left the party group and is sitting as a non-aligned councillor.
• Havant: Mark Coates, who was elected for the Labour Party in Hayling East ward, has joined the Green Party.
• Hounslow: Vickram Grewal, who was elected for the Labour Party in Cranford ward, has joined the Conservatives.
• Kent: An ‘Independent Reformers’ group has been formed by Bill Barrett (Ashford Rural South division) and Robert Ford (Maidstone Rural West division), both of whom were elected for Reform UK but expelled from the party in October.
• Lancashire: Tom Pickup, who was elected for Reform UK in Padiham and Burnley West division, has left the party group and is sitting as an Independent county councillor.
• Newcastle upon Tyne: Alistair Chisholm, who was elected for the Labour Party in Ouseburn ward, has joined the Green Party.
• Newham: Nur Begum, who was elected for the Labour Party in Little Ilford ward, has joined Newham Independents.
• Oldham: Two councillors who left the Conservative group in March have rejoined it. They are Christine Adams and Dave Arnott, who both represent Royton North ward.
• Peterborough: Gavin Elsey, who was elected as a Peterborough First Independent in Wittering ward, has left the group to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Southwark: Darren Merrill, who was elected for the Labour Party in North Walworth ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Spelthorne: Med Buck, who was elected for the Labour Party in Ashford North and Stanwell South ward but left the party in October, has now joined the Conservatives.
• Tameside: Barrie Holland, who was elected for the Labour Party in Droylsden West ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Walsall: Jade Chapman, who was elected for the Conservatives in Rushall-Shelfield ward but left the party in September, has now joined Advance UK.
• West Lancashire: Julian Finch, who was elected for the Labour Party in Skelmersdale South ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• West Northamptonshire: Farzana Aldridge, who was elected for the Labour Party in Kingsley and Semilong ward, has joined the Liberal Democrats.
• Westminster: Alan Mendoza, who was elected for the Conservatives in Abbey Road ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Worthing: Charles James, who was elected for the Conservatives in Durrington ward but left the party in July, has now joined Reform UK.

New vacancies

• Basingstoke and Deane: Sherborne St John and Rooksdown ward, after the resignation of Conservative councillor David McIntyre. As his term was due to end in May, he will not be replaced in a byelection.
• Caerphilly: Van ward, after the death of Labour councillor Christine Forehead. Term ends 2027.
• Cannock Chase: Hednesford Hills and Rawnsley ward, after the resignation of Green Party councillor Hayley Page. Her term would have ended next May so no byelection will be held.
• East Dunbartonshire: Bearsden South ward, after the disqualification of Independent councillor Andrew Polson, who was elected as a Conservative, following his conviction. Term ends 2027.
• Hounslow: Hanworth Village ward, after the death of Labour councillor Richard Foote. His term was due to end in May so no byelection follows.
• Pembrokeshire: Fishguard North East division, after the death of unaffiliated councillor Jordan Ryan, who was elected for the Labour Party. Term ends 2027.
• Tamworth: Mercian ward, after the resignation of Tamworth Independent Group councillor Richard Kingstone. No byelection follows as his term was due to end in May.

Date for byelection

• East Dunbartonshire: The byelection due in Bearsden South ward will be held on 29 January.

Other updates

• The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has launched the next stage of consultation on local government reorganisation, asking for views on new arrangements in Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk, and East and West Sussex.
• Nottingham: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has confirmed that the directions allowing the intervention in the council will expire in February 2026, and the Commissioners will then depart.

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