Reform win in Lothian

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

• Caerphilly: The byelection in Penyrheol ward held on 11 December was won by Aneurin Minton. Plaid Cymru hold.
• Darlington: The byelection in Red Hall and Lingfield ward held on 11 December was won by Michael Walker. Reform UK gain from Labour.
• East Devon: The byelection in Seaton ward held on 11 December was won by Stephen Hunt. Liberal Democrat gain from a Democratic Alliance Independent councillor who was elected for the Conservatives.
• Highland: The byelection in Fort Willian and Ardnamurchan ward held on 11 December was won by Matthew Prosser. Liberal Democrat gain from Scottish National Party.
• Lichfield: The byelection in Armitage with Handsacre ward held on 11 December was won by Martyn Punyer. Conservative hold.
• South Kesteven: The byelection in Aveland ward held on 11 December was won by Kyle Abel. Reform UK gain from Conservative.
• South Kesteven: The byelection in Belmont ward held on 11 December was won by Richard Litchfield. Reform UK gain from Grantham Independent.
• Stockton-on-Tees: The byelection in Eaglescliffe West ward held on 11 December was won by Stephen Dodds. Conservative hold.
• West Lothian: The byelection in Whitburn and Blackburn ward held on 11 December was won by David McLennan. Reform UK gain from Labour.

Defections

• Bassetlaw: Simon Richardson, who was elected for the Conservatives in Rampton ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Blaenau Gwent: Jonathan Millard, who was elected as an Independent in Ebbw Vale South ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Bolton: Sue Haworth, who was elected for the Labour Party but left the party in August, has now joined Reform UK.
• Bromley: Kira Gabbert, who was elected for the Conservatives in Bickley and Sundridge ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Bury: The four councillors who left the Conservative group in July have now formed the ‘Together for Bury’ group.
• Doncaster: Nicola Brown, who was elected for Reform UK in Adwick and Carcroft ward, has again left the party, now to join Advance UK.
• Edinburgh: Ross McKenzie, who was elected for the Labour Party in Sighthill / Gorgie ward but left the party in February 2023, has joined the Scottish Green Party, but will continue to sit as an Independent.
• Epsom and Ewell: Shanice Goldman, who was elected for the Residents’ Associations in Nonsuch ward, has left the group and is sitting as a non-party councillor.
• Exeter: Alison Sheridan, who was elected for the Conservatives in St Loyes ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Havant: Two councillors elected for the Conservatives have joined Reform UK. They are Caren Diamond (Purbrook ward) and Gwen Robinson (Waterloo ward), who was the group leader.
• Highland: Karl Rosie, who was elected for the Scottish National Party in Thurso and North West Caithness ward but joined Alba in March 2024, has now left it to join the Highland Independent group.
• Hounslow: Hina Mir, who was elected for the Labour Party in Feltham West ward, has been suspended from the party group and is sitting as an Independent councillor.
• Moray: John Stuart, who was elected for the Scottish National Party in Buckie ward but left the party in May last year, has joined the Scottish Green Party but will continue to sit as an Independent until re-elected.
• Rother: Cheryl Creaser, who was elected for the Labour Party in Rye and Winchelsea ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Sandwell: Sukhbir Singh Gill, who was elected for the Labour Party in St Paul’s ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Sevenoaks: James Barnett, who was elected for the Conservatives in Cowden and Hever ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Staffordshire: Ian Cooper, who was elected for Reform UK in Tamworth Perrycrofts division, has stood down as council leader and left the party to sit as an Independent county councillor.
• Windsor and Maidenhead: Jack Douglas, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in St Mary’s ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.

New vacancies

• South Norfolk: Central Wymondham ward, after the death of Conservative councillor Kevin Hurn. Term ends 2027.
• Tamworth: Spital ward, after the death of Labour councillor Marion Couchman. Term ends 2028.

Dates for byelections

• Amber Valley: The byelection due in Codnor, Langley Mill and Aldercar ward will be held on Tuesday 20 January.
• Cheshire West and Chester: The byelection in Willaston and Thornton ward will be held on 22 January.
• Cotswold: The byelection due in The Rissingtons ward will be held on 22 January.
• Derbyshire: The byelection due in Horsley division will be held on Tuesday 20 January.
• Flintshire: The byelection due in Leeswood ward will be held on 22 January.
• South Norfolk: The byelection due in Central Wymondham ward will be held on 22 January.

Other updates

• Somerset: Michael Dunk, Green Party councillor for Frome West division, has been sentenced to 26 months’ imprisonment which will disqualify him should an appeal against conviction or sentence fail.

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