Reform win Nunthorpe

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

• Broxtowe: The byelection in Stapleford South East ward held on 4 December was won by Sarah Camplin. Broxtowe Alliance retain the seat secured when the previous councillor (who was elected for Labour) joined them.
• Derbyshire: The byelection in Long Easton North division held on 2 December was won by Owen Ferron. Reform UK hold.
• East Devon: The byelection in Exmouth Halsdon ward held on 4 December was won by Fran McElhone. Liberal Democrat hold.
• Middlesbrough: The byelection in Nunthorpe ward held on 4 December was won by Joanne Rush. Reform UK gain from Liberal Democrat.
• Torridge: The byelection in Winkleigh ward held on 4 December was won by Steve Middleton. Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative.
• Watford: The byelection in Tudor ward held on 4 December was won by Callum Robertson. Liberal Democrat hold.

Defections

• Dacorum: Goverdhan Silwal, who was elected for the Labour Party in Grovehill ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Doncaster: Nicola Brown, who was elected for Reform UK in Adwick and Carcroft ward but announced last week she was leaving the party, has rapidly reversed her decision and is back in the fold.
• East Hampshire: Charlene Maines, who was elected for the Conservatives in Rowlands Castle ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent Conservative councillor.
• Falkirk: Alan Nimmo, who was elected for the Labour Party in Grangemouth ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Herefordshire: Diana Toynbee, who was elected for the Green Party in Greyfriars ward, has been suspended from representing the party for six months. She has joined the Independents for Herefordshire group.
• Highland: Michael Baird, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in North, West and Central Sutherland ward, has been suspended by the party and is sitting as a non-aligned councillor.
• Kent: Rich Lehmann, who was elected for the Green Party in Swale East division, has left the party although remains as an Independent in the Green Party group.
• Lancashire: Sohail Asghar, who was elected for the Green Party in Accrington West and Oswaldtwistle Central division, has left the party to sit as an Independent county councillor.
• Mid Sussex: Janice Henwood, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Burgess Hill Franklands ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor. Her move may endanger the Liberal Democrat/Independent control of the district.
• Midlothian: David Virgo, who was elected for the Conservatives in Bonnyrigg ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• North Yorkshire: Rich Maw, who was elected for the Labour Party in Weaponness and Ramshill division but left the party in May last year, has now joined the Green Party and Independent group as an Independent member.
• Salford: John Warmisham, who was elected for the Labour Party in Pendleton and Charlestown ward but left the party in March and had been sitting as an ‘Independent Socialist’, has now aligned with Your Party.
• Southwark: Sam Foster, who was elected for the Labour Party in Faraday ward but was suspended from the whip in September and left last month, has now joined the Green Party.

New vacancies

• Birmingham: Allens Cross ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Jack Deakin. As his term would have ended in May, no byelection follows.
• York: Heworth ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Ben Burton. Term ends 2027.

Dates for byelections

• Gosport: The byelection due in Bridgemary ward will be held on 15 January 2026.
• York: The byelection due in Heworth ward will be held on 15 January 2026.

Other updates

• The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has confirmed that it intends the local elections scheduled for 2026, including those postponed from 2025, to go ahead.

---

---