Gosport goes Reform

The latest updates on local electoral information are as follows.

Results

• Gosport: The byelection in Bridgemary ward held on 15 January was won by Paul Carter. Reform UK gain from Liberal Democrats; as a result the party no longer has an overall majority on the council.
• York: The byelection in Heworth ward held on 15 January was won by Anna Perrett. Labour hold, and thereby preserve an overall majority on the council.

Defections

• Bath and North East Somerset: Ann Morgan, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in High Littleton ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Bolsover: Louise Fox, who was elected for the Conservatives in South Normanton West ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: Mark Howell, who was elected for Poole People in Poole Town ward, has left the group to sit as an ungrouped councillor. Meanwhile Rachel Pattinson-West, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Alderney and Bourne Valley ward, has joined the Green Party.
• Calderdale: Peter Hunt, who was elected for the Conservatives in Elland ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Cardiff: Jasmin Chowdhury, who was elected for the Labour Party in Canton ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Doncaster: Paul Cutts, who was elected for Reform UK in Wheatley Hills and Intake ward, has been suspended by the party and is sitting as an Independent councillor.
• Gravesham: Dakota Dibben, who was elected for the Conservatives in Istead Rise, Cobham and Luddesdown ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Gwynedd: The two councillors who were elected by the Labour Party and Liberal Democrats and sat in the ‘Lib/Lab group’, have formed the Gwynedd First group. They are Stephen Churchman (Dolbenmaen ward), formerly a Liberal Democrat, and Gareth Coj Parry (Hendre ward), formerly a Labour Party councillor.
• Halton: Kevan Wainwright, who was elected for the Labour Party, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.
• Havant: Sarah Milne, who was elected for the Conservatives in Stakes ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Horsham: Tony Hogben, who was elected for the Conservatives in Colgate and Rusper ward but left the party in September, has now joined Reform UK.
• Middlesbrough: Christine Cooper, who was elected for the Conservatives in Trimdon ward but left to sit as an Independent in July last year, has joined Reform UK.
• Huntingdonshire: Michael Burke, who was elected as an Independent and was in the Cambridge Independents Group, has joined the Liberal Democrats.
• Newham: Nur Begum, who was elected for the Labour Party in Little Ilford ward but joined the Newham Independents in November 2025, has now left the group and is now sitting as an Independent councillor.
• Oxford: Ed Mundy, who was originally elected for the Labour Party in Holywell ward but left the party in October 2023 to set up the Oxford Community Independent Group, has now joined the Green Party.
• Reading: Clarence Mitchell, who was elected for the Conservatives in Emmer Green ward, has joined Reform UK.
• St Helens: David Hawley, who was elected for the Green Party in Bold and Lea Green ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Sevenoaks: Laurence Ball, who was elected for the Conservatives in Farningham, Horton Kirby and South Darenth ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Somerset: John Cook-Woodman, who was elected for the Conservatives in Highbridge and Burnham South division, has joined Reform UK.
• Stoke-on-Trent: Two councillors have left the Conservatives to join Reform UK. They are Chandra Kanneganti (Goldenhill and Sandyford ward) and Heather Blurton (Bucknall and Eaton Park ward).
• Suffolk: Patti Mulcahy, who was elected for the Conservatives in Martlesham division, has joined Reform UK following her suspension.
• Thanet: Barry Manners, who was elected for the Conservatives in Cliftonville East ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Walsall: Three councillors elected for the Conservatives have left the group to sit as ungrouped councillors. They are Gaz Ali and Amo Hussain (both Birchills Leamore ward) and Izzy Hussain (Blakenall ward).
• Waltham Forest: Two councillors elected for the Conservatives in Hatch Lane and Highams Park North ward have joined Reform UK. They are Marion Fitzgerald and Tim James. It is also noted that Rhiannon Eglin, who was elected for Labour in Leyton ward, has left the group and is sitting as an Independent councillor.
• Warwick: Sam Jones, who was elected for the Green Party in Warwick All Saints and Woodloes ward, has been suspended from the party and is sitting as an Independent councillor.
• Warwickshire: Sam Jones, who was elected for the Green Party in Warwick North division, has been suspended from the party and is sitting as an Independent councillor.
• West Suffolk: Don Waldron, who was elected for the Conservatives in The Rows ward, has joined Reform UK.
• Wirral: The three members of the Independent Conservative Group, all of whom left the Conservative Party in May 2025 and all represent Heswall ward, have now all joined Reform UK. They are Kathy Hodson, her husband Andrew Hodson, and Graham Davies.

New vacancies

• Braintree: Coggeshall ward, after the resignation of Green Party councillor Tom Walsh. Term ends 2027.
• Calderdale: Hipperholme and Lightcliffe ward, after the death of Conservative councillor David Kirton. He would have been up for re-election in May so no byelection will be held.
• Haringey: Hermitage and Gardens ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Mike Hakata. His term was due to end in May so no byelection follows.
• Lewisham: Forest Hill ward, after the resignation of Labour councillor Sophie Davis. No byelection follows as her term would have ended in May.
• Vale of White Horse: Abingdon Abbey Northcourt ward, after the resignation of Green Party councillor Cheryl Briggs. Term ends 2027.

Dates for byelections

• Caerphilly: The byelection due in Van ward will be held on 19 February.
• Leicester: The byelection due in Stoneygate ward will be held on 19 February.
• Redcar and Cleveland: The byelection due in Zetland ward will be held on 19 February.
• Southampton: The byelection due in Shirley ward will be held on 26 February.

Other updates

• The deadline for councils potentially affected by reorganisation to request that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government postpone their elections due in May expired on Thursday. There are 29 councils which have asked for a delay, as identified by The Times correspondent Max Kendix.

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